Renaming of Kerala to Keralam

Kerala Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to rename the state as “Keralam’’ in the Constitution.

Procedure to Rename a State:

1. Initiation of the Proposal

• The process begins either by the state government or the Parliament proposing a name change.
• This initial proposal is crucial as it sets the renaming process in motion.

2. Resolution by the State Legislature

• Following the proposal, the state legislature must send a resolution to the Central government, indicating formal state-level approval.

3. Presidential Recommendation

• Before any bill related to state renaming can be presented in Parliament, it must receive a recommendation from the President.
• This is a mandatory step ensuring executive scrutiny before legislative action.

4. Legislation and Affected States

• According to the 5th Amendment Act of 1955, any legislation involving the renaming of a state that affects other states must be presented along with the bill.
• This ensures that all stakeholders are considered.

5. Consideration by the State Legislature

• The opinion of the state legislature is sought; however, it is not binding on the President or Parliament.
• This means the state’s input is considered but can ultimately be overridden by federal authority.

6. Final Approval and Assent

• After thorough consideration by Parliament and once all procedural aspects are satisfied, the President’s assent is the final step.
• With this, the bill is enacted into law, and the state’s name change is officially effected.

Involvement of Other Key Institutions

• No Objection Certificates (NOCs): NOCs are required from pivotal institutions such as the Ministry of Railways, Intelligence Bureau, Department of Posts, Survey of India, and Registrar General of India.
• Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Consent: The MHA gives the final consent for the name change after all required NOCs have been obtained.