From Kerala to Keralam: Parliament Clears Name Change Bill

On 11 August 2026, the Lok Sabha passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, which seeks to rename the State of Kerala as ‘Keralam’.

The Bill follows the Union Cabinet’s approval on 24 February 2026 of the proposal to rename the State from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’. The proposal originated from a resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly on 24 June 2024, requesting the Central Government to amend the First Schedule to the Constitution under Article 3 and officially adopt the name ‘Keralam’.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Lok Sabha has passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, providing that the State of Kerala will be known as ‘Keralam’ from the appointed day.

2. The Bill proposes consequential amendments to the Constitution by replacing references to ‘Kerala’ with ‘Keralam’ in:

   • Article 31A;

   • Article 290A;

   • the First Schedule; and

   • the Fourth Schedule.

3. The Bill empowers the appropriate Government to adapt or modify existing laws for up to one year after the appointed day to give effect to the name change.

4. Courts, tribunals and authorities may construe existing laws in a manner necessary to give effect to the name change even where formal adaptation has not yet been carried out.

5. In all pending legal proceedings where the ‘State of Kerala’ is a party, the ‘State of Keralam’ will be deemed to be substituted upon commencement of the Act.

Also Read: Govt approves proposal to change the name of the State from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’, moving the process forward under Article 3 of the Constitution.

[Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, dated 11-8-2026]