A peek into India’s Toshakhana

  • November 8, 2022
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
No Comments

 

 

A peek into India’s Toshakhana

Subject: Economy

Context:

In the last few years, the number of items that Toshakhana received has been going down.

Details:

As per the Ministry of External Affairs-between January 2019 and April 2022, Toshakhana received 2,036 items, that cumulatively have a value of ₹7.76 crore.

The repository received around 768 items in 2018 which came down to 127 in 2021.

Concept:

Toshkhana

  • Toshakhana-the treasure trove of the government, is governed by various ‘gift acceptance policies’ and also by the Central Civil Services Conduct Rules.
  • It is a repository of articles or gifts received by ministers, diplomats and heads of armed forces while discharging their official duties, from foreign sources.
  • As per a June 1978 gazette notification, every gift received by a person during an official visit should be deposited in the Toshakhana within 30 days of his return.
    • The Toshakhana officials are then required to assess the worth of the gift in the Indian market. 
    • Recipients are allowed to keep items that are valued less than ₹5,000. If it exceeds the limit, they can retain it by paying extra.
    • Presents which are not purchased by recipients will remain at the disposal of the government.
  • What can be done to the gifts left unpurchased?
    • The MEA may donate artifacts of cultural value to public museums in the country.
    • Articles from the Toshakhana are also used in Rashtrapati Bhawan, Rashtrapati Niwas (Simla), the prime minister’s official residence, Indian embassies abroad and various government departments.
    • Some articles, like jewellery or items that are not likely to be required for presentation are auctioned off by the government.
      •  The last auction of items in the toshakhana was held in 1983 only central government officials posted in Delhi were allowed to bid.
      • The auction was a closed-door affair and many articles were sold well below their assessed value.
    • Gold coins or government mintage are made over to the treasury.
    • Animals presented are sent to the nearest army service corps for early sale or handed over to zoological gardens.
A peek into India’s Toshakhana economy