Quick reads
- A new office near Raisina Hill, named Seva Teerth, is almost ready.
- PM Narendra Modi is expected to start working from there later this month.
- Seva Teerth is part of the Central Vista redevelopment project.
- The complex houses the PMO, Cabinet Secretariat and National Security Council Secretariat.
- If the move happens soon, South Block may be vacated after nearly 80 years.
What’s happening
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s new office complex, called Seva Teerth, near Raisina Hill in New Delhi, is in the final stages of completion, and officials say he may shift his office there later this month. This move would mark a historic shift from the longstanding location of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in the South Block of Raisina Hill, where it has been based since India’s Independence in 1947.
Where this is
The new Seva Teerth complex is on Dara Shikoh Road, earlier called Dalhousie Road, in the heart of New Delhi, close to Raisina Hill and the presidential estate. It is part of the broader Central Vista Redevelopment project aimed at modernising key government infrastructure in the capital.
How it’s built and organised
Seva Teerth comprises three main buildings:
- Seva Teerth-1: Houses the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
- Seva Teerth-2: Home to the Cabinet Secretariat.
- Seva Teerth-3: Designed for the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and the office of the National Security Advisor.
The complex was earlier known as the Executive Enclave during construction and has been given the name Seva Teerth, meaning a “holy place of service.” It includes modern workspaces and ceremonial rooms meant to reflect India’s administrative needs and cultural ethos.
When the shift might happen
Reports suggest that the formal move could take place after January 14, which this year coincides with Makar Sankranti, an auspicious date in the Indian calendar. Work is in the finishing phase, and officials have identified possible windows for the transition later this month. If the shift happens as expected, it would be the first relocation of the PMO from South Block since Independence.
Why this matters
The relocation of the PMO to Seva Teerth is part of a major administrative reshuffle and modernisation of India’s central government quarters. It follows other moves under the Central Vista plan, including new Parliament and vice president residences, and the relocation of several ministries. The reimagined South Block and North Block are expected to be repurposed, including plans for a museum of Indian civilisation.
This move is both symbolic and functional: it marks a new chapter in India’s post-Independence governance setup and reflects long-term planning for space, efficiency and heritage use in the capital’s administrative core.
