Cabinet Approves Proposal to Rename Kerala as Keralam – Constitutional Process Explained for UPSC

The recent decision of the Union Cabinet to approve the proposal to rename Kerala as Keralam has brought renewed focus on Article 3 of the Indian Constitution, a frequently tested topic in UPSC Polity.

While the move reflects linguistic and cultural accuracy in Malayalam usage, its larger significance lies in the constitutional mechanism that governs alteration of state names, boundaries, and status in India. 

For UPSC aspirants, this development is important from the perspectives of federalism, Union supremacy, and constitutional procedure for changing a state’s name.

Constitutional Process for Changing a State’s Name: The Case of Kerala

The proposal to rename Kerala as Keralam serves as a contemporary example of how Article 3 of the Indian Constitution operates in practice. While the demand reflects linguistic and cultural considerations within the state, the actual authority to implement such a change lies exclusively with Parliament.

In this case, the Union Cabinet’s approval marks the initiation of the constitutional process. The next steps would involve:

• Presidential recommendation for introduction of the Bill
• Mandatory reference to the Kerala State Legislature for its views
• Introduction and passage of the Bill in Parliament by a simple majority
• Presidential assent
• Amendment to Schedule I of the Constitution

For UPSC aspirants, this case highlights three core constitutional principles:

1. Union Supremacy in Territorial Matters
2. Consultative but Non-Binding Role of State Legislature
3. Flexibility of the Indian Federal Structure

This development is a strong contemporary example to cite in GS Paper II answers on federalism and Centre–State relations.

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Article 3 of the Indian Constitution: Parliament’s Exclusive Power Over States

A state government cannot independently change its own name, alter boundaries, or modify its status. This authority is vested exclusively in the Parliament of India as outlined under Article 3 of the Indian Constitution.

Parliament’s extensive power under Article 3 allows it to:

• Change the name of any state.
• Alter the boundaries of an existing state.
• Divide a state to facilitate the formation of new states (for instance, Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated to create Andhra Pradesh and Telangana).
• Convert a state into Union Territories (as seen with the reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir into two Union Territories).

Step-by-Step Constitutional Procedure to Change a State’s Name

The Constitution prescribes a structured procedure to ensure consultation without compromising parliamentary supremacy:

1. Presidential Recommendation: The initiation of this process requires a bill to be introduced in either house of Parliament (Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha). This bill can only be presented with the prior recommendation of the President of India.
2. Referral to the State Legislature: Before the President grants a recommendation for the bill, it is mandatory to refer the proposed legislation to the legislature of the concerned state. This allows the state legislature to express its views on the proposed change within a specified timeframe.
3. State Legislature’s View (Non-Binding): The state legislature has the option to either approve (agree) or disapprove (disagree) of the proposed name change.
   • It is crucial to understand that the opinion or view expressed by the state legislature is NOT binding on the Parliament.
   • Regardless of whether the state legislature agrees or disagrees with the proposed change, the Parliament retains the right to proceed with the bill.
4. Passage in Parliament: Following the stipulated referral period and consideration of the state’s views (if any), the bill is then introduced in Parliament. For the bill to become law, it must be passed in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha by a simple majority.
5. Presidential Assent: Once the bill successfully passes through both houses of Parliament, it is then sent to the President for assent. The President’s signature officially transforms the bill into an Act of Parliament.
6. Official Change & Schedule Amendment: With the enactment of the new law, the state’s name is officially changed. Concurrently, a necessary amendment is made to Schedule 1 of the Constitution. This schedule enumerates all the states and union territories, and it is updated to reflect the new official name, in this instance, from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’.

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Why Does Parliament Have Supreme Authority?

This constitutional framework deliberately grants Parliament more power than state legislatures when it comes to fundamental matters concerning the existence and identity of states. This design is rooted in the historical context of India’s post-partition era. 

The framers of the Constitution aimed to prevent any potential secessionist movements or further fragmentation of the country. By entrusting the ultimate authority to alter state boundaries and names to the Union Parliament, the Constitution ensures the enduring integrity and unity of the nation.

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