Centre notifies Keralam as Kerala's new official name ahead of Onam

The Union Home Ministry has notified "Keralam" as the new name of Kerala, with the change coming into effect on Tuesday, August 25.

"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," the Home Ministry said in a gazette notification.

President Droupadi Murmu had



earlier this month given assent to the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, turning it into law.

The Lok Sabha passed the Bill on August 11, followed by the Rajya Sabha on August 12.

During the Rajya Sabha debate, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the Kerala Assembly had passed a resolution in 2024 urging the Centre to rename the state.

"The Bill provides that the state of Kerala will be known as the state of Keralam," Rai said.