NEW DELHI— Rashtrapati Bhavan has opened the third edition of its online e-Upahaar auction, offering 300 presidential gifts received by President Droupadi Murmu and former Presidents for public bidding in an initiative aimed at increasing citizen engagement while supporting charitable causes, according to the President's Secretariat.
The auction began on Aug. 5 and will remain open until Sept. 5 through the official e-Upahaar portal, where members of the public can register, complete identity verification and place bids on a curated collection of ceremonial gifts presented to the President on various occasions.
The launch forms part of a series of initiatives unveiled at Rashtrapati Bhavan to mark President Murmu completing four years in office. During a ceremony on July 28, the President inaugurated several public-oriented projects, including the latest edition of the e-Upahaar platform, an application-based multilingual e-Audio Guide for visitors, and facilities within the President's Estate, according to an official statement issued by the President's Secretariat.
Officials said the latest auction features 300 curated items, expanding the collection from previous editions. Interested bidders can participate online after creating a user profile, completing Aadhaar-based verification and submitting bids through the portal. Successful bidders will receive the items after the auction concludes and payment formalities are completed, according to the official process outlined by the Secretariat.
The President's Secretariat said the initiative is intended to make selected presidential memorabilia accessible to citizens while using the proceeds for charitable purposes. Earlier editions of the programme stated that auction revenues would be directed toward initiatives supporting children and other social welfare causes.
Many of the items available for bidding are also on display at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum, allowing visitors to view them before participating in the auction. The museum remains open to the public on designated days through an online booking system operated by Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The e-Upahaar initiative was first introduced in 2024 with around 250 presidential gifts made available through an online auction. The third edition represents a further expansion of the programme as the President's Secretariat continues to use digital platforms to widen public access to Rashtrapati Bhavan's collections and activities.
The President's Secretariat said bidding for the current auction will remain open until Sept. 5, after which the auction process will be completed in accordance with the notified terms and conditions.
