New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to officially rename the state of Kerala as “Keralam.” The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Seva Teerth.
With the Cabinet’s approval, the process for altering the state’s name will now proceed in accordance with constitutional provisions. The President will refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the Kerala Legislative Assembly for its views under Article 3 of the Constitution.
After the state legislature conveys its opinion, the Bill will be introduced in Parliament for consideration and final approval. The name change will come into effect once Parliament passes the legislation and the necessary formalities are completed.
The move follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly in June 2024. In that resolution, members of the Assembly urged the Centre to change the state’s official name from “Kerala” to “Keralam.” The resolution noted that “Keralam” is the name used in the Malayalam language.
Article 3 of the Constitution of India outlines the procedure for the formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries, or names of existing states. Under this provision, the President is required to refer any such proposal to the concerned state legislature to obtain its views before Parliament takes up the matter.
The Cabinet’s decision marks a significant step in the formal process of implementing the name change. However, the alteration will only be finalised after parliamentary approval.
The resolution adopted by the Kerala Assembly reflected a consensus across political parties in the state. Lawmakers had stated that the name “Keralam” more accurately represents the state’s identity in Malayalam, the official language spoken in the region.
Once the President refers the Bill to the Assembly and the required procedure is followed, Parliament will consider the legislation. If passed, official records, notifications, and constitutional references will reflect the new name.
The Cabinet meeting in which the proposal was approved was chaired by Prime Minister Modi at Seva Teerth. The approval sets in motion the constitutional steps necessary for effecting the proposed change.
The government has not announced a timeline for completion of the legislative process. Further developments will depend on the Assembly’s response and parliamentary proceedings.
If enacted, the change would align the state’s English name with its Malayalam usage, as stated in the resolution passed by the Assembly in 2024.
