What Happened
- The Union Cabinet approved the Kerala government's proposal to rename the state as "Keralam," setting in motion a constitutional process under Article 3 of the Constitution.
- The change reflects linguistic identity — "Keralam" is the name used in the Malayalam language and is argued to better represent the state's cultural and linguistic heritage.
- The Kerala Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution on June 24, 2024, urging the Centre to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution to replace "Kerala" with "Keralam."
- The Cabinet's approval is not the final step — the Bill must be referred by the President to the Kerala Legislative Assembly for its views before Parliament considers the legislation.
- Once Parliament passes the Bill with a simple majority and the President gives assent, "Keralam" will replace "Kerala" in the First Schedule of the Constitution.
Static Topic Bridges
Article 3 — Power of Parliament to Reorganise States
Article 3 of the Constitution of India vests in Parliament the power to: (a) form a new state by separation of territory from any state, or by uniting two or more states or territories, or by uniting any territory to a part of any state; (b) increase the area of any state; (c) diminish the area of any state; (d) alter the boundaries of any state; and (e) alter the name of any state. Crucially, this power rests exclusively with Parliament — state legislatures cannot effect these changes unilaterally.
- Article 3 Proviso: No Bill under Article 3 can be introduced in either House of Parliament except on the recommendation of the President
- If the proposal affects the area, boundaries, or name of a state: The President must refer the Bill to the concerned State Legislature before introduction in Parliament — the Legislature must express its views within the specified time period (President may extend it)
- Majority required: Simple majority (unlike Constitutional amendments under Article 368 which require special majority)
- Article 3 vs Article 368: Changes under Article 3 do not require ratification by State Legislatures (unlike some constitutional amendments) — Parliament alone suffices
- First Schedule to the Constitution: Lists the 28 States and 8 Union Territories of India — renaming requires amending this Schedule
- Karnataka precedent: "Mysore" renamed to "Karnataka" via Constitution (31st Amendment) Act, 1973; "Orissa" renamed to "Odisha" via Constitution (96th Amendment) Act, 2011; "Uttaranchal" renamed to "Uttarakhand" via Constitution (94th Amendment) Act [Unverified — state name change acts]; "Pondicherry" renamed to "Puducherry" via Constitution (Amendment) Act
Connection to this news: The Kerala government's request triggers the Article 3 proviso — the President will refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the Kerala Legislative Assembly for views, after which Parliament will take up the legislation.
History of State Renaming in India — Precedents and Processes
Several Indian states have undergone name changes through the constitutional process — reflecting linguistic identity, cultural assertion, or correcting colonial-era transliterations. Major precedents:
- Mysore → Karnataka (1973): Following the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, which merged Kannada-speaking regions; renamed via the 31st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1973
- Madras → Tamil Nadu (1969): Changed through a simpler legislative process; "Madras" was the colonial-era name for both the city and the province
- Orissa → Odisha (2011): Constitution (96th Amendment) Act, 2011 — also changed the Odia language's name in the Eighth Schedule
- Uttaranchal → Uttarakhand (2006-07): Changed after the state's formation from Uttar Pradesh in 2000
- Pondicherry → Puducherry (2006): Name changed for the Union Territory
- Bombay State → Maharashtra/Gujarat (1960): Via States Reorganisation
- Pattern: Most renamings follow linguistic reorganisation or cultural identity assertion movements
- "Kerala" was the name used in the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, which merged the Malabar district, Travancore-Cochin, and Kasargod into the present state
- The name "Kerala" is itself derived from "Keralam" — making the renaming a restoration of the original Malayalam name
- All name changes require First Schedule amendment — done via simple majority in Parliament under Article 3
Connection to this news: The precedent set by Odisha (2011), which also changed the First Schedule name, provides the direct constitutional template for the Kerala → Keralam change.
First Schedule and the Eighth Schedule — Constitutional Schedules Relevant to States and Languages
The Constitution of India has 12 Schedules. The First Schedule lists the States and Union Territories of India (names and territories). The Eighth Schedule lists India's 22 officially recognised languages. These are directly relevant when a state renaming also involves a language name change.
- First Schedule: Names of 28 States and 8 Union Territories (as of 2024)
- Eighth Schedule: 22 officially recognised languages — added over time by constitutional amendments: 21st Amendment (Sindhi, 1967), 71st Amendment (Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali, 1992), 92nd Amendment (Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali, 2003)
- Malayalam: Already in Eighth Schedule — only the state's name in the First Schedule is being changed
- Union Territories that became States: Goa (1987, from UT to State), Telangana (2014 — carved out of Andhra Pradesh under Article 3)
- Comparison: The Odisha renaming (96th Amendment, 2011) also renamed "Oriya" language to "Odia" in the Eighth Schedule — Kerala's renaming does not involve an Eighth Schedule change (Malayalam stays "Malayalam")
Connection to this news: The Constitutional amendment to the First Schedule, changing "Kerala" to "Keralam," is a narrow change requiring only a simple majority — but it must follow the Article 3 proviso process of presidential reference and state legislature views first.
Parliamentary Legislative Process for Ordinary Bills
The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 will be an ordinary bill (not a Money Bill or Constitutional Amendment Bill requiring special majority). It follows the standard bicameral process: introduction in either House → second reading (committee stage, if referred) → third reading (vote) → passed to other House → President's assent.
- Simple majority required: More than 50% of members present and voting (not absolute majority of total membership)
- No requirement for state ratification (unlike constitutional amendments under Articles 4, 169, 368): Parliament alone can change a state's name under Article 3
- President's recommendation: Mandatory before introduction; Presidential reference to state legislature: mandatory if state's name is being changed
- State Legislature's views: Advisory only — Parliament is not bound to accept the state legislature's views; it must merely "express" them
- Time for state legislature views: Set by the President; Parliament can proceed even if views are not received by the specified date
Connection to this news: Despite being a state-initiated request (Kerala Legislature's 2024 resolution), the formal legal process is entirely Centre-initiated — the President refers the Bill, Parliament passes it, President gives assent. The state legislature's formal role in the constitutional process is only to express views.
Key Facts & Data
- Kerala Legislative Assembly resolution: June 24, 2024 (unanimous)
- Union Cabinet approval for process: February 24, 2026
- Constitutional provision: Article 3 (alteration of names of states)
- First Schedule amendment required: Yes (lists state names)
- Majority required in Parliament: Simple majority
- Previous renamings: Mysore → Karnataka (1973), Orissa → Odisha (2011)
- Original language: "Keralam" is the Malayalam language name; "Kerala" was the transliteration used in States Reorganisation Act, 1956
- State formation: Kerala formed via States Reorganisation Act, 1956 (November 1, 1956)
- Article 3 vs Article 368: Art 3 changes need simple majority; Art 368 amendments need special majority + state ratification (for certain provisions)