Kerala becomes Keralam as Centre notifies new name

The Union Home Ministry has officially notified 'Keralam' as the new name of the State, with effect from Tuesday, 25 August 2026. The notification, issued through a gazette, marks the formal implementation of the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act, 2026, following its passage by Parliament and the assent of President Droupadi Murmu.

The gazette notification stated: “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of Section 1 of the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act, 2026, the Central government hereby appoints the 25th day of August, 2026, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.” This brings into effect the change from 'Kerala' to 'Keralam', aligning the State's official English name with its Malayalam pronunciation.

The legislative journey of the name change began with a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly in 2024, urging the Centre to introduce a Bill for the purpose. The State government forwarded this resolution to the Union Home Ministry in June 2024. Subsequently, President Murmu referred the draft Bill to the State legislature for its views, and the Assembly again unanimously endorsed the proposal.

In Parliament, the Lok Sabha passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill on 11 August 2026, and the Rajya Sabha followed on 12 August 2026. During the debate in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the Bill was in response to the State Assembly's request, and that it simply changes the name to 'Keralam' with no other alterations.

The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act includes necessary amendments to the Constitution and consequential provisions to effect the change. The Act ensures that the State's boundaries, powers, and administrative structure remain unchanged, and only the nomenclature is updated.

This change carries historical and linguistic significance. 'Keralam' is the name used in the Malayalam language and reflects the cultural identity of the region, which has also been known historically as 'Keralaputra' in ancient inscriptions. The previous spelling, 'Kerala', was a transliteration commonly used during British rule and retained after independence.

Following the notification, all legal documents, official communications, and government records will now refer to the State as 'Keralam'. The move has been welcomed by various cultural and linguistic groups in the State, who view it as a step towards preserving and promoting the region's heritage. Some sections have noted that the change may require updates in software, databases, and administrative forms, but the government has indicated a smooth transition.

With this notification, 'Keralam' officially joins the list of States with names derived from their regional languages, such as West Bengal's change from 'Bengal' in 2011. The Union Home Ministry's action fulfils the State's long-pending demand and brings the official name in line with the language spoken by the majority of its people.