Government notifies Keralam as official name for the state of Kerala

The Government of India on August 25, 2026 formally notified “Keralam” as the official name of the state previously known in English as Kerala. The change took effect the same day.

The notification follows a resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly and subsequent processing by the central government. The new name matches the Malayalam form that residents and the state administration have long preferred.

Official documents, signage, maps and digital systems will gradually reflect the updated English spelling. Existing legal instruments that use the old name remain valid; transitional provisions are expected to cover the switch-over period.

The state government had argued that “Keralam” better represents the linguistic and cultural identity of the region. The central government accepted the proposal after the required constitutional and administrative steps.

Name changes of this kind require amendments or notifications under the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the States Reorganisation framework. Once notified, the new name becomes the standard for all official purposes in English.

Practical effects will appear over time. Central ministries, railways, airports, and national databases will update their records. Private entities that use the state name in branding or legal documents will also adjust.

The decision is largely administrative and symbolic. It does not alter the state’s boundaries, powers or relationship with the Union. It does, however, close a long-standing gap between the name used in Malayalam and the name used in English official discourse.

Residents and political parties across the spectrum in the state had broadly supported the change. Opposition parties elsewhere have treated it as a routine linguistic update rather than a political controversy.

Implementation guidelines are expected from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the state administration. Departments have been instructed to begin the process of updating forms, websites and public materials.

The notification marks the formal completion of a process that began with the state assembly’s resolution and ended with central acceptance and gazette publication.