Giriraj Singh: PM mementos e-auction fetches ₹1.89 cr in 2025
Synopsis
The Indian government raised ₹1.89 crore in 2025 by auctioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official mementos online. Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh shared the update via the NaMo App, highlighting the e-auction mechanism that converts surrendered gifts into exchequer revenue under established public-functionary gift-disposal norms.
Key Takeaways
The 2025 e-auction of PM Narendra Modi's official mementos and gifts raised ₹1.89 crore for the government.
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh publicised the figure on 12 August 2026 via the NaMo App .
Government rules bar public functionaries from retaining gifts above a nominal value; surrendered items are auctioned online.
The e-auction format widens bidder participation and ensures market-determined, transparent pricing.
Proceeds flow directly to the government exchequer, converting stored assets into public revenue.
Every gift a Prime Minister receives in office belongs not to the man but to the republic — and in 2025, auctioning those mementos online put ₹1.89 crore back into the government's coffers. Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh shared the update on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, amplifying a government disclosure via the NaMo App.
What the ₹1.89 crore figure represents
The proceeds stem from the periodic e-auction of official gifts and mementos received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the course of his duties. Under established government norms, public functionaries cannot retain gifts beyond a prescribed value threshold; items above that limit are surrendered and auctioned, with proceeds flowing to the exchequer. The digital auction format — conducted online — broadens participation beyond any single city and is designed to fetch competitive prices.
E-governance, transparency, and the gift-disposal norm
The practice is rooted in the Government of India's gift-acceptance rules, which require that mementos above a nominal value be deposited with the government. E-auctions extend that transparency norm into the digital age: every bid is logged, every lot is publicly listed, and the final price is a market outcome rather than an administrative estimate. The NaMo App — the Prime Minister's Office's official digital channel — has become a routine vehicle for publicising such governance updates, reinforcing the administration's e-governance positioning.
For taxpayers, the arithmetic is straightforward: assets that would otherwise sit in storage are converted into revenue. The ₹1.89 crore figure for 2025 adds to a multi-year track record of similar auctions, which have drawn competitive bidding from collectors and institutions alike.
As e-auction mechanisms mature, the question worth watching is whether the model expands to gifts received by other constitutional authorities — a logical next step if the transparency logic is applied consistently across the executive.
Point of View
Citizen-friendly terms — a revenue figure attached to a named asset class is harder to dismiss than an abstract governance claim. For Giriraj Singh, amplifying a government data point via the NaMo App reinforces the BJP's e-governance narrative ahead of any electoral cycle. The broader policy question is whether the gift-disposal framework, currently anchored around the Prime Minister's mementos, will be extended uniformly to gifts received by Governors, Chief Ministers, and other constitutional offices — a move that would test whether the transparency norm is principled or selective.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PM mementos e-auction?
The PM mementos e-auction is a government-run online auction of gifts and mementos received by the Prime Minister in his official capacity. Under government rules, public functionaries must surrender gifts above a prescribed value; these are then auctioned digitally, with proceeds going to the exchequer.
How much did the 2025 PM mementos e-auction raise?
The 2025 e-auction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official mementos raised ₹1.89 crore for the government, according to an update shared by Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh.
Who shared the update about the ₹1.89 crore from PM mementos auction?
Union Textiles Minister and senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh shared the update on 12 August 2026 via the NaMo App, the Prime Minister's Office's official digital platform.
Why are PM Modi's gifts auctioned instead of kept?
Government of India rules require that gifts received by public functionaries above a nominal value threshold be surrendered to the government rather than retained personally. These items are then auctioned to generate revenue for the exchequer and ensure transparency.
What is the NaMo App?
The NaMo App is the official mobile application of the Prime Minister's Office used to disseminate government information, policy updates, and governance-related announcements to citizens.
