UDIT VANI Ranchi: In a significant administrative change, Jharkhand has officially renamed its Governor’s residences, giving them a more people-centric identity. The Governor’s Houses in Ranchi and Dumka will now be known as “Lok Bhavan.” The Raj Bhavan Secretariat issued a formal notification on Tuesday, bringing the change into immediate effect.
This renaming is part of the Central Government’s broader initiative to replace colonial-era nomenclature with names that reflect democratic values and public connect. Following the notification, all state departments have been instructed to discontinue the usage of the old title “Raj Bhavan.”
The order was issued by Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar’s Additional Chief Secretary, Nitish Madan Kulkarni. According to officials, the objective of the change is to remove remnants of colonial symbolism and give the Governor’s residences a name that resonates with citizens.
Earlier, on 25 November 2025, the Union Home Ministry had directed all states to implement this renaming. Jharkhand has now completed the process in line with the Centre’s efforts to make administrative institutions more inclusive and representative of India’s democratic ethos.
For decades, names such as “Raj Bhavan” and “Raj Niwas” symbolised the legacy of British rule, when these buildings served as residences for top colonial administrators. The adoption of “Lok Bhavan” marks a step towards reshaping governance symbols to better reflect contemporary India’s identity.
