The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to officially change the name of Kerala to Keralam, moving the southern state closer to adopting the name used in its native Malayalam language.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on February 24, 2026, Tuesday.
It follows a long-standing demand from the state government and repeated resolutions passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly seeking formal recognition of the traditional name.
With the Cabinet’s approval, the constitutional procedure required to alter a state’s name has begun.
A proposed law — the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill — will be referred by the President to the state Assembly for its views, as required under Article 3 of the Constitution.
Once the Assembly responds, Parliament will need to pass the legislation and amend the First Schedule of the Constitution before the change becomes official across government records and institutions.
The proposed shift from Kerala to Keralam is intended to align the state’s English name with its Malayalam pronunciation and historical identity.
The demand for the change dates back to the formation of the state on linguistic lines in 1956, when Malayalam-speaking regions were brought together.
Supporters argue that the move restores authenticity to the state’s name and reflects local usage, where “Keralam” is commonly used in official Malayalam communication.
The Kerala Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution in June 2024 urging the Union Government to adopt Keralam as the official name.
The state government subsequently requested the Centre to initiate constitutional amendments to formalise the change.
The Cabinet’s approval effectively clears the most significant hurdle in the process.
The decision comes in a politically sensitive period, with Assembly elections expected in the state later this year. While the name change has broad support across political lines within Kerala, its timing has drawn attention in national political circles.
If Parliament approves the legislation, Keralam will replace Kerala in the Constitution, official documents, central notifications and international references.
For now, the change remains a proposal pending completion of legal procedures, but the Cabinet’s decision signals that the state’s new official identity could soon become a reality.
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