NEW DELHI—The government of India has decided to direct further financial assistance toward the building of new museums around the country, while bolstering revenues of established museums, reports the Business Standard. Following recommendations by the Planning Commission for the country's 11th Five-Year Plan, the government is making the move in the hopes of attracting more people toward antiquities.

A senior Ministry of Culture official stated, “We have decided to provide financial assistance up to Rs 6 crore [$1.2 million] for setting up new museums as part of the revised scheme for promotion and strengthening of museums across the country.”

The official acknowledged that the existing financial parameters have not been adequate to cover assistance to museums.  He added that there was a need to redefine the role of museums to keep up with the evolving social and technological environment of today.

As for existing museums, he said, “Training and refresher courses for the...staff are to be included as an integral part of the revised scheme now.”