0.1 Background

0.1.1 The Malayalam Language Bill, 2025 was tabled in the Kerala Legislative Assembly on October 6, 2025.
0.1.2 The Bill was passed by the Assembly and is currently awaiting the Governor’s assent.
0.1.3 The Karnataka government has opposed the Bill, terming it unconstitutional and harmful to linguistic minorities.

0.2 Objective of the Bill

0.2.1 To formally adopt Malayalam as the official language of Kerala.
0.2.2 To mandate its use across government, education, judiciary, public communication, commerce, and digital platforms, subject to constitutional provisions.
0.2.3 At present, Kerala recognises both English and Malayalam as official languages.

0.3 Key Provisions of the Bill

0.3.1 Malayalam will become the compulsory first language in all government and aided schools in Kerala up to Class 10.
0.3.2 All Bills, Ordinances, and official government documents will be introduced in Malayalam.
0.3.3 Court judgments and proceedings will be translated into Malayalam in a phased manner.
0.3.4 The Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Official Language) department will be renamed the Malayalam Language Development Department.
0.3.5 A Malayalam Language Development Directorate will be constituted.
0.3.6 The IT department will promote open-source software and digital tools to support Malayalam usage.

0.4 Safeguards for Linguistic Minorities

0.4.1 The Bill contains a non-obstante clause (Clause 7) to protect linguistic minorities.
0.4.2 Citizens identifying Tamil, Kannada, Tulu, or Konkani as mother tongues may use them for correspondence with the State.
0.4.3 Minority language usage is permitted in Secretariat departments and local offices in notified areas.
0.4.4 The State government claims the Bill aligns with the Official Languages Act, 1963 and Articles 346–347 of the Constitution.

0.5 Historical Context

0.5.1 A similar Malayalam Language (Dissemination and Enrichment) Bill, 2015 was passed earlier.
0.5.2 That Bill was reserved for Presidential consideration due to conflicts with central laws.
0.5.3 Objections related to linguistic minority rights, the three-language formula, and the Right to Education Act, 2009.
0.5.4 The 2025 Bill was introduced after removing these defects, according to the State government.

0.6 Karnataka’s Objections

0.6.1 Karnataka has described the Bill as unconstitutional.
0.6.2 It argues the Bill harms the Kannada-speaking minority in Kerala, especially in Kasaragod district.
0.6.3 Concerns have been raised about making Malayalam the compulsory first language in schools.
0.6.4 Karnataka fears disruption of existing Kannada-medium education arrangements.