Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice on 14th August 2026. Classified under Extra Ordinary.
Executive Summary
The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act, 2026, provides for the official renaming of the State of Kerala to the State of "Keralam." The Act received Presidential assent on August 14, 2026, and will come into force on a date to be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette. It outlines necessary constitutional amendments, the adaptation of existing laws, and the continuation of legal proceedings under the new name.
Key Points / Main Content
Name Alteration and Constitutional Amendments
Official Name Change: From the designated "appointed day," the State of Kerala shall be known as the State of Keralam.
Constitutional Updates: The Act amends Articles 31A and 290A of the Constitution of India by substituting the word "Kerala" with "Keralam."
Schedule Revisions: Entry 5 in the First Schedule (under the heading "I. THE STATES") and entry 9 in the second column of the Fourth Schedule are amended to reflect the name change to "Keralam."
Legal Adaptation and Construction
Power to Adapt Laws: The appropriate Government (Central or State) is authorized to make necessary adaptations or modifications to any law within one year from the appointed day to align with the name change.
Legislative Authority: The power to adapt laws does not prevent a competent Legislature from subsequently repealing or amending any law modified under this Act.
Judicial Interpretation: Courts, tribunals, and authorities are empowered to construe existing laws to reflect the name change, regardless of whether formal adaptations have been issued, to ensure proper enforcement.
Legal Proceedings
Substitution in Litigation: In any legal proceedings where the State of Kerala is a party and which are pending immediately before the appointed day, the State of Keralam shall be deemed substituted as the party.
Impact Analysis
Central GovernmentImpact
The Central Government is responsible for triggering the commencement of the Act and managing the adaptation of laws related to matters in the Union List (List I).
Action Required
Appoint and notify the "appointed day" in the Official Gazette and issue orders for the adaptation of relevant Central laws within one year of that date.
State GovernmentImpact
The state administration will officially transition to the name "Keralam" and possesses the authority to adapt state-level laws, rules, and regulations.
Action Required
Update official records and modify state-specific enactments, ordinances, and administrative instruments within the one-year statutory period.
Courts, Tribunals, and AuthoritiesImpact
Judicial and administrative bodies must recognize the name change in all legal contexts and interpret existing statutes accordingly.
Action Required
Substitute the name "Keralam" for "Kerala" in all pending legal proceedings and apply the new name when enforcing existing laws and regulations.
Key Entities Referenced
The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act, 2026: The primary legislation enacted by the Parliament of India to officially change the name of the State of Kerala to Keralam.
Constitution of India: The supreme legal document being amended, specifically regarding the First and Fourth Schedules and Articles 31A and 290A, to reflect the name change.
State of Keralam: The new official name for the State of Kerala, applicable to all legal proceedings, laws, and constitutional entries.
Ministry of Law and Justice: The central ministry whose Legislative Department published the Act following presidential assent.
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MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
(Legislative Department)
New Delhi, the 14th August, 2026/Sravana 23, 1948 (Saka)
The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the
BillNo.155-F of 2026
14th August, 2026 and is hereby published for general information:—
THTEH KEE KREARLAAL (AA L(ATLETREARTAITOINONO FONF ANMAEM)E B)I ALCL,T 2, 022062 6
(AS PASSED BY THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT)
No. 18 of 2026
A
[14th August, 2026.]
BILL
An Act to alter the name of the State of Kerala.
to alter the name of the State ofKerala.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of
India as follows:—
1. (1)ThisActmaybe called the Kerala (Alteration of Name)Act, 2026. Short title and
commencement.
(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
2.In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,–– Definitions.
(a) “appointed day” means the date appointed under sub-section (2) of
section 1;
(b) “appropriate Government” means, as respects a law relating to a
matter enumerated in List I in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution, the
Central Government, and as respects any other law, the State Government;2 THE GAZETTE OF IND2IA EXTRAORDINARY [Part II—
(c)“law” includes any enactment, Ordinance, regulation, order, bye-law,
rule, scheme, notification or other instrument having the force of law in the
whole or any part of the State of Kerala.
3. On and from the appointed day, the State of Kerala shall be known as the
Alteration of
name of State of State of Keralam.
Kerala.
Amendment of 4. In article 31A of the Constitution, in clause (2), in sub-clause (a), in
article 31A. item(i), for the word “Kerala”, the word “Keralam” shall be substituted.
Amendment of 5. In article 290A of the Constitution, for the word “Kerala”, the word
article 290A. “Keralam” shall be substituted.
Amendment of 6. In the First Schedule to the Constitution, under the heading “I. THE
First Schedule to STATES”, in entry 5, under the column “Name”, for the word “Kerala”, the word
Constitution.
“Keralam” shall be substituted.
Amendment of 7.In the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution, under the heading “TABLE”, in
Fourth Schedule entry 9, in the second column, for the word “Kerala”, the word “Keralam” shall be
to Constitution.
substituted.
Power to adapt 8.(1) For the purpose of giving effect to the alteration of the name of the State
laws. of Kerala by section 3, the appropriate Government may, before the expiration of
one year from the appointed day, by order, make such adaptations and modifications
of any law made before the appointed day, whether by way of repeal or amendment,
as may be necessary or expedient, and thereupon every such law shall have effect
subject to the adaptations and modifications so made.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall be deemed to prevent a competent
Legislature or other competent authority from repealing or amending any law
adapted or modified by the appropriate Government under the said sub-section.
Power to 9.Notwithstanding that no provision or insufficient provision has been made
construe laws. under section 8 for the adaptation of a law made before the appointed day, any court,
tribunal or authority, required or empowered to enforce such law, may construe the
law in such manner, without affecting the substance, as may be necessary or proper
in regard to the matter before the court, tribunal or authority.
Legal 10. Where immediately before the appointed day any legal proceedings are
proceedings. pending to which the State of Kerala is a party, the State of Keralam shall be deemed
to have been substituted for the State of Kerala in those proceedings.
————
DR. RAJIV MANI,
Secretary to the Govt. of India.
The above Bill has been passed by the Houses of Parliament.
Dated the Chairman.
————
I assent to this Bill.
UPLOADED BY THE MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, MINTO ROAD, NEW DELHI–110002
AND PUBLISHED BY THE CONTROLLER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI–110054.
Dated the President.
MGIPMRND—517GI(S4)—14-08-2026.