Modi government renames PMO complex as Seva Teerth

December 3, 2025 Hot from the Oven Valli Sarvani

The Modi government has renamed the Prime Minister’s Office complex as Seva Teerth, signalling a symbolic step in the broader transformation of India’s administrative identity and reinforcing the emphasis on service-oriented governance in the nation.

The new complex, part of the Central Vista redevelopment project, is nearing completion.

Earlier known as the Executive Enclave, it will house the Prime Minister’s Office, the Cabinet Secretariat, the National Security Council Secretariat and the offices of ‘India House’, which will host high-level diplomatic engagements.

The redesign intends to streamline decision-making and enhance coordination among the country’s top administrative and security bodies.

According to officials, the name ‘Seva Teerth’ reflects a workplace built around the idea of service, responsibility and national priorities.

They noted that India’s public institutions are experiencing a quiet but profound transformation, where governance is shifting from power to service and from authority to accountability.

This change, they said, is not merely administrative but also cultural and moral.

The renaming effort extends beyond the PMO. Raj Bhavans, the official residences of state governors, are being renamed ‘Lok Bhavans’ to reinforce themes of duty and transparency.

Officials emphasised that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, symbols of governance are being redesigned to reflect citizen-first values.

They said that every name, every building, and every symbol now pointed to one simple idea: that the government was for service. This symbolic shift has been underway for several years.

In 2016, the Prime Minister’s official residence was renamed Lok Kalyan Marg, a name intended to highlight welfare over exclusivity.

The Central Secretariat is now called Kartavya Bhavan, reinforcing that public service is a commitment rather than a position.

Officials believe these changes collectively represent a deeper ideological shift.

They said Indian democracy is choosing responsibility over power and service over position, with new names signalling a mindset focused on citizen-first governance.

Image Credit: Krish Dulal, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons