Parliament House Passes Bill To Rename Kerala As Keralam, Pg5

Key Highlights:

• The Rajya Sabha passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to rename the state of Kerala as Keralam.
• The Lok Sabha had previously passed the Bill, completing its passage through both houses of Parliament.
• This legislative action follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala State Assembly over two years prior, requesting the name change.
• The Bill amends the First Schedule of the Constitution to reflect the new name.

Detailed Insights:

• The renaming of Kerala to Keralam aligns with the Malayalam pronunciation and cultural identity of the state.
• The process for renaming a state involves a resolution by the state assembly, followed by a Bill introduced in Parliament, requiring a simple majority in both houses.
• The First Schedule of the Constitution of India lists the states and union territories and their respective territories.
• During the parliamentary discussion, several Members of Parliament emphasized the importance of respecting regional languages and cultural identities.
• The Bill was passed by a voice vote, indicating broad consensus among the members present.
• The renaming of states has historical precedents in India, such as Madras becoming Tamil Nadu and Mysore becoming Karnataka.

Key Concepts Involved:

• First Schedule: A part of the Constitution of India that lists the states and union territories and their territorial jurisdiction.
• Voice Vote: A method of voting in legislative bodies where the presiding officer determines the outcome by judging the relative loudness of "ayes" and "nays."
• Cooperative Federalism: A concept where the central and state governments cooperate in the interest of the nation, often involving mutual support and collaboration on policy matters.