Union Cabinet Clears Proposal to Rename 'Kerala' as 'Keralam'
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on February 24, 2026, approved the Kerala government's proposal to rename the state as "Keralam." The decision was taken at Seva Teerth, the newly inaugurated Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet Secretariat complex.
The proposal follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly on June 24, 2024, urging the Centre to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution to change the state's name to "Keralam officially."
The Assembly had earlier adopted a similar resolution in August 2023. However, after the Ministry of Home Affairs suggested certain technical modifications, the resolution was reintroduced and passed again.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who moved the resolution, said the state is known as "Keralam" in Malayalam and that the demand for a unified Kerala for Malayalam-speaking people dates back to the national freedom struggle.
He pointed out that while the Constitution's First Schedule currently lists the state as "Kerala," the Assembly has requested the Centre to amend it under Article 3 and ensure that the name "Keralam" is reflected in all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
The proposed change will require a constitutional amendment to the First Schedule. The Kerala Bill, 2026, must be passed by Parliament and receive Presidential assent before the renaming becomes official. Only then would government records, official documents, and global references reflect the new name.
The development has sparked political reactions. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor responded with characteristic wit on the social media platform X, questioning what English speakers would call the state's residents if the name were changed. "What happens to terms like 'Keralite' and 'Keralan'?" he asked, joking that "Keralamite sounds like a microbe and Keralamian like a rare earth mineral." He even suggested that the Chief Minister's Office could consider launching a competition to coin suitable new demonyms.
Beyond political circles, the proposal has evoked strong sentiments among Malayalis abroad, especially in the Gulf. Members of the UAE Malayali community have largely welcomed the move, viewing it as a step toward cultural affirmation.
While official documents such as passports and flight tickets say "Kerala," many Malayalis have always preferred the native term "Keralam." Community leaders in the UAE described the development as a matter of pride, though it has also triggered light-hearted discussions and practical questions about documentation and global usage.
The name "Kerala" is often considered to have colonial-era roots in its English form, though its origins are older. Scholars trace it either to "Chera," linked to the ancient Chera dynasty, or to the words "kera" meaning coconut tree and "alam" meaning land, together meaning "the land of coconut trees." The shift from "Kerala" to "Keralam" is seen by many as a classic case of reclaiming an endonym, a native name, over an exonym used in other languages.
With Assembly elections expected in April or May, the timing of the move has also drawn attention. Supporters view it as a long-pending cultural correction, while critics see an element of political symbolism.
For now, the proposal has crossed an important hurdle with the Union Cabinet's approval. The final decision rests with Parliament, whose approval will determine whether "Keralam" officially replaces "Kerala" in the Constitution and worldwide.