Lok Sabha Passes Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill

The Lok Sabha passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, on 11 August 2026 to change the name of the State of Kerala to Keralam in the First Schedule of the Constitution. The Bill followed a resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly on 24 June 2024 and a subsequent constitutional process under Article 3 of the Constitution.

Constitutional basis for changing a state name

Article 3 of the Constitution of India empowers Parliament to form new States, alter the area of any State, and change the name of any State. A Bill under Article 3 requires the President to refer it to the concerned State Legislature for its views before Parliament takes a final decision.

Legislative process for the Kerala name change

The Union Cabinet approved the proposal on 24 February 2026 and initiated the constitutional procedure for the alteration of the State’s name. The Kerala Legislative Assembly later concurred with the draft of the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, after the President referred it for its views.

Parliamentary passage of the Bill

The Union government introduced the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha on 10 August 2026. The Lok Sabha passed the Bill on 11 August 2026 by voice vote, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai moved it for final passage in place of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Important Facts for Exams

• Article 3 of the Constitution deals with the formation of new States and the alteration of State boundaries and names.
• The First Schedule of the Constitution contains the names of the States and Union Territories of India.
• A State Legislature’s views are sought when Parliament considers a Bill under Article 3.
• A voice vote is a parliamentary method in which members say “Aye” or “No” without a recorded division.

State identity and official nomenclature

Kerala is one of the 28 States of India and has its capital at Thiruvananthapuram. Keralam is the Malayalam form of the State’s name and is used in the local language.