Kerala Set to be Renamed as Keralam Following Union Cabinet Approval

Union Cabinet Approves Name Change

On Tuesday, the Union Cabinet sanctioned the proposal to change the name of Kerala to “Keralam.”

The next step involves the president forwarding the Kerala Alteration of Name Bill, 2026, to the state Assembly, after which the central government will proceed with the formalization of the name change.

Previously, on June 24, 2024, the Kerala Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution requesting the Union government to initiate the renaming process.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan introduced the resolution, advocating for the application of Article 3 of the Constitution to modify the First Schedule, which enumerates the names of states.

Vijayan emphasized that the name “Keralam” is used in Malayalam and highlighted the long-standing demand for a unified Kerala for Malayalam-speaking populations, a sentiment that has persisted since the struggle for independence.

In August 2023, a similar resolution was passed by the Kerala Assembly, but it was returned by the Centre due to procedural issues.

The Cabinet's endorsement arrives just ahead of the anticipated Assembly elections in the state, scheduled for April or May.