Union Cabinet Approves Proposal to Rename Kerala as “Keralam”; Rail Multitracking Projects Worth ₹9,072 Crore Cleared
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for alteration of the name of Kerala to “Keralam”.
Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that following the Cabinet’s approval, the President of India will refer the proposed legislation — the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 — to the State Legislative Assembly of Kerala for expressing its views.
The Minister stated that after receiving the views of the State Legislative Assembly, the Government of India will take further necessary steps. Thereafter, the recommendation of the President will be obtained for introducing the Bill in Parliament for formal alteration of the State’s name.
He noted that the Kerala Legislative Assembly had earlier passed a resolution on 24th June 2024 seeking to change the name of the State to “Keralam”.
In another significant decision, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved three railway multitracking projects covering eight districts across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.
The total estimated cost of the projects stands at ₹9,072 crore, and they are expected to be completed by 2030-31. The projects aim to enhance rail capacity, improve connectivity, and facilitate faster movement of passengers and freight across the concerned regions.
The decisions reflect the Centre’s focus on administrative reforms as well as infrastructure expansion to support economic growth and regional development.
By:- Meghana Ganesh
