News:
Recently Rajya Sabha passed the Kerala Bill, Kerala declared as Kerala.
Parliament has the power under Article 3 of the Indian constitution to change or alteration of the name of the State or UT.
Parliament can change name by simple majority by ordinary law, it will not be treated as Amendment.
At present the First Schedule of the Constitution also specifies the name of the State as ‘Kerala.’
Origin of the name:
The earliest epigraphic record that mentions Kerala is emperor Asoka’s Rock Edict II of 257 BC. The inscription refers to the local ruler as Keralaputra ( “son of Kerala”), and also “son of Chera” referring to the Chera dynasty.
Md I. A Khan