It’s official: Kerala is now ‘Keralam’ as Centre notifies name change

KOCHI: The Union home ministry has notified 'Keralam' as the new name of the southern state, with the change coming into effect from Tuesday.In a gazette notification issued on Tuesday, the home ministry said, “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.”Earlier this month, President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to a Bill seeking to rename Kerala as Keralam, turning the legislation into law, news agency PTI reported.The Lok Sabha passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill on August 11, followed by the Rajya Sabha on August 12.In the Rajya Sabha, minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai said the Kerala Assembly had passed a resolution in 2024 urging the Centre to introduce legislation to change the state's name to Keralam.“The Bill provides that the state of Kerala will be known as the state of Keralam, and hence there is a proposal to rename Kerala to Keralam,” he said.The Kerala government had forwarded the state Assembly's resolution on the proposed name change to the Centre in June 2024, PTI reported.Subsequently, President Murmu referred the Bill to the state legislature for its views, following which the Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution agreeing with the Bill.The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act changes the state's name, along with the necessary amendments to the Constitution and consequential provisions.(With agency inputs)You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in KochiStay updated with the latest Kochi news. Download the TOI App.