After decades of demand, India’s southern gem is finally getting the name its people always called it. And it’s bigger than just spelling.
In a landmark decision, the Union Cabinet of India has officially approved the renaming of the state of Kerala to “Keralam” — a change that’s rooted in language, identity, and a long-standing demand from the state itself. Here’s everything you need to know about this historic move.
Table of Contents
Kerala to Keralam — Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Current Name | Kerala |
| Proposed New Name | Keralam |
| Cabinet Approval Date | February 24, 2026 |
| Bill Name | The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 |
| State Assembly Resolution | Passed on June 24, 2024 |
| Announced By | Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw |
| Next Step | President refers Bill to Kerala Legislative Assembly for views |
What Exactly Was Decided?
The Union Cabinet approved the proposal for the alteration of the name of the State of Kerala to Keralam. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that after approval of the Cabinet, the President of India will refer a Bill — namely the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 — to the State Legislative Assembly of Kerala for expressing its views.
After receipt of the views of the State Legislative Assembly of Kerala, the Government of India will take further action, and the recommendation of the President will be obtained for the introduction of the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, for the alteration of the name of the State of Kerala to “Keralam” in Parliament.
This isn’t a rushed decision either. The Legislative Assembly of Kerala had passed a resolution on June 24, 2024 to alter the name of the State of Kerala to Keralam. The Cabinet has now formally moved things forward.
Why the Change from Kerala to Keralam?
The reasoning is deeply linguistic. In Malayalam — the official language of the state — the region has always been called Keralam (കേരളം). The anglicised “Kerala” was a colonial-era adaptation that dropped the final “m” sound, which is natural in Malayalam script and pronunciation.
This renaming is a cultural homecoming — restoring the state’s authentic identity as spoken and written by its 35 million+ people. It follows a wider trend across India of reclaiming original, indigenous names for states and cities.
According to Kerala’s Wikipedia page, the state was officially formed on November 1, 1956, under the States Reorganisation Act, and has been a model of human development indices ever since — making this identity correction all the more meaningful for its people.
What Happens Next?
The process involves multiple constitutional steps — the President refers the Bill to the Kerala Assembly, the Assembly shares its views, and then the Bill is introduced in Parliament. It is a structured process that respects both federal and democratic norms.
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FAQs
Q: Has Kerala officially been renamed to Keralam yet?
Not yet — the Union Cabinet has approved the proposal, but the Bill must still go through the Kerala Legislative Assembly and Parliament before the name change becomes official.
Q: Why does Kerala want to be called Keralam?
“Keralam” is the original Malayalam-language name of the state — the renaming corrects the colonial anglicisation and restores the authentic linguistic identity of the region.
