The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is supporting a national campaign to rename India as "Bharat," aligning with the country's civilisational heritage.

The Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas (SSUN), an RSS-affiliated organisation instrumental in shaping the National Education Policy, is leading this initiative. The campaign aims to collect one million signatures from citizens across various sectors, including education, government, law, and industry, before presenting a petition to President Droupadi Murmu.

Atul Kothari, the national general secretary of SSUN, stressed that "Bharat" carries deeper historical and cultural significance. He stated, "India is merely a name, whereas Bharat is a sentiment, a legacy of our ancestors." This viewpoint was echoed during the recent Gyan Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, where scholars and educators advocated for the exclusive use of "Bharat" to refer to the country.

The debate over the country's name gained traction during the G20 Summit in September 2023, when official communications referred to the nation as "Bharat" instead of "India." This move triggered discussions about a potential constitutional amendment to officially rename the country.

The SSUN campaign, titled "Ek Desh, Ek Naam, Bharat, Not India" (One Nation, One Name, Bharat, Not India), aims to eliminate the use of "India" in favour of "Bharat."

Suresh Gupta, a senior SSUN member, remarked, "No country in the world has two names, so we have launched this campaign." The organisation plans to gather nationwide signatures to bolster this cause.

As the RSS-affiliated group formally launches this nationwide movement, the Union Government has also taken steps to use the term "Bharat" in official communications, reflecting a broader shift towards embracing the country's indigenous identity.