Controversy has erupted in India over the use of the name “Bharat” on official English-language invites and nameplates at the high-profile G20 Summit. Usually, the name “India” is used on English-language documents, while “Bharat” is used on Hindi ones. However, Indian President Droupadi Murmu broke the norm by identifying herself as the “President of Bharat” on G20 dinner invitations, and Prime Minister Modi’s nameplate at the summit read “Bharat” too. This unexpected development has fueled rumors that a name change for the country may be on the horizon, prompting a political firefight between opposition parties and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Could India Officially Become “Bharat” Soon?

While speaking to G20 member states, Prime Minister Modi made headlines by sitting behind a nameplate that read “Bharat.” It’s being hinted that the country’s name change from “India” to “Bharat” might be discussed and potentially approved in the upcoming special session of parliament.

Politics Over a Name: What’s the Real Issue?

The Prime Minister had advised his cabinet to steer clear of the ongoing “Bharat vs. India” debate, suggesting that it’s a sensitive issue. On the other side, opposition parties claim that the government is merely distracting citizens from pressing matters.

Constitutional Hoops for the Name Change

Switching from “India” to “Bharat” isn’t a simple task. It would require an amendment to the Indian Constitution that would need a two-thirds majority vote from both houses of parliament—the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

With the G20 Summit as the backdrop, this controversy has captured the nation’s attention and is likely to be a hot topic of debate in the coming weeks.

  Bharat, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Droupadi Murmu, G20 Summit, India, Narendra Modi