Rashtrapati Bhavan: Renaming Halls for a New India

Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence and office of the President of India, has been renamed to reflect Indian cultural values and ethos. The decision was made by President Droupadi Murmu. The renaming of two halls in Rashtrapati Bhavan, 'Durbar Hall' and 'Ashok Hall' into 'Ganatantra Mandap' and 'Ashok Mandap'.

Renaming of Iconic Halls

President Droupadi Murmu approved renaming two halls in Rashtrapati Bhavan:
- 'Durbar Hall' renamed to 'Ganatantra Mandap'
- 'Ashok Hall' renamed to 'Ashok Mandap'

Rationale for renaming:

- Remove traces of colonialism
- Indianise the symbol of modern India
- Reflect Indian cultural values and ethos

Ganatantra Mandap (formerly Durbar Hall):

Hosts important ceremonies and celebrations, including National Awards presentations
'Durbar' (Persian) referred to courts and assemblies of Kings
'Ganatantra' means Republic in Hindi, signifying democratic rule
Name change reflects India's transition to a republic on January 26, 1950

Ashok Mandap (formerly Ashok Hall):

Originally a ballroom during British rule
Renaming brings uniformity to language and removes traces of English colonialism
'Ashok' symbolizes freedom from suffering and refers to Emperor Ashoka
Reflects the significance of the Ashoka tree in Indian culture and traditions

Rashtrapati Bhavan: A Symbol of Modern India

Official residence and office of the President of India

Construction history:

- Announced during 1911 Delhi Durbar by King George V
- Designed by British architect Edward Lutyen
- Built between 1912-1929 as Viceroy's House
- First occupied by Viceroy Lord Irwin in 1929

Post-independence changes:

- Renamed 'Government House' on August 15, 1947
- Later renamed 'Rashtrapati Bhavan' during Dr. Rajendra Prasad's presidency

Key features:

- H-shaped building on a 330-acre estate
- 340 rooms, 2.5 kilometers of corridors
- 190 acres of garden area (formerly Mughal Gardens, now Amrit Udyan)

President Droupadi Murmu and Recent Initiatives

15th President of India, sworn in on July 25, 2022

Notable achievements:

- Second woman President after Pratibha Patil
- First tribal woman President
- Youngest President at 64 years old

Background:

- Born into a Santhal tribal family in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district

Recent initiatives:

- Renaming of halls to reflect Indian values
- Efforts to make Rashtrapati Bhavan more accessible to the public
- Mughal Gardens renamed "Amrit Udyan" in early 2023 to commemorate 75 years of independence

Rabi 2025–26 Action Plan

The Rabi 2025–26 Action Plan is at the forefront of India’s agricultural strategy as the country prepares for the Rabi season. The roadmap was charted at the National Agricultural Conf

India’s Performance on SDG 11

India’s ranking in the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2025 has improved to 99th among 167 countries. However, urban sustainability in India continues to be a major challenge, especiall

India’s Fast Track Immigration Programme

In a major step to modernize airport infrastructure and streamline travel, the Fast Track Immigration (FTI-TTP), also known as the Trusted Traveller Programme, was launched by Union Home Minister

AIIMS Robotic Surgery Training

The AIIMS robotic surgery training initiative has created history by making the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, the first government medical college in India to offer t

Gyan Bharatam Portal Launched

In a landmark move to preserve India’s rich knowledge systems, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Gyan Bharatam portal on 12th September 2025. The launch took place at the Internation

India on Two-State Solution

In an important diplomatic development, India voted in favour of the Two-state solution through the UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution 2025, known as the New York Declaration for Palestine, on

AI Mental Health App “Never Alone”

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, launched a new AI Mental Health App called Never Alone in 2025. This initiative directly targets the rising cases of student suicide

IIMA First International Campus

In a historic step toward the internationalisation of Indian higher education, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) inaugurated its first international campus in Dubai on 11 Septemb

India’s Atal Innovation Centre

India has officially launched its first overseas Atal Innovation Centre (AIC) at the IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi campus in September 2025, during Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s

India Introduces AdFalciVax Vaccine

India has recently achieved a breakthrough in the fight against malaria by licensing multiple pharmaceutical companies to manufacture and commercialise its first indigenous multi-stage malari