Explore the fascinating world of museums with our latest edition of “Museum in News: Current Affairs and Top Headlines 2024.” Discover the latest happenings, and stay updated on all things museum-related. This concise resource is your go-to guide for an easy and enjoyable overview of the current affairs shaping the museum landscape in 2024.
Museum in News, Current Affairs January to December 2024
November 2024
- The Major Ralengnao ‘Bob’ Khathing ‘Museum of Valour’ was inaugurated in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.
- India’s first Constitution Museum was inaugurated at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), Sonipat, Haryana, to enhance public understanding of the Constitution.
- The 2024 G20 Rio de Janeiro Summit, the nineteenth meeting of the G20, was held at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 18–19 November 2024, marking Brazil’s first time hosting the summit.
October 2024
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the Banjara Virasat ‘Nagara’ Museum in Pohradevi, Maharashtra.
- The foundation stone for India’s first Right to Information Museum was recently laid at Beawar (Rajasthan).
September 2024
- Vedic-3D Museum Announcement: The Uttar Pradesh government has announced the construction of a Vedic-3D Museum at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi.
Key Points:
- Location: The Vedic-3D Museum will be constructed at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi.
- Focus Areas: The museum will be dedicated to Indian astrology, astronomy, and Vedic literature.
- Showcasing Vedic Traditions: It will highlight the evolution of Vedic traditions, including the 16 Sanskars, 64 arts, and 18 Vidya Sthans.
- Rare Manuscripts: The museum will display rare manuscripts from Saraswati Bhawan, including the “Raas Panchadhyayi,” Shrimad Bhagwat Gita, and Durgasaptashati, adorned with gold artistry.
- Reviving Shastrartha: It aims to revive the tradition of ‘Shastrartha’ (spiritual discourse) and deepen knowledge in Vedic literature.
August 2024
- The Ministry of Culture recently inaugurated a three-day ‘State Museum Conclave’ on ‘Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum’ at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
- India’s first Constitution Museum, “The Constitution Academy and The Rights & Freedoms Museum,” is set to be inaugurated by OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat.
GOOD NEWS
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) July 28, 2023
World’s largest museum ‘Yuge Yugeen Bharat’ which will be built in Delhi will have 950 rooms & it will show India’s story in last 5,000 years. It will be built over 1.17 lakh sqm area.
Reference Pic pic.twitter.com/wiPYBzDMES
July 2024
- Ashmolean Museum of Oxford University has decided to return a 16th-century bronze sculpture of ‘Saint Tirumankai Alvar’ to India.
- Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum in Bhuj, Gujarat has been named one of the world’s seven most beautiful museums by the Prix Versailles Award for Architecture and Design.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has inaugurated India’s first ‘Chadwick House: Navigating Audit Heritage Museum in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
- Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved a proposal by Tata Sons to build a ‘Museum of Temples’ in Ayodhya, highlighting the history and architecture of India’s renowned temples.
June 2024
- Ashmolean Museum of Oxford University has decided to return a 16th-century bronze sculpture of ‘Saint Tirumankai Alvar’ to India.
- Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum in Bhuj, Gujarat, has been named one of the world’s seven most beautiful museums by the Prix Versailles Award for Architecture and Design.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has inaugurated India’s first ‘Chadwick House: Navigating Audit Heritage Museum in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
- Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved Tata Sons to build a ‘museum of temples’ in Ayodhya, highlighting the history and architecture of India’s renowned temples.
March-April-May 2024
- Kozhikode (Kerala) is set to host Asia’s first International Cooperative Museum (ICM), marking a significant milestone in cooperative history and development.
- Pankaj Advani, a renowned Indian billiards player, has been inducted into the Hall of Fame at the World Billiards Museum in Shangrao City, China, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the sport.
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February 2024
- Union Minister G Kishan Reddy recently laid the foundation stone for India’s first National Museum of Epigraphy at the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad.
- Nima Sarikhani has been awarded the 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award by the Natural History Museum (London) for his captivating picture of a sleeping polar bear titled ‘Ice Bed’.
- Anubhav Kendra, constructed in Jyotisar, Kurukshetra, at a cost of approximately 240 crores, stands as a testament to cultural preservation. Spanning over 17 acres, with over 100,000 square feet of indoor space, this museum commemorates the sacred site where Lord Krishna imparted the eternal wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna.
- Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for the Sant Ravidas Museum in Uttar Pradesh, further enriching the cultural landscape of the region.
January 2024
- In a recent development, a wax statue honouring Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar has been placed in the Jaipur Wax Museum, specifically within the historic Nahargarh Fort.
- The unveiling of five new galleries at the Salar Jung Museum was marked by the inauguration carried out by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy. This cultural addition is located in the vibrant city of Hyderabad.
Museum in News January to December 2023
November-December 2023
- The Hump WWII Museum opened its doors in Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, on November 30, 2023. This museum pays tribute to the Allied pilots who flew the treacherous “Hump” air route between India and China during World War II, transporting vital supplies and facing immense dangers. The museum features aircraft wreckage, personal artefacts, and exhibits chronicling their sacrifices.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) received the prestigious 2023 Leif Erikson Lunar Prize from the Exploration Museum in Husavik, Iceland. This award acknowledges ISRO’s significant contributions to lunar exploration, particularly its Chandrayaan missions.
- The Erlitou Site Museum of the Xia Capital in Luoyang, China, was awarded the Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts. This honour recognizes the museum’s innovative architecture and exhibits that effectively present this significant archaeological site while respecting its historical context.
✅ Read Also: IITs (Indian Institute of Technology) in News – Latest Current Affairs
October 2023
Reliance Foundation has signed a new cooperation agreement with the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Museum to build on the success of the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) in India.
The First Gandhi Museum opened in North America’s Houston.
Key Points:
- The Eternal Gandhi Museum (EGMH) is the first free-standing Gandhi Museum in North America.
- The museum is dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of peace.
- The museum officially opened its doors to the public on August 15, 2023.
- The grand ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on October 2, 2023, the 154th birth anniversary of Gandhi.
- The museum’s architecture is based on Gandhi’s twenty-four-spoke Chakra spinning wheel.
- The museum offers insights into different chapters of Gandhi’s life, including his childhood in India, his early adulthood as a lawyer in Africa, and his non-violent fight for independence.
- The museum has three distinct galleries: “His Journey,” “Our Journey,” and “My Journey.”
- The museum also has a state-of-the-art auditorium which is available for birthdays, anniversaries, conferences, performances, and other celebrations.
September 2023
- The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art featured artefacts from the site of Phanigiri (Telangana, India), dating back to the period of 200 BCE to 400 CE.
August 2023
- Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has laid the foundation stone for the ‘Iconic Site Museum’ at Adichanallur archaeological site in Tamil Nadu.
- The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library has officially been renamed as the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society in New Delhi.
July 2023
- India and France recently entered into the “Horizon 2047” agreement, encompassing numerous joint projects. One significant milestone in this collaboration is France’s selection as India’s partner to establish a prestigious National Museum in New Delhi.
- Recently, the newly constructed National Martyr’s Memorial and National Railway Protection Museum has been inaugurated in Lucknow.
- The Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum, the largest museum in the world, is being built in New Delhi.
• The museum will cover an area of 1.17 lakh sqm (129,000 sq ft) and will be divided into eight thematic zones, each of which will focus on a different aspect of Indian history and culture. • The zones will include the Indus Valley Civilization, the Vedic Age, the Buddhist Era, the Gupta Empire, the Mughal Empire, the British Raj, Modern India, and the Future of India. • The museum is expected to be completed by 2026 and will be a major tourist attraction and a valuable resource for scholars and researchers from all over the world.
April-May-June 2023
- In a recent development, the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society in Delhi has undergone a name change and is now known as the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society.
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the International Museum Expo 2023 in New Delhi.
During the event, the Prime Minister will unveil the expo's mascot, a stylized version of the iconic dancing girl from Mohenjo-Daro, depicted in the form of Channapatna toys. Additionally, Prime Minister Modi will launch a virtual walkthrough of the forthcoming Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum, which will be located in the North Block and South Block. The museum aims to showcase India's rich civilizational culture spanning 5,000 years.
- International Museum Day (IMD) is observed on 18th May.
- The theme of 2023 IMD is: “Museums, Sustainability, and Well-being.”
February-March 2023
- Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, inaugurated the Keeladi Museum in the Sivaganga district, which highlights the lifestyle of ancient Tamils from the Sangam Age. The museum offers visitors an array of antiques, as well as virtual reality experiences of the excavations and models of Sangam Age ships.
January 2023
- The world’s first Palm-leaf Manuscript Museum has been inaugurated in Kerala.
- The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) and Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML), jointly inaugurated Astro Tourism – A Sky Gazing event under the banner of Amrit Mahotsav of Independence, at India Gate Lawns, Kartavya Path, New Delhi, Delhi.
Museum in News January to December 2022
December 2022
- Indian spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was honoured with the “Emissary of Peace” award by the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, US.
- India’s first infantry museum will be inaugurated in Madhya Pradesh.
- Recently, a palm-leaf manuscript museum with modern audio-visual technology was inaugurated in Kerala.
November 2022
- Recently, it was announced that North East’s first fish museum will be built in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Recently, the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) under the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change, India, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) jointly launched the “In Our Lifetime” campaign at COP 27, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
- Recently, the National Museum, of New Delhi and the Kolding Museum of Denmark announced the opening of a joint exhibition on silver hoards in March 2023.
September 2022
- The world’s largest museum on Harappan culture is being developed at Rakhigarhi in the state of Haryana. It exhibits nearly 5,000-year-old artefacts of the Indus Civilization. This world-class museum will display pictures of the history of Rakhigari.
August 2022
- The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recently launched a digital space museum called SPARK.
- This digital space museum ‘SPARK’ has an interactive interface through which users can easily interact with the site.
- The platform hosts several documents, images, and videos related to the launch of ISRO’s vehicles, satellites, and scientific missions.
June 2022
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman dedicates to the nation Dharohar – National Museum of Customs and GST, located in Goa.
- PM Modi inaugurated an underground ‘Gallery of Revolutionaries’ Museum in Mumbai, Maharashtra
May 2022
- The Archaeology and Museums Department of the state has built a museum where nearly 400 artefacts dating back to the early historical period will be displayed. Andhra Pradesh
- Which city will Purvanchal’s first natural science museum come up in? Gorakhpur
- Which date is International Museum Day celebrated? 18th May
April 2022
- A museum of all former Prime Ministers, Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya has been built in which state/ UT? ➥ New Delhi
- A community museum was inaugurated in Gya-Sasoma villages to preserve the rich cultural heritage for future generations. In which UT/state are the villages located? ➥ Ladakh
- Paytm has become an official digital payments partner for the Prime Ministers’ Museum. Where is this museum located? ➥ New Delhi
March 2022
- The Museum of the Future has recently been made accessible to the public. In which city is it located? ➥ Abu Dhabi
- The Museum of the Future is located in the Financial District of Dubai, UAE.
- The museum aims to promote technological advances and innovations, particularly in the areas of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).
February 2022
- The minister for culture, Minister of Tourism, and Minister of Development of the North Eastern Region, G Kishan Reddy inaugurated the first of its kind a 2-day global summit titled ➥ “Reimagining Museums in India”
◘ KEY OBJECTIVES
- Sharing global best practices for museum development and management.
- Understanding the current needs of Indian museums.
- Fostering strategic partnerships between Indian and international museums.
- Developing a blueprint for the renewal of museums.
January 2022
- India’s first rock Museum was inaugurated in ➥ Hyderabad
- To mark the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose the Bose Museum opened in ➥ Jabalpur Central Jail, Madhya Pradesh
- A decommissioned Indian naval ship (INS) will be handed over to the Diu administration so that it can be developed as a full-scale museum. The name of the naval ship is ➥ Khukri
Museum in News Top One-liners 2021
- The first Maritime Museum of India will be set up at Lothal, Gujarat.
- India’s first private Space Science Museum has opened in Hyderabad, Bengaluru.
- Virasat-e-Khalsa Museum is located in Anandpur Sahib near Chandigarh.
- The new Chairperson of the executive council of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) in New Delhi is Nripendra Mishra.
- A selfie museum called the Selfie Kingdom was recently inaugurated in Dubai.
- The first Indian elected to the honorary Trustee of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) is Nita Ambani.
- The National Rail Museum is located in New Delhi.
- India’s first national film museum was set up in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- India’s First Living Culinary Arts Museum was founded by Vikas Khanna.
- The government has announced setting up a museum of Numismatics in Kolkata, West Bengal.
- FM Nirmala Sitharaman informed about setting up a tribal museum in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
- Hagia Sophia museum in Turkey has been turned back into a mosque.
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is planning to set up a virtual museum of the securities market to highlight achievements and milestones in the Indian capital market.
- Indian Railways have developed a Malgudi museum at Arasalu Railway Station, Karnataka.
- Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal has dedicated a Railway Museum at Hubballi railway station in Karnataka.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first museum on Ganga “Ganga Avalokan” in Uttarakhand.
- Sambath Subbaiah won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award from London’s Natural History Museum in the Bird Behavior category.
- India’s first Sandalwood Museum will be set up at Mysuru.
- The Government of India announced a museum on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary in 2022 in Kolkata, West Bengal.
- On the 152nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the renovated Gandhi Museum was inaugurated at Gandhi Ashram Trust in Noakhali, Bangladesh.
- Museum Rietberg in Zurich has established a GBF research centre and fellowship program focusing on Indian art.
- President Ram Nath Kovind recently inaugurated the General KS Thimayya Museum in Karnataka.
- The Madhya Pradesh government decided to build a museum on Dacoits in Bhind district.
- Museum of Illusions opened in Delhi.
- According to a study by the Natural History Museum in London, Colombia is home to the world’s largest variety of butterflies.
- India’s first Labour Movement Museum will be launched in Kerala.
- The first woman US vice president to have a figure displayed at Madame Tussauds in New York is Kamala Harris.
- The first female president of Musée du Louvre in Paris, France is Laurence des Cars.
- The ancestral home of former Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao in Vangara village, Karimnagar district will be set up as a museum.
- The first-ever alcohol museum in India, “All About Alcohol,” has opened in Goa.
- As part of the 75th Anniversary of India’s Independence, the Ministry of Defence initiated a project to create the first Cyber Museum to honour India’s war heroes.
- State culture and tourism minister of Madhya Pradesh, Usha Thakur, inaugurated the Fossils Museum in Mandu.
- Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum will be set up in Kapurthala.
- Union Minister Piyush Goyal virtually launched India’s first digital Food Museum in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.
- How many ‘Tribal Freedom Fighters’ Museums will be set up in India? ➥ Nine
- 1. Rajpipla, Gujarat
- 2. Ranchi, Jharkhand
- 3. Lambasingi, Andhra Pradesh
- 4. Raipur, (Chhattisgarh
- 5. Kozhikode, Kerala
- 6. Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh
- 7. Hyderabad, Telangana
- 8. Senapati, Manipur
- 9. Kelsi, Mizoram
- The largest Tribal Freedom Fighters museum is being constructed in _➥ Rajpipla, Gujarat
- When is International Museum Day observed every year? ➥ May 18
- What is the theme of International Museum Day 2021? ➥ Theme: The Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine
- The theme of the International Museum Day 2020? Museums for Equality: Diversity and Inclusion