Defence Ministry to Move to Kartavya Bhawan 2 as South Block Museum Plan Advances

Ministry of Defence (India) is expected to soon relocate from the historic South Block, clearing the way for the building’s transformation into part of the new National Museum of India. The move marks one of the final steps before the government begins retrofitting the iconic heritage structure under the Central Vista redevelopment plan.

According to officials, civilian officers of the Defence Ministry, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, will shift their offices to Kartavya Bhawan 2. The relocation is part of a broader government effort to move ministries from older colonial-era buildings into newly constructed administrative complexes.

The Defence Ministry is the last major department still functioning from Raisina Hill after several other offices relocated. The Prime Minister’s Office (India) moved out of South Block in February to the newly built Seva Teerth, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 13.

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Meanwhile, ministries previously operating from North Block, including the Home and Finance ministries, relocated last year to Kartavya Bhawan 3. Conservation and retrofitting work on North Block has already begun following the move.

The project to convert North and South Block into a museum is being handled by the Central Public Works Department. In November 2025, the department floated a tender worth ₹298.52 crore to retrofit South Block, and officials say the work is expected to begin soon once the Defence Ministry completes its relocation.

Once completed, the redevelopment will turn the historic administrative buildings into a large museum complex, showcasing artefacts and historical records related to India’s governance and heritage.

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