Skip to content
GK24

PM Mementos e-Auction 2026: Gujarat's Heritage Goes Under the Hammer

The 8th PM Mementos e-Auction, begun on 17 September 2026, offers 1,498 mementos, with Gujarat's crafts featured; proceeds go to the Namami Gange Programme.

By Published · 2 min read
PM Mementos e-Auction 2026: Gujarat's Heritage Goes Under the Hammer

Why in News

On 21 September 2026 the Ministry of Culture highlighted Gujarat's heritage items in the 8th PM Mementos e-Auction, which began on 17 September 2026.

The 8th edition of the PM Mementos e-Auction, which opened on 17 September 2026, is offering 1,498 mementos presented to the Prime Minister on various occasions. On 21 September 2026 the Ministry of Culture highlighted the Gujarat collection in the auction, which brings together the State's temple architecture, textiles, folk painting, sport and technology.

Gujarat items in the auction

  • Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Vadnagar: an architectural memento of the 17th-century temple, with ornamentation inspired by the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
  • Mata-ni-Pachedi: a "Tree of Life" textile painting. The name means "behind the Mother Goddess", as these cloths were made to hang behind the deity in shrines.
  • Pithora painting: a framed work of the ritual art associated with the Rathwa, Bhil and Bhilala communities of central Gujarat, showing horses, deities and other motifs.
  • India's first solar tile with engraved glass showing the Modhera Sun Temple, linking an old sun temple with modern solar energy.
  • A sports memento from table tennis player Manav Thakkar, who has represented India at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Championships.
  • Also on offer: representations of the Ambaji and Somnath temples and Dwarkadhish Ji, a Bhujodi shawl, Lippan art, a model of AIIMS Rajkot, a layered wooden model of the Adalaj stepwell, and Tata Electronics' semiconductor plaque titled "Charkha to Chips".

How the auction works

The auction is organised by the Ministry of Culture through the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, and runs online on the portal pmmementos.gov.in. Citizens, collectors, institutions and art lovers can bid for the gifts. The money raised goes to the Namami Gange Programme, the national mission to conserve and rejuvenate the River Ganga.

ItemDetail
Edition8th
Started17 September 2026
Mementos on offer1,498
OrganiserMinistry of Culture, through NGMA New Delhi
Proceeds go toNamami Gange Programme
Auction series beganJanuary 2019
Raised so farMore than ₹50 crore

Since the series began in January 2019, the earlier editions have raised more than ₹50 crore for the Namami Gange project.

Important Facts

Edition8th PM Mementos e-Auction
Began17 September 2026
Mementos offered1,498
Organised byMinistry of Culture through NGMA, New Delhi
ProceedsNamami Gange Programme
First editionJanuary 2019
Raised so farMore than ₹50 crore
Portalpmmementos.gov.in
Pithora painting communitiesRathwa, Bhil and Bhilala
Hatkeshwar Mahadev TempleVadnagar, 17th century

Exam Point of View

Expect questions on where the proceeds go (Namami Gange), who organises the auction (Ministry of Culture through NGMA), the edition (8th) and number of items (1,498), and on Gujarat's art forms: Pithora (Rathwa, Bhil, Bhilala), Mata-ni-Pachedi, Lippan art, the Adalaj stepwell and the Modhera Sun Temple.

Practice Questions

Q1.NationalEasy

The proceeds of the PM Mementos e-Auction go to which programme?

  1. A.Swachh Bharat Kosh
  2. B.Namami Gange Programme
  3. C.PM CARES Fund
  4. D.National Defence Fund
Show answer

Correct answer: B. Namami Gange Programme

Explanation

The correct answer is Namami Gange Programme. The money raised by the PM Mementos e-Auction supports Namami Gange, the national mission dedicated to the conservation, rejuvenation and protection of the River Ganga and its ecosystem. Since the series began in January 2019, the earlier editions have raised more than ₹50 crore for the project.

The other options are real government funds, which is why they are plausible. Swachh Bharat Kosh collects contributions for sanitation under the Swachh Bharat Mission. The PM CARES Fund was set up for emergency and disaster relief. The National Defence Fund supports the welfare of the armed forces and their families. None of them receives the auction money. The 8th edition of the auction began on 17 September 2026 and offers 1,498 mementos online.

Q2.NationalMedium

The PM Mementos e-Auction is organised by the Ministry of Culture through which institution?

  1. A.Lalit Kala Akademi
  2. B.National Museum, New Delhi
  3. C.National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi
  4. D.Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts
Show answer

Correct answer: C. National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi

Explanation

The correct answer is National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. The Ministry of Culture organises the PM Mementos e-Auction through NGMA, and the auction gives citizens, collectors, institutions and art enthusiasts a chance to acquire mementos presented to the Prime Minister on various occasions. It is conducted online on the portal pmmementos.gov.in.

The other three are also institutions under the Ministry of Culture, which makes them strong distractors. The Lalit Kala Akademi is the national academy of fine arts. The National Museum in New Delhi holds India's major collection of antiquities. The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts works on research and documentation of the arts. Only NGMA runs this auction, whose 8th edition started on 17 September 2026.

Q3.NationalMedium

The Pithora painting featured in the PM Mementos e-Auction 2026 is associated with which communities of central Gujarat?

  1. A.Rathwa, Bhil and Bhilala
  2. B.Warli and Kokna
  3. C.Gond and Baiga
  4. D.Santhal and Munda
Show answer

Correct answer: A. Rathwa, Bhil and Bhilala

Explanation

The correct answer is Rathwa, Bhil and Bhilala. The Ministry of Culture's note on the auction describes a framed Pithora painting associated with these communities of central Gujarat, featuring horses, deities and motifs that represent the beliefs behind the art. Pithora paintings are traditionally made on the walls of homes as a ritual offering, and the horse is one of their most recognisable figures.

The other pairs are linked with different tribal art traditions, which is how exams test this topic. Warli painting, with its stick-like figures, comes from the Warli and neighbouring communities of the Maharashtra–Gujarat border. Gond art belongs to central India, especially Madhya Pradesh, and the Baiga live in the same region. The Santhal and Munda are communities of eastern India. Other Gujarat items in the auction include a Mata-ni-Pachedi textile, Lippan art and a Bhujodi shawl.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the money from the PM Mementos e-Auction go?

The proceeds support the Namami Gange Programme, the national mission for the conservation and rejuvenation of the River Ganga. The auction series has raised more than ₹50 crore since January 2019.

Who organises the PM Mementos e-Auction?

The Ministry of Culture, through the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi. The 8th edition, which began on 17 September 2026, runs online on pmmementos.gov.in.

Sources