Delhi/Hyderabad, Aug 11 (Maxim News): Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s gifts auction has raised more than ₹52 crore since 2021, according to the Centre.
The government auctions gifts and mementos presented to Modi during official events. The proceeds support the Namami Gange programme.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared the details in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. The National Gallery of Modern Art oversees the auction process.
The auctions feature items presented by organisations, public figures, political leaders, sportspersons and other representatives.
The government generally conducts the e auctions around Modi’s birthday. The auction period usually runs from September 17 to October 31.
According to the Centre, the system changed after 2019. Before that, the government did not conduct such auctions through the National Gallery of Modern Art.
Modi gifts auction funds Namami Gange
The seven editions listed by the government generated more than ₹52 crore in total. The collections included ₹3.1 crore in the first edition in 2021 and ₹3.6 crore in the second edition in 2022.
The third edition in 2023 raised ₹15.8 crore. The fourth edition in the same year generated ₹14.4 crore.
The fifth edition in 2024 collected ₹11.16 crore. The sixth edition raised another ₹2.24 crore that year.
The seventh edition in 2025 generated ₹1.89 crore. Together, these auctions generated more than ₹52 crore.
The items offered for auction represent India’s cultural and artistic diversity. They include paintings, sculptures, handicrafts, religious idols, handloom products and sports memorabilia.
Some items have attracted particularly high bids. A miniature temple display featuring a Tulja Bhavani idol reportedly fetched about ₹1.03 crore.
Other notable items have included a metallic model of the Ayodhya Ram Temple and a Pashmina shawl from Jammu and Kashmir.
A Tanjore Ram Darbar painting and a metallic Nataraja statue have also appeared in the auctions. Traditional works such as Gujarat’s Rogan art and handloom products from Nagaland have featured as well.
Sports memorabilia has also drawn interest. Items linked to the Olympic and Paralympic Games have entered the auctions. The collection has included sports equipment and a javelin associated with Neeraj Chopra.
The proceeds go towards Namami Gange, the government’s programme for cleaning and restoring the Ganga river system. The National Mission for Clean Ganga implements the programme.
The funds support projects involving pollution control and wastewater treatment. They also support riverfront development, biodiversity conservation and river restoration.
The Centre said Modi followed a similar practice during his tenure as Gujarat chief minister. At that time, auction proceeds from gifts were used for girls’ education.
The government now directs the proceeds towards river conservation at the national level. Thus, the auction converts official gifts into funds for a public purpose.
Details of the items, including photographs, base prices and auction information, are made available through the official PM Mementos platform during the auction period.(Maxim News)
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