The eighth e-auction of PM memorabilia will begin on September 17

In this picture released on September 16, 2026, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat walks through a curated exhibition at the PM Mementos Art Gallery at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi. | Photo credit: PTI

A total of 1,498 gifts received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go under the hammer at the eighth annual PM Mementos e-auction to be held in New Delhi from September 17 to October 31.

The e-auction offers citizens, collectors, institutions and lovers of art and culture the opportunity to acquire unique souvenirs that have been presented to the Prime Minister on various occasions. The auction will be held through the official portal www.pmmementos.gov.in.

50 ‘Hero Objects’ have been identified in this release, representing some of the signature pieces of the collection. These include a silver memento of Lord Ram from Karnataka with a base price of ₹13.5 lakh, a silver Kakatiya Kala Thoranam replica (₹9 lakh), a framed Tree of Life Gond art painting (₹7.50 lakh), Jagannath Parivar on a chariot (₹6-90 lakh, 9 lakh gold) and a fine framed artwork at ₹99.90 for a gold frame (₹5.40 lakh).

Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Shekhawat told the media that earlier e-auctions had witnessed participation from citizens, collectors and institutions. “Around ₹52 crore has been generated in the seven e-auctions held so far,” he said.

The proceeds from the auction are transferred to the government’s flagship program ‘Namami Gange’.

Mr. Shekhawat added that the collection reflects India’s rich and diverse cultural heritage and includes items representing the country’s artistic traditions, traditional craftsmanship, cultural practices, spiritual traditions and sporting achievements. The memorabilia comes from different parts of the country, giving the collection a distinctive pan-Indian character.

The Union Minister emphasized that the state’s representation in the collection further demonstrates India’s geographical and cultural diversity. He noted that among the larger representations are mementos from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, Bihar and Odisha.

The National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, under the ministry, coordinated the documentation, exhibition and operational aspects of the initiative.

The accompanying exhibition will give visitors the opportunity to view the memorabilia and appreciate their artistic and cultural significance before participating in the e-auction. The exhibition will also allow the public to explore the diversity of Indian traditional crafts, artistic practices and cultural expressions represented in the collection, senior ministry officials said.

Published – 16 Sep 2026 23:09 IST