UN will 'accept' India's name change to 'Bharat' if formalities completed

"When India completes the formalities to change the name, they will inform us and we will change the name at the UN (records)," United Nations Secretary General's chief spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told the news channel.

The statement comes days after a huge controversy broke out over the shift to India from Bharat after President Droupadi Murmu's invitation to G20 leaders introduced her as the "President of Bharat" instead of the traditional "President of India".

"It's not for the UN to comment on the debate," Dujarric, who was speaking on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Delhi, said.

"As long as the formalities are done, the UN will change the name too. It's a bureaucratic issue when it comes to what the UN needs to do," he said.

India will not be the first country if it does change its name. There's a long list of countries that have changed their names due to political, social, or other reasons.

The UN top official also cited the example of Turkey changing its name to Turkiye last year and said "history has shown that it has happened a number of times for several countries".

Amid the opposition's strong criticisms of the same, the name 'Bharat' has been used in a G20 booklet which has been handed over to foreign delegates. The title of the booklet has been kept "Bharat, The Mother of Democracy".

India is hosting the 18th G-20 Summit in New Delhi beginning Saturday as the global leaders are arriving in the city to attend the Summit.

More than 30 heads of state and top officials from the European Union, invited guest countries, and 14 heads of international organizations are expected to attend.