Kerala to Keralam: Name change bill in Lok Sabha: Know why adding just an ‘m’ is a costly affair

Changing Kerala’s name to Keralam may appear to be a small legal change, but implementing it across the State’s vast administrative system will require considerable time, effort and money.

The Centre introduced the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Monday, seeking to change the State’s name from Kerala to Keralam. The move follows a unanimous resolution adopted by the Kerala Assembly after the Centre referred the proposal back to the legislature for its views. 

The Lok Sabha introduced the Bill amid Opposition protests over other issues. The House was adjourned several times during the day, with proceedings scheduled to resume on Tuesday.

The Bill proposes an amendment to the First Schedule of the Constitution, replacing ‘Kerala’ with ‘Keralam’.

Why the name change will cost money

Once the change becomes law, Kerala will have to replace its existing name across official records and communication.

This includes government office name boards, department signs, vehicles, letterheads, seals, stamp papers, forms and other stationery. The change will also have to be reflected across government websites and electronic communication systems.

Government departments and institutions are expected to carry out these changes separately and over a period of time. Officials have indicated that the exact financial impact will only become clear later.

The exercise could also extend to prominent institutions. Names such as Kerala House in New Delhi and other government establishments may require changes, although some institutions could need separate legal or legislative action.

No official cost estimate yet

There is no official estimate of the total cost of renaming the State.

Past State renaming exercises, including Orissa to Odisha and Uttaranchal to Uttarakhand, have been cited in reports as costing between ₹400 crore and ₹1,000 crore. Governments have generally reduced the immediate burden by allowing old stationery and materials to be used alongside the new name for a limited period.

In Kerala’s case, the final expenditure will depend on the scale and speed of implementation and on which institutions require separate changes.