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The 8th edition of the PM Mementos e-Auction has opened with 1,498 gifts and mementos presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on different occasions. The auction commenced on September 17, 2026, through the official PM Mementos portal, giving citizens, collectors, institutions and art and culture enthusiasts an opportunity to bid for the items.
The collection brings together objects representing India's artistic traditions, traditional craftsmanship, cultural practices, spiritual traditions and sporting achievements. The Ministry of Culture said the mementos have been sourced from different parts of the country, giving this edition a pan-India character.
The collection includes 50 identified Hero Objects, with some of the prominent items carrying base prices ranging from ₹5.40 lakh to ₹13.50 lakh. Proceeds from the auction will be transferred towards the Namami Gange Programme, the government's initiative for the rejuvenation and conservation of the River Ganga.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Auction | 8th PM Mementos E-Auction |
| Total mementos | 1,498 |
| Auction start date | September 17, 2026 |
| Official portal | pmmementos.gov.in |
| Hero Objects | 50 |
| Organised by | Ministry of Culture / National Gallery of Modern Art |
| Proceeds | Namami Gange Programme |
| Participants | Citizens, collectors, institutions, corporates and art/culture enthusiasts |
The Ministry of Culture has confirmed that the auction is being conducted through the official portal pmmementos.gov.in. The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, is coordinating the documentation, exhibition and operational aspects of the initiative.
Among the 50 Hero Objects identified for this year's PM Mementos auction, the following five have been specifically highlighted by the Ministry of Culture:
| Hero Object | Base Price |
|---|---|
| Silver Memento of Lord Ram from Karnataka | ₹13.50 lakh |
| Silver Replica of Kakatiya Kala Thoranam | ₹9 lakh |
| Framed Tree of Life Gond Art Painting | ₹7.50 lakh |
| Jagannath Parivar on Chariot | ₹6 lakh |
| 99.99 Fine Gold-Plated Framed Radha Krishna Artwork | ₹5.40 lakh |
The silver Lord Ram memento from Karnataka has the highest base price among the five prominent Hero Objects listed by the Ministry, at ₹13.50 lakh. The silver replica of Kakatiya Kala Thoranam follows at ₹9 lakh.
The collection includes a silver memento depicting Lord Ram, presented from Karnataka, with a base price of ₹13.50 lakh.
The item depicts Lord Ram standing on an ornamented lotus pedestal with jewellery and flowing garments. The figure carries a bow and arrow, while the other hand is shown in the Abhaya mudra, associated with protection and fearlessness.
Another prominent item is a silver replica of Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, carrying a base price of ₹9 lakh.
Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, also known as the Warangal Gate, is associated with the Kakatiya dynasty and is an important cultural symbol of the Warangal region.
A framed Tree of Life Gond art painting is another Hero Object in the auction, with a base price of ₹7.50 lakh.
The inclusion of Gond art adds a traditional tribal-art element to the collection, which brings together several forms of Indian artistic and craft traditions.
The auction also features a Jagannath Parivar on Chariot, with a base price of ₹6 lakh.
A 99.99 fine gold-plated framed Radha Krishna artwork is listed at a base price of ₹5.40 lakh. Both objects add religious and spiritual artwork to the collection.
Beyond the five identified Hero Objects, the collection includes several distinctive models and memorabilia.
A handcrafted model of HMS Victory, the historic Royal Navy flagship associated with Lord Nelson, is among the items highlighted in reports on the auction. The model features multiple gun decks, the ship's distinctive yellow-and-black appearance and miniature Indian flags.
The collection also includes naval models such as INS Nilgiri and INS Surat. These two ships were among the frontline naval platforms commissioned in January 2025, and their models were presented to the Prime Minister during the commissioning event.
A top-view scale model of INS Nilgiri is listed with a base price of ₹66,000, according to the auction details reported by India Today.
The collection therefore covers not only traditional art and religious artefacts but also Indian Navy models, commemorative pieces and institutional memorabilia.
The PM Mementos e-Auction 2026 also features sports-related memorabilia.
Among the items is a pair of running spike shoes gifted to the Prime Minister by a Paralympic silver medallist. The inclusion of sporting memorabilia reflects the Ministry's description of the collection as representing India's sporting achievements.
Previous PM Mementos auctions have also included sports memorabilia. The Ministry of Culture's 2025 edition, for example, featured items associated with para-athletes from the Paris Paralympics 2024.
Another notable item is a commemorative artwork depicting the modern convention centre in Daman, created using zardozi embroidery. Its reported base price is ₹1.20 lakh.
The auction also features a 3D architectural model of the Lok Sabha chamber in the new Parliament House, carrying a starting price of ₹45,000.
The model incorporates architectural details of the new Parliament building along with elements associated with the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, the women's reservation legislation.
A miniature BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in North America is another item highlighted in the collection. Its reported price is ₹4,500.
The Ministry of Culture said the collection has a wide geographical representation. Among the states with larger representations are:
The Ministry said the objects collectively represent India's art, craftsmanship, cultural practices, spiritual traditions and sporting achievements.
Citizens, collectors, institutions, corporates and art and culture enthusiasts can explore the collection and participate through the official PM Mementos e-Auction portal.
PM Mementos official auction portal
The Ministry said an accompanying exhibition allows visitors to view the mementos and understand their artistic and cultural significance before participating in the auction.
The auction process involves multiple agencies. According to the Ministry, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) provides technical and portal-related support, concerned authorities handle evaluation and valuation, the State Bank of India provides payment gateway support, and a designated fine-art handling agency manages packing and delivery of successfully purchased objects.
The proceeds from the PM Mementos e-Auction are directed towards the Namami Gange Programme. The Ministry said this connects the preservation and public appreciation of India's cultural heritage with the national mission for the rejuvenation and conservation of the Ganga.
The initiative has generated significant amounts in previous editions. According to a written Lok Sabha reply published by PIB in August 2026, the recorded proceeds were ₹3.10 crore in 2021, ₹3.60 crore in 2022, ₹15.80 crore and ₹14.40 crore across the two 2023 editions, ₹11.16 crore and ₹2.24 crore across the two 2024 editions, and ₹1.89 crore in 2025.
The official figures therefore show that the PM Mementos auctions have raised substantial funds over successive editions, with the proceeds directed towards the stated national cause.
The PM Mementos auction began in January 2019, according to the Ministry's previous auction material. The latest government data lists auction editions conducted from 2021 onward and their proceeds.
The Ministry of Culture's 2025 announcement said the 7th edition featured more than 1,300 gifts and mementos, including paintings, sculptures, handicrafts, tribal art and sports memorabilia.
The 8th edition has expanded the collection to 1,498 mementos, covering an even broader mix of cultural, spiritual, artistic and sporting objects.
For buyers and collectors, the 2026 edition provides an opportunity to bid for objects associated with India's cultural heritage, while the proceeds support the Namami Gange Programme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s gifts and mementos are turning into a source of funding for the conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga. Through the PM Mementos E-Auction, citizens can bid for paintings, sculptures, handicrafts, religious artefacts, ceremonial gifts and sports memorabilia, with the proceeds being directed towards the Namami Gange Project.
New Delhi: Gifts and souvenirs presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during official programmes and visits are finding a new purpose through the PM Mementos E-Auction https://pmmementos.gov.in . What began as an initiative to make these gifts accessible to citizens has evolved into a fundraising exercise for the Namami Gange Project , the Centre’s flagship programme for the rejuvenation and conservation of the River Ganga.
The Ministry of Culture , through the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi , has been organising the online auction of the Prime Minister’s mementos. The initiative was launched in 2019 , and the government says that the auctions have generated more than ₹50 crore so far, with the proceeds going towards the Namami Gange Project.
The 7th edition of the Prime Minister’s Mementos E-Auction was announced by the Ministry of Culture in September 2025.
More than 1,300 gifts received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi were placed for online bidding from September 17 to October 2, 2025 , according to the Ministry of Culture.
The collection reflected India's diverse cultural heritage and included:
The 2025 edition also attracted attention because of the inclusion of sports memorabilia gifted by para-athletes from the Paris Paralympics 2024 , adding a sporting dimension to the collection.
The PM Mementos collection has featured objects representing different parts of India's cultural and artistic traditions.
Among the attractions highlighted around the 2025 auction were representations of Ram Darbar, Nataraja , regional handicrafts, shawls, traditional artworks and ceremonial objects.
The collection also showcased regional craftsmanship. The Ministry of Culture highlighted 86 special items from Gujarat in the 2025 edition, including folk art, textiles, sculptures and other traditional works.
The southern states also contributed more than 100 items to the 2025 auction. The collection included 15 items from Kerala, 22 from Karnataka, 29 from Tamil Nadu, 27 from Andhra Pradesh and seven from Telangana .
Among the Andhra Pradesh exhibits was a carved wooden relief of Lord Venkateswara , while Telangana's collection included a Cheriyal Scroll Painting and a silver replica of the Kakatiya Kala Thoranam .
The PM Mementos auction has generated significant public interest since its launch.
The official Ministry of Culture statement for the 2025 seventh edition said that the e-auction had raised more than ₹50 crore since its inception in 2019 . The government has stated that the proceeds are dedicated to the Namami Gange Project .
The year-wise figures circulating online, including figures such as ₹3.10 crore, ₹3.60 crore, ₹15.80 crore, ₹14.40 crore, ₹11.16 crore, ₹2.24 crore and ₹1.89 crore , should not be presented as an official year-by-year government table without a source document establishing which auction edition each figure belongs to.
Therefore, the safest verified figure for publication is more than ₹50 crore raised since 2019 .
The key feature of the auction is its stated public purpose.
The government has said that all proceeds from the PM Mementos E-Auction go towards the Namami Gange Project . The programme aims to address pollution in the Ganga and its tributaries and support the broader objective of river rejuvenation and conservation.
The initiative therefore combines two objectives: preserving India's cultural heritage and raising funds for an environmental mission.
The Namami Gange Programme is the government's flagship initiative for the conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga.
Its broad focus includes reducing pollution entering the river system, improving sewage management and supporting infrastructure designed to prevent untreated wastewater from reaching the river.
The programme also covers measures associated with river ecology and the conservation of aquatic biodiversity.
Through the PM Mementos auction, money generated from the sale of gifts is channelled towards this larger conservation effort.
The PM Mementos E-Auction was launched in 2019 . Since then, successive editions have offered citizens an opportunity to bid for gifts presented to the Prime Minister.
The initiative has also evolved in scale.
An earlier edition illustrates the level of public interest. In 2024, the Union Culture Ministry organised an e-auction involving 2,772 mementos . The auction was initially scheduled to end on October 3 but was extended by three weeks following strong public response. The official Prime Minister's Office said that all items had been sold by the time the auction concluded on October 24.
That edition included paintings, sculptures, shawls, jackets and traditional musical instruments.
The earlier auctions have also produced striking examples of objects receiving bids much higher than their starting prices.
According to the Prime Minister's Office, a framed photograph of PM Modi receiving blessings from his mother had a base price of ₹1,000 and received a bid of ₹20 lakh .
An acrylic painting featuring the Prime Minister and Mahatma Gandhi against a tricolour background had a base price of ₹2.5 lakh and received a final bid of ₹25 lakh .
Other notable examples included a Manipuri folk-art exhibit that received a ₹10 lakh bid , a metallic sculpture of a cow feeding a calf that sold for ₹10 lakh , and a metallic statue of Swami Vivekananda that received a final bid of ₹6 lakh .
The auction is more than a conventional sale of memorabilia.
For buyers, it offers an opportunity to own an item associated with the Prime Minister's official engagements. For artisans and cultural traditions, the collection provides a national platform for showcasing Indian art, handicrafts, tribal traditions and regional craftsmanship .
For the government, the auction creates a mechanism through which proceeds can support an environmental programme.
The 2025 edition particularly demonstrated the breadth of the collection, bringing together cultural objects from different parts of India along with sports memorabilia from India's Paralympic athletes .
The PM Mementos E-Auction has created an unusual link between India's cultural heritage and Ganga conservation .
Gifts presented to the Prime Minister — ranging from paintings and sculptures to handicrafts and sporting memorabilia — are placed before the public through an online auction. The proceeds are then directed towards the Namami Gange Project .
With more than ₹50 crore raised since 2019 , according to the Ministry of Culture, the initiative has become a recurring fundraising mechanism as well as a way of bringing India's diverse artistic traditions to a wider audience.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi Gift E-Auction has emerged as one of India's most unique public auctions, offering citizens an opportunity to own exclusive gifts and mementos received by the Prime Minister while contributing to a national cause. The government has now extended the auction deadline until October 31 , giving bidders additional time to participate in the sixth edition of the initiative.
The proceeds from the auction are directed towards the Namami Gange Mission , the flagship programme focused on the conservation and rejuvenation of the River Ganga.
Citizens interested in participating can register online through the official PM Mementos portal and complete the verification process before placing bids on their preferred items.
The e-auction originally commenced on September 17 and was scheduled to conclude on October 2 . Due to significant public interest and participation, authorities extended the auction period until October 31.
This year's auction features nearly 600 exclusive mementos , including:
Many of these items are unique collectibles that reflect India's cultural diversity and heritage.
The PM Mementos portal allows participation through two categories:
Both categories require registration and verification before bidding.
Individuals can complete registration through a simple online process.
Visit the PM Mementos portal and click on the Buyer Signup option available on the homepage.
Provide:
Accept the terms and conditions and click Buyer Sign Up .
The system sends OTPs to the registered:
Enter both OTPs and click Continue .
Fill in the required personal information:
Click Proceed to continue.
The Profile Summary page displays all entered details.
Review the information carefully and click Submit .
Upon successful submission, the portal displays a "Successful Signing Up" message.
After registration, log in using your credentials.
The system requires Aadhaar authentication for participation.
Users need to:
An OTP is sent to the mobile number linked with Aadhaar.
Enter the Aadhaar OTP and click Submit .
After successful verification, the system displays the message:
"Aadhaar Verified Successfully."
The buyer account becomes eligible for auction participation.
Organizations, companies and institutions can register as Corporate Buyers.
Provide:
Accept terms and conditions and proceed.
Verify both registered:
using OTP authentication.
Corporate applicants must provide:
Enter:
Click Proceed .
Review the profile summary and click Submit .
After successful registration, the portal displays the Successful Signing Up confirmation message.
Corporate users can then log in and participate in the auction.
Unlike conventional auctions, the PM Modi Mementos E-Auction combines cultural preservation with social responsibility. Every item carries historical, artistic or symbolic significance and represents gifts received by the Prime Minister during official engagements across India and abroad.
The initiative has gained popularity among collectors, art enthusiasts, historians and philanthropists who wish to own rare memorabilia while contributing to a national environmental mission.
Participants can:
Before placing bids, participants should:
Since many mementos are available in limited quantities and attract significant interest, competitive bidding is expected across multiple categories.
With the auction deadline extended to October 31 , citizens have an additional opportunity to explore nearly 600 unique mementos associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Whether it is a handcrafted temple model, a rare artwork or a piece of sporting history, every successful bid contributes to the larger goal of supporting the Namami Gange Mission while preserving a part of contemporary Indian history.
