Kerala Officially Renamed 'Keralam': Union Home Ministry Issues Gazette Notification

In a historic administrative milestone for southern India, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has officially issued a gazette notification changing the name of the state of Kerala to 'Keralam', effective Tuesday, August 25, 2026. The formal notification follows presidential assent and the successful passage of the necessary legislation through both houses of Parliament, marking the realization of a long-standing cultural and linguistic aspiration for the state's populace.

Legislative Journey: From State Assembly Resolution to Presidential Assent

The official renaming process culminated after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the landmark bill earlier this month. The legislative process moved swiftly through Parliament, with the Lok Sabha passing the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill on August 11, 2026, followed closely by its passage in the Rajya Sabha on August 12, 2026.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai highlighted during parliamentary proceedings that the initiative originated from the state legislature. The Kerala Legislative Assembly had initially passed a unanimous resolution in 2024 urging the Central government to enact legislation officially designating the state as 'Keralam' in alignment with the regional Malayalam nomenclature. Following constitutional procedures, President Murmu consulted the state assembly for its formal opinion before the bill was unanimously approved and enacted into law.

Gazette Notification and Future Implementation

According to the official gazette notification released by the Union Home Ministry:

"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 August 25, 2026, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force."

With this formal transition now in effect, official government documentation, administrative correspondence, and geographical references will progressively adopt the traditional name 'Keralam', celebrating the rich linguistic identity and heritage of the southern state.