National Current Affairs
Union Cabinet Approves Renaming Kerala to ‘Keralam’
- 25 Feb 2026
- 3 min read
Why in News?
The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to rename the state of Kerala as “Keralam”, aligning the state’s official name with its usage in the Malayalam language.
Key Points:
- Background: The term “Keralam” is the native Malayalam name of the state and has been in continuous cultural and linguistic use for centuries.
- Ancient References: The term finds mention as “Keralaputra” in Emperor Ashoka's Rock Edict II (257 BCE), referring to the Chera dynasty.
- Linguistic Reorganisation: The demand for a united 'Keralam' for Malayalam-speaking communities dates back to the national freedom struggle.
- Colonial Name: The English name “Kerala” emerged during colonial administration and was retained after Independence.
- Resolution: The Kerala Legislative Assembly had earlier unanimously passed a resolution seeking the name change and forwarded it to the Centre for approval.
- Constitutional and Legal Basis: Article 3 of the Indian Constitution empowers Parliament to form new states and alter the name, area, or boundaries of existing states.
- Procedure: The procedure requires:
- A bill introduced in Parliament on the recommendation of the President.
- Prior reference of the bill to the concerned State Legislature for its views (which are not binding).
- Following Cabinet approval, the proposal will be introduced as a bill in Parliament to formally effect the change.
- Parliamentary Approval: Once the Bill is introduced, it must be passed by a simple majority of members present and voting in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
- Presidential Assent: Following the passage, the Bill is sent for Presidential assent.
- Amendment of Schedules: Once the Act is notified, the First Schedule (which lists the names of the states) and the Fourth Schedule (which deals with the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha) of the Constitution are updated accordingly.
| Read More: First Schedule, Article 3 |
