The southern Indian state of Kerala is officially set to be known as Keralam after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 on August 17. With the President’s approval, the Bill has become law and provides for the state’s name to be changed from Kerala to Keralam.
The move follows a resolution passed unanimously by the Kerala Assembly in 2024, calling on the Centre to change the state’s official name to Keralam. The proposal was forwarded to the Central Government in June 2024 before being referred back to the state legislature for its views.
The Assembly later unanimously supported the proposed change. The Bill was subsequently passed by the Lok Sabha on August 11, 2026 and the Rajya Sabha on August 12, 2026, before receiving the President’s assent.
The name Keralam reflects the state’s Malayalam identity. While “Kerala” has traditionally been used as the state’s English name, Keralam (കേരളം) is the name used in Malayalam. The change therefore aims to bring the state’s official name in line with its name in the Malayalam language and its local linguistic and cultural identity.
Under the new law, the First Schedule of the Indian Constitution will also be amended to replace “Kerala” with “Keralam”. The name change marks a significant step in formally recognising the name by which the state is known in its own language.
Source: India Today
