The bill also introduces “special provisions” for linguistic minorities such as Tamil and Kannada speakers residing in Kerala.
Published Sep 29, 2025 | 1:07 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 29, 2025 | 1:07 PM
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Synopsis: Kerala’s Malayalam Language Bill, 2025, aims to establish Malayalam as the official language for governance, law, and public life, addressing past failures of the 2015 Bill. It mandates Malayalam in administration, education, and e-governance while ensuring inclusivity for Tamil and Kannada minorities. A new Directorate will promote the language, balancing cultural pride with constitutional compliance.
Nearly a decade after its first attempt hit a dead end, the Kerala government has revived its mission to give Malayalam a stronger footing in governance and daily life.
The Malayalabhasha Bill, 2025 (The Malayalam Language Bill 2025) published by the Kerala Assembly Secretariat on 23 September and slated for discussion in the ongoing session, seeks to make Malayalam the official language of Kerala in all spheres of administration, communication, and public life—subject to the Constitution of India.
A similar legislation passed in 2015 had failed to secure Presidential assent, but this time the state is determined to push through.
The state is set to introduce the Malayalam Language Bill, 2025, after the earlier attempt through the Malayalabasha (Vyapanavum Pariposhanavum) Bill, 2015 or Malayalam Language (Promotion and Nurturing) Bill 2015 failed to take effect.
The 2015 Bill, passed unanimously in the Assembly on 17 December that year, aimed to declare Malayalam as the official language of the state, make its use mandatory for all official purposes, and ensure its growth, spread, and preservation.
However, despite being sent to the President for assent, the state government says that, it was denied on 13 May 2025 without citing reasons.
According to the Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Official Language) Department, the President’s assent was required since certain provisions of the Bill conflicted with Section 6 of the Official Languages Act, 1963.
However, the Union Government had raised objections regarding other provisions, specifically those relating to the rights of linguistic minorities, trilingual education in line with the national curriculum, and compliance with the Right to Education Act, 2009.
It’s said that these objections ultimately stalled the Bill, prompting the state government to rethink its approach.
The new Malayalam Language Bill, 2025, has thus been framed as a comprehensive legislation that addresses the earlier shortcomings while retaining the spirit of promoting and nurturing Malayalam in every sphere of Kerala’s public life.
The new bill seeks to give Malayalam its rightful place as the central language of governance, law, and public life in Kerala.
At its core is the creation of a Malayalam Language Development Directorate, under the to be renamed Malayalam Language Development Department (Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department’s Official Language wing), which will steer the state’s official language policy.
The bill makes Malayalam the medium for all bills introduced and acts passed in the Legislative Assembly, ordinances issued by the Governor, and rules, orders, regulations, and by-laws of the government, with English translations provided alongside.
It also mandates translation of important Central and State Acts into Malayalam within a prescribed timeframe.
Subject to constitutional provisions, Malayalam will become the official language across all departments, local self-government bodies, public sector undertakings, and semi-government institutions, with exceptions for Central communication and minority-language correspondence.
Significantly, the bill proposes gradual adoption of Malayalam in the judiciary up to the District Courts, with translation systems to ensure accessibility for appeals.
Quasi-judicial bodies will issue orders in Malayalam, with minority-related orders made available in their mother tongue or English.
Beyond governance, the bill envisions everyday visibility of Malayalam: name boards of government institutions, vehicles, and even private businesses must prioritise Malayalam, while product labels and usage instructions must carry the language.
In the IT sector, Malayalam will be the default in e-governance, websites, and mobile governance platforms, supported by free software development.
To further encourage innovation, the government will introduce incentive schemes for individuals offering constructive suggestions to strengthen the spread and use of Malayalam.
The 2025 Malayalam Language Bill stands apart from its 2015 predecessor by seeking to strike a delicate balance between cultural assertion and constitutional compliance.
While both versions reiterate that Malayalam shall be the compulsory first language in all government and aided schools up to Class X, the new bill introduces significant provisions that directly address concerns earlier raised by the Centre.
Both the bills also exempted non-Malayali students from writing Malayalam examinations at the IX, X, and Higher Secondary levels.
Unlike the 2015 bill, the 2025 draft expands its vision to embrace inclusivity.
It introduces “special provisions” for linguistic minorities such as Tamil and Kannada speakers residing in Kerala, enabling them to correspond with the government and receive replies in their own languages in designated minority areas.
Further, it assures students the right to study in their preferred language—where available—without compromising exposure to Malayalam.
The state government says that by blending mandatory promotion of Malayalam with constitutional safeguards for minorities, the new bill positions itself as both progressive and pragmatic.
By revisiting its earlier failure and carefully reworking provisions to balance linguistic pride with constitutional safeguards, Kerala’s new Malayalam Language Bill, 2025, aims to anchor Malayalam firmly in governance and public life—this time, which it believes, with a stronger chance of enduring success.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
