India's PMO to move out of South Block after 78 years

After 78 years of functioning from South Block, part of the British-era Central Secretariat, India’s Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is set to relocate from its historic building to a new modern complex in the Executive Enclave next month, reports NDTV.

The new building, constructed under the Central Vista redevelopment project, will also accommodate the Cabinet Secretariat, National Security Council, and state-of-the-art meeting and conference facilities.

According to NDTV, the decision to shift the PMO was driven by space constraints and outdated infrastructure. Both North Block and South Block, which have served as the administrative nerve center since independence, lack adequate natural light, ventilation, and modern amenities for government employees.

Earlier this year, the Home Ministry was relocated to Prattu Bhavan-3, highlighting the need for better working conditions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after securing his third term, emphasized that the PMO “should be the people’s office, it cannot be Modi’s PMO.”

Once the relocation is complete, North Block and South Block will be repurposed into a museum named ‘Yuge Yugin Bharat Sangrahalaya’ to showcase India’s history and heritage. An agreement has been signed between the National Museum of India and France Museums Development for this project.