NEW DELHI — In a major push to decolonize military traditions and honor indigenous valor, the Indian Army has officially renamed 246 roads, buildings, and residential complexes across the country. The initiative, confirmed by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth in Parliament on Friday, March 13, 2026, replaces names of pre-Independence British officials with those of Indian military legends and gallantry award winners.
The move follows a directive from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2021 Combined Commanders’ Conference, where he urged the armed forces to shed “outdated” colonial customs and adopt an indigenous ethos.
Breakdown of Renamed Facilities
The renaming exercise spans multiple commands and states, with the Central Command (Lucknow) and Western Command (Chandimandir) seeing the most significant changes.
| Command | Number of Renamed Facilities |
| Central Command | 74 |
| Western Command | 67 |
| Southern Command | 55 |
| Eastern Command | 33 |
| South Western Command | 17 |
State-wise Highlights:
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Uttar Pradesh: 51 places renamed.
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Haryana: 40 places renamed.
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Punjab: 8 places renamed.
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Himachal Pradesh: 3 places renamed.
The total tally includes 124 roads, 77 residential colonies, 27 office complexes, and 17 other facilities such as sports grounds, helipads, and parks.
Honoring the “Bravest of the Brave”
Many of the new names honor recipients of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India’s highest gallantry award. Notable changes include:
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Delhi Cantonment: Mall Road and Proby Road are now Lt. Arun Khetrapal Marg and Major Shaitan Singh Marg.
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Ambala Cantonment: Patterson Road Quarters has been renamed Dhan Singh Thapa Enclave.
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Mathura Cantonment: New Horn Lines is now Abdul Hamid Lines.
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Mhow: Malcolm Lines has been rechristened Piru Singh Lines.
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Kitchener House: Named after the British Field Marshal, this landmark has been renamed Manekshaw House, in honor of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
Beyond Names: A Cultural Shift
This renaming exercise is part of a broader “Indianisation” of the Armed Forces. Beyond landmarks, the military has also:
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Tweaked mess uniforms to reflect Indian styles.
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Modified certain customs and traditions held since the 19th century.
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Reorganized ceremonial practices to align with national pride and modern relevance.
“The initiative is part of efforts to align institutional spaces with India’s military traditions… reflecting core values of courage, sacrifice, and leadership,” Minister Sanjay Seth stated.
