Centre clears process to rename Kerala as ‘Keralam’

Kerala — often called “God’s Own Country” — may soon be officially renamed Keralam. While the difference is slight in spelling, the change carries cultural significance. “Keralam,” rooted in Malayalam, is widely understood to mean “the land of coconuts.” Reported by Hindustan Times. 

The Union Cabinet cleared the proposal on Tuesday, setting in motion the constitutional process required to formalise the name change.

Addressing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 will now be sent to the State Legislative Assembly of Kerala to seek its views.

The move comes ahead of the state Assembly elections, which are scheduled for the first half of this year.

How the Proposal Reached the Union Cabinet

The renaming process began in June 2024 when the Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a resolution seeking to change the state’s name from “Kerala” to “Keralam.” The state government subsequently forwarded the proposal to the Centre.

The Assembly 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. 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’”.

Under the Constitution, Article 1 declares that “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.” Article 3 grants Parliament the authority to reorganise states, including altering their names. According to Article 3, Parliament may, by law, change the name of any state.

The resolution had earlier been introduced but was re-tabled to address procedural issues before being forwarded again.

What Happens Next?

Following the Union Cabinet’s approval, the constitutional procedure under Article 3 will now unfold.

First, the President will refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the Kerala Legislative Assembly for its views. Once the Assembly communicates its opinion, the Centre will move ahead with the next steps.

The President’s recommendation will then be obtained to introduce the Bill in Parliament. If Parliament passes the legislation and the President gives assent, “Keralam” will replace “Kerala” as the official name of the state in the Constitution and across all legal and administrative documents.