PM Modi Praises Kerala's Renaming to Keralam

Feb 25, 2026

62 min

Feb 25, 2026 16:30

## Kerala's Name Change

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently expressed his support for the renaming of the state of Kerala to "Keralam" through a tweet in Malayalam. This change was approved by the Union Cabinet Committee and is seen as a move to honor the state's linguistic heritage.

## Historical Context

Kerala was established as a state on November 1, 1956, based on linguistic lines, but has been officially referred to as "Kerala" despite being known as "Keralam" in the local language. The name change follows resolutions passed by the Kerala government under Article 3 of the Constitution, with the most recent resolution being passed in June 2024.

## Political Reactions

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the decision, viewing it as a tribute to the state's cultural roots. However, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor raised questions about the implications for English terms used to describe the state's residents, humorously suggesting a competition for new terms.

## Next Steps

The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, will be sent to the Kerala State Legislative Assembly for feedback. Following this, the President of India will recommend the Bill to Parliament for final approval, aiming to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution to reflect the new name.

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