Kerala to Be Renamed Keralam: Centre Begins Constitutional Process

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to rename the State of Kerala as Keralam, setting in motion the constitutional process required for such a change. The decision was taken at the first Cabinet meeting held at Seva Teerth, the newly inaugurated Prime Minister’s Office complex.

Announcing the decision, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 will now be referred to the Kerala Legislative Assembly. The reference will be made by the President of India under the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who chaired the meeting, described the move as reflective of public sentiment. In a post on X, he said, “The decision of the Union Cabinet on alteration of the name of Kerala to Keralam reflects the will of the people of the state. It is in line with our efforts to strengthen the connect with our glorious culture.”

The constitutional process requires that the President first seek the views of the concerned State Assembly before any Bill altering the name of a State is introduced in Parliament. After receiving the Assembly’s views, the Centre will decide the next steps and seek the President’s recommendation to table the Bill in Parliament.

The demand to officially adopt “Keralam” is not recent. In June 2024, the Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution urging the Union government to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution. The resolution noted that the State’s name in Malayalam is “Keralam.”

The resolution stated, “The name of our State is ‘Keralam’ in Malayalam Language. States were formed on the basis of language on the 1st day of November, 1956. The Kerala Piravi Day is also on the 1st day of November.”

It further recorded, “Since the time of National Independence Struggle, there has been a strong demand for the formation of United Kerala for the people speaking Malayalam language. But in the First Schedule to the Constitution the name of our State is recorded as ‘Kerala’. This Assembly unanimously appeals to the Central Government to take urgent steps as per Article 3 of the Constitution for modifying the name as ‘Keralam’.”

Article 3 empowers Parliament to alter the name of any existing State. Following the Assembly’s request, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs examined the proposal. After approval from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the draft note was circulated to the Ministry of Law and Justice for legal opinion.

The Department of Legal Affairs and the Legislative Department agreed with the proposal, clearing the way for Cabinet approval. The timing of the decision is significant, as Assembly elections in Kerala are due soon.

At the same meeting, the Cabinet adopted the ‘Seva Sankalp Resolution’ at Seva Teerth. It resolved that every decision taken in the new premises would be guided by the spirit of “Nagrik Devo Bhava” and dedicated to serving 1.4 billion citizens.

With Cabinet approval secured, the proposal now enters the next constitutional stage. The final change will depend on parliamentary approval after the required consultation with the State Assembly.