**Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3725, concerning caste-indicative names of villages and localities in India, as answered on August 12, 2025, by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale. The question acknowledges the continued existence of settlements bearing names reflecting the social identity of specific communities (e.g., 'Tiliana,' 'Ahirayana').
The Ministry is aware of the social discrimination and potential mental distress caused by these caste-indicative names. While the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, aims to prevent atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), the process for changing place names falls under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The procedure requires the concerned State Government/Union Territory (UT) administration to submit a proposal to the MHA. The MHA then consults with relevant agencies and, if the proposal is deemed appropriate, issues a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the State Government/UT administration, enabling them to publish the required Gazette Notification. The MHA has existing guidelines for changing the names of cities and towns. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will support any proposal received from State Governments/UT administrations that adhere to these guidelines by the MHA.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: The Indian government ministry responsible for social justice and empowerment, the primary ministry addressed in the policy document.
Lok Sabha: The Lower House of the Parliament of India, indicating the question was raised in the Lok Sabha.
SHRI RAKESH RATHOR: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question No.3725 in Lok Sabha.
SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE: The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment who provided the answer to the question.
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989: An Indian law enacted to prevent atrocities against members of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA): The Indian government ministry responsible for internal security and policy. It examines proposals for changing the names of villages and towns.
Tiliana, Ahirayana, Pasiyana, Dhubiana, Guniana, Gadariyana, Bhurjiyana: Examples of caste-indicative names of villages/localities mentioned in the question.
State Government/UT administration: The administrative body responsible for submitting proposals for changing names of villages, towns etc. to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3725
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2025
CURB CASTE-INDICATIVE NAMES OF VILLAGES/LOCALITIES
73725. SHRI RAKESH RATHOR:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JU STICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that while many places are being renamed in the country,
while several settlements, localities, and villages still bear caste-indicative names like 'Tiliana’,
‘Ahirayana’, 'Pasiyana’, 'Dhubiana', 'Guniana', 'Gadariyana', 'Bhurjiyana' etc., which publicly
reveal the social identity of the concerned communities, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is sensitive about the social discrimination and mental distress faced
by the concerned communities due to these caste-indicative names, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to carry out any survey/draft/guidelines or formulating any
policy to change such caste-indicative place names, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)
(a) & (b): The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 was
enacted to prevent the commission of offences of atrocities against members of Scheduled
Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
However, for changing the name of villages, towns etc., which may include places which
reveal the social identity of a community, the concerned State Government/ UT administration is
required to submit the proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which examines such
proposal in consultation with the concerned agencies. Thereafter, if found appropriate, the MHA
conveys its no objection to the State Government/ UT administration concerned for issuing
required Gazette Notification.
(c): MHA has issued guidelines for changing names of cities, towns etc. If any proposal is
received from any State Government/ UT administration fulfilling these guidelines, it accords its
“No Objection” to such change of name.
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