President Murmu gives assent to Bill to rename Kerala as Keralam

The process of renaming a state is a crucial illustration of the union's power over state boundaries and nomenclature, as delineated in the Constitution. The authority to form new states or alter the areas, boundaries, or names of existing states is vested exclusively in the Parliament under Article 3. The procedure begins with a bill, which can only be introduced in Parliament with the prior recommendation of the President. Before recommending the bill, the President must refer it to the concerned state legislature for its views within a specified period. While the state legislature's views are sought, they are not binding on the President or the Parliament. In the case of Kerala's renaming to Keralam, the state assembly initiated the process through a resolution, followed by the mandatory referral by the President, and finally, the passage of the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 by a simple majority in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The President's final assent completes the legislative cycle.

A change in a state's name necessitates specific constitutional amendments, primarily concerning the First Schedule. The First Schedule contains the list of States and Union Territories and their territorial extent. Therefore, any alteration under Article 3 requires a consequential amendment to this schedule to reflect the new name (Keralam in this instance). Furthermore, the Fourth Schedule, which deals with the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha, may also require amendment if the alteration affects representation, although a mere name change typically doesn't impact seat allocation. It is essential to note that under Article 4, laws made under Article 2 and 3 providing for the amendment of the First and Fourth Schedules are not considered constitutional amendments under Article 368. This means they can be passed by a simple legislative process (simple majority) rather than the special majority required for formal constitutional amendments. For UPSC Prelims, understanding this distinction regarding Article 4 is a frequent testing point.

The renaming of states and cities often stems from a desire to reclaim linguistic, cultural, or historical identities that may have been altered during colonial rule or past administrative reorganizations. The shift from Kerala to 'Keralam' reflects the Malayalam pronunciation and the linguistic heritage of the region, emphasizing the state's cultural distinctiveness. While such changes hold symbolic and emotional value for the populace, reinforcing a sense of regional pride and identity, they also involve significant administrative and financial costs. The government must update official documents, signage, institutional names, and geographical records, requiring substantial logistical effort. UPSC Mains questions often explore the rationale behind such renaming exercises, balancing the cultural arguments for reclaiming heritage against the practical and economic implications of implementing these changes across the governance structure.