Union Cabinet Clears Proposal to Rename Kerala as ‘Keralam’
President to Refer Bill to Kerala Assembly Under Article 3; Move Follows 2024 State Resolution
In a significant constitutional development, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal to alter the name of the State of Kerala to ‘Keralam’. The decision marks a key step in a process rooted in Article 3 of the Constitution of India, which empowers Parliament to change the name of any state.
Following the Cabinet’s approval, the President of India will refer the proposed legislation — the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 — to the Kerala Legislative Assembly for expressing its views. This referral is mandated under the proviso to Article 3, which requires consultation with the concerned state legislature when a Bill affecting its name is introduced.
The move traces its origins to a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly on June 24, 2024. The resolution highlighted that ‘Keralam’ is the state’s name in the Malayalam language and urged the Centre to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution accordingly. The Assembly argued that the change would better reflect linguistic and cultural identity, noting the historical formation of states on linguistic lines in 1956.
After receiving the Assembly’s views, the Union Government will take further steps, including obtaining the President’s recommendation for formally introducing the Bill in Parliament. Constitutional experts note that while the state legislature’s opinion is sought, the final authority to enact the change rests with Parliament.
The Ministry of Home Affairs processed the proposal in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice, with both the Department of Legal Affairs and the Legislative Department concurring with the amendment. The development has sparked political and public interest, given its symbolic and cultural implications.
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