[1] It was inaugurated on 9 October 1976 by Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Ministers of Mauritius and India respectively.

The MGI has among its archives the records of those girmityas (Indian indentured labourers) sent to Mauritius under British colonial rule between 1842 and 1910.

In 2015, these were inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register as being of great historical importance, particularly to the history of Mauritians of Indian origin.

The records were originally transferred to the National Archives of Mauritius following a cultural agreement with the government of India in 1973, to be moved to the MGI once construction was complete.

[13][15][16][17] Other components of the MGI include a specialised Library of Languages and Culture, Folk Museum of Indian Immigration, Art Gallery, Language Resource Centre, multi-lingual Printing Press, Auditorium and Subramania Bharati Lecture Theatre.