Parliament Question: Modernization of museums and digital collections

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 35 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29/01/2026 “MODERNIZATION OF INDIAN MUSEUMS AND DIGITAL COLLECTIONS” 35#. SHRI PRADIP KUMAR VARMA: Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) the details of the progress made in the modernization of National Museum, the Indian Museum and other major museums, including the development of digital galleries and the installation of interactive exhibitions; (b) the status of the work undertaken for the digital archiving and online availability of rare manuscripts, artworks and antiquities preserved in museums; and (c) the details of assistance provided to the State Governments and private institutions under the 'Museum Grant Scheme' and the role it has played in the establishment of new museums? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) Modernization of National Museum, the Indian Museum and other major museums is an ongoing process. Museums under the administrative control of Ministry of Culture are constantly upgrading their galleries through reorganisation along with improvements in lighting, display systems and visitors amenities like online ticketing, diversifying offering at Souvenir shops, development of conservation facilities, improving accessibility and interactive exhibitions for visitors engagement. (b) The digital archiving of the artefacts/rare manuscripts, artworks and antiquities preserved in the museums have been made online of the major museums which are available at https://museumsofindia.gov.in and attached as Annexure-I.(c) Under the Museum Grant Scheme, funds are given to Central/State Governments owned museums, museums owned by Societies, Autonomous Bodies, Local Bodies, Academic Institutions, Public Sector Undertakings and Trusts registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860 for establishment/development of new/existing museums at the Regional, State and District To facilitate for better utilization of funds under the scheme guidelines of Museum Grant Scheme were revised in November, 2021 and two new components viz. Virtual Experiential Museums (VEM) and Projects of National importance have been added in the scheme. *****ANNEXURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED IN PART (b) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. DUE FOR ANSWER ON 29.01.2026 REGARDING “MODERNIZATION OF MUSEUMS AND DIGITAL COLLECTION”. Digitized collections available on the website Total Number of Available on % Available S. Name of Museum artefacts in the website on the no. Museum website 1 National Museum 206169 109721 53.22 2 Indian Museum 108000 80240 74.30 3 Victoria Memorial Hall 28394 28127 99.06 4 Salar Jung Museum 48367 48367 100.00 5 Allahabad Museum 70121 63125 90.02 6 NGMA, New Delhi 15929 12814 80.44 7 NGMA, Mumbai 1457 1461 100.27 8 NGMA, Bengaluru 534 534 100.00 9 ASI Goa Museum 729 702 96.30 10 ASI, Nagarjunakonda 8453 8450 99.96 Museum. Total 488153 353541 72.42