Background
Guruvayoor Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, is described by the Ministry of Tourism's Incredible India portal as the third largest temple in India. Sabarimala, the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa located in Kerala, receives more than 30 million pilgrims annually, making it one of the most visited pilgrim centres in the country. Kerala is also home to the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. The state is additionally noted for its religious diversity, being home to India's first-ever church, mosque and synagogue.
Annual pilgrims at Sabarimala:
Over 30 million
Guruvayoor Temple rank:
Third largest temple in India
Why it matters for exams: Sabarimala's pilgrim numbers and Guruvayoor's national ranking among temples are frequently asked static facts in Kerala PSC exams.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Palakkad is one of Kerala's fourteen districts and is among those without a coastline. The Palakkad Gap, a natural break in the Western Ghats mountain range, is 32 to 40 kilometres wide and is called Kerala's gateway. Agriculture is the leading economic activity in the district, which is known as Kerala's granary. Palakkad is also noted for its extensive sugarcane cultivation and is referred to as the land of sugarcane.
Width of Palakkad Gap:
32–40 km
Known as:
Kerala's granary
Why it matters for exams: Palakkad's unique geography as a coastless district and its role as the Western Ghats' principal gap are frequently tested facts in Kerala geography questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Kollam is a southern district of Kerala, located about 70 kilometres north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. It is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the west, Tamil Nadu to the east, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts to the north, and Thiruvananthapuram district to the south. The district is administratively divided into two revenue divisions, Kollam and Punalur, comprising six taluks in total, three under each division.
Revenue divisions:
Kollam and Punalur (2)
Total taluks:
6
Why it matters for exams: Kollam's boundaries and its two-division administrative structure are commonly tested Kerala geography facts in PSC exams.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Kumarakom, in Kerala's backwaters, originated as a cluster of small islands formed by Vembanad Lake, described by the Ministry of Tourism as one of the largest freshwater lakes in India. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, spread over about 14 acres of mangrove and marshy wetland, hosts resident and migratory birds including herons, egrets, kingfishers and Siberian cranes. The Nehru Trophy Boat Race, featuring traditional snake boats called chundan vallams, is held annually in August on Vembanad Lake. Houseboats known locally as kettuvallams, originally cargo vessels, are now used as tourist accommodation on the backwaters.
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary area:
About 14 acres
Nehru Trophy Boat Race held:
Annually in August
Why it matters for exams: Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom sanctuary and the Nehru Trophy Boat Race are recurring Kerala geography and culture facts in PSC exams.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Kerala Forest Department records that Silent Valley National Park, located in the Nilgiri Hills, was declared a national park in 1985.
It is an expanse of tropical moist evergreen forest, and the Kunthipuzha River flows through its terrain.
Endangered fauna there include the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), the Nilgiri langur and the Malabar giant squirrel.
The area gained prominence in the 1970s, when environmentalists launched the “Save Silent Valley” movement, which halted a proposed hydroelectric project.
The park is part of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Declared a national park:
1985
River:
Kunthipuzha
Flagship primate:
Lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus)
Why it matters for exams: Silent Valley and the Save Silent Valley movement are standing favourites in Kerala PSC and UPSC environment questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Kerala Forest Department records Pampadum Shola National Park, in Idukki district, as the smallest national park in the state, covering an area of 1.32 sq. km, and declared a national park in 2004.
Anamudi Shola National Park, also in Idukki district, covers an area of 7.5 sq. km and was declared a national park in 2003.
Both are part of the Anamalai sub-cluster, which is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The name “Pampadum Shola” translates to “the forest where the snake dances”, and the park serves as a wildlife corridor between Eravikulam National Park and the Palani Hills.
Anamudi Shola forms part of the catchment area for the Pambar and Chinnar rivers, and shelters the Nilgiri Tahr, the Indian Wild Dog and the Nilgiri Marten.
Pampadum Shola area:
1.32 sq. km
Pampadum Shola notified:
2004
Anamudi Shola area:
7.5 sq. km
Anamudi Shola notified:
2003
Why it matters for exams: The smallest and largest protected areas of Kerala, with their notification years, are frequently asked one-mark facts.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Kerala Forest Department states that Kerala is home to two tiger reserves, Periyar and Parambikulam.
Periyar Tiger Reserve was notified as a tiger reserve in 2007, by G.O(P) No. 75/07/F&WLD dt.31/12/2007, with a core area of 881 sq km and a buffer area of 44 sq km, giving a total area of 925 sq km.
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve was notified in 2009, by G.O(P)No.53/2009/F&WLD dated 16/12/2009, with a core area of 390.89 sq km and a buffer area of 252.77 sq km, giving a total area of 643.66 sq km.
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 was amended in 2006 to establish the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and to empower states to notify areas as tiger reserves.
Under NTCA guidelines, tourism is permitted only in designated areas of the buffer zone, not exceeding 20 per cent of the total area.
Periyar TR total area:
925 sq km
Periyar TR notification year:
2007
Parambikulam TR total area:
643.66 sq km
Parambikulam TR notification year:
2009
Tourism cap in buffer:
not exceeding 20% of the total area
Why it matters for exams: Core and buffer areas of Periyar and Parambikulam, and the 2006 amendment that created the NTCA, are standard environment-and-governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Kerala Forest Department records that the World Heritage Committee, an independent body of 21 States Parties to the 1972 World Heritage Convention of UNESCO, considered the inscription of forest areas of the Western Ghats on the World Heritage List at its meeting held from 24 June to 6 July in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation.
The Kerala areas included in the World Heritage Site fall under five sub-clusters. The Agasthyamalai sub-cluster covers Shendurney, Neyyar and Peppara wildlife sanctuaries and the Kulathupuzha and Palode ranges.
The Periyar sub-cluster covers Periyar Tiger Reserve and the Ranni, Konni and Achencovil divisions.
The Anamalai sub-cluster covers Eravikulam National Park, Mankulam Division, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Mannavan Shola and Karianshola; the Nilgiri sub-cluster covers Silent Valley National Park, New Amarambalam Reserve Forests, Kalikavu Range and Attappady Reserve Forests.
The Thalakkavery sub-cluster covers Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary. The department notes that the Western Ghats is recognised as one of the world's eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity and is home to at least 325 globally threatened species.
Committee members:
21 States Parties to the 1972 World Heritage Convention
Globally threatened species:
at least 325
Thalakkavery sub-cluster in Kerala:
Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
Why it matters for exams: Which Kerala protected area sits in which Western Ghats sub-cluster is a recurring matching question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Thrissur district administration's demography page gives the district's area as 3032 Sq Km and its population as 31,10,327.
The district has 2 revenue divisions, 7 taluks and 16 blocks.
It has 1 corporation and 7 municipalities.
There are 86 panchayats and 255 villages in the district.
Area:
3032 Sq Km
Population:
31,10,327
Taluks:
7
Panchayats:
86
Villages:
255
Why it matters for exams: District-level area, taluk and local body counts are standard Kerala PSC general knowledge questions.
Kerala PSC
Background
The Malappuram district administration's demography page, citing the District Census Handbook 2011, gives the district's population as 3625471 in 2001 and 4112920 in 2011.
For the same period Kerala state's population rose from 31841374 to 33406061.
Among the six taluks listed in the census table, Tirur was the most populous in 2011 with 928672 people, followed by Ernad with 910978; Ponnani was the least populous with 379798.
The district's population density rose from 921 in 2001 to 1159 in 2011, against the state figures of 819 and 860.
Tirurangadi recorded the highest taluk density in 2011 at 2214, while Nilambur recorded the lowest at 427.
District population 2011:
4112920
District population 2001:
3625471
District density 2011:
1159
Most populous taluk 2011:
Tirur, 928672
Source:
District Census Handbook 2011
Why it matters for exams: Malappuram is Kerala's most populous district, and taluk-wise census figures are a common data-based question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Pathanamthitta district administration records that three important rivers flow through the district, all originating from mountains of the Western Ghats range.
The Pamba, 176 km long and the third longest river in Kerala, has its origin in Pulachimala.
The Achankovil river, 128 km long, originates from Pasukida Mettu, and the Manimala river, 90 km long, originates from the Thattamalai hills.
A small portion of the Kallada river also falls on the southern border of the district.
The Pamba and Achankovil rivers together drain more than 70% of the total area of Pathanamthitta.
The district is the thirteenth district of Kerala and has three natural divisions: the Lowland, the Midland and the Highland.
Pamba length:
176 km
Pamba origin:
Pulachimala
Achankovil length:
128 km
Manimala length:
90 km
District rank:
thirteenth district of Kerala
Why it matters for exams: River lengths and origins are among the most repeated Kerala geography questions in PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Kottayam district administration's demography page gives the district's area as 2208 Sq Km and its population as 19,74,551.
The district's literacy rate is given as 97.21%.
It has 2 revenue divisions, 5 taluks and 11 block panchayats.
There are 6 municipalities, 71 gram panchayats and 100 villages in the district.
The district has 9 constituencies.
Area:
2208 Sq Km
Population:
19,74,551
Literacy Rate:
97.21%
Taluks:
5
Constituencies:
9
Why it matters for exams: Kottayam's literacy figure and its count of taluks, panchayats and constituencies are commonly asked district facts.
Kerala PSC
Background
The Kottayam district administration records that Kottayam Town is the first town in India to have achieved 100% literacy, a feat achieved as early as in 1989.
English education in South India started at the Old Seminary at Kottayam in 1813.
The first printing press in Kerala, the CMS Press, was established there in 1821 by Rev. Benjamin Baily, and the first college in the state, CMS College, was started at Kottayam in 1840.
The maiden printed Malayalam-English and English-Malayalam dictionaries were published from Kottayam in 1846 and 1847 respectively.
The first and only cooperative society of writers, authors and publishers (SPCS) was set up there in 1945, and the district is known as “Akshara Nagari”, the city of letters.
Most of India's natural rubber originates from Kottayam's plantations, and the district is home to the Rubber Board; it was also the first town in India selected by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to be transformed as an Eco City. Former President K. R. Narayanan hailed from Kottayam district.
100% literacy achieved:
1989
CMS Press established:
1821, by Rev. Benjamin Baily
CMS College started:
1840
Dictionaries published:
1846 and 1847
SPCS set up:
1945
Why it matters for exams: Kerala's printing, publishing and education firsts cluster around Kottayam and are asked year after year.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister approved the proposal for alteration of the name of the State of ‘Kerala’ as ‘Keralam’ on 24 February 2026. The approval alone does not alter the name: Parliament must pass the Bill.
After the Cabinet's approval, the President of India will refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the State Legislative Assembly of Kerala for expressing its views under the proviso to article 3 of the Constitution of India.
The Legislative Assembly of Kerala had passed a resolution on 24.06.2024 to alter the name of the State of “Kerala” to “Keralam”, noting that states were formed on the basis of language on the 1st day of November, 1956, and that Kerala Piravi Day is also on the 1st day of November.
Article 3 provides that Parliament may by law alter the name of any State; no such Bill may be introduced except on the recommendation of the President, and the Bill must first be referred by the President to the legislature of that state for its views.
The Government of Kerala had requested the Government of India to amend the First Schedule to the Constitution, in which the name of the state is recorded as ‘Kerala’.
The Department of Legal Affairs and the Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice concurred with the proposal.
Constitutional provision:
Article 3
Bill:
Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026
Assembly resolution date:
24.06.2024
Schedule to be amended:
First Schedule to the Constitution
States formed on language basis:
1st day of November, 1956
Why it matters for exams: This is the standard worked example of Article 3 in action, and both the 24.06.2024 Assembly resolution and the First Schedule are examinable details.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC