New PMO complex named ‘Seva Teerth’

The new complex that will house the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has been officially named ‘Seva Teerth’, marking yet another symbolic shift in the nomenclature of key government institutions towards themes of public service and duty, officials said on Tuesday.

The complex, in its final stages of completion, was earlier known as the Executive Enclave under the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. Besides the PMO, it will accommodate the Cabinet Secretariat, the National Security Council Secretariat, and India House, a dedicated venue for talks with foreign dignitaries.

Officials said the new name reflects the government’s evolving philosophy of governance. “‘Seva Teerth’ represents a workplace built around the spirit of service. India’s public institutions are undergoing a quiet but profound shift from satta (power) to seva (service), and from authority to responsibility,” an official noted, calling the change “cultural and moral, not just administrative”.

The renaming follows a broader pattern across government establishments. Several Raj Bhawans, the official residences of state governors, and Raj Niwas buildings of Lieutenant-Governors are being rechristened Lok Bhavans and Lok Niwas, following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The move aims to shed colonial-era nomenclature and align official spaces with democratic, citizen-centric values.

In recent years, key landmarks have also undergone similar transitions. Rajpath, earlier named “Kingsway” during British rule, was renamed Kartavya Path to emphasise duty over authority. The Central Secretariat complex being built under the redevelopment plan has been named Kartavya Bhavan, reinforcing the idea that public service is a commitment.

The prime minister’s official residence was renamed Lok Kalyan Marg in 2016 to highlight welfare-oriented governance.

“Every name and every building now points to a simple idea the government exists to serve,” officials said. They added that such renamings signal a deeper ideological repositioning where Indian democracy “chooses responsibility over power and service over status”.

A shift in names is also a shift in mindset. Official spaces now speak the language of seva, kartavya and citizen-first governance,” they said.