25 September 2026
Kerala has submitted a proposal to the Centre asking that the final notification fix the state's Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) at 8,590.69 sq km, fully excluding habitations, farmland and plantations.
Environment Minister Sunny Joseph announced this at a press conference in the PR Chamber of the Secretariat, saying the suggestions were handed over as part of filing amendments to the draft notification issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests in the wake of the Kasturirangan report.
The 2013 Kasturirangan report had brought 13,108 sq km across 123 villages of Kerala within the ESA limit.
Following the Oommen V. Oommen Committee report the extent was restricted to 9,993.7 sq km, of which 9107 sq km is forest land and 886.7 sq km non-forest area; this position continued from the notification of 10 March 2014 to the notification of 27 July 2026.
A central expert committee led by Dr Sanjay Kumar was brought to Thiruvananthapuram and Kerala's demands were explained in the presence of the Chief Minister and Ministers.
A unanimous resolution on the subject will be passed in the coming session of the Legislative Assembly, and the revised ESA plan and map will be published on the state Environment Department website.
ESA extent sought:
8,590.69 sq km
Kasturirangan report (2013):
13,108 sq km in 123 villages
Extent after Oommen V. Oommen Committee:
9,993.7 sq km
Why it matters for exams: ESA extent figures and the Kasturirangan and Oommen V. Oommen reports are standing favourites in Kerala PSC and UPSC environment questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
25 September 2026
Home and Vigilance Minister Ramesh Chennithala launched 'VACB Suite 3.0', an integrated digital platform developed in-house by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, at the auditorium of the Police Training College, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram.
The platform allows the progress of investigation in cases and related information to be checked in real time, avoids delay in files, gives investigating officers quick access to precise guidelines and ensures data security.
The Minister said the vigilance manual had been comprehensively revised after thirty years and that the reforms in the department are based on it, and that a system which would have cost more than about one crore rupees was developed by the Bureau's own technically qualified officers.
Under 'Project Zero', 38 cases were registered in the last 114 days and investigation was started against 115 officers, while 12 persons who took bribes were caught in trap operations.
The 'Operation Parppidam' inspection found financial irregularities of 45 lakh rupees and the ration godown inspection irregularities of 18 lakh rupees.
The Minister also released the VACB Suite 3.0 user manual, gave the Badge of Honour to vigilance officers and distributed the newly designed uniform jacket. State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar presided and Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham welcomed the gathering.
Cases under Project Zero:
38 cases in 114 days
Officers under investigation:
115
Irregularities in Operation Parppidam:
45 lakh rupees
Why it matters for exams: Named state e-governance platforms, the officials who head them and the numbers attached to departmental drives are common Kerala PSC one-mark questions.
Kerala PSCSSC
25 September 2026
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said an extensive police set-up will be readied for the safety and convenience of pilgrims during the Sabarimala pilgrimage. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting he chaired at the Secretariat to review police preparations.
Pilgrims will be made aware to use the virtual queue system to the maximum to control crowding, and the Kerala DGP will directly inform the police chiefs of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka about it.
The Rapid Action Force and the Fire and Rescue Force will be deployed, and mock tests will be held to ensure that fire hydrants on the main routes including Marakkoottam are working.
CCTV surveillance at Sannidhanam, Pampa and Nilackal will be strengthened and linked to the police control room, and special security will be arranged for Kunnar Dam, the water tank at Pandithavalam, LPG cylinder storage points and explosive storage.
Soil will be removed at Chakkupalam to create parking space for 400 to 500 additional vehicles, and repairs of police camps and toilets are to be completed before November 1.
Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan, Home Department Additional Chief Secretary Minhaj Alam, State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar and Sabarimala Chief Police Coordinator P. Vijayan attended.
Additional parking at Chakkupalam:
400 to 500 vehicles
Deadline for camp and toilet repairs:
Before November 1
Sabarimala Chief Police Coordinator:
P. Vijayan
Why it matters for exams: Sabarimala arrangements bring in place names, the virtual queue system and the officials holding named coordination posts, all of which Kerala PSC asks about.
Kerala PSC
Background
The Vizhinjam International Seaport Project is being developed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model between the Government of Kerala and Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited, for which a concession agreement was signed on 17.08.2015.
Phase I of the project became operational on 03.12.2024 with an annual handling capacity of 1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
Through a supplementary concession agreement dated 28.11.2024, the Government of Kerala and the concessionaire decided to implement Phases II, III and IV together as a single capacity augmentation phase, with a completion target of December 2028.
This will increase capacity to 3 million TEUs per annum, with a potential to handle up to 5.7 million TEUs per annum through enhanced automation and operational efficiencies.
The information was given by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
Development model:
Public Private Partnership (PPP)
Phase I annual capacity:
1 million TEUs
Capacity after augmentation phase:
3 million TEUs per annum
Potential capacity:
upto 5.7 million TEUs per annum
Why it matters for exams: Vizhinjam's model, concessionaire and capacity figures are asked directly in Kerala PSC and in UPSC infrastructure questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Inland Waterways Authority of India has undertaken works in the declared National Waterways in Kerala, namely NW-3, NW-8 and NW-9.
Nine Inland Water Transport terminals cum godowns have been constructed for cargo handling at Kottapuram, Aluva, Maradu, Vaikom, Thaneermukam, Alappuzha, Thrikunnapuzha, Kayamkulam and Kollam.
Two Roll on - Roll off (Ro-Ro) terminals have been built at Bolgatty and Willington Island in NW-3 for a Ro-Ro service to de-congest Kochi city traffic.
Two Ro-Ro vessels were constructed through Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi, and are operated between Bolgatty and Willington Island in NW-3 through the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation, Kochi.
Navigational buoys have been installed for 24 hours of safe navigation - 312 in NW-3, 15 in NW-8 and 25 in NW-9.
Four HDPE jetties are planned at the Vaikom, Thaneermukam, Alappuzha and Kayamkulam terminals for river cruise tourism in NW-3.
National Waterways in Kerala:
NW-3, NW-8, NW-9
IWT terminals cum godowns:
9
Ro-Ro terminals on NW-3:
Bolgatty and Willington Island
Navigational buoys in NW-3:
312
Why it matters for exams: The numbering of National Waterways in Kerala and the Ro-Ro terminals on NW-3 are standard Kerala PSC geography and economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Kerala has a small land area and a high population density, and forest area accounts for 29.15 per cent of the state's total land area.
This includes 23 wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas.
Strong environmental laws are already in force in the state, among them the law for the conservation of paddy fields and wetlands and the laws regulating the felling of trees.
These figures were placed on record by the state Environment Department while explaining Kerala's position on Ecologically Sensitive Area restrictions in inhabited areas.
Forest share of land area:
29.15 per cent
Wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas:
23
Why it matters for exams: The share of forest area and the number of wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala are direct one-mark questions in Kerala PSC geography.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Cochin Port Authority functions under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India.
The Ernakulam Channel has 5 general cargo, 1 fertilizer and 3 oil berths.
The Mattancherry Channel has 1 general cargo berth, one Boat Train Pier and two jetties for miscellaneous cargo.
The port authority's own portal publishes Berth Information, Ships in Port and the Port Layout for users of the port.
It also publishes Energy Reports, Performance Reports and the Administration Report.
Ernakulam Channel:
5 general cargo, 1 fertilizer and 3 oil berths
Mattancherry Channel:
1 general cargo berth, one Boat Train Pier and two jetties
Ministry:
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Why it matters for exams: Cochin Port's channel-wise berth break-up is a factual detail that recurs in Kerala PSC geography and economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) is a statutory non-autonomous body under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister of Kerala.
State Disaster Management Authorities are statutory bodies constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
The authority's portal publishes the list of SDMA Members, Members of DDMA and Former Technical Members of KSDMA.
It carries Notified Disasters, Disaster Notifications, Disaster Memoranda, Disaster Reports and Disaster Management Plans.
Sections on Disability & Disaster Risk Reduction, Transgender Disaster Risk Reduction and NCRMP – Kerala are linked from the same portal.
Kerala Fire & Rescue Services is also linked from the authority's website.
The website is designed and maintained by CDIT.
Act:
Disaster Management Act, 2005
Chairmanship:
Chief Minister of Kerala
Statutory body:
statutory non-autonomous body
Website maintained by:
CDIT
Why it matters for exams: The statutory basis and the chairmanship of the state disaster management authority are standard Kerala PSC and UPSC governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
IWAI has constructed 9nos. Inland Water Transport (IWT) terminals cum godowns for cargo handling at Kottapuram, Aluva, Maradu, Vaikom, Thaneermukam, Alappuzha, Thrikunnapuzha, Kayamkulam and Kollam.
It has built 2nos. Roll on - Roll off (Ro-Ro) terminals at Bolgatty and Willington Island in NW-3 for Ro-Ro service to de-congest Kochi city traffic.
02 nos. Ro-Ro vessels were constructed through Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi and operate between Bolgatty and Willington Island through Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation, Kochi.
Navigational buoys have been installed in NW-3 (312 nos.), NW-8 (15 nos.) and NW-9 (25 nos.) for 24 hours of safe navigation of vessels.
Construction of 04 nos. HDPE jetties is planned at the IWT terminals at Vaikom, Thaneermukam, Alappuzha and Kayamkulam for River Cruise Tourism in NW-3.
Feasibility studies on Urban Water Transport at Alappuzha and Kollam have been undertaken through Kochi Water Metro Ltd.
IWT terminals cum godowns:
9nos.
Ro-Ro terminals:
Bolgatty and Willington Island in NW-3
Ro-Ro vessels built by:
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi
Navigational buoys in NW-3:
312 nos.
Why it matters for exams: The terminal list, the Bolgatty–Willington Island Ro-Ro link and the buoy counts are the kind of specific waterway facts Kerala PSC sets questions on.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Local Self Government Department portal of Kerala lists the Panchayat Directorate, the Urban Affairs Directorate and Rural Development among its departments.
Institutions linked from the portal include the Kerala State Planning Board, Information Kerala Mission, the Local Government Commission and the Kerala Institute of Local Administration.
The Kerala Rural Employment and Welfare Society, Clean Kerala Company, the Kerala State Election Commission and the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project are also listed.
Programmes carried on the portal include Basic Service for the Urban poor and the Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme.
The portal also has a Gramasabha section and an Urban LB - Master Plan section.
KSMART is being deployed in grama, block and district panchayats.
Directorate:
Panchayat Directorate, Urban Affairs Directorate
Urban employment scheme:
Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme
Training institute:
Kerala Institute of Local Administration
KSMART deployment:
KSMART
Why it matters for exams: Kerala PSC repeatedly asks which agency sits under the Local Self Government Department; the Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme and KILA are frequent answers.
Kerala PSCUPSC