Centre clears move to rename Kerala
Union Cabinet approves proposal to rename Kerala as Keralam ahead of assembly polls
New Delhi: In an important political and cultural development, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the proposal of the Kerala government to change the name of the state from Kerala to Keralam. The decision comes just months before the Kerala Assembly elections, which are expected to take place in April–May this year.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the decision and said the Cabinet has given its approval to the renaming proposal. The move follows a unanimous resolution passed earlier by the Kerala Legislative Assembly requesting the Centre to officially adopt the name “Keralam.”
The proposal reflects a long-standing demand from the state government, which has argued that the name “Keralam” better represents the linguistic and cultural identity of the region. The state is already known as Keralam in the Malayalam language.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the decision and said it reflects the will of the people of the state. He added that the step is in line with efforts to strengthen the country’s connection with its rich cultural heritage.
Why the change
The Kerala Assembly had first passed a unanimous resolution on June 24, 2024, urging the Centre to officially change the state’s name. The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
While presenting the proposal in the Assembly, Vijayan explained that the state has historically been known as “Keralam” in Malayalam. He said the demand for a unified state for Malayalam-speaking people had emerged strongly during the national freedom movement.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that the name of the state currently appears as “Kerala” in the First Schedule of the Constitution. Therefore, he requested the Union government to amend it under Article 3 of the Constitution and officially adopt “Keralam” in all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.
This was not the first time the Assembly had made such a request. The state government had earlier passed a similar unanimous resolution in August 2023 and sent it to the Centre. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs had suggested certain technical corrections, after which the Assembly passed the revised resolution again in June 2024.
Officials said the Union Cabinet has now accepted the corrected proposal. The decision was taken during the Cabinet’s first meeting held at Seva Teerth, the newly inaugurated Prime Minister’s Office complex.
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What happens next
Although the Union Cabinet has approved the proposal, the renaming process will require constitutional changes before it becomes fully official. The amendment to the First Schedule of the Constitution must be passed by Parliament for the new name to take legal effect.
If Parliament clears the amendment, the state will be officially known as Keralam in all government records, central laws, and official communications. The change will apply across all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Supporters of the move say the new name will better reflect the state’s linguistic identity and cultural roots. They argue that many Indian states already use names closer to their native pronunciation.
Political observers note that the timing of the decision—just ahead of the Assembly elections—could also have political significance. However, the Centre has described the move as a response to the democratic will of the state Assembly.
During the Cabinet briefing, Vaishnaw said every decision taken at Seva Teerth would be guided by a spirit of service and nation-building. He added that constitutional values remain central to governance and reflect the country’s commitment to dignity, equality, and justice.
For now, the focus will shift to Parliament, where the formal amendment process is expected to begin. Once completed, Kerala will officially become Keralam, marking a symbolic but meaningful change in the identity of the southern state.
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