Last Updated:February 24, 2026, 19:00 IST

Since India gained independence in 1947, several states and Union territories have undergone name changes to better align with their cultural heritage and linguistic roots

Formerly known as the United Provinces, Uttar Pradesh was the first state to change to a traditional Indian name shortly after independence in 1950. (Image: GIS portal)

The Union cabinet on Tuesday officially approved a proposal from the Kerala government to rename the state as ‘Keralam’.

This landmark decision, which was announced by Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeks to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution of India to reflect Kerala’s name as it is spoken in its native tongue.

The push for this change stems from a linguistic and cultural identity dating back to the independence struggle, where there was a “strong demand for the formation of United Kerala for the people speaking Malayalam language”. Although states were formed on a linguistic basis on November 1, 1956, the First Schedule to the Constitution recorded the name as ‘Kerala’ rather than the Malayalam ‘Keralam’.

The state legislative assembly passed a unanimous resolution on June 24, 2024, appealing to the Centre to take urgent steps under Article 3 of the Constitution to modify the name.

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WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Since India gained independence in 1947, several states and Union territories (UT) have undergone similar name changes to better align with their cultural heritage and linguistic roots.

The renaming of Kerala marks the latest entry in a long-standing tradition of decolonising and indigenising the names of India’s administrative regions.

Here are the states renamed since Independence:

Uttar Pradesh in 1950: Formerly known as the United Provinces, it was changed to a traditional Indian name shortly after independence.

Tamil Nadu in 1969: Previously Madras State, the name was changed to reflect the specific linguistic identity of Tamil speakers.

Karnataka in 1973: Originally Mysore State, it was renamed to encompass all Kannada-speaking regions within its borders.

Uttarakhand in 2007: Formerly Uttaranchal, the state was renamed based on the long-standing preference of its residents.

Odisha in 2011: Changed from Orissa to match the correct phonetic spelling used in the Odia language.

A list of the renamed UTs:

Lakshadweep in 1973: Formerly known as the Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands

Puducherry in 2006: Renamed from the colonial-era name Pondicherry

National Capital Territory of Delhi in 1992: The Union Territory of Delhi was officially redefined as the NCT of Delhi through the 69th Amendment Act.

Are There Any Pending Name Change Proposals?

The West Bengal state assembly has repeatedly passed resolutions to change its name to “Bangla”. However, the Union government has historically raised concerns regarding its phonetic similarity to Bangladesh in international forums, and the proposal remains a subject of discussion.

HOW DOES THE RENAMING HAPPEN?

Under Article 3 of the Constitution, the power to alter the name of any state rests solely with Parliament.

Here’s a brief look at the process:

• The process typically begins with a resolution passed by the state legislative assembly.
• The ministry of home affairs considers the matter and circulates a draft cabinet note to the ministry of law and justice for legal concurrence.
• The Union cabinet must approve the proposal for the alteration of the name.
• After cabinet approval, the President of India refers a Bill – such as the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 – to the state legislative assembly to seek its views.
• Once the state’s views are received, the central government obtains the recommendation of the President to introduce the Bill in Parliament.
• The Bill must be passed by a simple majority in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to officially amend the First Schedule of the Constitution.

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