Parliament clears Bill to rename Kerala as 'Keralam'

New Delhi, Aug 12 (PTI) Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill to rename Kerala as Keralam, with the Rajya Sabha clearing the legislation with a voice vote.

The Lok Sabha passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, on Tuesday.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the Kerala Assembly passed a resolution in 2024, urging the Centre to bring a law to change the name of the state to Keralam.

"The bill provides that the State of Kerala will be known as the State of Keralam, and hence there is a proposal to rename the State of Kerala to Keralam," he said.

The Kerala government had forwarded a resolution passed by the state assembly regarding the name change to the Centre in June 2024.

Subsequently, the President of India referred a Bill to the state legislature for expressing its views, and later, the state assembly adopted a unanimous resolution agreeing with the Bill.

The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill provides for such alteration of the name of Kerala and contains necessary amendments to the provisions of the Constitution and also consequential provisions, according to the Bill's statement of objects and reasons.

Amendments will be made in the First Schedule to the Constitution by modifying the name of Kerala as Keralam in accordance with Article 3 of the Constitution.

Rai said it is the resolution of the Prime Minister to remove all symbols of slavery, names, signs, flags of institutions, or statues of great personalities that repeatedly wound the hearts of Indians and establish all things, signs, or works that represent the pride of India's heritage.

Replying to the debate, Rai said the proposal to change the name of the state from Kerala to Keralam is not only a matter of pride for the people of Kerala but also for all Indians. When we speak of "One India, Best India", we celebrate the country's rich diversity of languages, cultures, traditions, and art forms. Though these may appear different, together they reflect the spirit of a united India.

During his reply, Rai also mentioned the issue of action taken by the Kerala government against teachers over a controversial answer in a quiz questionnaire that described Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar as the freedom fighter "who received the maximum punishment at the hands of the British".

"Veer Savarkar is the name of dedication and sacrifice. Veer Savarkar is the name of firm determination. If a teacher is dismissed for asking questions about him, there can be nothing worse than that, and it is an insult to our freedom fighters. Therefore, that subject is very painful," Rai said.

During the debate on the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to alter the name of Kerala in the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the House JP Nadda objected to Congress MP Jebi Mather Hisham's remarks, asking that she be disallowed from speaking as she was making a political statement instead of speaking on the Bill.

"As Kerala becomes Keralam, the Malayali world over welcomes that decision, and I join them in representing as a humble Malayali. I welcome that Bill. At the same time, we ask together, where is the Home Minister?" Jebi Mather Hisham of the Congress said.

Nadda said her remarks should be expunged.

Sasmit Patra, who was in the Chair at the time, said anything which is not on the Bill will be taken out from the records.

"I am making it very clear, the Bill, you know you are a senior member, is about the change of name from Kerala to Keralam. Anything that is not on the Bill does not become a part of the record. Honourable member, again I request you, please speak on the scope of the Bill," Patra told the Congress member.

Hisham said, "We welcome the decision (to rename Kerala to Keralam), but it is also important to answer the question: who ordered to shoot at children?" Patra made it clear that Hisham's remarks, which were not related to the Bill, will not go on record.

During the discussion, Samik Bhattacharya of BJP demanded a change of the name of the state from West Bengal to Paschim Banga.

Terming the current name a colonial hangover and legacy, he demanded a change in the name.

MoS Home Affairs, during the reply, said that if the West Bengal name change is linked to heritage, in accordance with Indian sentiments, and fulfils the wishes of the people of West Bengal, then the centre can certainly consider it.

Vijay Chintakayala of TDP, AA Rahim of CPI (M), Sudhanshu Trivedi and Lahar Singh Siroya of BJP, Jose K Mani of KC (M), Sadosh Kumar P of CPI, Harish Beeran of IUML, R Narzary of UPP (L), LK Sudhish of DMDK participated in the debate.

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale and Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi also participated. PTI