India's government is set to change the country's name in divisive move

India's hard right ruling government has indicated that it wants to rename the country in a controversial move.

The proposed name for India, 'Bharat', is the Sanskrit name, and the country has always been referred to as 'Bharat' in many Indian languages. The name also appears in the first article of the constitution, which says: "India, that is Bharat, shall be a union of states."

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Both names also appear on Indian passports.

President Droupadi Murmu sent out official invitations from the presidential palace for the upcoming G20 Summit 2023, which were signed by 'The President of Bharat', when previously these were signed 'President of India'.

For India's current ruling party the BJP, which stands for 'Bharatiya Janata Party', the formal name change has been in the works for some time. Far-right Hindu nationalist organisation the RSS, which has close ties to the BJP, has also been calling for India to only be referred to as 'Bharat'.

The government proposal to only refer to India as 'Bharat' has come after a coalition of opposition parties began using the acronym 'INDIA' to refer to themselves, standing for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.

The proposed name change comes as India continues to face many challenges domestically, such as the intensifying sectarian violence in the state of Manipur.

BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav told news agency ANI: "The entire country is demanding that we should use the word 'Bharat' instead of 'India'.

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"The word 'India' is an abuse given to us by the British whereas the word 'Bharat' is a symbol of our culture. I want there should be a change in our Constitution and the word 'Bharat' should be added to it."

The name 'Bharat' is only used once in the Indian constitution, so this would need to be amended if the name change goes ahead.

MP for Opposition party Indian National Congress Jairam Ramesh said: "Mr. Modi can continue to distort history and divide India, that is Bharat, that is a Union of States.

"But we will not be deterred. After all, what is the objective of INDIA parties? It is BHARAT—Bring Harmony, Amity, Reconciliation And Trust. Judega BHARAT, Jeetega INDIA!"

Outlook India has estimated that the cost of only referring to India as 'Bharat' from now on as around Rs 14,000 crore. In the Indian numbering system, a 'crore' is ten million. This would equate to around $17 billion.