The Kerala government has issued strict guidelines to all state departments and public institutions to prevent unnecessary spending during the transition of the state's official name from "Kerala" to "Keralam."

In a circular issued by Chief Secretary Bishwanath Sinha, government departments, public sector undertakings, boards, corporations, local bodies, and affiliated organisations were instructed to adopt the name change in a phased manner without discarding usable assets.

Key directives outlining the transition guidelines include:

  • Stationery & Printed Material: Existing letterheads, envelopes, forms, registers, files, and publications featuring "Kerala" must be used until current stocks are completely exhausted. Necessary corrections should be made in ink rather than printing fresh materials.

  • Seals & Stamps: Official seals and rubber stamps will remain in service until standard replacement is required, with manual corrections applied in ink where feasible.

  • Signboards & Name Boards: Permanent and semi-permanent fixtures—including office nameplates, milestones, and directional signs—will not be replaced immediately. Necessary letter additions on English and Malayalam signboards should be made during routine painting, maintenance, or scheduled replacement.

  • Government Assets: Vehicles, furniture, equipment, and other state property must not be retired or replaced prematurely due to the name change alone. Any exceptions require explicit approval from a competent authority based on administrative necessity.

  • Future Procurements: All new printing orders, equipment acquisitions, and official seal fabrications must feature the updated name, "Keralam."

  • Digital Systems & IT: Government websites and digital infrastructure will update to the revised name under the guidance of the Information Technology Department without generating additional financial liability.

The Chief Secretary emphasised that any expenditure proposals seeking to replace existing materials solely because of the renaming must be rejected under principles of financial economy, holding department heads directly responsible for compliance.

The administrative directive follows the passage of the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, by Parliament earlier this month, where it cleared both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The federal legislation fulfills a unanimous resolution initially passed by the Kerala State Assembly in 2024 requesting the constitutional name change. (PTI)