Chhattisgarh University to Replace India With Bharat on Degrees and Marksheets
Guru Ghasidas Central University in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, has decided to replace 'India' with 'Bharat' on all future degree certificates and marksheets. The change, inspired by national traditions, will be implemented gradually as existing stationery stocks are exhausted.
Highlights
- •Guru Ghasidas Central University will replace 'India' with 'Bharat' on degrees and marksheets.
- •The decision follows a standing committee resolution passed six months ago by university officials.
- •The university cites the use of 'Bharat' during the 2023 G20 Summit as a key influence.
- •Other state universities in Chhattisgarh have not yet adopted a similar policy change.
A central university located in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, has formally initiated a transition regarding its official nomenclature. The Guru Ghasidas Central University has officially announced that it will replace the term 'India' with 'Bharat' across its range of academic documents, including degree certificates, marksheets, and all official university correspondence. This significant administrative shift is set to take place in the coming months as existing stationery supplies are depleted.
The Rationale Behind the Official Change
The leadership at Guru Ghasidas Central University confirmed that a resolution supporting this transition was passed by the university's standing committee approximately six months ago. According to the institution's Vice Chancellor, Alok Kumar Chakrawal, the decision to replace 'India' with 'Bharat' is rooted in a desire to honor national tradition and cultural heritage. The institution aims to align its academic identity with the nomenclature increasingly utilized at the highest levels of the Indian government.
Vice Chancellor Alok Kumar Chakrawal emphasized that the inspiration for this move stems from recent official high-level engagements. Specifically, he highlighted that during the G20 Summit held in 2023, the use of the term 'Bharat' in official correspondence by the country's highest constitutional authority set a precedent. The university views the adoption of 'Bharat' as a reflection of deep-seated historical and civilizational values, noting that terms such as Aryavarta and Jambudweep have historically designated this region.
Implementation and Broader Context
Regarding the technical transition, Guru Ghasidas Central University clarified that the change will be systematic. Currently, documents issued by the institution feature both 'India' and 'Bharat' references in English and Hindi, respectively. Under the new policy, the English-language documents will undergo a complete substitution to ensure uniformity. The university will phase out the use of 'India' gradually once current stock levels of certificates and marksheets are fully exhausted.
While this move at the central university has garnered attention, the policy is not yet universal across all regional institutions. Officials from several other prominent state institutions, such as the Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya in Raipur and Atal Bihari Vajpayee University in Bilaspur, have confirmed that no such policy changes have been enacted within their own campuses. Furthermore, these institutions stated that they have not received any official directives from administrative authorities to adopt similar changes at this time. The situation highlights a localized administrative decision at Guru Ghasidas Central University rather than a uniform shift across all educational establishments in Chhattisgarh.
