The President's Secretariat has announced that the eighth e-auction of historical mementos — gifts presented to successive Indian Prime Ministers by visiting heads of state and dignitaries — will commence on September 17. This edition features a specially curated selection of 50 'Hero Objects', handpicked to represent some of the most distinctive and significant pieces from the vast archive of diplomatic gifts.
The auction is conducted online through the official portal of the President's Secretariat, allowing registered bidders across the country to participate. These mementos, which span several decades of India's diplomatic history, have become increasingly popular among collectors and institutions seeking tangible links to the nation's foreign relations heritage.
In its seven previous iterations, the e-auction series has generated a cumulative total of ₹52 crore, with all proceeds flowing into the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF). The fund supports relief and rehabilitation efforts in situations of natural disasters, pandemics, and other emergencies affecting vulnerable populations across India.
The concept of auctioning presidential mementos was introduced as a means of monetising items that, while historically valuable, are maintained in storage rather than displayed. The collection includes artefacts such as intricate handicrafts, ceremonial weapons, jewellery, paintings, manuscripts, and luxury items gifted by foreign leaders over decades of bilateral visits.
The designation of 'Hero Objects' for this eighth edition suggests a deliberate curatorial effort to highlight particularly notable pieces — items that carry exceptional historical significance or artistic merit. These are expected to attract strong bidding interest. Previous auctions have seen substantial bids for rare mementos, with individual items occasionally fetching lakhs of rupees.
Bidders interested in participating must register on the designated auction portal well in advance of the September 17 start date. The President's Secretariat typically releases a detailed catalogue listing all items available in each auction, complete with descriptions, provenance, and estimated values. Catalogues for past auctions have demonstrated the wide range of items available, spanning everything from traditional Indian artefacts sent abroad and returned as diplomatic tokens, to contemporary artworks and ceremonial regalia from foreign heads of state.
