Modi Proposes Compiling And Preserving Emergency-Era Legal Records, Calls For National ‘Museum Map’ At PMML Society Meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while chairing the annual general meeting of the Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) Society on Monday (23 June), proposed that all legal records and documents related to the Emergency (1975–77) be compiled and preserved ahead of its 50th anniversary.

As per a report by The New Indian Express, Modi suggested the initiative as a critical historical resource, noting that archiving such records would help future generations and researchers better understand the period.

The meeting, held at Teen Murti Bhavan, was attended by senior Cabinet ministers including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Gajendra Shekhawat, as well as new members of the reconstituted PMML Society, such as Smriti Irani, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, and former NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar.

Modi also unveiled a broader vision for India's museum ecosystem, proposing a “Museum Map of India” and the creation of a national database of museums, featuring metrics such as footfall and quality standards. He called for capacity-building workshops and increased technology integration in museum operations.

Emphasising youth participation, he advised forming state-wise committees of five members under the age of 35 to provide fresh ideas on enhancing India’s museums.

To boost engagement, the Prime Minister suggested inviting social media influencers and foreign embassy officials to visit museums across the country. He also planted a camphor (Kapur) sapling on the Teen Murti campus to symbolise heritage and sustainability.

The meeting included suggestions from other members, including Ashwani Lohani, newly appointed director of PMML, and Nripendra Misra, reappointed as chairperson of the institution for another five-year term.