New Delhi, Aug 12:
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, proposing to officially change the name of the State from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’.
The Bill was passed by voice vote without a discussion amid protests and disruptions by Opposition members. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai introduced the legislation in the Lok Sabha in place of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The move seeks to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution to replace ‘Kerala’ with ‘Keralam’. Parliament has the power to alter the name of a State under Article 3 of the Constitution.
The Kerala Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution on June 24, 2024, under then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, urging the Centre to officially change the State’s name to ‘Keralam’, the name traditionally used in Malayalam.
The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposal in February 2026.
The Bill will now have to be introduced and passed by the Rajya Sabha. It will come into effect after receiving the President’s assent and being notified in the Official Gazette.