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Kerala to be renamed 'Keralam'? India's union cabinet approves name change proposal
The name change proposal will next be sent to the state assembly for its approval
- PUBLISHED: Tue 24 Feb 2026, 2:32 PM
The long-standing demand to rename the Indian state Kerala as 'Keralam' to reflect its Malayalam pronunciation has inched closer to reality, as the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the proposal to change it.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the media at a briefing that the Kerala Alteration of Name Bill will be sent to the state assembly for its approval. The decision comes ahead of the assembly polls in the state, slated for the first half of this year.
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"After approval of the Union Cabinet, the President of India will refer a Bill, namely the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to the State Legislative Assembly of Kerala for expressing its views under the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution of India," Vaishnaw said, as quoted by ANI.
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The Centre will take further action depending on the views of the State Legislative Assembly of Kerala. The recommendation of the President will be obtained for the introduction of the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, for the alteration of the name of the state of 'Kerala' as 'Keralam' in Parliament.
The Legislative Assembly of Kerala passed a resolution in June 2024 to alter the name of the state of "Kerala" to "Keralam".
