Context: Parliament passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, officially renaming Kerala as Keralam, following a unanimous resolution by the State Legislative Assembly.
What It Is
A Parliamentary law amending the First Schedule of the Constitution to change the official name from Kerala to Keralam — aligning the English legal name with its native Malayalam pronunciation and cultural heritage.
Constitutional Provisions
| Provision | Content |
|---|---|
| Article 3 | Empowers Parliament by law to form new States, alter State boundaries, or change the name of any existing State |
| First Schedule | Modified at Entry 15, which lists the names and territorial extents of States |
| Article 4 | Provides that such a law is not deemed a constitutional amendment under Article 368, and is passed by simple majority |
Procedure to Change a State’s Name
- Initiation and State resolution — typically begins with the State Legislative Assembly passing a resolution requesting the Centre to alter the name.
- Presidential recommendation — a Bill may be introduced in either House only on the prior recommendation of the President.
- Reference to the State Legislature — before recommending the Bill, the President refers it to the affected State Assembly to express its views within a specified period.
- Non-binding State views — consultation is mandatory, but the views expressed are not binding on the President or Parliament.
- Introduction in Parliament — once the referral period expires or views are received.
- Passage by simple majority — under Article 4, treated as an ordinary Bill requiring a simple majority in both Houses.
- Presidential assent and Gazette notification — the Act then modifies the First Schedule.
The key constitutional point: although the First Schedule is part of the Constitution, altering it under Article 3 is expressly excluded from Article 368 by Article 4. Parliament can therefore redraw the map of India by simple majority — a striking feature of India’s “indestructible Union of destructible States.”
Precedents: Orissa → Odisha (2011), Uttaranchal → Uttarakhand, Pondicherry → Puducherry, United Provinces → Uttar Pradesh, Madras → Tamil Nadu, Mysore → Karnataka.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the alteration of a State’s name, consider the following statements:
a. Article 3 empowers Parliament to change the name of an existing State. b. Such a Bill may be introduced only on the prior recommendation of the President. c. The President must refer the Bill to the affected State Legislature for its views. d. The views expressed by the State Legislature are binding on Parliament.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Q2. Consider the following statements:
a. A law altering the name of a State amends the First Schedule of the Constitution. b. Under Article 4, such a law is not deemed to be a constitutional amendment for the purposes of Article 368. c. It is passed by a simple majority in both Houses of Parliament. d. Odisha was renamed from Orissa through a similar process in 2011.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Answer Key
- (c) — Statements a, b, c are correct; statement d is wrong because the State Legislature’s views are consultative and not binding. Parliament may proceed even if the State disagrees — the basis for describing India as an indestructible Union of destructible States.
- (d) — All four are correct. The Article 4 exclusion from Article 368 is the most examinable constitutional point.
