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Parliament has passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, paving the way for the State’s official name to be changed from “Kerala” to “Keralam”, following a unanimous resolution of the Kerala Legislative Assembly.

Key Provisions

• Constitutional changes: The Bill amends the First and Fourth Schedules of the Constitution and makes consequential changes to Articles 31A and 290A to reflect the new name.
• Linguistic basis: “Keralam” is the name traditionally used in Malayalam and is associated with the demand for a unified Malayalam-speaking State.
• Aikya Kerala Movement: The movement for a unified Malayalam-speaking region gained momentum in the 1920s.
• Formation of Kerala: The modern State was formed on 1 November 1956 following the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, by integrating Malayalam-speaking regions. This is celebrated as Kerala Piravi Day.

Constitutional Procedure for Renaming a State

• Governed by Article 3, which empowers Parliament to alter the name, area or boundaries of existing States.
• President’s prior recommendation is required before introducing such a Bill.
• The President must refer the Bill to the concerned State Legislature for its views.
• State Legislature’s views are not binding on Parliament.
• Under Article 4, laws made under Article 3 are not treated as constitutional amendments under Article 368.
• Therefore, the Bill requires only a simple majority in Parliament.
• After Presidential assent, the name change takes effect and the First Schedule is altered.

Historical Context

• Ashoka’s Rock Edict II (257 BCE) mentions “Keralaputra”, traditionally associated with the region/Chera polity.
• Scholar Herman Gundert linked “Keralam” to Cheram/Cheralam, with cher interpreted as “to join” and alam as “land/region”.
• 1956: Linguistic reorganisation led to the creation of Kerala.