KERALA TO KERALAM

NEWS: The Union Cabinet approved the proposal to alter the name of the State of Kerala to Keralam.

ABOUT

• KeralamàCould have originated from Cheram
• Reorganisation–> Was decided to reorganise states on a linguistic basis, the State Reorganisation Commission of the Union Government recommended the creation of the state of Kerala
• The state of Keralaà came into being on November 1, 1956.
• In Malayalam, the state was referred to as Keralam, while in English it was Kerala

Constitutional Provision

• Article 3 – The Parliament may take the following actions –
• It can form a completely new State by separating the territory from any State by uniting two or more states or parts of states, or by uniting any territory to a part of any state.
• It can increase or decrease the area of any State.
• It can change/alter the name of any State.
• It can also make changes to the boundaries of a State.
• A Bill for altering a State’s name can only be introduced after the President’s recommendation.
• The Bill is sent to the affected State Assembly for its views within a specified period
  • The opinion is advisory and not binding
• Process
  • The State Assembly passes a resolution for the name change and sends it to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • The Ministry forwards it to the President for recommendation.
  • The Bill is introduced in either the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha and passed by a simple majority.
  • After Parliamentary approval, the Bill is sent back to the President for assent.
  • Once signed, the name is officially altered in the First and Fourth Schedules of the Constitution