Archive · 27 Nov 2025
Debate Over Renaming IIT Bombay to IIT Mumbai
There is a big discussion about changing the name of IIT Bombay to IIT Mumbai.
The city's name was changed from Bombay to Mumbai in 1995 for cultural reasons.
Now, some politicians want the university's name to match the city's name.
Others say changing the name might cause problems and confuse people who know the university as IIT Bombay.
The decision is not simple and needs approval from the central government.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh's comments sparked a debate over renaming IIT Bombay to IIT Mumbai.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis announced he will write to PM Modi to request the name change.
The city was renamed from Bombay to Mumbai in 1995 for cultural and political reasons.
Changing the name of IIT Bombay requires an amendment to the IIT Act of 1961, a complex process.
Opposition to the name change includes concerns about diluting the institution's global identity and administrative challenges.
- Who
- Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra CM), Jitendra Singh (Union Minister), Raj Thackeray (MNS Chief)
- What
- Debate over renaming IIT Bombay to IIT Mumbai
- When
- November 2024, ahead of civic body polls
- Where
- Maharashtra, India
- Why
- Political and cultural significance of the name change, with BJP advocating for Mumbai and MNS supporting the current name
- Institution
- IIT Bombay
- Current Name
- IIT Bombay
- Proposed Name
- IIT Mumbai
- Year of City Renaming
- 1995
- Current CM
- Devendra Fadnavis
- Union Minister Involved
- Jitendra Singh
- Political Party Advocating Change
- BJP
- Opposing Political Party
- MNS
