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 January to December 2024
Museum in News March 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.
Museum in News 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.
Museum in News 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
Museum in News 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.
Museum in News 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.
Museum in News 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.
Museum in News 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.
Museum in News 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.
“Museum in News”: 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.”
“Museum in News”: 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.
“Museum in News”: 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.
