Kerala Assembly's Unanimous Decision

• The Kerala Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution to officially change the state's name to 'Keralam'.

• This is the second resolution on this matter, nearly a year after a similar resolution was returned by the Centre for corrections.

• The resolution was proposed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Historical and Cultural Significance

• The state has always been called ‘Keralam’ in Malayalam.

• The demand for a united Kerala for Malayalam speakers has been strong since the national freedom struggle.

• Currently, the state is written as Kerala in the First Schedule of the Constitution.

• The resolution seeks to amend this to reflect the local vernacular.

Vijayan's Statement

• “This Assembly requests the Centre to take immediate steps to amend it as ‘Keralam’ under Article 3 of the Constitution and have it renamed as ‘Keralam’ in all the languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution,” said Vijayan, as quoted by PTI.

Political Support

• Members of both the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) supported the resolution.

• UDF legislator N Shamsudeen suggested some changes, but these were rejected by the government.

• Speaker A N Shamseer announced that the assembly had unanimously adopted the resolution.

Centre's Previous Feedback

• The Union Home Ministry had reviewed the last resolution and suggested some technical changes.

• The Kerala government had sought “immediate steps” from the Centre to change the state's name, leading to the current resolution with necessary corrections.

Historical Precedents of Name Changes in India

• Uttaranchal to Uttarakhand (2007): Reflecting the Uttarakhand Andolan movement.

• Orissa to Odisha (2011): As per the Orissa (Alteration of Name) Act.

• Pondicherry to Puducherry (2006).

• Bombay to Mumbai.

• Madras to Chennai.

Additional Note on West Bengal

• West Bengal has been seeking a name change to Bangla to improve its position in the alphabetical listing of Indian states.

Conclusion

• The Kerala Assembly’s decision to rename the state to 'Keralam' underscores the importance of cultural and linguistic representation in state nomenclature.

• If approved by the Centre, this move will align the official name of the state with its historical and local vernacular usage, reflecting the identity and aspirations of its people.

Importance for UPSC and Other Competitive Exams

• This article is crucial for various competitive exams such as UPSC CSE, UPSC CAPF, Assistant Commandant, NDA, CDS, SSB Interview, AFCAT, IAS, IB ACIO.

• Understanding the legislative processes, the historical significance of state names, and the role of cultural identity in governance is vital for essay writing and current affairs sections.

• Provides insights into constitutional provisions and the political dynamics involved in such decisions, making it relevant for aspirants preparing for these exams.