contemporary Indian artists. The collection has been built up mainly by purchase and also by
gift. The NGMA’s important collections include paintings, sculptures, graphic arts and
photographs. It organizes exhibitions from its collection and under cultural exchange programme
periodically. Several colour reproductions have been brought out. The objective of NGMA is to
help people look at the works of modern art with understanding and sensitivity.
Relevant Website: www.ngmaindia.gov.in
Indian Museum
The history and the highlights of the Indian Museum the eighth oldest Museum in the world
which houses almost 1.10 lakhs of artefacts telling the oriental history and the heritage of India.
The history of the origin and the growth of the Indian Museum is one of the remarkable
events towards the development of heritage and culture of India. Sir William Jones as one of the
profoundest scholars devoted his life to the service of India founded Asiatic Society in 1784. Dr.
Nathanial Wallich, a Danish Botanist, wrote a letter to the Asiatic Society in which he strongly
advocated the formation of a Museum at the premises of the Society. Thus a museum, under the
guidance of Dr. Nathanial Wallich was established in 1814 at the cradle of the Asiatic Society.
The museum was known in the beginning as the “Asiatic Society Museum” subsequently came
to be known as the “Imperial Museum” and later familiarized as the “Indian Museum” which is
more familiar by the name “Jadughar” among the visitors. The present building of the Indian
Museum was completed in 1875. Though in the beginning Indian Museum was opened with two
galleries later on it was transformed into a multi purpose Institution where multi-disciplinary
objects have been displayed in its six sections viz, art, archaeology, anthropology, zoology,
geology and botany. The Museum which was founded on 1814 at the cradle of the Asiatic
Society thus grew into the largest institution of its kind of the country portraying the legacy and
pride of the nation. Since 1878, at its present edifice, Indian Museum has been rendering its
services to the people of India as an epitome of art and culture of India and is also being
highlighted as one of the pioneering national institutions in the Constitution of the Republic of
India.
Indian Museum plays a significant role not only preserving the artefacts of the Indian
heritage but also acts as a catalyst as an interpretation centre of Indian art heritage to facilitate the
audience as a learning centre through its multicultural activities, which is needed to highlight
properly to augmenting more and more tourist to the region.
National Council of Science Museums
National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous body under the Ministry of
Culture, is the largest network of science centres/museums in the world functioning under a
single administrative control. It is primarily engaged in spreading the culture of science in the
society especially among students with a motto of ‘Communicating Science to Empower People’
through its network of Science Centres spread across India. NCSM is the implementing agency
for the Science City Scheme for developing new science centres in the country of national,
regional and district level. NCSM has its own network of 25 science museums/centres and has
also developed and handed over 24 science centres to various State/UT governments. NCSM
also provides catalytic support to other organizations by way of developing interactive exhibits
and exhibitions using state of the art display technologies and techniques. Through its two-