Kerala to become ‘Keralam’: Centre approves the move
Md Nasimuddin
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) approved the Kerala government’s proposal to change the State’s name from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’, the name used in the Malayalam language.
The President will now refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to the Kerala Legislative Assembly to express its views, under the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution of India, a government statement said. Once these views are received, the Union government will take further action obtain the President’s recommendation to introduce the name change legislation in Parliament.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at its first meeting held at Seva Teerth, the new complex housing the Prime Minister’s Office.
State resolution
The move comes almost two years after the Kerala Assembly passed a resolution seeking the name change. The resolution, dated June 24, 2024, said: “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. 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 appeal to the Central Government to take urgent steps as per Article 3 of the Constitution for modifying the name as ‘Keralam’.”
The State government had then requested the Centre to take the necessary steps to amend the First Schedule to the Constitution, which defines the names and territories of the States. According to Article 3 of the Constitution, Parliament may by law alter the name of any existing State.
Legal process
The proviso to Article 3 states that “no Bill for the purpose shall be introduced in either House of Parliament except on the recommendation of the President and unless, where the proposal contained in the Bill affects the area, boundaries or name of any of the States, the Bill has been referred by the President to the Legislature of that State for expressing its views within such period as may be specified in the reference or within such further period as the President may allow and the period so specified or allowed has expired.”
The matter was considered in the Ministry of Home Affairs and, with the approval of Minister Amit Shah, the draft note was circulated to the Department of Legal Affairs and the Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice, for their comments. These departments concurred with the proposal to change the name of the State from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’.
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) approved the Kerala government’s proposal to change the State’s name from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’, the name used in the Malayalam language.
The President will now refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to the Kerala Legislative Assembly to express its views, under the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution of India, a government statement said. Once these views are received, the Union government will take further action obtain the President’s recommendation to introduce the name change legislation in Parliament.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at its first meeting held at Seva Teerth, the new complex housing the Prime Minister’s Office.
State resolution
The move comes almost two years after the Kerala Assembly passed a resolution seeking the name change. The resolution, dated June 24, 2024, said: “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. 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 appeal to the Central Government to take urgent steps as per Article 3 of the Constitution for modifying the name as ‘Keralam’.”
The State government had then requested the Centre to take the necessary steps to amend the First Schedule to the Constitution, which defines the names and territories of the States. According to Article 3 of the Constitution, Parliament may by law alter the name of any existing State.
Legal process
The proviso to Article 3 states that “no Bill for the purpose shall be introduced in either House of Parliament except on the recommendation of the President and unless, where the proposal contained in the Bill affects the area, boundaries or name of any of the States, the Bill has been referred by the President to the Legislature of that State for expressing its views within such period as may be specified in the reference or within such further period as the President may allow and the period so specified or allowed has expired.”
The matter was considered in the Ministry of Home Affairs and, with the approval of Minister Amit Shah, the draft note was circulated to the Department of Legal Affairs and the Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice, for their comments. These departments concurred with the proposal to change the name of the State from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’.
