The Parliament passes bill to rename Kerala as Keralam

Context: Parliament passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, officially renaming Kerala as Keralam, following a unanimous resolution by the State Legislative Assembly.

AboutThe Parliament passes bill to rename Kerala as Keralam:

What It Is?

• The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 is a Parliamentary law that amends the First Schedule of the Constitution of India to change the official name of the state from Kerala to Keralam—aligning the English legal name with its native Malayalam pronunciation and cultural heritage.

Constitutional Provisions Involved:

• Article 3 of the Constitution: Empowers Parliament by law to form new states, alter state boundaries, or change the name of any existing state.
• First Schedule Amendment: Modifies Entry 15 of the First Schedule of the Constitution, which lists the names and territorial extents of the States.

Procedure to Change the Name of a State:

• Initiation & State Resolution: The process typically begins when a State Legislative Assembly passes a formal resolution requesting the Centre to alter the state’s official name.
• Presidential Recommendation: A Bill proposing the name change can only be introduced in either House of Parliament on the prior recommendation of the President of India.
• Reference to the State Legislature: Before recommending the Bill, the President refers it to the affected State Legislative Assembly to express its views within a specified timeframe.
• Non-Binding State Views: While consulting the State Assembly is mandatory to uphold cooperative federalism, the views or suggestions expressed by the State Assembly are not binding on either the President or Parliament.
• Introduction in Parliament: Once the referral period expires or views are received, the Bill is formally introduced in Parliament.
• Passage by Simple Majority: As specified under Article 4, the Bill is treated as an ordinary bill and must be passed by both Houses (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) with a simple majority (50% + 1 of members present and voting).
• Presidential Assent & Gazette Notification: Upon receiving the President’s assent, the Act comes into force, formally modifying the First Schedule of the Constitution and altering the legal name of the state.

Significance:

• Cultural &Linguistic Identity: Restores the native Malayalam name ‘Keralam’, reflecting the State’s cultural identity.
• Cooperative Federalism: Reflects Centre–State cooperation, with Parliament acting on a unanimous State Assembly resolution.