The Kerala government has already passed a resolution seeking the state’s name change on 25 June 2024 after an earlier proposal was revised following suggestions from the Union Home Ministry. Moreover, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has emphasised that “Keralam” is the real name in Malayalam, better showing the state’s history, identity, and culture.
On February 24, 2026, the Union Cabinet officially approved the proposal to rename Kerala as “Keralam” at its first meeting held at Seva Teerth, the new official residence and office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In addition, this decision marks a significant constitutional step in the process and was described by Prime Minister Modi as showing the will of the people and enhancing cultural identity.
Following the cabinet’s approval, the Kerala Bill, 2026, will now be sent to the president of India, who will send it to the Kerala legislative assembly under the proviso of Article 3 of the Constitution to obtain its views. Just after the assembly responds, the centre will seek the president’s recommendation to announce the bill in parliament, where it must be passed to update the state’s name in the constitution formally.
It is vital to note that this change only impacts the state’s official name; there will be no alteration in its border, governance, or administration. The change in name is mainly seen as a symbolic recognition of Kerala’s cultural heritage and linguistic origins.
Reacting to the change, one of the senior Congress leaders, Shashi Tharoor, with wordplay, asked what anglophones would now call residents of the state. Also, the Thiruvananthapuram MP went on to say what happens to terms such as “Keralite and Keralan”.