Ashwani Lohani takes charge of Prime Ministers Museum and Library

New leadership at PMML

Ashwani Lohani takes charge of Prime Ministers Museum and Library: In a recent move, Ashwani Lohani has been appointed as the new Director of the Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) in New Delhi. The decision was made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, marking a fresh leadership chapter for the iconic institution. Lohani replaces Lily Pandeya, who was serving as the interim director.

His tenure, set for three years, officially began following the approval on June 4, 2025. This appointment comes at a time when the institution is undergoing administrative restructuring, aiming to modernize and expand its outreach.

A man of many hats

Ashwani Lohani is no stranger to handling complex public institutions. He belongs to the 1980 batch of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME). His past roles include:

• Chairman of the Railway Board (2017)
• CMD of Air India – a role he served in twice
• CMD of ITDC (India Tourism Development Corporation) in 2001
• CMD of MPTDC (Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation) from 2004 to 2010
• CEO at GMR Group post-retirement

What makes Lohani’s leadership stand out is his record in reviving public sector units like ITDC and MPSTDC. His leadership approach focuses on efficiency, discipline, and result-oriented governance.

What PMML stands for?

The Prime Ministers Museum and Library, under the Ministry of Culture, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of all of India’s Prime Ministers. It houses:

• Exhibitions
• Archival documents
• Digital collections celebrating the journey of Indian democracy

Did you know? The President of the PMML Society is Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh serves as the Vice President.

Council expansion and governance changes

Recently, PMML’s Executive Council expanded from 29 to 34 members, including new faces from varied sectors:

• Smriti Irani – former Union Minister
• Rajiv Kumar – former Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog
• General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.)
• Shekhar Kapur – filmmaker
• Vasudev Kamath – artist, Sanskar Bharati
• Scholars like Sanjeev Sanyal, Chamu Krishna Shastry, K K Mohammad, and B R Mani

The Chairman of the Executive Council is Nripendra Misra, former Principal Secretary to PM Modi.

Why this appointment matters?

This leadership change is not just administrative. With Lohani now part of the seven-member core executive council, it shows a clear intent toward institutional reform and public engagement. His deep experience across tourism, aviation, and infrastructure sectors is expected to bring fresh energy to PMML’s future projects.

Real-world example? Just like he breathed life into the once-neglected Madhya Pradesh tourism, there’s hope he’ll do the same for PMML’s public image and footfall.

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