SRINAGAR: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday reportedly approved the Kerala Government’s proposal to change the name of the state from Kerala to Keralam, sources aware of the development said.
The decision came months after the Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on June 24, 2024, urging the Centre to officially rename the state as “Keralam.” The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who emphasized that the state is referred to as “Keralam” in Malayalam and that the demand reflects the cultural and historical identity of the Malayalam-speaking people.
The proposal received clearance during a Cabinet meeting held at the newly inaugurated Seva Teerth, the new Prime Minister’s Office building. This was the first Cabinet meeting convened at the new facility.
The Assembly had earlier adopted a similar unanimous resolution in August 2023 and forwarded it to the Centre. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs suggested certain technical modifications, prompting the state government to pass the resolution again with necessary changes.
Chief Minister Vijayan had stated that while the state is called Keralam in Malayalam, it is mentioned as “Kerala” in the First Schedule of the Constitution. The Assembly had requested the Union Government to amend the name under Article 3 of the Constitution and ensure that it is reflected as “Keralam” in all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule. (KNC)
