New Delhi, Aug 11 : The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, proposing to change the official name of the state from Kerala to Keralam. The Bill was passed by voice vote amid continued sloganeering by Opposition MPs.
The Bill was introduced by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, while Opposition members were demanding the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and seeking a statement over the July 20 police action against NEET protesters. Despite repeated appeals from the Chair and government leaders, the protests continued and the legislation was cleared without a detailed debate.
The proposed name change follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly in June 2024. The Union Cabinet subsequently approved the proposal in February 2026, beginning the constitutional process for altering the state’s name under Article 3.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised the Opposition for preventing discussion on the Bill, saying the legislation should have been debated in the House. The development comes as the Monsoon Session approaches its conclusion, with several other Bills still awaiting consideration.
The proposed change is intended to formally recognise “Keralam”, the state’s Malayalam name, in the Constitution and official records. The Bill will now move to the Rajya Sabha for consideration.
