Under Article 3 of the Constitution, any change in the name of a state requires parliamentary legislation. However, before Parliament takes up such a Bill, the President must seek the views of the concerned state legislature.
Once the Kerala Assembly communicates its opinion, the Union government will proceed with introducing the Bill in Parliament, accompanied by the President’s recommendation.
Background of the Proposal
The move follows resolutions passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 2023 and 2024. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had urged the Centre to change the state’s name from “Kerala” to “Keralam” in all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
The Assembly passed the resolution twice. After reviewing the initial proposal, the Union Home Ministry suggested technical corrections, following which a revised resolution was adopted.
The state government has argued that “Keralam” is the name used in Malayalam, the official language of the state. While the First Schedule of the Constitution lists the state as “Kerala,” proponents of the change say the updated name would better reflect linguistic and cultural identity.
Historical and Cultural Context
States in India were reorganised on linguistic lines on November 1, 1956. Kerala Piravi, observed annually on November 1, commemorates the formation of the state for Malayalam-speaking people.
Supporters of the renaming say the term “Keralam” has deep cultural resonance and has been in use since the time of the national freedom movement. They argue that aligning the constitutional name with the Malayalam usage strengthens historical continuity.
However, the change does not alter administrative boundaries or governance structures. It is strictly a nomenclature revision within the constitutional framework.
Political Timing
The Cabinet’s decision comes ahead of the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, though poll dates are yet to be announced by the Election Commission of India. The timing has drawn political attention, given that name changes often carry symbolic weight.
In the past, several Indian cities and states have undergone name changes to reflect historical, cultural or linguistic considerations. Gurgaon was renamed Gurugram in 2016, citing historical associations with Guru Dronacharya from the Mahabharata.
The Kerala-to-Keralam proposal, however, follows a constitutional route initiated by the state government itself rather than a unilateral executive action.
Constitutional Significance
Article 3 empowers Parliament to form new states, alter boundaries or change names of existing states. While Parliament is not bound by the views of the concerned state legislature, seeking its opinion is a mandatory procedural step.
The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 will therefore become the final legislative instrument determining whether the official name is changed in the Constitution’s First Schedule.
If Parliament approves the Bill, “Kerala” will officially be replaced with “Keralam” in all constitutional references.
What It Means for Citizens
For residents, the immediate impact will likely be symbolic rather than administrative. Government documents, official signage and statutory references would gradually transition to the new name if the Bill becomes law.
The development underscores how constitutional mechanisms allow states to redefine identity within India’s federal structure while preserving democratic consultation.
With Cabinet approval secured, the focus now shifts to the Kerala Assembly and subsequently to Parliament, where the final decision will be made.