By In a move that blends linguistic identity with constitutional procedure, the Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to rename the state of Kerala as “Keralam.” The decision, taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marks a significant step toward altering the state’s official name in the First Schedule of the Constitution. The proposal now enters the formal legislative process laid out under Article 3.
The approval follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly in June 2024, urging the Centre to officially recognise “Keralam” — the state’s name in Malayalam — as its constitutional designation. The Assembly had argued that since states were reorganised on linguistic lines in 1956, retaining the anglicised “Kerala” in the Constitution did not fully reflect the state’s cultural and linguistic heritage.
Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the Centre has cleared the proposal and that the next step will involve forwarding the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to the President of India. In accordance with constitutional requirements, the President will then refer the draft legislation to the Kerala Assembly to formally seek its views within a stipulated timeframe.
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Though the Assembly has already expressed its position through a resolution, the constitutional process requires this formal consultation before Parliament can take up the Bill. Only after receiving the state legislature’s opinion can the President recommend the introduction of the Bill in either House of Parliament.
The push to rename Kerala as Keralam has deep historical roots. The term “Keralam” has been used in Malayalam literature and administrative references for centuries. Proponents of the change argue that the anglicised “Kerala” emerged during colonial rule and continued in official use after Independence. They contend that restoring “Keralam” in the Constitution would align the state’s official identity with its linguistic and cultural traditions.
The resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly last year emphasised that the state was formed on November 1, 1956 — celebrated annually as Kerala Piravi — following the merger of Malayalam-speaking regions. Lawmakers across party lines supported the name change, presenting it as a matter of cultural affirmation rather than political symbolism.
From a legal standpoint, Article 3 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to alter the name of any state by law. However, such a Bill cannot be introduced without the President’s recommendation. If the proposed change affects a state’s name or boundaries, the President must first refer it to the concerned state legislature for its views, though Parliament is not bound by those views.
The Ministry of Home Affairs examined the proposal before placing it before the Cabinet. The draft note reportedly received concurrence from the Department of Legal Affairs and the Legislative Department within the Ministry of Law and Justice.
If Parliament ultimately approves the legislation, “Keralam” will replace “Kerala” in the Constitution’s First Schedule, formally updating the state’s name in all central records. While largely symbolic, the move would underscore the continuing evolution of India’s federal identity — where language, law and regional sentiment intersect within a constitutional framework.
