Parliament has cleared the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, paving the way for the official name of the state to be changed from “Kerala” to “Keralam.”
The Rajya Sabha approved the legislation on Wednesday, August 12, after the Lok Sabha had passed it on August 11. The Rajya Sabha cleared the Bill by voice vote. With both Houses approving the legislation, the proposed name change has completed the parliamentary stage.
However, the change is not yet legally effective. The Bill still requires the President’s assent before it becomes law. Once the President gives assent and the necessary notification is issued, the constitutional reference to the state will be changed from Kerala to Keralam.
Why is Kerala being renamed Keralam?
- The move is intended to officially reflect the state’s Malayalam name, “Keralam” The Kerala Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution on June 24, 2024, requesting the Centre to change the state’s official name to Keralam.
- The state government argued that “Keralam” is the name used in Malayalam and that adopting it officially would better reflect Kerala’s linguistic and cultural identity.
- The Union Cabinet subsequently approved the proposal in February 2026. The Centre then initiated the constitutional process required for changing the name of a state.
What does the Bill change?
- The legislation provides for changes to the First Schedule of the Constitution, where the names of India’s states and Union Territories are listed.
- Once the law takes effect, “Kerala” will be replaced by “Keralam” in the relevant constitutional records.
- The change is being carried out under Article 3 of the Constitution, which gives Parliament the authority to alter the name, boundaries or area of a state.
Opposition and Parliament proceedings
- The Lok Sabha passed the Bill on August 11 amid disruptions in the House. Reports said the legislation was passed without a detailed debate as opposition MPs were protesting on other issues.
- The Rajya Sabha subsequently approved the Bill on August 12, completing Parliament’s consideration of the legislation.
What happens next?
- The next major step is Presidential assent.
- After the President signs the Bill, it will become law and the government will issue the necessary notification. The official name of the state will then be changed from Kerala to Keralam.
- The change is therefore not simply a branding or administrative decision, it requires a formal change in the constitutional listing of the state.
Why is the decision significant?
- The move has both cultural and constitutional significance. Supporters say the name “Keralam” represents the state’s Malayalam linguistic identity and historical usage.
- The change also demonstrates the constitutional procedure through which Parliament can alter the name of an Indian state.
- The process began with the Kerala Assembly’s unanimous resolution in 2024, followed by Union Cabinet approval in 2026 and parliamentary approval this week.
