Kerala Set to Become ‘Keralam’: Union Cabinet Clears Long-Pending Name Change Proposal
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for the official renaming of the southern state currently known as Kerala to Keralam, aligning the English designation with the term used in the Malayalam language.
The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting on February 24, 2026, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Seva Teerth, the newly established complex for the Prime Minister’s Office. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the approval, confirming that the move responds to the Kerala government’s formal request.
This development follows a unanimous resolution adopted by the Kerala Legislative Assembly on June 24, 2024, which called on the Central government to amend the state’s name to “Keralam” across all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The resolution, moved by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, highlighted that the state has been referred to as “Keralam” in Malayalam since its formation on linguistic lines on November 1, 1956—also celebrated as Kerala Piravi Day. It recalled the historical demand for a unified Kerala for Malayalam speakers dating back to the national independence struggle, while noting that the First Schedule to the Constitution currently lists the state as “Kerala.”
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To proceed with the change, the President will refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to the Kerala Legislative Assembly for its views, as required under the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution. This provision mandates consultation with the affected state legislature before a bill altering a state’s name is introduced in Parliament. Once the Assembly’s input is received, the Union government will seek the President’s recommendation to table the legislation in Parliament for final enactment.
The proposal underwent scrutiny in the Ministry of Home Affairs under Minister Amit Shah, with concurrence from the Department of Legal Affairs and the Legislative Department in the Ministry of Law and Justice.
The renaming requires amending the First Schedule to the Constitution, which delineates states’ names and territories. Article 3 empowers Parliament to effect such alterations through legislation.
The approval marks a significant step toward reflecting the state’s indigenous linguistic identity in its official nomenclature, following similar processes in other states over the years.