Kerala House passes motion to rename the State ‘Keralam’
Context:
The Kerala Assembly, in a unanimous decision, passed a resolution proposing a Constitutional amendment to change the name of the State to ‘Keralam’.
Relevance:
GS-02 (Polity)
Formation and Alteration of States
- Article 3:
- Form new states by separating or merging territories.
- Increase or reduce the area of any state.
- Alter the boundaries or names of states.
- Conditions:
- A Bill for these changes must be recommended by the President.
- If the changes affect any state’s area, boundaries, or name, the Bill must be referred to that state’s legislature for feedback within a specified period.
- Feedback from the state’s legislature is not binding on the President or Parliament.
Procedure to Change a State’s Name:
- A Bill to change a state’s name can be introduced in Parliament or the state’s Legislative Assembly.
- In Parliament, the Bill requires the President’s recommendation.
- The Bill is sent to the concerned state’s legislature for its views within a specified timeframe.
- The state’s feedback is not binding; after this period, the Bill returns to Parliament.
- The Bill is passed with a simple majority in Parliament.
- The President’s assent is required for the Bill to become law.
- Once approved, the Act is enforced, and the state’s name is changed.
Article 4 Clarification:
- Laws made under Articles 2 and 3 for forming or altering states are not considered constitutional amendments under Article 368.
