The NMNH owes its genesis to Smt. Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister, who while considering new projects to be initiated in 1972 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of India's Independence, decided that the country needs a Museum of Natural History to depict its flora, fauna and mineral wealth to provide an out of school facility for education of children and to promote environmental awa
reness among the masses. The NMNH opened its doors to the public in a rented building in Mandi house on 5th June 1978, coinciding symbolically with the World Environment Day. From a single Museum located in New Delhi, the NMNH has extended its geographical range by establishing Regional Museums of Natural History (RMNH) in many parts of the Country such as Southern Region (Mysore), Central Region (Bhopal) and Eastern Region (Bhubaneswar). Two more Museums are being established in Western Region (Sawai Madhopur) and North-Eastern Region (Gangtok). The NMNH, New Delhi derives its strength principally from Educational Programmes and out-reach activities, with the intention to provide an out of school facility for education of children and to promote environmental awareness among the masses. Due to unfortunate incident of massive fire in April 2016, the whole infrastructure of the museum was destroyed. The NMNH is closed for the public for the time being. The NMNH is continuing with its educational programmes and activites from the new office at CGO Complex and MoEF&CC premises at Jor Bagh.
