How Much Would It Cost To Rename India To Bharat?

President Droupadi Murmu's decision to send official invitations for the G20 dinner under the name 'President of Bharat' instead of 'President of India' has sparked controversy, as India prepares to host the summit in New Delhi this week.

This move has sparked outcry from the Opposition, with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh suggesting that Article 1 of the Constitution is now under threat. Article 1 of the Indian Constitution begins with the statement: "India, that is Bharat, is a 'Union of States'...".

Renaming a country or city, while it may seem superficial, involves adjustments at multiple levels, from local to international. This complex and costly process requires coordination among various public and private entities, as well as a shift in individual citizens' perceptions.

For India, a country known for its immense diversity of cultures, languages, and ethnicities, this process would be particularly intricate, considering its status as the world's most populous nation.

Renaming efforts have been seen at the city and state levels within India, such as the renaming of Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv. These initiatives have incurred substantial costs, including expenses related to map updates, road navigation systems, highway landmarks, and official materials used in state and civic authority offices. Private businesses, corporate entities, and non-governmental institutions in the affected regions have also shouldered financial burdens during such transitions.

Earlier this year, Maharashtra underwent a renaming process, changing Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv.

In 2016, Haryana's state government decided to rename Gurgaon to Gurugram, while in 2018, Allahabad underwent a transformation, becoming Prayagraj. The renaming of Allahabad incurred a significant cost for the state government, exceeding Rs 300 crore, as reported by India Today, citing government finance sources.

Renaming a city or location can be a costly endeavor, with the average expense estimated to be around Rs 300 crore, and potentially reaching up to Rs 1000 crore for larger cities. This cost encompasses various aspects, including updating official documents such as maps, government records, and business licenses, as well as changing signage, letterheads, and other printed materials.

For instance, when Allahabad was renamed Prayagraj by the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet in October 2018, government estimates indicated an expenditure exceeding Rs 300 crore for this name change alone.

In the case of Aurangabad's renaming to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv in Maharashtra, reports suggest that a city like Aurangabad could have incurred expenses of up to Rs 1,000 crore. It's important to note that these costs are funded by taxpayers' money.

Now, considering the prospect of renaming India to Bharat, a similar model applied to India's case reveals a substantial financial burden. In the fiscal year ending in 2023, India's revenue receipts, encompassing both tax and non-tax revenue, amounted to Rs 23.84 lakh crore. When this model is used to estimate the cost of renaming India to Bharat, the projected expense stands at approximately Rs 14,304 crore.

To put this in context, the Central Government allocates nearly Rs 14,000 crore every month for its food security program, which provides sustenance to 80 crore Indians.

Estimating the cost of renaming India to Bharat can be challenging, but other countries have undergone similar changes for various reasons, such as administrative improvement or eliminating colonial references. Swaziland's transition to Eswatini, for instance, was estimated to cost $60 million.

The central government's seriousness about pursuing this name-changing endeavor will become clear during the upcoming special session of Parliament. Meanwhile, foreign heads of state are set to attend the G20 official dinner hosted by the "President of Bharat."