New Delhi, August 12: The Rajya Sabha passed the Kerala Name Change Bill, 2026, on Wednesday. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai responded to the discussion on the bill in the house. The Lok Sabha had previously approved this bill. Nityanand Rai stated that the 15th Kerala Assembly unanimously passed a resolution requesting the central government to change the state’s name from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’ under Article 3 of the Constitution.
He explained that the Kerala government’s argument was that the state’s name in the Malayalam language is ‘Keralam.’ Based on this, a proposal was made to change the name listed in the first schedule of the Constitution. The central cabinet approved the Kerala government’s proposal, after which the Kerala Name Change Bill, 2026, was sent to the Kerala Assembly for consideration. The Kerala Assembly unanimously approved all sections of the bill.
He remarked, “This is a success for millions of Keralites and reflects the aspirations and sentiments of the state’s residents. It also signifies the success of the state government’s vision and determination.”
Nityanand Rai added that this fulfills Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to establish pride related to the country’s heritage and culture while removing symbols of colonialism. He noted that the bill includes provisions for the state to be known as ‘Keralam’ from a specified date. Necessary amendments will be made to the first and fourth schedules of the Constitution for this purpose. During the discussion, he also addressed the suggestion to change the name of West Bengal.
Regarding the name change for West Bengal, Nityanand Rai mentioned that various proposals have emerged over time to rename the state as ‘Bengal,’ ‘Bangla,’ and others, but there was no uniformity. He noted that a West Bengal MP has now requested the name ‘Paschim Bongo.’ If a formal proposal comes from West Bengal that resonates with the sentiments of its people and connects to Indian heritage and culture, the central government will certainly consider it.
He also mentioned that some members suggested renaming Patna to Pataliputra and other locations. He emphasized that such proposals should follow the established process. If a name reflects India’s heritage, culture, and the sentiments of its people, the central government will consider it.
During the discussion, Nityanand Rai referenced Adi Shankaracharya, stating that the discussion of India’s eternal culture and values cannot be complete without acknowledging his contributions. He noted that Adi Shankaracharya worked to strengthen the cultural and spiritual unity of India by organizing temples and religious traditions across the country.
He cited religious sites in Puri and Uttarakhand as examples of efforts to connect people and traditions from different parts of the nation. Nityanand Rai concluded that Kerala being named ‘Keralam’ is a matter linked to the country’s heritage, culture, and the sentiments of its people, marking a moment of pride for all Indians.
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