Modi Government Renames PMO Complex as ‘Seva Teerth’, Signalling Shift Towards Service-Driven Governance

The Modi government has officially decided to rename the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) complex as ‘Seva Teerth’, marking a symbolic shift in the language and philosophy of governance.

Part of the Central Vista project

The new PMO complex — earlier known as the Executive Enclave — is in the final phase of construction under the Central Vista redevelopment project. The upcoming complex will house:

• The Prime Minister’s Office
• The Cabinet Secretariat
• The National Security Council Secretariat
• ‘India House’, the venue for high-level international meetings

Why the name ‘Seva Teerth’?

Officials explained that the name reflects a larger ideological shift in governance:

• From power to service
• From authority to accountability
• From exclusivity to public duty

They emphasized that the new name symbolizes a workplace rooted in seva (service) and national responsibility.

More renaming across government institutions

The renaming of the PMO is part of a broader transformation:

• Raj Bhavans (Governor residences) have been renamed Lok Bhavans
• The Prime Minister’s residential address was renamed Lok Kalyan Marg in 2016
• The upcoming Central Secretariat complex is named Kartavya Bhavan, built on the idea of duty-first governance

Officials stated that these changes aim to create a modern administrative identity aligned with citizen-first values.

A symbolic ideological shift

According to senior officials, renaming key government buildings is part of a deeper cultural and moral reorientation of governance.
They said:

“Every name, every building, and every symbol now points to one simple idea: the government is for service.”

The renaming of institutions reflects the government’s intention to highlight responsibility, transparency, and welfare over power and position.