The Ministry of Culture is set to launch the eighth edition of the PM Mementos e-auction on September 17. This event will feature 1,498 gifts that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received, all available for public bidding.
Union Minister Highlights Prime Minister’s Commitment to Public Service
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasized on Wednesday that a recent initiative showcases the Prime Minister’s dedication to public service. He stated, ‘The Prime Minister has never worked in self-interest. He truly believes in and embodies the fact that what the country has given him is not his to keep but has to be returned to people.’
The initiative includes items collected from various states, including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, Bihar, and Odisha. According to the ministry, these mementos reflect India’s artistic traditions, craftsmanship, cultural practices, spiritual traditions, and sporting achievements.
As with previous editions, proceeds from the sale will go to the Namami Gange Programme, the Centre’s flagship initiative for the rejuvenation and conservation of the Ganga. The auction, first held in January 2019, has since raised more than ₹ 52 crore, according to figures shared by the ministry in Parliament. The single largest sale remains Neeraj Chopra’s Tokyo Olympics javelin, which fetched ₹ 1.5 crore in 2021.
