India might be renamed Bharat soon: What is the cost?

In the invitations for a dinner party ahead of the upcoming G20 Summit, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP, referred to India as ‘Bharat,’ sparking outrage The government issued a dinner invitation for the G20 Summit under the name of the “President of Bharat” rather than the President of India. The government reportedly intends to propose a resolution during a special parliamentary session which will be held from September 18 to 22, seeking an official name change for the country to ‘Bharat.’

While the official name change is still doing the rounds, the financial implications of this proposed reform are nothing short of staggering. India has witnessed various instances of cities and towns being renamed in the past, but the prospect of renaming an entire country is unmatched. For instance, the city of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh was renamed Prayagraj and has been known by its new name since October 2018. The cost of this renaming alone amounted to a substantial Rs. 300 crore, which was borne by the state government.

Talking about the fiscal landscape of India for the fiscal year 2023, the total revenue receipts, encompassing both tax and non-tax revenue, stand at (approximate) Rs. 24 lakh crore. When we apply certain financial calculations to estimate the potential cost of renaming a densely populated nation like India, the figures are astonishing. It is reported that such an endeavor could incur an expenditure of approximately Rs. 14,000 crore.

While the proposed renaming of India to ‘Bharat’ carries cultural and symbolic significance, the financial implications are substantial. The financial aspect of this renaming is indeed a matter of great interest and concern. Balancing this expenditure with the country’s other critical needs will be one of the key challenges that the government will need to address if it moves ahead with this decision, which will only be clear after the upcoming special parliamentary session.