In a significant administrative update, the Raj Bhavan in Jammu and Kashmir — the official residence of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha — has now been officially renamed Lok Bhavan. The decision comes following a directive from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), marking a key step in aligning the nomenclature of the office of state Governor’s residences across India.
Adding to the significance, the official website (https://jkrajbhawan.nic.in/)of the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat has also been updated to reflect the new identity. The homepage now prominently displays:
“लोक भवन, जम्मू और कश्मीर / LOK BHAVAN, JAMMU AND KASHMIR”, confirming the implementation of the revised nomenclature.
The announcement was formalized through an order issued by the LG’s Principal Secretary, Mandeep K. Bhandari, in response to an MHA communication dated November 25, 2025. As per the order, the iconic institution previously known as Raj Bhavan, Jammu and Kashmir will now be recognized exclusively as Lok Bhavan, Jammu and Kashmir for all administrative and official functions.
This renaming initiative traces its roots to the Governors’ Conference 2024, where a nationwide proposal was put forward to replace the term Raj Bhavan with Lok Bhavan in every state and Union Territory. The move aims to reflect a more people-centric governance approach. With this directive now implemented, the new title comes into immediate effect in Jammu and Kashmir.
The transition from Raj Bhavan to Lok Bhavan signifies a symbolic shift towards inclusivity, transparency, and citizen-oriented administration—key priorities echoed by the government in recent years.
