IIT-Bombay or IIT-Mumbai? Renaming debate ignites political clash
27 Nov 2025

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said he will write to the central government, requesting a name change for the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-Bombay) to Indian Institute of Technology-Mumbai (IIT-Mumbai).

The move comes after Union Minister Jitendra Singh's recent remarks at an event at IIT-Bombay.

The minister had said, "As far as IIT-Bombay is concerned, thank God it still has this name. You have not changed it to 'Mumbai.'...And also true for Madras. It remains IIT-Madras."

Thackeray accuses BJP of conspiring against Marathi identity
Political fallout

The remarks drew sharp criticism from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of conspiring to erase Mumbai's Marathi identity.

He alleged that the BJP is trying to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra, just like its attempt to take Chandigarh from Punjab.

"The name 'Mumbai' irks them (BJP) because it is named after Mumbadevi, the original goddess of Mumbai. Her children are the Marathi people...Conspiracy to grab the city is going on," Thackeray said.

MNS workers put up 'IIT-Mumbai' banner outside campus
Local action

He also said that after Mumbai, "the entire MMR region will be seized and linked to Gujarat. Marathi people should wake up."

To protest the minister's remarks, his party workers stepped up their campaign by putting up a banner outside the IIT-Bombay campus, unofficially renaming the institute to "IIT-Mumbai."

Mumbai, known as Bombay earlier, was officially renamed Mumbai in 1995 by the state government.

Fadnavis acknowledges 'Bombay' to 'Mumbai' name change
Name change history

To mollify the situation, Fadnavis also acknowledged that "Bombay" was changed to "Mumbai" during the first Shiv Sena-BJP alliance government in 1995. He credited former Union minister Ram Naik for his role in this decision.

"We always say 'Mumbai,' and not 'Bombay.' Now I will write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the HRD (Education) Minister to change the name of IIT-Bombay to IIT-Mumbai," he said.

BJP-led state government plans to propose renaming Bombay HC
Legal proposal

Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya also said that the BJP-led state government will propose renaming the Bombay High Court as the "Mumbai High Court."

Joining the debate, Mumbai BJP chief Amit Satam questioned the MNS leader's choices in his personal life.

"You educated your children in Bombay Scottish School and made them study German instead of Marathi in Class 11. Is this your love for Marathi?" he asked.