MEA auctions gifts received by dignitaries to public for the first time NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs has opened its Toshakhana collection to the public for the first time, auctioning around 300 gifts received by senior officials during international trips, with items ranging from Rolex watches to silver daggers and gold biscuits.The auction, which kicked off on June 8 and will conclude on June 30, features exotic presents and souvenirs collected by ministry officials, including the Foreign Secretary, over the years. Prices range between approximately Rs 3000 and Rs 19 lakhs.Rolex Yacht Master IIAmong the most sought-after items are two Rolex Yacht Master II watches with a starting price of Rs 16.5 lakh, which have garnered more than a dozen bids. An antique silver box from the 1980s, designed as a high-end cigar or cigarette container, has received 29 bids, with the highest exceeding Rs 52,000 against a base price of Rs 12,030.A decorative silver box flanked by two gold-plated dragons, containing a 20-gram fine gold biscuit from Swiss brand Argor Heraeus, has a starting price of Rs 3.92 lakh and has received eight bids so far. However, multiple items like an Apple Macbook Pro, and a gold jewellery set from Kuwait by Al Arbash, have not received any bids.What is Toshakhana?The term Toshakhana originates from the Mughal era, where princes stored “gifts and emblems of honour” received for their posterity. It translates to “treasure house” in Persian.Under British colonial rule, East India Company officials were not allowed to accept diplomatic gifts, known as khilat, from Indian or Middle Eastern rulers. When required, officials deposited such gifts in the company’s treasury for later use in exchange with other rulers.In modern India, all gifts received by the Prime Minister and other officials from overseas must be deposited in the Toshakhana for evaluation. As per a June 1978 gazette notification, every gift received during an official visit must be deposited within 30 days of return.Indian rules allow recipients to keep gifts valued below Rs 5,000. Those valued above are evaluated to allow purchase by the recipient on payment of the difference. The rest are auctioned.An amendment allows IAS, IPS and IFS officers to retain gifts received from foreign dignitaries while being members of the Indian delegation. However, they must declare them if they are worth more than Rs 25,000.A first-of-its-kind auctionThis is the first time Toshakhana items have been made available to the general public. The last auction, held in 1983, was open only to government employees at the MEA headquarters.Officials said the auction is being conducted in compliance with revised Toshakhana Rules, 2024. The proceeds will go to the Consolidated Fund of India.First of its kind auctionThe items offered are primarily heritage, souvenir, decorative, collectible or ceremonial items, and may not be intended for functional, commercial or operational use.While no item received by any political functionary has been selected this time, the ministry is planning the next round of auction, wherein presents received by consecutive External Affairs Ministers will also be added.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNCERT Adds Section On SIR; Cites Manusmriti To Highlight Respect For Women In Vedic PeriodCM Yogi Targets Akhilesh, Says ‘Don’t Test Ram Devotees’; Warns Against Tarnishing Ayodhya’s ImageCentre Hikes Passport Fees From July 1: New One To Cost Rs 2,500; Rs 5,000 For Tatkal‘Beaten With Iron Rods’: Bonded Labour Horror In Uttar Pradesh, 12 Workers Rescued‘Throw My Daughter From The Same Place If…’: Accused Siya Goyal’s Mother On Lohagad Fort Murder CaseSuvendu Govt Likely To Introduce UCC Bill In West Bengal Assembly On MondayCanada Officially Confirms Khalistani Role In Air India Kanishka BombingKolkata Warehouse Collapse: Bengal CM Blames TMC Regime, Says ‘Flawed Plan’ Got ApprovalRam Mandir Donation Row: F.I.R Filed Against Eight Accused After SIT Flags EmbezzlementThreat To Journalists? Shiv Sena MP’s Remarks Trigger Political Storm In Maharashtra123PhotostoriesRice water for hair growth: Mix these 4 ingredients for strong and long locksYou know exactly what to do to succeed, so why can’t you do it? Psychology explained (and how to fix it)Find your Guardian Archangel through your birth dateTrisha and Thalapathy Vijay’s most iconic fashion moments that still rule the hearts of Tamil cinema fansSuccess quote of the day by R Madhavan: ‘Life is just one shot at a time, don’t crowd your mind with too many thoughts’The secret ingredient Madhuri Dixit adds to make Kanda Poha breakfast high in protein; detailed recipe insideWhy ghee is considered sacred in Indian householdsWhich south Indian state has the most number of hill stations?5 countries that have banned social media for children and whyWhat would you do? My 10-year-old wants a smartphone because ‘everyone else has one’: 5 mothers share what happened next123Hot PicksRBI Grade B Prelims ResultShamirpet TahsildarBank holiday todayGold price crashIndia US Trade dealDelhi rape-murderMumbai local murderActor Darshan SonKetan Agarwal MurderTop TrendingDoug MartinShreyas IyerIndian Citizenship document proofFIFA World Cup 2026KEAM Rank List 2026Mumba Local Train MurderMEA PassportNandani BosmiyaMK StalinMumbai Local Train News

MEA auctions gifts received by dignitaries to public for the first time NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs has opened its Toshakhana collection to the public for the first time, auctioning around 300 gifts received by senior officials during international trips, with items ranging from Rolex watches to silver daggers and gold biscuits.The auction, which kicked off on June 8 and will conclude on June 30, features exotic presents and souvenirs collected by ministry officials, including the Foreign Secretary, over the years. Prices range between approximately Rs 3000 and Rs 19 lakhs.Rolex Yacht Master IIAmong the most sought-after items are two Rolex Yacht Master II watches with a starting price of Rs 16.5 lakh, which have garnered more than a dozen bids. An antique silver box from the 1980s, designed as a high-end cigar or cigarette container, has received 29 bids, with the highest exceeding Rs 52,000 against a base price of Rs 12,030.A decorative silver box flanked by two gold-plated dragons, containing a 20-gram fine gold biscuit from Swiss brand Argor Heraeus, has a starting price of Rs 3.92 lakh and has received eight bids so far. However, multiple items like an Apple Macbook Pro, and a gold jewellery set from Kuwait by Al Arbash, have not received any bids.What is Toshakhana?The term Toshakhana originates from the Mughal era, where princes stored “gifts and emblems of honour” received for their posterity. It translates to “treasure house” in Persian.Under British colonial rule, East India Company officials were not allowed to accept diplomatic gifts, known as khilat, from Indian or Middle Eastern rulers. When required, officials deposited such gifts in the company’s treasury for later use in exchange with other rulers.In modern India, all gifts received by the Prime Minister and other officials from overseas must be deposited in the Toshakhana for evaluation. As per a June 1978 gazette notification, every gift received during an official visit must be deposited within 30 days of return.Indian rules allow recipients to keep gifts valued below Rs 5,000. Those valued above are evaluated to allow purchase by the recipient on payment of the difference. The rest are auctioned.An amendment allows IAS, IPS and IFS officers to retain gifts received from foreign dignitaries while being members of the Indian delegation. However, they must declare them if they are worth more than Rs 25,000.A first-of-its-kind auctionThis is the first time Toshakhana items have been made available to the general public. The last auction, held in 1983, was open only to government employees at the MEA headquarters.Officials said the auction is being conducted in compliance with revised Toshakhana Rules, 2024. The proceeds will go to the Consolidated Fund of India.First of its kind auctionThe items offered are primarily heritage, souvenir, decorative, collectible or ceremonial items, and may not be intended for functional, commercial or operational use.While no item received by any political functionary has been selected this time, the ministry is planning the next round of auction, wherein presents received by consecutive External Affairs Ministers will also be added.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNCERT Adds Section On SIR; Cites Manusmriti To Highlight Respect For Women In Vedic PeriodCM Yogi Targets Akhilesh, Says ‘Don’t Test Ram Devotees’; Warns Against Tarnishing Ayodhya’s ImageCentre Hikes Passport Fees From July 1: New One To Cost Rs 2,500; Rs 5,000 For Tatkal‘Beaten With Iron Rods’: Bonded Labour Horror In Uttar Pradesh, 12 Workers Rescued‘Throw My Daughter From The Same Place If…’: Accused Siya Goyal’s Mother On Lohagad Fort Murder CaseSuvendu Govt Likely To Introduce UCC Bill In West Bengal Assembly On MondayCanada Officially Confirms Khalistani Role In Air India Kanishka BombingKolkata Warehouse Collapse: Bengal CM Blames TMC Regime, Says ‘Flawed Plan’ Got ApprovalRam Mandir Donation Row: F.I.R Filed Against Eight Accused After SIT Flags EmbezzlementThreat To Journalists? Shiv Sena MP’s Remarks Trigger Political Storm In Maharashtra123PhotostoriesRice water for hair growth: Mix these 4 ingredients for strong and long locksYou know exactly what to do to succeed, so why can’t you do it? Psychology explained (and how to fix it)Find your Guardian Archangel through your birth dateTrisha and Thalapathy Vijay’s most iconic fashion moments that still rule the hearts of Tamil cinema fansSuccess quote of the day by R Madhavan: ‘Life is just one shot at a time, don’t crowd your mind with too many thoughts’The secret ingredient Madhuri Dixit adds to make Kanda Poha breakfast high in protein; detailed recipe insideWhy ghee is considered sacred in Indian householdsWhich south Indian state has the most number of hill stations?5 countries that have banned social media for children and whyWhat would you do? My 10-year-old wants a smartphone because ‘everyone else has one’: 5 mothers share what happened next123Hot PicksRBI Grade B Prelims ResultShamirpet TahsildarBank holiday todayGold price crashIndia US Trade dealDelhi rape-murderMumbai local murderActor Darshan SonKetan Agarwal MurderTop TrendingDoug MartinShreyas IyerIndian Citizenship document proofFIFA World Cup 2026KEAM Rank List 2026Mumba Local Train MurderMEA PassportNandani BosmiyaMK StalinMumbai Local Train News

MEA auctions gifts received by dignitaries to public for the first time NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs has opened its Toshakhana collection to the public for the first time, auctioning around 300 gifts received by senior officials during international trips, with items ranging from Rolex watches to silver daggers and gold biscuits.The auction,…

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