Mon Feb 17 16:50:40 UTC 2025: ## Delhi High Court to Hear Plea to Rename India ‘Bharat’ or ‘Hindustan’
**New Delhi, February 17, 2025** – The Delhi High Court will hear a petition on March 12th seeking to amend the Constitution and replace the word “India” with either “Bharat” or “Hindustan.” The plea, filed by Delhi resident Namaha, argues that the English name “India” does not reflect the country’s culture and tradition, and that renaming it would help shed “colonial baggage.”
The petitioner previously approached the Supreme Court in 2020 with the same request. The Supreme Court directed that the petition be treated as a representation for the appropriate ministries to consider. However, citing a lack of response from the government, Namaha filed the current petition in the High Court.
The plea seeks to amend Article 1 of the Constitution, which currently states, “India, that is Bharat,” to instead read “Bharat/Hindustan, a Union of States.” It cites the 1948 Constituent Assembly debates as evidence of past support for naming the country “Bharat” or “Hindustan.” The court has granted the Centre’s counsel time to obtain instructions on the matter before the March 12th hearing.
First Piper 