Union Cabinet approves renaming Kerala as Keralam

Source: DD News

Subject: Polity

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to rename the State of Kerala as Keralam, following resolutions passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 2023 and 2024.

About Union Cabinet approves renaming Kerala as Keralam:

What it is?

• The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to alter the official name of the State of Kerala to Keralam.

• The change seeks to replace the English-adopted constitutional term “Kerala” with the traditional Malayalam usage “Keralam.”

• After Cabinet approval, the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 will follow the constitutional process before becoming law.

Articles associated:

• Article 3 of the Constitution: Empowers Parliament to form new states or alter areas, boundaries, or names of existing states.

• Proviso to Article 3: A Bill altering a state’s name can be introduced only on the recommendation of the President. The President must refer the Bill to the concerned State Legislature to seek its views.

• A Bill altering a state’s name can be introduced only on the recommendation of the President.

• The President must refer the Bill to the concerned State Legislature to seek its views.

• First Schedule of the Constitution: Contains the list and names of states and Union Territories; amendment required here for renaming.

Procedure for renaming a state:

• State Legislature Resolution: Kerala Assembly passed resolutions requesting the name change.

• Examination by Union Government: Ministry of Home Affairs scrutinizes the proposal and consults relevant ministries/agencies.

• Union Cabinet Approval: Cabinet clears the proposal for legislative action.

• President’s Reference: President refers the Bill to the State Legislature for its opinion (Article 3 proviso).

• Parliamentary Approval: Bill introduced in Parliament after Presidential recommendation and passed by both Houses.

• Notification & Amendment: First Schedule amended; new name comes into legal effect.

Reason for the change:

• The state is called “Keralam” in Malayalam, while the Constitution records it as “Kerala.”

• The demand reflects linguistic identity and the legacy of the Aikya Kerala movement, which sought unification of Malayalam-speaking regions.

• The Assembly argued that states formed on linguistic lines (1956) should reflect native linguistic nomenclature.