New Delhi / Thiruvananthapuram — In a move that has captured national headlines, the Union Cabinet on 24 February 2026 approved a recommendation to change the official name of the southern state of Kerala to “Keralam”. The decision, cleared by the Council of Ministers after deliberation, represents a formal shift toward the region’s original Malayalam nomenclature and is expected to take effect once the requisite legal and constitutional formalities are completed.
The proposal to rename the state was first tabled by the Kerala government earlier this month, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan arguing that “Keralam” reflects the authentic linguistic and cultural heritage of the land as expressed in local languages and literary traditions. The Union Cabinet’s approval paves the way for a subsequent parliamentary process, including amendment of the Constitution’s First Schedule which lists the names of states and union territories before the change can be formally notified.
Official sources said the Centre’s decision took into account both the sentiments of Kerala’s people and precedents in other states that have adopted local names in official usage, such as Maharashtra (formerly Bombay Presidency) and Karnataka (formerly Mysore State). The Ministry of Home Affairs has been tasked with drafting the necessary legislative instruments and coordinating with the Kerala government to ensure a smooth transition across administrative records, signage, and official documentation.
In Thiruvananthapuram, political leaders and civic bodies welcomed the Cabinet’s approval, characterising it as a longstanding demand rooted in cultural identity and regional pride. “This is an affirmation of Kerala’s unique linguistic heritage,” a senior state minister said, noting that the term “Keralam” appears in classical Malayalam and Sangam era literature. Cultural organisations in the state also celebrated the decision, viewing it as a symbolic restoration of indigenous identity in official nomenclature.
Reactions at the national level have been largely measured. Some federal policymakers described the move as a routine exercise in recognising local linguistic conventions, while others emphasised that the Parliament’s role in constitutional changes will ensure thorough debate and consensus. Constitutional experts have highlighted that a name change does not affect the legal status or territorial integrity of the state, but underlines the federal character of India’s political framework.
Critics among opposition parties, while not opposing the sentiment behind the change, have questioned potential administrative costs involved in updating official insignia, printed records, gazette notifications and state branding. They have urged transparency around transitional expenses as the state prepares to adopt the new name across government and public interfaces.
With the Cabinet approval now in hand, the next phase will involve securing parliamentary passage of the enabling constitutional amendment and subsequent publication of the change in the Official Gazette. Once complete, “Keralam” will formally enter official use across central and state records marking a rare instance in India’s post-independence history of a state adopting its indigenous name in place of its English-language designation.
