The National Museum, New Delhi

The National Museum, New Delhi, was established in 1949 and preserves over 5,000 years of India's rich cultural heritage. The blueprint for establishing a National Museum in Delhi was prepared by the Maurice Gwyer Committee in May 1946. An Exhibition of Indian Art, comprising selected artefacts from various museums across India, was organised by the Royal Academy, London, with the cooperation of the Governments of India and Britain.

The exhibition was displayed at the galleries of Burlington House, London, during the winter of 1947–48. It was subsequently decided that the same collection should be exhibited in Delhi before the artefacts were returned to their respective museums. An exhibition was therefore organised at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, in 1949, and its tremendous success played a crucial role in the creation of the National Museum.

The success of the exhibition led to the idea of developing the magnificent collection as the nucleus of the National Museum. State Governments, museum authorities, and private donors who had participated in the exhibition were approached for the gift or loan of artefacts, and many responded generously. These contributions formed the foundation of what would become one of India's foremost museums.

On August 15, 1949, the National Museum, New Delhi, was inaugurated at Rashtrapati Bhavan by Shri R. C. Rajagopalachari, the Governor-General of India. The foundation stone of the present museum building was laid by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, on May 12, 1955. The first phase of the present building was formally inaugurated by Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the Vice President of India, on December 18, 1960. The second phase of the building was completed in 1989.

The Museum continued to expand its collections through donations, loans, and acquisitions made through its Arts Purchase Committee. Today, the National Museum houses approximately 2,00,000 objects, comprising both Indian and foreign artefacts and representing more than 5,000 years of cultural heritage. Its collections include archaeology, sculpture, paintings, manuscripts, jewellery, arms and armour, textiles, anthropology, and numismatics and epigraphy.

The National Museum's Numismatics and Epigraphy collection is of particular interest to numismatists, documenting India's long monetary and inscriptional traditions. The museum's extensive holdings provide an opportunity to understand the development of Indian coinage alongside the political, cultural, and artistic history of the subcontinent.

The National Museum was initially administered by the Director General of Archaeology. In 1957, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, declared it a separate institution and placed it under its direct control. At present, the National Museum functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

Located on Janpath, New Delhi, the National Museum is one of India's premier cultural institutions. The Museum currently has 29 permanent galleries across three floors, presenting the country's diverse artistic and cultural heritage.

According to the current official visitor information, the Museum is open Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. It remains closed on Mondays and national holidays. The adult admission fee is ₹20, while students up to Class 12 are entitled to free entry with a valid identity card. The current official visitor information lists the foreign-national ticket at ₹500.

The National Museum remains an important destination for historians, researchers, art enthusiasts, students, and numismatists, offering an opportunity to explore India's rich and diverse cultural heritage through its remarkable collections.