India and France have partnered on a project to create the world’s largest museum, the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum, located on Raisina Hill, near Rashtrapati Bhavan. The museum will span over 5,000 years of Indian history, showcasing the nation’s cultural and historical essence. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar described it as a project of “great national importance” and a testament to India’s cultural soft power.

Housed in the iconic North and South Block buildings, currently home to key government ministries, the museum will cover 1.17 lakh square meters and feature 950 rooms across a basement and three stories. The buildings, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker (1911-1931), will undergo adaptive reuse to become a heritage landmark. France’s involvement leverages its expertise from transforming historical buildings like the Louvre in Paris into global cultural hubs.

Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat revealed that mapping and blueprinting for the transformation are nearly complete in the North Block and are underway for the South Block. Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared an illustration video detailing the museum’s features, emphasising its role in reimagining India’s museum experience by blending heritage and contemporary storytelling.

The Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum will celebrate India’s rich legacy while fostering international collaboration. Once completed, it will stand as a symbol of India’s historical grandeur, offering a world-class platform to explore and honor the nation’s cultural heritage. Official announcements on the project’s completion and opening are eagerly awaited.