Kerala as Keralam

News- The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to rename the State of Kerala as Keralam, reflecting the linguistic and cultural identity of the Malayalam-speaking population.The proposed Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 will now be referred to the Kerala Legislative Assembly under Article 3 of the Constitution, after which Parliament will consider the amendment to the First Schedule.

Constitutional Basis for Renaming a State

Article 3 of the Constitution- It empowers Parliament to:

• Form new states
• Alter areas or boundaries of existing states
• Change the name of any state

Unlike renaming cities (which is an executive decision), renaming a state requires a parliamentary law under Article 3, leading to amendment of the First Schedule of the Constitution.

Procedure for Renaming a State

The process involves the following steps:

1. Proposal by the State Government- The demand originates from the concerned state government, usually after a resolution passed in the State Legislature.

2. Examination by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)- The MHA scrutinises the proposal and seeks No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from:

• Ministry of Railways
• Intelligence Bureau
• Department of Posts
• Survey of India
• Registrar General of India
• Other concerned departments

3. Presidential Reference- Under Article 3, the President refers the Bill to the concerned State Legislature for expressing its views within a specified period.

Note- The state's opinion is not binding on Parliament.

4. Introduction and Passage in Parliament- After receiving the Assembly's views, the Bill is introduced in Parliament.
It requires:

• Simple majority in both Houses
• Presidential assent

5. Notification- After assent and official notification, the new name comes into effect.

Source- IE