“The demand for a unified Malayalam-speaking state was rooted in the identity of Keralam, not Kerala.” — CM Pinarayi Vijayan, while moving the Assembly resolution
On February 24, 2026, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposal to officially rename the state of Kerala to “Keralam” — the name used in the Malayalam language. The announcement was made by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw after the Cabinet meeting at the newly inaugurated Seva Teerth, the new PMO building.
This sets in motion a constitutional process under Article 3 that will require Parliament to pass the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026. The move corrects a decades-old linguistic inconsistency — while the state has always been called “Keralam” in Malayalam, the Constitution’s First Schedule listed it as “Kerala,” an anglicised rendering.
📜 Why “Keralam”? The Historical Background
The state of Kerala was formed on November 1, 1956, under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, which created 14 new states and 6 Union Territories based primarily on linguistic lines. The Malayalam-speaking regions — Malabar district of Madras State, Kasaragod taluk of South Canara district, and Travancore-Cochin State — were merged into one unit.
However, when the new state was named in the First Schedule of the Constitution, it was listed as “Kerala” — an anglicised rendering — rather than “Keralam,” which is the authentic name in the Malayalam language itself. This linguistic inconsistency has been a longstanding grievance.
Think of it like this: Imagine if “Deutschland” was officially written as “Germany” in its own constitution. For Malayalam speakers, “Kerala” is the English version, while “Keralam” is how they have always called their homeland. The renaming corrects this disconnect between the official name and the linguistic identity.
⚖️ Article 3: The Constitutional Process
This section is crucial for competitive exams. State renaming in India follows a specific constitutional pathway under Article 3.
Article 3 gives Parliament the power to:
- Form a new state by separation, merger, or otherwise
- Increase or diminish the area of any state
- Alter the boundaries of any state
- Alter the name of any state
Key Exam Point: The power to rename a state lies exclusively with Parliament, not with the state government or state legislature. The state assembly’s resolution is advisory — it gives its views — but Parliament has the final say.
Don’t confuse: Renaming a state under Article 3 is done through an ordinary Parliamentary law, NOT a constitutional amendment under Article 368. The bill requires only a simple majority — no two-thirds majority, no ratification by state legislatures. The First Schedule gets amended as a consequence, but it’s still an ordinary bill.
📋 Step-by-Step Process for Renaming a State
Here is the complete constitutional process that follows Cabinet approval:
| Step | Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cabinet Approval: Union Cabinet approves the proposal | ✅ Done (Feb 24, 2026) |
| 2 | Presidential Reference: President refers Bill to State Legislature for views | Pending |
| 3 | State Assembly Views: Assembly debates and gives opinion (advisory, not binding) | Pending |
| 4 | Bill Introduction: Bill introduced in Parliament with President’s prior recommendation | Pending |
| 5 | Parliament Passes Bill: Simple majority in both Houses | Pending |
| 6 | Presidential Assent: Name officially changed in First Schedule | Pending |
Why does Article 3 require the President to refer the bill to the state legislature but NOT require the state’s consent? The framers wanted to balance federalism with national unity — states get a voice, but Parliament has final authority over territorial matters to prevent deadlocks.
📜 Precedents: Other State Renamings in India
India has renamed several states and UTs since independence. These precedents are frequently asked in competitive exams:
| Old Name | New Name | Year | Special Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madras (State) | Tamil Nadu | 1969 | First major state renaming |
| Mysore | Karnataka | 1973 | Reflected Kannada identity |
| Pondicherry (UT) | Puducherry | 2006 | Union Territory renaming |
| Uttaranchal | Uttarakhand | 2007 | Changed 7 years after formation |
| Orissa | Odisha | 2011 | Required 96th Amendment (language name) |
Orissa → Odisha (2011) is special: This change also involved renaming the language from “Oriya” to “Odia” in the Eighth Schedule. Language name changes require a constitutional amendment under Article 368 — hence the 96th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011. Kerala → Keralam does NOT involve a language change (Malayalam remains Malayalam), so no constitutional amendment is needed.
🏛️ Political Context: Timing and Significance
The Cabinet’s approval comes months before Kerala Assembly elections expected in April–May 2026. The current 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly’s term ends in May 2026.
Different perspectives on the move:
- LDF Government (CM Pinarayi Vijayan): Views it as a long-pending cultural correction — restoring the state’s authentic Malayalam identity
- Critics: Point to timing just before elections; raise concerns about logistical and financial costs of changing signage, documents, and records
- Political observers: Note that BJP-led Centre approving LDF government’s proposal is politically unusual — could be a goodwill gesture, tactical move, or genuine constitutional response
The renaming highlights the tension between cultural identity and administrative practicality. While linguistic authenticity matters for regional pride, critics ask: at what cost? The debate mirrors similar discussions globally about decolonising place names.
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Article 3 of the Constitution gives Parliament the power to alter the name of any state. This is one of the key provisions for state reorganisation.
Renaming a state requires only a simple majority in Parliament. It is NOT a constitutional amendment — no two-thirds majority or state ratification is required.
The First Schedule of the Constitution contains the list of states and Union Territories. Renaming Kerala to Keralam will amend this schedule.
The 96th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011 changed Orissa to Odisha and Oriya to Odia. The language name change required a constitutional amendment to the Eighth Schedule.
Under Article 3, the President must refer the bill to the state legislature for its views before the bill can be introduced in Parliament. This is mandatory but the views are advisory, not binding.
