The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha unanimously approve the constitutional amendment to restore the state’s official name in all languages.
NEW DELHI — India’s Parliament has passed a constitutional amendment bill to officially rename the southern state of Kerala as “Keralam.” The legislation, which received unanimous support across party lines in both houses, fulfills a long-standing demand to align the state’s official designation with its pronunciation and spelling in the native Malayalam language.
The amendment modifies the First Schedule of the Constitution of India, updating the state’s name in official federal records, international treaties, and government documentation. The bill was introduced following a resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly, which urged the central government to execute the name change across all official languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
While the state has always been referred to as “Keralam” in Malayalam, the spelling “Kerala” remained the standard in English and other non-native records—a legacy of colonial-era administration. Malayalam scholars and cultural historians have pointed out that the name “Keralam” originates from classical texts, representing the geographical and linguistic identity of the region.
Members of Parliament from Kerala welcomed the passage of the bill, calling it a historic moment for the Malayalam-speaking population worldwide. The state government had previously submitted similar resolutions to ensure that federal records mirror the native nomenclature, drawing parallels to earlier name revisions of major Indian states and metropolitan cities.
With parliamentary approval secured, the bill now awaits formal presidential assent. Following the presidential signature, the Ministry of Home Affairs will issue a official notification establishing the effective date of the name change across all administrative frameworks.
