India ties up with French agency to build grand museum in Delhi

The ministry of culture on Thursday said it has partnered with France Muséums Développement (FMD) to build the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum in New Delhi’s historic North and South Blocks under the Central Vista Redevelopment Project.

Spread over 1,55,000 sq. m, the museum will surpass Paris’ The Louvre–which covers nearly 73,000 sq m–to become the world’s largest museum.

The project aims to preserve the architectural heritage of the British-era buildings while repurposing them for cultural use.

External affairs minister S. Jaishankar described the initiative as “a very important cultural collaboration”.

“When the North Block and South Block become the grand museum as envisaged, we will veritably be seeing an inspiration for the remaking of Bharat,” he said.

Union culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the museum would redefine adaptive reuse and showcase advanced digital storytelling, virtual reality installations, and interactive exhibits.

“Far beyond the traditional idea of a museum, it will redefine the cultural experience by celebrating diversity, fostering inclusivity, and amplifying the voices of our communities. This iconic institution will not only honour India’s timeless legacy as the cradle of democracy but also inspire generations to come by bridging the past, present, and future in a powerful narrative of Modern India,” Shekhawat said.

The project, first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the International Museum Expo in May 2023, will be executed in two phases.

Phase one will involve retrofitting the North Block into a museum by June 2026, with the South Block transition following.

Current occupants of these buildings, including the ministries of finance, home, external affairs, and defence, will relocate to the Common Central Secretariat on Janpath by March 2025.

French ambassador Thierry Mathou said his nation will share its expertise in adaptive reuse for the project, citing the Louvre and other iconic projects as examples.

“We will bring our expertise, but it is for India to decide on its vision. Your National Museum project will definitely be unique,” he said.