Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 03 December 2025
The official residence and office of the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands will now be known as Lok Niwas, replacing the colonial-era title Raj Niwas, following a directive issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India.
The change was confirmed through an official circular issued by the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat, citing MHA communication No. 7/10/2025 (Part)-M&G dated 25.11.2025. In compliance with the order, the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor has approved the renaming for all official, administrative and public-facing purposes.
According to the circular, effective immediately, the name Raj Niwas stands replaced with Lok Niwas across all government correspondence and institutional usage. The order further mandates updates across physical and digital infrastructure including:
- Official website
- Office stationery
- Official stamps
- Signboards/signages
- Other miscellaneous items.
The revision is part of a broader national transition aimed at replacing terms that reflect colonial legacies with those aligned to democratic, people-centric governance.
The circular was issued by Neeraj Bharati, IAS, Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, and has been circulated to all key administrative offices including the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, heads of departments etc.
With this notification, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands joins other Union Territories and States where Raj Bhavans and Raj Niwas premises are being re-designated as Lok Bhavan or Lok Niwas under the ongoing standardisation initiative.
The updated name is expected to appear progressively across signage and official platforms in the coming days.
