Malayalam becomes state’s sole official language; Governor signs bill

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar has signed the bill declaring Malayalam as the sole official language for administration in the state. The development comes after cultural leaders met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought approval for the legislation. The move follows the recent decision to officially adopt the name “Keralam” for the state. With the Governor’s assent, Malayalam will now be the only language used for official administrative purposes.

Under the Kerala Official Languages Act of 1969, both English and Malayalam were recognised as official languages. The new bill replaces that arrangement, making Malayalam the exclusive official language of the state.

As part of the reform, Malayalam will be made compulsory for students from Classes 1 to 10. Universities will also be required to include Malayalam in their curricula. Court proceedings, government orders and official communications will gradually be shifted fully to Malayalam. Public Service Commission (PSC) examinations will also be conducted in Malayalam, though select examinations may continue in other languages.

A similar Malayalam language bill had been introduced earlier during the tenure of the UDF government, but it did not receive final approval after being referred to the President. The renewed push gained momentum under the second Pinarayi Vijayan government, which passed the bill during the Assembly session in October last year. However, the Governor’s assent had been pending until now.

Following the change of the state’s name to Keralam, cultural leaders once again raised the issue during a meeting with the Prime Minister. BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar had also written to the Governor, urging approval. With the Governor’s signature, the bill has now officially come into effect.