New Delhi: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today approved a proposal to alter the name of the State of Kerala to “Keralam,” setting in motion the constitutional process required for the change.
According to an official release, the President of India will now refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the Kerala Legislative Assembly to seek its views under the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution. After receiving the Assembly’s response, the Government of India will proceed further and obtain the President’s recommendation for introducing the Bill in Parliament.
The move follows a resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly on June 24, 2024, which unanimously urged the Centre to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution to reflect the State’s name as “Keralam.” The resolution noted that “Keralam” is the name used in the Malayalam language and highlighted the historical context of linguistic reorganisation of states on November 1, 1956, observed in Kerala as Kerala Piravi Day.
Subsequently, the Government of Kerala formally requested the Union Government to initiate steps for the alteration of the State’s name. Article 3 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to alter the name of any State, subject to procedural requirements, including the President’s recommendation and consultation with the concerned State Legislature.
The Ministry of Home Affairs examined the proposal before placing it before the Cabinet. The draft note was circulated to the Department of Legal Affairs and the Legislative Department under the Ministry of Law and Justice, both of which concurred with the proposal, the release stated.
Kerala joins a list of Indian cities and states that have undergone official name changes in recent years. Observers have drawn parallels with earlier renaming exercises, including Gurgaon’s change to Gurugram in 2016.
Once enacted, the alteration will update references in the Constitution and official records from “Kerala” to “Keralam.”
