Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Noon News Guide: Keralam Name Change, IPO, Festival Updates
This noon news guide brings together several important updates from India.
The Union government approved changing the state’s name from Kerala to Keralam.
The change took effect on August 25, and temples saw many visitors for Onam.
A jewellery company removed an advertisement featuring Kriti Sanon after people criticized her outfit.
Uorfi Javed supported Kriti and said women should not repeatedly be told what to wear.
Police are investigating the deaths of students at IIT Delhi and NIMS University.
Avaada Electro wants to raise money through an IPO to repay debt and increase manufacturing.
India’s men’s and women’s cricket teams learned their possible routes at the 2026 Asian Games.
The government shared festival greetings, while Mumbai’s civic body denied reports about mandatory fitness certificates for large Ganesh idols.
The Union government notified Kerala’s name change to Keralam, effective August 25, after parliamentary approval and presidential assent.
A jewellery brand withdrew its Raksha Bandhan advertisement after criticism of Kriti Sanon’s outfit; Uorfi Javed defended the actress.
Police are investigating alleged abetment to suicide after student deaths at IIT Delhi and NIMS University in Jaipur.
Avaada Electro filed IPO papers seeking up to ₹7,600 crore, including a ₹1,600 crore fresh issue and ₹6,000 crore offer for sale.
India’s Asian Games cricket schedule was announced, while officials shared Onam and Eid greetings and Mumbai’s civic body denied new idol-certification rules.
- Who
- The Union government, President Murmu, PM Modi, Kriti Sanon, Uorfi Javed, Avaada Electro, police, students, and sports authorities are among those involved.
- What
- The roundup covers a state name change, an advertising dispute, student-death investigations, an IPO filing, festival events, cricket schedules, and a civic clarification.
- When
- The updates mainly concern August 25–26, 2026; the Asian Games events are scheduled for September and October 2026.
- Where
- The developments span India, including Keralam, Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, and the Asian Games venue in Aichi-Nagoya.
- Why
- The developments involve government decisions, public reactions, investigations, fundraising, festival observances, sports scheduling, and clarification of reported civic rules.
Critics and Cultural Concerns
Defenders and Personal Expression
Kriti Sanon’s Raksha Bandhan advertisement
Critics and Cultural Concerns
Critics objected to Kriti Sanon’s outfit, prompting backlash and the jewellery brand’s withdrawal of the advertisement.
Defenders and Personal Expression
Kriti Sanon said culture and traditions are rooted in the heart rather than clothing, and Uorfi Javed defended her right to choose what to wear.
Rules for large Ganesh idols
Critics and Cultural Concerns
Social media reports claimed Mumbai had introduced mandatory fitness certificates for idols weighing more than one tonne and required mandals to maintain detailed records.
Defenders and Personal Expression
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation denied both claims and said the reported requirements had not been made mandatory.
- State name change
- The Union government notified Kerala’s new name as Keralam, effective August 25.
- Name-change process
- The Kerala Alteration of Name Bill passed the Lok Sabha on August 11 and the Rajya Sabha on August 12; President Murmu had earlier assented to it.
- Avaada Electro IPO
- The company filed papers to raise up to ₹7,600 crore: ₹1,600 crore through a fresh issue and ₹6,000 crore through an offer for sale.
- IPO use of proceeds
- Avaada Electro plans to use ₹1,200 crore from the fresh issue to repay debt and expand manufacturing capacity.
- Student-death investigations
- Police registered an alleged abetment-to-suicide case involving unidentified persons after an IIT Delhi student’s death and are examining evidence.
- Asian Games cricket
- India Women are scheduled to face Japan on September 18, with a possible India-Pakistan final; India Men enter at the quarter-final stage on September 28.
- Mumbai Ganeshotsav clarification
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation denied making fitness certificates mandatory for Ganesh idols weighing more than one tonne.
- Festival observances
- Onam and Eid Milad-un-Nabi were observed on August 26, while Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple reported heavy crowds for Thiruvonam darshan.