Centre approves proposal to rename Kerala as Keralam

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to rename Kerala as 'Keralam', clearing a key constitutional step just ahead of the state assembly elections which are due in April.

Announcing the decision, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had cleared the Kerala government's request to alter the state's name. The meeting was held at Seva Teerth, the Prime Minister's new office complex. "The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for altering the name of Kerala to Keralam," Vaishnaw said.

Prime Minister Modi described the move as reflective of the will of the people of the state and aligned with efforts to strengthen cultural identity. "It is in line with our efforts to strengthen the connect with our glorious culture," the PM said in a post on X.



The term of the 140-member Kerala assembly ends on May 23, with elections scheduled to be held in April.

Following the Cabinet's approval, the President will refer the proposed Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to the state legislature under the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution for its views. After the assembly responds, the Centre will seek the President's recommendation to formally introduce the bill in Parliament.

Vaishnaw rejected suggestions that the timing of renaming of Kerala was politically driven. "Decisions are taken by the Union Cabinet under Prime Minister Modi without keeping elections in view," he said, citing earlier approvals of railway corridors and Vande Bharat services for the state outside poll cycles.

The Kerala assembly had unanimously passed a resolution on June 24, 2024, urging the Centre to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution to reflect the Malayalam name "Keralam". The resolution noted that states were reorganised on linguistic lines on November 1, 1956, and that 'Keralam' is the name used in Malayalam.

Under Article 3, Parliament may alter the name of any state by law, but such a bill can be introduced only on the President's recommendation and after the concerned state legislature is consulted. The proposal was examined by the Union home ministry with the approval of home minister Amit Shah. The law ministry's Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Department have concurred with the move.