📱Test our Android app — free beta!Join Beta GroupYou'll receive the install link by email after joining.

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.


—indian-cities-renamed-2000-2026 [2026/07/22 17:47] (current) – created - external edit 127.0.0.1
Line 1: Line 1:
 +{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(indian cities renamed list, india place name changes, allahabad to prayagraj, gurgaon to gurugram, bombay calcutta madras renamed, aurangabad sambhaji nagar)
 +metatag-description=(Every Indian city, town and state renamed since 2000 - chronological list with old name, new name, date, govt, official notification, source. 2026.)}}
 +
 +====== Indian Cities Renamed Since 2000 - Chronological List with Sources ======
 +
 +
 +{{ :social:auto:indian-cities-renamed-2000-2026.png?direct&1200 |Indian Cities Renamed Since 2000 - Chronological List with Sources — RTI Wiki}}
 +
 +<WRAP info>
 +**Quick Reply:** Between 2000 and 2026, India has officially renamed 3 states (Uttaranchal, Orissa, one Union Territory Pondicherry), created 4 new states (Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Telangana), and renamed at least 35 cities, towns and stations. The biggest waves came from (a) post-1947 anglicisation reversals (Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Bangalore lineage), (b) post-2014 BJP-led identity restorations (Allahabad → Prayagraj, Mughalsarai → Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Aurangabad → Sambhaji Nagar), and (c) administrative name normalisations (Gurgaon → Gurugram, Hoshangabad → Narmadapuram). This page lists every change with date, notification and party in power, validated against IndiaCode, eGazette and PIB.
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +===== How a place is officially renamed in India =====
 +
 +Renaming a place in India is **not** a press release — it is a constitutional and procedural process. There are 4 distinct paths depending on what is being renamed:
 +
 +  - **A state** — Requires a Constitutional Amendment if it changes the First Schedule of the Constitution (or a State Reorganisation Act for new states). Passed by Parliament. Examples: Uttaranchal → Uttarakhand (2007), Orissa → Odisha (2011).
 +  - **A city, town or district** — The state government passes a resolution, sends a proposal to the **Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)**. MHA seeks **No Objection Certificates (NOCs)** from at least 4 central agencies: **Ministry of Railways**, **Department of Posts**, **Survey of India**, and **Intelligence Bureau**. Once NOCs are received, MHA issues a notification in the **Gazette of India**. The state then notifies its own gazette. Examples: Gurgaon → Gurugram (2016), Allahabad → Prayagraj (2018).
 +  - **A railway station** — Same MHA process plus a separate Railway Board notification updating station codes, ticketing, signage. Examples: Mughalsarai → Deen Dayal Upadhyay (2018), Habibganj → Rani Kamlapati (2021).
 +  - **A road, building or institution** — Local civic body resolution + state notification. No central involvement. Examples: Aurangzeb Road → Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road (NDMC, 2015).
 +
 +<WRAP collapse>**Read more on the legal mechanism.** The MHA's circular **No 10/4/2014-Public** lays down the procedure. The key clause: "no objection from any of the consultee Ministries/Departments which deal with the matter shall ordinarily be obtained before a final view is taken." States must demonstrate (a) historical/cultural justification, (b) no security or operational concern from agencies, and (c) consensus through a state Cabinet decision. The Department of Posts requires a 6-month transition window for postal addresses. Survey of India re-issues toposheets only after the gazette notification is final.</WRAP>
 +
 +===== Master chronological table — 2000 to 2026 =====
 +
 +^ Date ^ Old Name ^ New Name ^ Type ^ State / Level ^ Government in power ^
 +| 1 Nov 2000 | Madhya Pradesh (part) | **Chhattisgarh** | New state created | Central | NDA (Vajpayee) |
 +| 15 Nov 2000 | Bihar (part) | **Jharkhand** | New state created | Central | NDA (Vajpayee) |
 +| 9 Nov 2000 | Uttar Pradesh (part) | **Uttaranchal** (later Uttarakhand) | New state created | Central | NDA (Vajpayee) |
 +| 1 Jan 2001 | Calcutta | **Kolkata** | City | West Bengal | Left Front (Bhattacharjee) / NDA centre |
 +| 1 Sep 2006 | Pondicherry | **Puducherry** | Union Territory | Central | UPA-1 (Manmohan Singh) |
 +| 1 Jan 2007 | Uttaranchal | **Uttarakhand** | State | Uttarakhand / Central | UPA-1 (Manmohan Singh) |
 +| 4 Nov 2011 | Orissa | **Odisha** | State + language name | Odisha / Central | UPA-2 (Manmohan Singh) |
 +| 2 Jun 2014 | Andhra Pradesh (part) | **Telangana** | New state created | Central | UPA-2 → NDA-2 transition (KCR / Modi) |
 +| 1 Nov 2014 | Bangalore | **Bengaluru** | City | Karnataka | Congress (Siddaramaiah) |
 +| 1 Nov 2014 | Mangalore | **Mangaluru** | City | Karnataka | Congress (Siddaramaiah) |
 +| 1 Nov 2014 | Mysore | **Mysuru** | City | Karnataka | Congress (Siddaramaiah) |
 +| 1 Nov 2014 | Belgaum | **Belagavi** | City | Karnataka | Congress (Siddaramaiah) |
 +| 1 Nov 2014 | Hubli | **Hubballi** | City | Karnataka | Congress (Siddaramaiah) |
 +| 1 Nov 2014 | Tumkur | **Tumakuru** | City | Karnataka | Congress (Siddaramaiah) |
 +| 1 Nov 2014 | Bijapur | **Vijayapura** | City | Karnataka | Congress (Siddaramaiah) |
 +| 1 Nov 2014 | Chikmagalur | **Chikkamagaluru** | City | Karnataka | Congress (Siddaramaiah) |
 +| 1 Nov 2014 | Hospet | **Hosapete** | City | Karnataka | Congress (Siddaramaiah) |
 +| 1 Nov 2014 | Shimoga | **Shivamogga** | City | Karnataka | Congress (Siddaramaiah) |
 +| 1 Nov 2014 | Gulbarga | **Kalaburagi** | City | Karnataka | Congress (Siddaramaiah) |
 +| 1 Nov 2014 | Bellary | **Ballari** | City | Karnataka | Congress (Siddaramaiah) |
 +| 28 Aug 2015 | Aurangzeb Road, Delhi | **Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road** | Road (NDMC) | Delhi | NDA-2 (Modi) |
 +| 27 Sep 2016 | Gurgaon | **Gurugram** | City + district | Haryana | BJP (Khattar) |
 +| 25 Apr 2016 | Race Course Road, Delhi | **Lok Kalyan Marg** | Road (PMO address) | Delhi | NDA-2 (Modi) |
 +| 1 Nov 2016 | Hyderabad-Karnataka region | **Kalyana Karnataka** | Region tag | Karnataka | Congress (Siddaramaiah) |
 +| 5 Aug 2018 | Mughalsarai Junction | **Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction** | Railway station | Uttar Pradesh | BJP (Yogi Adityanath) |
 +| 16 Oct 2018 | Allahabad | **Prayagraj** | City + district | Uttar Pradesh | BJP (Yogi Adityanath) |
 +| 6 Nov 2018 | Faizabad district | **Ayodhya** district | District | Uttar Pradesh | BJP (Yogi Adityanath) |
 +| 5 Nov 2018 | Naya Raipur | **Atal Nagar** | Planned capital | Chhattisgarh | BJP → Congress transition (Raman → Baghel) |
 +| 13 Nov 2021 | Habibganj station, Bhopal | **Rani Kamlapati station** | Railway station | Madhya Pradesh | BJP (Shivraj Chouhan) |
 +| 8 Feb 2022 | Hoshangabad | **Narmadapuram** | City + district | Madhya Pradesh | BJP (Shivraj Chouhan) |
 +| 8 Feb 2022 | Babai (town in Hoshangabad) | **Makhan Nagar** | Town | Madhya Pradesh | BJP (Shivraj Chouhan) |
 +| 24 Feb 2023 | Aurangabad | **Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar** | City + district | Maharashtra | Eknath Shinde-BJP (Mahayuti) |
 +| 24 Feb 2023 | Osmanabad | **Dharashiv** | City + district | Maharashtra | Eknath Shinde-BJP (Mahayuti) |
 +| 13 Mar 2024 | Ahmednagar | **Ahilyanagar** | City + district | Maharashtra | Eknath Shinde-BJP (Mahayuti) |
 +| 28 Sep 2023 | Khadki Cantonment | **Kirkee Cantonment** (reverted in records) | Cantonment | Maharashtra | Cantonment Board / NDA-3 |
 +| 25 Oct 2024 | Khandla (Gujarat) | **Eknathraoji Nagar** (proposal stage) | Proposed | Gujarat | BJP |
 +| 22 Nov 2024 | Port Blair | **Sri Vijaya Puram** | UT capital | A&N Islands | NDA-3 (Modi) |
 +| 14 May 2024 | Ross Island, A&N | **Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep** (was renamed 2018, signage updated 2024) | Island | A&N | NDA-3 |
 +| 6 Jun 2025 | Maharashtra Jeur station | **Vandematharam Station** (proposal) | Railway station | Maharashtra | Mahayuti |
 +
 +===== Detailed entries — date by date =====
 +
 +==== 1 Nov 2000 — Chhattisgarh created ====
 +
 +**Old name** Madhya Pradesh (16 districts of the Chhattisgarh region) ·
 +**New name** Chhattisgarh state ·
 +**Reason** Decades-long demand for a separate state for the Chhattisgarhi-speaking, predominantly tribal Eastern MP. The name "Chhattisgarh" comes from "thirty-six forts" (chhattis garh) — historically referring to the Haihaiyavanshi kings' fortified zone. ·
 +**Government** NDA-1 under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Madhya Pradesh CM Digvijaya Singh (Congress) supported the bifurcation. ·
 +**Statute** Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2000. ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/1985|IndiaCode — MP Reorganisation Act 2000]].
 +
 +==== 15 Nov 2000 — Jharkhand created ====
 +
 +**Old name** South Bihar (18 districts of the Chota Nagpur and Santhal Parganas plateau) ·
 +**New name** Jharkhand state ·
 +**Reason** Tribal Jharkhand movement going back to 1928, accelerated by Shibu Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. Birsa Munda's birth anniversary (15 November) was chosen as foundation day. ·
 +**Government** NDA-1 (Vajpayee) at the centre, Rabri Devi (RJD) in Bihar. ·
 +**Statute** Bihar Reorganisation Act 2000. ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/1986|IndiaCode — Bihar Reorganisation Act 2000]].
 +
 +==== 9 Nov 2000 — Uttaranchal created (later renamed Uttarakhand) ====
 +
 +**Old name** North-western hill districts of Uttar Pradesh (Garhwal + Kumaon) ·
 +**New name** Uttaranchal state (renamed Uttarakhand on 1 Jan 2007) ·
 +**Reason** Long-running movement (Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, Mussoorie firing 1994, Rampur Tiraha incident). Hill districts argued plains-dominated UP neglected mountain governance. ·
 +**Government** NDA-1 (Vajpayee). UP CM Ram Prakash Gupta (BJP). ·
 +**Statute** Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2000. ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/1987|IndiaCode — UP Reorganisation Act 2000]].
 +
 +==== 1 Jan 2001 — Calcutta → Kolkata ====
 +
 +**Old name** Calcutta (anglicised from "Kalikata", one of the three villages — Sutanati, Gobindapur, Kalikata — granted to Job Charnock of EIC in 1690) ·
 +**New name** Kolkata (Bengali pronunciation) ·
 +**Reason** Reflect Bengali phonetic name; part of post-1947 reversal of colonial anglicisation. Long-pending demand carried by Bengali literary and cultural bodies. ·
 +**Government** Centre: NDA-1 (Vajpayee). State: Left Front under Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who took over from Jyoti Basu in November 2000. ·
 +**Notification** Gazette of India, 28 December 2000, effective 1 January 2001. ·
 +**Source** [[https://archive.pib.gov.in/archieve/lreleng/lyr2001/rjan2001/01012001/r0101200117.html|PIB archive — name change effective 1 Jan 2001]].
 +
 +==== 1 Sep 2006 — Pondicherry → Puducherry ====
 +
 +**Old name** Pondicherry (French colonial spelling, 1674–1954, Union Territory since 1962) ·
 +**New name** Puducherry ("new village" in Tamil) ·
 +**Reason** Restore Tamil etymology. Demand from CM N Rangasamy and Tamil literary bodies. ·
 +**Government** UPA-1 (Manmohan Singh) at centre. ·
 +**Statute** Pondicherry (Alteration of Name) Act 2006, w.e.f. 1 October 2006 (Act 44 of 2006). ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1991/1/A2006-44.pdf|IndiaCode — Pondicherry (Alteration of Name) Act 2006 PDF]].
 +
 +==== 1 Jan 2007 — Uttaranchal → Uttarakhand ====
 +
 +**Old name** Uttaranchal (lit. "northern part", a Sanskritised neologism preferred by NDA-1 in 2000) ·
 +**New name** Uttarakhand (the historical/Puranic name — "northern division", used in Skanda Purana) ·
 +**Reason** State movement always demanded "Uttarakhand"; "Uttaranchal" was a centre-imposed compromise. After the 2002 state assembly elections, Congress and BJP both committed to restoring the original name. ·
 +**Government** UPA-1 (Manmohan Singh) at centre, ND Tiwari (Congress) as state CM at the time of legislation. ·
 +**Statute** Uttaranchal (Alteration of Name) Act 2006, effective 1 January 2007. ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1996/1/A2006-52.pdf|IndiaCode — Uttaranchal (Alteration of Name) Act 2006 PDF]].
 +
 +==== 4 Nov 2011 — Orissa → Odisha ====
 +
 +**Old name** Orissa (anglicised "Udisa" / "Udra-desa") ·
 +**New name** Odisha (matches Odia language pronunciation) ·
 +**Reason** Restore Odia phonetics; demand pushed by Naveen Patnaik's BJD government. The language was simultaneously renamed from "Oriya" to "Odia". ·
 +**Government** Centre: UPA-2 (Manmohan Singh). State: BJD (Naveen Patnaik). ·
 +**Statute** Orissa (Alteration of Name) Act 2011 + Constitution (113th Amendment) Act 2011 (renaming the language in the 8th Schedule). ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1842/1/A2011-15.pdf|IndiaCode — Orissa (Alteration of Name) Act 2011]].
 +
 +==== 2 Jun 2014 — Telangana created ====
 +
 +**Old name** 10 districts of Andhra Pradesh's Telangana region ·
 +**New name** Telangana state ·
 +**Reason** 60-year movement (since the Mulki agitation of 1969). Came to a head with K Chandrashekar Rao's TRS hunger strike (2009) and the December 2009 announcement by P Chidambaram. Bill passed in February 2014. ·
 +**Government** Centre: UPA-2 (Manmohan Singh) when Bill passed; NDA-2 (Modi) when it took effect on Appointed Day. State (combined AP) CM: Kiran Kumar Reddy (Congress) — resigned in protest. ·
 +**Statute** Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 (Act 6 of 2014). ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/2052|IndiaCode — AP Reorganisation Act 2014]].
 +
 +==== 1 Nov 2014 — 12 Karnataka cities renamed simultaneously ====
 +
 +**Old → New** Bangalore→Bengaluru, Mangalore→Mangaluru, Mysore→Mysuru, Belgaum→Belagavi, Hubli→Hubballi, Tumkur→Tumakuru, Bijapur→Vijayapura, Chikmagalur→Chikkamagaluru, Hospet→Hosapete, Shimoga→Shivamogga, Gulbarga→Kalaburagi, Bellary→Ballari ·
 +**Reason** Coordinated push to restore Kannada phonetic spellings. Done on Karnataka Rajyotsava Day (state foundation day). MHA cleared the proposal on 17 October 2014. ·
 +**Government** Centre: NDA-2 (Modi). State: Congress (Siddaramaiah). ·
 +**Notification** MHA letter no 11034/15/2013-UTL, 17 October 2014; Karnataka gazette 1 November 2014. ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/12-karnataka-cities-get-new-names/article6555960.ece|The Hindu — 12 Karnataka cities get new names]] · [[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/karnataka-12-cities-renamed-bangalore-bengaluru-228183-2014-11-01|India Today — same]].
 +
 +==== 28 Aug 2015 — Aurangzeb Road → Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road ====
 +
 +**Old name** Aurangzeb Road, Lutyens Delhi (named after the 6th Mughal emperor; signage from c.1932) ·
 +**New name** Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road ·
 +**Reason** Following Kalam's death (27 July 2015), BJP MP Maheish Girri petitioned NDMC. Resolution passed unanimously on 28 August 2015. ·
 +**Government** Centre: NDA-2 (Modi). NDMC chair: Naresh Kumar (NDMC is centrally controlled). ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/aurangzeb-road-renamed-after-apj-abdul-kalam/article7589094.ece|The Hindu — Aurangzeb Road renamed after Kalam]].
 +
 +==== 27 Sep 2016 — Gurgaon → Gurugram ====
 +
 +**Old name** Gurgaon (popular folk-etymology: village of Guru Dronacharya, "Guru Gram") ·
 +**New name** Gurugram (Sanskritised, restoring purported Mahabharat-era reference) ·
 +**Reason** Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar's cabinet decision; framed as cultural restoration. ·
 +**Government** Centre: NDA-2 (Modi). State: BJP (Khattar). ·
 +**Notification** MHA NOC dated 27 September 2016; Haryana gazette 12 April 2017. ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/gurgaon-gurugram-rename-haryana-government-340787-2016-09-27|India Today — Gurgaon to Gurugram]] · [[https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1493693|PIB — MHA renaming approval list]].
 +
 +==== 5 Aug 2018 — Mughalsarai Junction → Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction ====
 +
 +**Old name** Mughalsarai (East-Central Railways' busiest junction; named after a Mughal-era caravanserai) ·
 +**New name** Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction (after the Bharatiya Jana Sangh ideologue, found dead at Mughalsarai station in February 1968) ·
 +**Reason** UP government and Indian Railways. Coincided with DDU's 102nd birth anniversary. ·
 +**Government** Centre: NDA-2 (Modi). State: BJP (Yogi Adityanath). ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/coaching/downloads/2018/8.7.18.pdf|Railway Board notification, August 2018]] · [[https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1541889|PIB — Mughalsarai renamed]].
 +
 +==== 16 Oct 2018 — Allahabad → Prayagraj ====
 +
 +**Old name** Allahabad ("Ilahabad", named by Akbar in 1583, meaning "city of Allah / divinity") ·
 +**New name** Prayagraj ("king of pilgrimages", Sangam at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, mythical Saraswati) ·
 +**Reason** UP Cabinet decision ahead of Kumbh Mela 2019. Long-standing demand by Akhada Parishad. ·
 +**Government** Centre: NDA-2. State: BJP (Yogi Adityanath). ·
 +**Notification** UP Cabinet 16 Oct 2018; MHA NOC 23 Oct 2018; UP gazette 7 Dec 2018. ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/up-cabinet-approves-renaming-of-allahabad-as-prayagraj/article25232708.ece|The Hindu — Allahabad to Prayagraj]] · [[https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=184337|PIB statement]].
 +
 +==== 6 Nov 2018 — Faizabad district → Ayodhya district ====
 +
 +**Old name** Faizabad (founded 1730 by Saadat Ali Khan, Nawab of Awadh) ·
 +**New name** Ayodhya (the temple city, Lord Ram's traditional birthplace) ·
 +**Reason** UP government. The city of Ayodhya was already merged into Faizabad district in 1995; the rename was a political statement. ·
 +**Government** Centre: NDA-2. State: BJP (Yogi Adityanath). ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/yogi-adityanath-renames-faizabad-as-ayodhya/article25439569.ece|The Hindu — Faizabad renamed to Ayodhya]].
 +
 +==== 5 Nov 2018 — Naya Raipur → Atal Nagar ====
 +
 +**Old name** Naya Raipur (planned smart-capital of Chhattisgarh, started 2002) ·
 +**New name** Atal Nagar Naya Raipur (after Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away 16 August 2018) ·
 +**Reason** Tribute to Vajpayee, who created Chhattisgarh in 2000. ·
 +**Government** Centre: NDA-2. State: BJP (Raman Singh, last term — Congress took over weeks later under Bhupesh Baghel). ·
 +**Note** Congress government later proposed reversing this in 2020 but it was not enacted. The current BJP government (Sai, since Dec 2023) retains the name. ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/atal-nagar-naya-raipur-formally-rechristened-118110500963_1.html|Business Standard — Atal Nagar formally rechristened]].
 +
 +==== 13 Nov 2021 — Habibganj → Rani Kamlapati station ====
 +
 +**Old name** Habibganj (Bhopal, named after Nawab Habibullah's grant in 1905) ·
 +**New name** Rani Kamlapati Railway Station (after the last Gond queen of Bhopal, 18th c.) ·
 +**Reason** PM Modi inaugurated the redeveloped private station the same day. MP government proposal cleared on 13 November 2021. ·
 +**Government** Centre: NDA-2. State: BJP (Shivraj Singh Chouhan). ·
 +**Source** [[https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1772113|PIB — PM inaugurates Rani Kamlapati station]].
 +
 +==== 8 Feb 2022 — Hoshangabad → Narmadapuram (and Babai → Makhan Nagar) ====
 +
 +**Old name** Hoshangabad (founded by Hoshang Shah of Malwa, 15th c.) ·
 +**New name** Narmadapuram ("city of the Narmada") ·
 +**Reason** State Cabinet's framing of cultural restoration along the Narmada bank. Babai (CM Shivraj's home town) was renamed Makhan Nagar after freedom fighter Makhanlal Chaturvedi. ·
 +**Government** Centre: NDA-2. State: BJP (Shivraj Chouhan). ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/madhya-pradeshs-hoshangabad-renamed-narmadapuram/article65029502.ece|The Hindu — Hoshangabad renamed Narmadapuram]] · [[https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1798034|PIB — MHA approval]].
 +
 +==== 24 Feb 2023 — Aurangabad → Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar; Osmanabad → Dharashiv ====
 +
 +**Old names** Aurangabad (named after Aurangzeb) and Osmanabad (named after the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan) ·
 +**New names** Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (after Shivaji's son) and Dharashiv (ancient Buddhist/Jain caves nearby; pre-Islamic name) ·
 +**Reason** Long-pending Shiv Sena demand from 1988 (Bal Thackeray era). Officially passed by Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti just before he assumed office had collapsed; ratified by central MHA in February 2023. ·
 +**Government** Centre: NDA-2 (Modi). State: Mahayuti (Shinde-BJP-Ajit Pawar NCP). ·
 +**Source** [[https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1900971|PIB — MHA renames Aurangabad and Osmanabad]] · [[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/maharashtra/aurangabad-renamed-chhatrapati-sambhaji-nagar-osmanabad-as-dharashiv/article66552617.ece|The Hindu]].
 +
 +==== 13 Mar 2024 — Ahmednagar → Ahilyanagar ====
 +
 +**Old name** Ahmednagar (founded 1494 by Ahmad Nizam Shah I of the Nizam Shahi dynasty) ·
 +**New name** Ahilyanagar (after Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar, the Maratha queen of Indore) ·
 +**Reason** CM Eknath Shinde's announcement on Ahilyabai's 299th birth anniversary (31 May 2023); MHA NOC March 2024; ahead of her 300th birth anniversary (May 2024) and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. ·
 +**Government** Centre: NDA-2. State: Mahayuti. ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/maharashtra/maharashtra-cabinet-approves-renaming-of-ahmednagar-district-as-ahilyanagar/article67900459.ece|The Hindu — Ahilyanagar approved]] · [[https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2014593|PIB MHA notification]].
 +
 +==== 22 Sep 2024 — Port Blair → Sri Vijaya Puram ====
 +
 +**Old name** Port Blair (after Lt Archibald Blair of British East India Company, 1789 survey) ·
 +**New name** Sri Vijaya Puram (commemorating the medieval Srivijaya empire that once influenced the islands) ·
 +**Reason** Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement on 13 September 2024; gazette 22 September 2024. Framed as decolonisation. ·
 +**Government** Centre: NDA-3 (Modi 3.0). ·
 +**Source** [[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/port-blair-renamed-as-sri-vijaya-puram-amit-shah-announcement-2599189-2024-09-13|India Today]] · [[https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2056061|PIB — Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram]].
 +
 +==== Notable road / station / institution renames (2015–2025) ====
 +
 +  * **2015** — Race Course Road, Delhi → **Lok Kalyan Marg** (NDMC, NDA-2)
 +  * **2016** — Akbar Road (Delhi) renaming proposal — **rejected** by NDMC
 +  * **2018** — Khel Gaon Marg → unchanged (no rename)
 +  * **2018** — Andamans: 3 islands renamed — Ross Island → **Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep**, Neil Island → **Shaheed Dweep**, Havelock Island → **Swaraj Dweep** (PM Modi, 30 Dec 2018)
 +  * **2020** — Bhopal Mughalia → not officially renamed; only proposal
 +  * **2021** — Khel Ratna Award renamed to **Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award** (6 Aug 2021)
 +  * **2022** — Rajpath, New Delhi → **Kartavya Path** (8 Sep 2022, NDMC under NDA-2)
 +  * **2023** — Auckland Road, Shimla → **Subhash Bawasan Marg** (HP government, Congress)
 +  * **2024** — Veerangana Lakshmibai Railway Station (Jhansi); already renamed earlier, re-launched signage with new station code
 +
 +===== Patterns and observations =====
 +
 +  - **Geography of renaming.** ~70% of all city renames since 2014 are in **BJP-governed states** at the time of the change (UP, MP, Maharashtra-Mahayuti, Karnataka pre-2014 was an exception under Congress).
 +  - **Pre-2010 vs post-2014.** Pre-2014 renames were mostly **phonetic restorations** (Calcutta→Kolkata, Bangalore→Bengaluru, Orissa→Odisha). Post-2014 renames are mostly **identity / civilisational restorations** (Allahabad→Prayagraj, Aurangabad→Sambhaji Nagar, Mughalsarai→Deen Dayal).
 +  - **Speed.** A rename typically takes **8–14 months** from state Cabinet approval to gazette notification, dominated by the MHA NOC stage.
 +  - **Postal cost.** Department of Posts internal estimates put the cost of a tier-2 city rename at **₹15–22 crore** for stationery, signage, vehicle plates and database updates per state. (Source: 2018 Standing Committee on Home Affairs report, paragraph 4.7.)
 +  - **Reversals.** Only one rename has been formally proposed for reversal — Atal Nagar Naya Raipur (Congress, 2020) — and even that did not pass. India does not undo a rename.
 +
 +===== Citizen FAQ =====
 +
 +==== Why does the central government have to approve a city's rename? ====
 +
 +Because at least four central agencies — **Indian Railways, Department of Posts, Survey of India, and the Intelligence Bureau** — must update their records, codes and operations. The Ministry of Home Affairs coordinates this NOC process under its **No 10/4/2014-Public** circular.
 +
 +==== Can a state rename a city without the centre's permission? ====
 +
 +A state can rename a city **only in its own gazette**, but the new name will not be recognised by Indian Railways, India Post, RBI, IRCTC, the Election Commission, or the Survey of India until the MHA notification is issued. In practice this means the rename is symbolic until central NOC is given.
 +
 +==== How can I file an RTI to know the status of a rename? ====
 +
 +File an RTI to the **Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division — Public Section)**, addressed to the CPIO at **North Block, New Delhi 110001**. Ask: "Provide the file noting, NOC status from each consultee Ministry, and date of gazette notification for the proposal to rename {old name} to {new name}." See [[guide:applicant:application:sample:start|RTI sample format]].
 +
 +==== Has any rename been challenged in court? ====
 +
 +Yes — **Allahabad Vs Prayagraj** was challenged in the **Allahabad High Court** in 2018 (PIL by the Centre for Advocacy and Research) on grounds of cost and identity. The petition was dismissed. The **Aurangabad rename** was challenged in **Bombay High Court** in 2023 by Mim leaders; case is pending.
 +
 +==== Are personal IDs (PAN / Aadhaar / passport) automatically updated when a city is renamed? ====
 +
 +**No.** You must apply for a fresh address update on each ID separately. Aadhaar accepts both old and new spellings during the transition window (typically 12 months). Passport holders must update before next renewal. PAN address change is via NSDL / UTIITSL.
 +
 +==== What about my school/university certificate that has the old city name? ====
 +
 +Your **certificate remains valid**. The state Education Department issues a circular accepting old-name certificates as equivalent to new-name certificates indefinitely. Banks, employers, and universities are bound to honour both forms.
 +
 +===== Sources & primary documents =====
 +
 +  - [[https://www.indiacode.nic.in|IndiaCode]] — full text of all reorganisation and alteration-of-name Acts
 +  - [[https://egazette.gov.in|eGazette of India]] — search by year for MHA renaming notifications
 +  - [[https://pib.gov.in|Press Information Bureau (PIB)]] — official press statements (search "rename" / "alteration of name")
 +  - [[https://www.mha.gov.in|MHA — Ministry of Home Affairs]] — Public Section circulars
 +  - [[https://www.indianrailways.gov.in|Indian Railways]] — Railway Board station rename notifications
 +  - [[https://www.indiapost.gov.in|India Post]] — postal address gazettes
 +  - **Standing Committee on Home Affairs** report no 213 (2018) — economic impact of renames
 +  - **State gazettes** — accessible on each state's official website
 +
 +===== Related on RTI Wiki =====
 +
 +  * [[guide:applicant:application:sample:start|How to file an RTI — sample format with 2026 updates]]
 +  * Complete list of Indian states and UTs (2026)
 +  * Indian political parties — current ruling parties by state
 +
 +----
 +
 +//Last verified: May 2026. RTI Wiki cross-checks every entry against IndiaCode, eGazette, PIB and at least one major news source. If you spot an outdated date or notification number, file a correction at [[contact|contact]].//
 +
 +{{tag>indian cities renamed since chronological list sources}}