# Parliament Passes Bill to Rename Kerala as Keralam

2026-08-12T19:31:12+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 4 independent outlets

Parliament has passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, renaming the state as Keralam. The Rajya Sabha cleared the bill on Wednesday after the Lok Sabha passed it a day earlier. The bill amends the First Schedule to the Constitution under Article 3. The Kerala Assembly had passed a resolution in 2024, and the Centre approved the proposal in February 2026. The President then referred the bill to the state legislature, which unanimously agreed in July 2026. During the debate, BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya demanded that West Bengal be renamed Paschim Banga, invoking the state's 1947 origins. Rashtriya Lok Morcha member Upendra Kushwaha also sought to rename Patna as Patliputra. Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the change reflects pride in India's heritage.

## Coverage

- timesnownews.com <https://www.timesnownews.com/india/parliament-passes-bill-to-rename-kerala-as-keralam-article-155602402>
- ndtv.com <https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kerala-to-become-keralam-now-bjp-mp-wants-bengal-renamed-paschim-banga-11902197#publisher=newsstand>
- livelaw.in <https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/parliament-passes-bill-to-change-kerala-as-keralam-545543>
- english.mathrubhumi.com <https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/bjps-samik-bhattacharya-seeks-renaming-of-west-bengal-as-paschim-banga-o0l5tret>

Tags: Bill, Constitution, Kerala, Keralam, Parliament, renaming
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