The Government of India has opened an e-auction of nearly 300 gifts and memorabilia received by Indian government officials from foreign dignitaries.
The auction is being conducted by the Toshakhana under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The auction began on June 8 and will remain open until June 30. Indian citizens can participate by registering on the official e-auction portal and placing bids on their preferred items.
Rolex and Cartier Watches Among Premium Items
Several luxury and collectible items have been included in the auction. One of the biggest attractions is a Rolex Yacht-Master 2 watch, which has a starting bid price of ₹16.52 lakh.
Another premium item is a Cartier Santos Dumont collection watch, with a starting price of ₹5.02 lakh. The auction also features a silver cigarette box with a base price of ₹12,030.
Apart from luxury watches, bidders can also find jewellery, perfumes, cosmetics, silver items, glassware, porcelain products, and other decorative collectibles.
What Is Toshakhana?
The Toshakhana is a government repository that preserves gifts, souvenirs, and ceremonial items received by Indian government officials from foreign governments, diplomats, and other international sources.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, these items are collected and preserved under official rules. To make some of these items available to the public, the government has created a dedicated e-auction platform.
Who Can Participate in the Auction?
Only Indian citizens residing in India are eligible to participate in the auction. Interested buyers must first register on the official portal before placing bids.
The government has also clarified that all auctioned items will be delivered only within India.
Most Items Are Collectibles and Memorabilia
According to the official notice, this is the first phase of the e-auction being conducted under the amended Toshakhana Rules, 2024.
The government has clarified that most of the items being auctioned have historical, decorative, commemorative, or collectible value.
These items are mainly intended for collection and display purposes rather than regular practical or commercial use.
