Odisha Cabinet Approves Renaming of 64 Places to Preserve Odia Identity

State Government of Odisha have approved the restoration of the original Odia names for 64 places spread across the 26 districts of the state. This decision was approved by the state Cabinet which was chaired by the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on 13th of June, 2026. This initiative seeks to replace the colonial-era English spellings that distorted the local pronunciations and identities.

Odisha’s Cultural Identity Drive Gains Momentum

The Odisha government has approved the correction of the English spellings that were introduced during British rule in India and it later became part of the official records.

Many of these spellings are differed significantly from the original Odia pronunciation. For example, Aul will now be officially written as the Aali, while Balasore will be restored to a Baleshwar.

The initiative forms the part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen “Odia Asmita” (Odia identity) and to promote the use of the Odia language in the governance and public life.

Major Highlights of the Decision

• Odisha Cabinet has approved the restoration of 64 original place names.
• Changes of the names will cover 26 districts across the state.
• Colonial-era spellings will be replaced with the authentic Odia pronunciations.
• The high-level committee was headed by Pratibha Ray reviewed recommendations.
• Public feedback was also invited before the final approval.
• Official Gazette notification will be issued soon for the approval.
• Central agencies will be requested to update the records.
• The move aims to strengthen the Odia language and its cultural identity.

Why Were the Names Changed?

During the British administration there are many local place names were transliterated according to the English phonetics.

As a result of this original Odia pronunciations were altered in the maps, postal records, railway documents and administrative records.

Over a period of time, these spellings became standard in the official communication despite not accurately reflecting local language and culture.

Recognizing this issue, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has also directed the district administrations to identify such discrepancies.

Reports were also collected from the district collectors, scholars, cultural organizations and public representatives.

A committee led by the Pratibha Ray examined historical records and public suggestions before recommending the final list of the corrected names.

What Does This Mean for Odisha?

The restoration of traditional names just goes beyond administrative changes. It represents the effort to preserve the Odisha’s cultural memory and linguistic authenticity.

Many place names in the state of Odisha originates from ancient temples, rivers, tribal traditions, local deities and historical events. With restoring these names helps to maintain their original meaning and the historical significance.

This decision is also expected to strengthen the regional pride and encourage greater use of Odia in public administration, education and official communication.

Additionally, it also aligns Odisha with similar efforts seen across India, where the cities and regions have reverted to indigenous names.

Important Renamed Places

• Balasore → Baleshwar
• Aul → Aali
• Angul → Anugola
• Bargarh → Baragada
• Cuttack → Kataka
• Deogarh → Debagada
• Nayagarh → Nayagada
• Sonepur → Sonpur
• Sundargarh → Sundaragada
• Berhampur → Brahmapur