Union Cabinet Clears Proposal to Rename Kerala
The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has officially approved the proposal to rename the state of Kerala to “Keralam.” This landmark decision, taken during a meeting on February 24, 2026, marks the first formal step in a constitutional process to align the state’s official name with its native Malayalam pronunciation. The move has been widely welcomed across the state as a long-awaited recognition of cultural and linguistic identity.
The request for the name change originated from a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly in June 2024. The state government argued that while the region is known as “Keralam” in Malayalam, the First Schedule of the Constitution recorded it as “Kerala” during the reorganization of states in 1956. This discrepancy has persisted for seven decades, despite the strong historical roots of the name “Keralam” in the regional language and literature.
Following the Cabinet’s nod, the process moves into its next constitutional phase under Article 3. The President of India will now refer the “Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026” to the state legislature to seek its formal views. Once the assembly provides its feedback, the Bill will be introduced in Parliament. A simple majority in both houses is required to pass the legislation, which will then officially amend the First Schedule of the Constitution.
Prime Minister Modi emphasized that this decision reflects the “will of the people” and is a step toward strengthening India’s connection with its diverse cultural heritage. The renaming is expected to be finalized before the upcoming state assembly elections, ensuring that the new name is used in all official central and state government documentation moving forward.
While the administrative transition will involve updating official seals, websites, and records, the sentiment on the ground remains one of pride. Scholars noted that “Keralam” better represents the linguistic history of the land of coconuts. The government has assured that this change will be implemented across all official languages listed in the Eighth Schedule to maintain total consistency across the nation.
