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Core Purpose

This Act, known as The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act, 2026, alters the name of the State of Kerala to the State of Keralam.

Detailed Summary

The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act, 2026 (No. 18 of 2026), received the assent of the President on August 14, 2026, and was published by the Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department). This Act renames the State of Kerala to the State of Keralam, with the change taking effect on an "appointed day" to be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette. The Act mandates specific amendments to the Constitution of India, substituting the word “Kerala” with “Keralam” in Article 31A, clause (2), sub-clause (a), item (i); Article 290A; entry 5 under the heading “I. THE STATES” in the First Schedule; and entry 9 in the second column under the heading “TABLE” in the Fourth Schedule. Furthermore, Section 8 empowers the appropriate Government to make necessary adaptations and modifications to any law made before the appointed day, within one year, to give effect to this name change. Section 10 stipulates that in any pending legal proceedings where the State of Kerala is a party, the State of Keralam shall be deemed to have been substituted. The notification was signed by Dr. Rajiv Mani, Secretary to the Government of India.

Full Text

REGISTERED NO. DL-(N)04/0007/2003-26 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-14082026-275472 EXTRAORDINARY PART II—Section 1 PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 34] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2026/SRAVANA 23, 1948 (Saka) Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a separate compilation. 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 14th August, 2026 and is hereby published for general information:— THE KERALA (ALTERATION OF NAME) ACT, 2026 No. 18 OF 2026 [14th August, 2026.] An Act to alter the name of the State of Kerala. BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:- 1. (1) This Act may be called the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act, 2026. (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, — (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; Short title and commencement. Definitions. (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 State of Keralam. 4. In article 31A of the Constitution, in clause (2), in sub-clause (a), in item (i), for the word “Kerala”, the word “Keralam" shall be substituted. 5. In article 290A of the Constitution, for the word "Kerala", the word "Keralam" shall be substituted. 6. In the First Schedule to the Constitution, under the heading “I. THE STATES", in entry 5, under the column "Name", for the word “Kerala”, the word "Keralam" shall be substituted. 7. In the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution, under the heading “TABLE”, in entry 9, in the second column, for the word “Kerala”, the word “Keralam” shall be substituted. 8. (1) For the purpose of giving effect to the alteration of the name of the State 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. 9. Notwithstanding that no provision or insufficient provision has been made 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. 10. Where immediately before the appointed day any legal proceedings are 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. UPLOADED BY THE MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, MINTO ROAD, NEW DELHI-110002 AND PUBLISHED BY THE CONTROLLER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI-110054. MGIPMRND—517GI (S4)—14-08-2026.

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