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Chief Minister of Keralam V D Satheesan on Tuesday flagged off two containers from Vizhinjam, marking the commencement of EXIM operations from the international seaport here. Satheesan was accompanied by state Minister for Industries, Information Technology, and Commerce P K Kunhalikutty and Congress MLA M Vincent. In an X post, the CM said that the state government held strategic discussions with diverse investor groups to explore key opportunities for scaling EXIM operations at Vizhinjam to the next level. "To ensure seamless commercial expansion, the government is committing comprehensive support, regulatory facilitation, and infrastructure backing to help investors expand global export activities through the port," he said. "The same Arabian Sea, which has shaped our nation for centuries and welcomed travelers from all over the world with open arms, is today opening the historic door to the development of a new era Keralam. Let us move forward together into the new era of ...
President Droupadi Murmu has given assent to a bill to rename Kerala as Keralam, with the legislation now becoming a law. The Lok Sabha passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, on Tuesday, followed by the Rajya Sabha the next day. In the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the Kerala Assembly passed a resolution in 2024, urging the Centre to bring a law to change the name of the state to Keralam. "The bill provides that the State of Kerala will be known as the State of Keralam, and hence there is a proposal to rename the State of Kerala to Keralam," he said. The Kerala government had forwarded a resolution passed by the state assembly regarding the name change to the Centre in June 2024. Subsequently, President Murmu referred the Bill to the state legislature for its views, following which the Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution agreeing with the Bill. The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill provides for the alteration of the state's name
Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Thursday said serious irregularities had come to light in Kerala PSC and necessary action would be taken after the investigation is completed. Addressing a press conference here, Satheesan said "shocking information" had been received regarding the alleged irregularities in the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) and that a serious investigation was underway. The state government has ordered a Crime Branch probe into examinations conducted by the PSC and appointments made to government services under the previous CPI (M)-led LDF regime. "A serious investigation is taking place in the PSC based on reports that widespread irregularities are happening there. I cannot say much; all the information we have received is shocking. Isn't that why we are conducting an investigation," he said. "It is not right for me to comment on it while the investigation is ongoing. A very serious investigation is taking place based on very serious allegations that came up
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Thursday said the amendment to the MMDR Act passed by the Lok Sabha is against federal principles as it seeks to take away the rights and ownership of the states over their lands, and therefore, the legislation will be strongly opposed. Satheesan, addressing a press conference here after a cabinet meeting, said that the state government's opposition to the legislation will be communicated to the central government. The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. The CM said that the legislation seriously affects Kerala. He claimed that by way of the amendment, the states' rights and ownership over land -- which is item 18 in the state list of the 7th schedule under the Constitution -- is sought to be brought under the control of the central government. He said that without exempting coastal areas and forests, through a provision of 'mineral bearing land' in the amendment bill, the Ce
The UDF government in Kerala is likely to order a probe into alleged irregularities and procedural lapses in the previous LDF government's efforts to bring football legend Lionel Messi and the Argentina team to the state. Indicating the possibility of an investigation, state Sports Minister O J Janeesh on Wednesday rejected former minister V Abdurahiman's defence of the proposal and alleged that government machinery was misused to facilitate financial gains for a private individual. Janeesh said there was no substance in Abdurahiman's claim that the government had not suffered any financial loss in connection with the proposed event. He alleged that official procedures were not followed from the beginning and that there was a lack of transparency in selecting the sponsor and dealing with the proposal. "The government machinery was misused for a private event management company. From the Chief Secretary to the district collector, police and Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA
The Kerala government on Saturday ordered constitution of a five-member expert panel to enquire into the reasons for the landslide at the Wayanad tunnel project site. The panel will enquire whether the contractor has violated the contract conditions and will also look into the environment and forest clearances given to the project by the state and the Centre. The panel comprises Dr C P Rajendran (geologist), Dr Vishnudas (ecologist), Dr P Pugazhendi (Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala), Secretary of Public Works Department (PWD) and Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department who will also be the convenor, the order said. It said that the convenor may co-opt experts as members if deemed necessary. The terms of reference of the panel are to identify the causes of the accident, examine whether the contractor has violated the contract conditions and look into the environment and forest clearances given by the state and the Centre and to submit a report within a month, the .