New Delhi | Special Correspondent: Arun Sharma

In a significant step toward reshaping India’s administrative landscape, the Union government has decided to shift the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to the newly constructed Kartavya Bhavan-II, signalling the end of an era for the iconic South Block and North Block that have symbolised power and governance since the British period.


The move is part of the broader Central Vista redevelopment project, aimed at modernising government infrastructure while repurposing heritage buildings for public and cultural use. Once the Defence Ministry vacates South Block, both South and North Blocks will be transformed into the proposed “Yug Yugeen Bharat” National Museum, envisioned as a major cultural and tourist landmark near Rashtrapati Bhavan.


According to officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, 225 rooms on the fifth and sixth floors of Kartavya Bhavan-II have been allocated to the Defence Ministry. Several other ministries — including Law and Justice, Culture, and Chemicals and Fertilisers — will also relocate to the new complex in a phased manner from Shastri Bhavan.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan-III in August last year, and the shifting of ministries is now gaining momentum. Earlier, the Cabinet Secretariat was relocated from the Rashtrapati Bhavan complex to the Sewa Teerth office complex near Vayu Bhavan, while the Prime Minister’s Office is also set to move to a new location.


Officials believe that the relocation will enhance administrative efficiency, promote inter-ministerial coordination, and reflect a decisive move away from colonial-era power symbols toward a modern governance framework. At the same time, converting historic blocks into a national museum is expected to boost tourism and strengthen public engagement with India’s civilisational heritage.


The relocation of the Defence Ministry to Kartavya Bhavan-II thus represents more than a logistical shift — it underscores India’s evolving governance ethos, blending efficiency, transparency and respect for history.