The Union Cabinet on Tuesday, February 24, approved a proposal to change the name of “Kerala” to “Keralam,” which is the Malayalam name of the southern Indian state.
This move comes at a time when Kerala is preparing to elect its 16th Legislative Assembly. The Election Commission of India has not yet announced the dates for the Assembly elections.
If the change is completed, the official name of the state in the Constitution will be updated from the English version “Kerala” to the Malayalam form “Keralam.” Supporters of the move say this step will restore the state’s linguistic identity and better reflect its cultural and historical roots.
The Cabinet’s approval begins the constitutional process required to change a state’s name. Under Article 3 of the Constitution, the President will now refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to the Kerala State Legislature to seek its opinion. After receiving the State’s views, the Bill will be introduced in Parliament for approval.
The proposal is seen as a symbolic move that connects back to 1956, when states in India were reorganised mainly on linguistic lines. At that time, Malayalam-speaking regions were brought together to form the state of Kerala. However, the English spelling “Kerala” continued to be used in the Constitution instead of the Malayalam word “Keralam.”
If Parliament passes the Bill, the state’s name in the First Schedule of the Constitution will officially be changed. The move is expected to spark political discussions, especially as the Assembly elections approach.