Cabinet approves alteration of name of "Kerala" to "Keralam"
New Delhi, February 24
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval to the proposal to change the name of Kerala to Keralam.
Briefing reporters after a meeting of the Union Cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said 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.
"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.
After receipt of the views of the State Legislative Assembly of Kerala, the Centre will take further action, and 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".
— ANI
Reader Comments
While I respect the sentiment, is this really a priority? With elections around the corner, it feels more like a political move than a genuine cultural correction. What about pressing issues like infrastructure and jobs?
Good decision. Many states have gone back to their native names - Madras to Chennai, Bombay to Mumbai. Kerala to Keralam follows the same logic. It's about identity.
Interesting to see this process. The article clearly explains the constitutional steps involved - state assembly resolution, Union Cabinet, then Parliament. It shows how federalism works in India.
As someone from Kerala, I'm happy. But I hope the government also focuses on the real issues facing the state. A name change alone won't solve the problems of our fishermen or farmers.
The timing is suspicious, right before elections. But if the people of Kerala want it, and the assembly has passed a resolution, then it's the democratic will. Let's see how it plays out.
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