Introduction
The Lok Sabha passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 on 11 August 2026, officially renaming the state of 'Kerala' to 'Keralam' in the First Schedule of the Constitution of India. The change restores the historically authentic Malayalam pronunciation of the state's name. On the same day, the Rajya Sabha passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, establishing a National Tribunal Commission to select members for various statutory tribunals across India.
The Kerala Name Change
The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 was passed by the Lok Sabha by voice vote on 11 August 2026. Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai moved the bill for passage. The alteration changes the state's official name from 'Kerala' to 'Keralam' — which is the authentic Malayalam rendering of the name. Under Article 3 of the Constitution, Parliament can alter the name of a state by a simple majority. No ratification by the state legislature is required for a name change — only Presidential assent after parliamentary passage. The change will appear in the First Schedule, which lists all states and union territories of India.
Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026
The Rajya Sabha passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, which establishes a National Tribunal Commission (NTC) to handle the appointment, transfer, and removal of chairpersons and members of various statutory tribunals in India. This addresses long-standing concerns about executive influence over tribunal appointments and aims to strengthen the institutional independence of adjudicatory bodies outside the regular court system.
Key Highlights
- Kerala renamed: 'Kerala' → 'Keralam' in the Constitution's First Schedule
- Constitutional basis for name change: Article 3 (simple majority in Parliament; no state ratification needed)
- Tribunals Reforms Bill: Establishes National Tribunal Commission (NTC)
- NCDC Amendment Bill also passed: Expands NCDC's mandate to support a wider range of cooperative societies, including primary agricultural credit, dairy, fishery, and handloom cooperatives
Background
Kerala had long sought the official change to 'Keralam' to reflect its authentic Malayalam name. This is in the tradition of other state name changes in India — Bombay to Mumbai, Madras to Chennai, Calcutta to Kolkata, and Orissa to Odisha — all of which restored native-language pronunciations. The state legislature had passed resolutions requesting the change.
Key Facts
- Article 3: Parliament's power to alter state boundaries and names
- First Schedule: Lists all states and union territories of India
- Kerala's new official name: Keralam
- National Tribunal Commission (NTC): New independent body for tribunal appointments
- NCDC established under: NCDC Act, 1962; functions under Ministry of Cooperation
Exam Perspective
For TNPSC and UPSC aspirants: Article 3 allows Parliament to alter state names by a simple majority — no special majority, and no state ratification required. The First Schedule lists states and UTs. Other name changes under Article 3/4: Orissa → Odisha, Madras → Chennai. The NCDC (National Cooperative Development Corporation) was set up under the NCDC Act, 1962 and functions under the Ministry of Cooperation (established 2021).
Conclusion
The renaming of Kerala to Keralam restores the state's authentic linguistic identity. The Tribunals Reforms Bill's National Tribunal Commission represents an important institutional reform aimed at reducing executive interference in the appointment of tribunal members, strengthening the rule of law.