Union Cabinet approves renaming of Kerala to Keralam ahead of assembly polls

PM Narendra Modi says the move reflects the will of the people

February 24, 2026

Decision follows unanimous Assembly resolution; PM says move reflects people’s will

In a significant political development ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the proposal to rename Kerala as “Keralam”.

Announcing the decision, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “Union Cabinet approves renaming Kerala as Keralam.” The approval comes months after the Kerala Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to formally adopt the name “Keralam”.

Resolution passed twice by Kerala Assembly

The Kerala Assembly had first adopted the resolution on June 24, 2024, requesting the Centre to officially change the state’s name. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs suggested certain technical modifications, prompting the state Assembly to pass the resolution again.

Following this, the Union Cabinet cleared the proposal at its meeting on Tuesday, sources said.

PM Modi: Move strengthens cultural connect

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the decision reflects the will of the people of the state and aligns with efforts to strengthen connections with India’s cultural heritage.

According to the Prime Minister, the move is in line with the broader goal of reinforcing India’s cultural identity and historical roots.

First Cabinet meet at Seva Teerth

The approval was granted at the first Cabinet meeting held at Seva Teerth, the newly inaugurated Prime Minister’s Office building.

Addressing a Cabinet briefing, Ashwini Vaishnaw said the meeting at Seva Teerth symbolised a renewed commitment to governance rooted in constitutional values and public service. He emphasised that decisions taken at the new venue would be guided by a spirit of service to 1.4 billion citizens and aligned with the larger objective of nation-building.

Political timing

The decision comes ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections expected to be held in April-May. The renaming is widely seen as both a cultural and political milestone, formally recognising the Malayalam name “Keralam”, which is already widely used within the state.

With the Union Cabinet’s approval, the process now moves towards formal constitutional and administrative changes to reflect the new name in official records.

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