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.
Following this, the President will refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the Kerala Legislative Assembly for its opinion, as per the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution of India, a government statement said. Once the Assembly’s views are received, the Union government will seek the President’s recommendation to introduce the name-change legislation in Parliament.
The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Seva Teerth, the new complex housing the Prime Minister’s Office.
State Resolution
The move comes nearly two years after the Kerala Assembly passed a resolution seeking the name change. The resolution, dated June 24, 2024, stated:
“The name of our State is ‘Keralam’ in Malayalam. States were formed on the basis of language on November 1, 1956, which is also celebrated as Kerala Piravi Day. Since the time of the national independence struggle, there has been a strong demand for the formation of a united Kerala for Malayalam-speaking people. However, in the First Schedule of the Constitution, the state’s name is recorded as ‘Kerala’. This Assembly unanimously appeals to the Central Government to take urgent steps under Article 3 of the Constitution to modify the name to ‘Keralam’.”
The State government subsequently requested the Centre to take the necessary steps to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution, which defines the names and territories of states. Under Article 3, Parliament may alter the name of any existing state by law.
Legal Process
The proviso to Article 3 states that:
“No Bill for this purpose shall be introduced in either House of Parliament except on the recommendation of the President and unless, where the proposal affects the area, boundaries, or name of any state, the Bill has been referred by the President to the Legislature of that state for expressing its views within the specified period, or within such further period as the President may allow, and the period has expired.”
The proposal was reviewed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and with the approval of Home 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 comments. Both departments concurred with the proposal to rename the state from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’. (Agency)
