The Union Cabinet today approved a proposal to change the name of the State of Kerala to ‘Keralam,
The process to officially rename the State of Kerala as “Keralam” has moved a step forward following approval by the Union Cabinet. According to official reports, the decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, setting in motion constitutional procedures required for altering a State’s name.
After Cabinet clearance, the proposed legislation — Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 — will be referred by the President of India to the Kerala Legislative Assembly for its opinion. This step is mandatory under Article 3 of the Constitution, which governs changes related to the name, boundaries, or territory of States.
The Constitution stipulates that any such Bill cannot be introduced in Parliament without prior Presidential approval. Furthermore, the President must first obtain the views of the concerned State Legislature within a specified timeframe before the legislative process can proceed.
The proposal underwent detailed examination by the Ministry of Home Affairs, followed by consultations with the Department of Legal Affairs and the Legislative Department under the Ministry of Law and Justice. The matter subsequently received approval from Union Home Minister Amit Shah before being placed before the Cabinet for final consideration.
If Parliament ultimately passes the Bill, the change will require an amendment to the First Schedule of the Constitution, formally replacing the name “Kerala” with “Keralam.”