The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts has been operating from the refurbished Hotel Janpath since July 2021, yet it still lacks a permanent campus. A letter written in early October to the Culture Secretary highlights that the 14‑acre site at Jamnagar House—promised three years ago—remains unallocated, leaving the centre in a state of limbo.
The centre, established in 1987 to honor former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, moved out of its original premises in the Central Vista complex when the government began a redevelopment of that area, freeing up the site to be repurposed for the arts hub.
IGNCA has approached the authorities at least five to six times since 2021, requesting clarity on the campus. The new campus is expected to consolidate research, exhibitions, performances and archival preservation, addressing the cramped conditions it previously endured.
The delay has stalled the centre’s ability to expand its extensive collections of manuscripts, photographs and films, and has raised concerns among scholars and artists who rely on the institution for cultural programming and research.
The Ministry of Culture has yet to announce a concrete timeline for the land allocation, and the centre will await the response to its letter before determining its next move.