Lok Sabha Passes Bills Renaming Kerala to Keralam, Expanding Cooperative Funding

The Indian Parliament's lower house, the Lok Sabha, passed two significant bills on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, formally renaming the state of Kerala to Keralam and expanding the financial role of the National Cooperative Development Corporation. The passage occurred amid persistent opposition protests demanding the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, leading to the legislation being approved by voice vote without any debate.

The Kerala Alteration of Name Bill, 2026, was moved by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai in the absence of Home Minister Shah. The bill amends the First Schedule of the Constitution to change the state's name from "Kerala" to "Keralam," fulfilling a request from the state's own legislature. The Kerala Legislative Assembly had passed a unanimous resolution on June 24, 2024, calling for the change, emphasizing that "the name of our State is Keralam in the Malayalam language." The Union Cabinet subsequently approved the proposal in February 2026.

Simultaneously, the National Cooperative Development Corporation Amendment Bill, 2026, was passed. This legislation seeks to amend the 1962 law governing the corporation to make funding for...