7 October 2026
Agriculture Minister T. Siddique said on 7 October 2026 that a Carbon Cell will be formed under the Agriculture Department so that farmers who adopt climate-resilient methods can earn carbon credits.
The proposal was placed before a visiting World Bank mission, which accepted it, and the two sides will work on it in the coming months.
The mission is in Kerala to review progress on the KERA project, a World Bank-funded programme implemented by the Agriculture Department.
KERA will provide ₹2365 crore to Kerala's agriculture sector.
The Minister named coconut development and higher productivity, stronger agricultural marketing, empowering Farmer Producer Organisations and value chains for high-value crops as the priorities.
Smart Krishi Bhavans, full digitalisation of the Agriculture Department and comprehensive development of the Kathir portal were also stressed.
The World Bank mission remains in Kerala until 13 October and will visit KERA project sites.
KERA project outlay for Kerala agriculture:
₹2365 crore
Funding agency:
World Bank
World Bank mission in Kerala until:
13 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: A new institutional mechanism in a state department, a World Bank-funded project and its outlay are exactly the scheme details Kerala PSC and UPSC ask about.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
KERA Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernization Project — A World Bank-funded project implemented by the Kerala Agriculture Department, bringing ₹2365 crore to the state's agriculture sector.
Carbon credit — A tradable unit representing greenhouse gas kept out of the atmosphere or stored, which the holder can sell for income.
Krishi Bhavan — The Agriculture Department's office at panchayat level, the point at which farmers deal with the department.
FPO Farmer Producer Organisation — A registered body of farmers that buys inputs and markets produce collectively.
7 October 2026
The Kerala government announced on 7 October 2026 that the 'Tech Keralam' brand, which will coordinate the state's technology sector, is to be launched at Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram.
The IT Park Affiliation Scheme will be launched along with it.
Minister for Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Future Technology P. K. Kunhalikutty will inaugurate the event at Travancore Hall, Technopark, at 4 pm on 8 October 2026.
V. Muraleedharan, MLA, will preside over the function.
The Technopark Prefabricated IT Building Project, the exchange of a memorandum of understanding between Technopark and Caspian Tech Parks, the Semicon Keralam Consortium and Maker Hub will also be announced at the event.
IT Department Special Secretary Seeram Sambasiva Rao, Technopark CEO Sachin Kumar Yadav and Infopark and Cyberpark CEO Sushant Kurunthil are among those attending.
Venue:
Travancore Hall, Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram
Inaugurated by:
P. K. Kunhalikutty, Minister for Information Technology
Date and time:
8 October 2026, 4 pm
Why it matters for exams: A new state technology brand, a semiconductor consortium and an IT park affiliation scheme are fresh institutional names an examiner can ask about directly.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Technopark — Kerala's IT park at Thiruvananthapuram, the state's first and oldest technology park.
Semicon Keralam Consortium — A grouping announced along with the Tech Keralam brand to work on the semiconductor sector in the state.
MoU Memorandum of Understanding — A written understanding between two bodies setting out what each will do, short of a binding contract.
7 October 2026
The Health Department and the National Health Mission are rolling out 'Oorumithram', a hamlet-level health care initiative for tribal settlements in Pathanamthitta district.
Thirteen Hamlet ASHA posts have been sanctioned at state level for the district, as announced on 7 October 2026, and a consultation meeting on the initiative was held at the Pampa Conference Hall of the Collectorate.
The initiative covers seven grama panchayats: Vechoochira, Naranammoozhi, Perunad, Aruvappulam, Pazhavangadi, Chittar and Seethathodu.
Women from the settlements themselves, including those inside forest areas, are selected and trained as Hamlet ASHAs so that health services are delivered within their own communities.
The stated aims are to reduce maternal and infant mortality among tribal groups, ensure preventive immunisation, avoid home deliveries and address malnutrition.
Dr Jinu G Thomas, Arogya Keralam district programme manager, explained the scheme at the meeting.
Hamlet ASHA posts approved:
13
Grama panchayats covered:
7
District:
Pathanamthitta
Why it matters for exams: A named new scheme with an exact number of posts and the panchayats it covers is the sort of Kerala health-governance detail PSC papers use.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ASHA Accredited Social Health Activist — A trained woman health volunteer who links her own community to the public health system.
NHM National Health Mission — The central health mission under which state health programmes such as this one are funded and run.
Arogya Keralam — The name under which the National Health Mission works in Kerala.
30 September 2026
The Kerala Public Service Commission's Extraordinary Gazette dated 30 September 2026 carries notifications for Category Numbers 151/2026 to 161/2026.
The last date to submit applications is 04-11-2026.
The posts include Draftsman Grade-II in the Kerala Ports Service (Hydrographic Survey Wing) and Forest Boat Driver in the Forest and Wildlife Department, the latter notified in two parts, Part I and Part II (by transfer).
Higher Secondary School Teacher in Statistics is notified as a special recruitment for Scheduled Tribes only, and Higher Secondary School Teacher (Junior) Arabic as NCA vacancies for SC and ST.
Draftsman Grade-II / Town Planning Surveyor Grade-II in the Local Self Government Department (Group IV Planning Wing) is a special recruitment for SC and ST candidates.
Police Constable Driver and Woman Police Constable Driver in the Kerala Police are notified as NCA vacancies for Latin Catholic/Anglo-Indian candidates.
Peon/Watchman posts in KSFE Ltd. are notified by direct recruitment from among part-time employees, including NCA vacancies for Scheduled Tribes.
Gazette date:
30/09/2026
Category numbers:
151/2026 to 161/2026
Last date to apply:
04-11-2026
Why it matters for exams: Kerala PSC aspirants are examined on how the Commission notifies posts, and these categories show direct recruitment, recruitment by transfer, special recruitment and NCA vacancies side by side.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
NCA No Candidate Available — A vacancy reserved for a community for which no suitable candidate was available in an earlier recruitment, notified again separately for that community.
KSFE Kerala State Financial Enterprises Limited — A Kerala government company best known for running chitties, whose posts are filled through the PSC.
Extraordinary Gazette — A special issue of the Kerala Gazette published between regular issues, used by the PSC to publish fresh notifications.
6 October 2026
Justice Jobin Sebastian of the Kerala High Court held that a low IQ or an intellectual disability does not, by itself, render an accused incapable of entering upon his defence.
The test, the Court said, is the accused's functional capacity to understand the proceedings and take part in them.
The ruling came in a criminal revision petition by the sole accused in a POCSO case, who sought postponement of the trial under Section 368 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
The petitioner relied on a Medical Board report recording an IQ of 35 and a psychiatrist's report placing his social age at about ten years.
Both the psychiatrist and the Medical Board found him fit, and the Court noted he could instruct his counsel, follow the proceedings and give coherent answers.
The High Court found the trial court had followed the Section 368 procedure and had weighed the medical evidence properly, and dismissed the revision petition.
The neutral citation of the judgment is 2026:KER:75844.
Provision:
Section 368, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Judge:
Justice Jobin Sebastian
Neutral citation:
2026:KER:75844
Why it matters for exams: The new criminal procedure code is live syllabus, and Section 368 BNSS on trying a person of unsound mind is a provision whose test the High Court has now spelt out.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
BNSS Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — The criminal procedure law that replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
Criminal revision petition — A petition asking a higher court to examine the legality of an order of a subordinate criminal court.
POCSO Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 — The central law dealing with sexual offences against children, tried by designated special courts.
7 October 2026
An extension counter of the State Central Library began working in the 'Bhavani' building at Technopark, inaugurated by Higher Education Minister Roji M John on 7 October 2026.
The counter is part of the state government's 100-day action programme and is meant for Technopark employees and entrepreneurs who cannot reach a library during working hours.
The Minister also launched a smart card system that brings member identification, book issue and other library services onto one card, along with a digital payment system.
The opening collection consists of classic novels in Malayalam and English and award-winning books, and more titles will be added on the request of staff at the park.
The State Central Library was founded in 1829, in the reign of Swathi Thirunal, and has about 200 years of history behind it.
Library founded:
1829
Inaugurated by:
Higher Education Minister Roji M John
Location:
'Bhavani' building, Technopark
Why it matters for exams: The State Central Library's founding year and royal patron are standard Kerala PSC questions, and this item ties them to a current government decision.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
State Central Library — Kerala's oldest public library, at Thiruvananthapuram, founded in 1829 and now the apex library of the state's public library system.
Swathi Thirunal — The Travancore ruler in whose reign the library was founded in 1829; also remembered as a composer.
100-day programme — A set of works a state government commits to completing within a hundred days, used in Kerala to time the delivery of specific projects.
7 October 2026
Transport Minister C. P. John said on 7 October 2026 that KSRTC will operate 45 special services for the Beemapally Urs and the Vettukad church festival in Thiruvananthapuram.
Twenty buses will run for the Beemapally Urs, up from 14 last year, on the Kizhakkekotta, Eanchakkal, Vallakkadavu and Kallumoodu routes.
Twenty-five special services will run for the Vettukad church festival, up from 18 last year, on the Kizhakkekotta, Palayam and Valiyathura routes.
Temporary station master offices will be set up at both shrines.
The Minister directed KSEB to replace faulty streetlights and the PWD to complete road repairs urgently, and ordered drinking water supply, waste management and septage cleaning to be ensured.
A police aid post, round-the-clock volunteer service and a health department control room were also decided at the review meeting held at the Thaikkad Guest House.
Total special services:
45
Buses for Beemapally Urs:
20 (14 last year)
Services for Vettukad church festival:
25 (18 last year)
Why it matters for exams: Festival transport arrangements show how a state transport corporation and the line departments are coordinated, and the bus figures are easily asked.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
KSRTC Kerala State Road Transport Corporation — The state-owned road transport corporation that runs Kerala's public bus services.
Urs — The annual commemoration held at a Sufi shrine, marking the death anniversary of the saint buried there.
Septage — The sludge and liquid waste removed from septic tanks, which has to be collected and treated separately.
7 October 2026
The Kerala Women's Commission held an adalat at the Mammen Mathai Nagar Hall in Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta district, on 7 October 2026.
Commission member Adv. Elizabeth Mammen Mathai chaired the sitting.
Fifty-three complaints were taken up, of which 17 were settled.
Seven complaints were sent for a report and two were referred to the Jagratha Samithi.
One complaint was referred to the District Legal Services Authority and 26 were postponed to the next sitting.
Psycho-social school counsellors, a police circle inspector and civil police officers took part in the sitting.
Complaints taken up:
53
Settled:
17
Postponed to next sitting:
26
Why it matters for exams: How a statutory state commission disposes of complaints, and the bodies it refers them to, is a standard polity question for Kerala PSC.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Adalat — A sitting at which a commission or authority hears complainants in person and tries to settle cases on the spot.
Jagratha Samithi — A vigilance committee at local body level in Kerala that takes up complaints of violence and discrimination against women.
DLSA District Legal Services Authority — The district body that provides free legal aid and organises Lok Adalats under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
7 October 2026
The Government of Kerala has invited applications for a vacancy on the Mental Health Review Board at Kannur.
The vacancy is for the member of the Board who is a medical practitioner.
Qualified persons may apply, and applications must reach by 23 October 2026.
Details of the eligibility conditions are published at www.ksmha.org.
The notice was issued through the Information and Public Relations Department on 7 October 2026.
Board location:
Kannur
Vacancy:
Member who is a medical practitioner
Last date:
23 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: Mental Health Review Boards are statutory bodies an aspirant is asked to place correctly, and this vacancy shows their composition includes a medical practitioner member.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Mental Health Review Board — A quasi-judicial body that reviews admissions to mental health establishments and hears complaints about care and rights.
7 October 2026
The provisional rank list and index marks for admission to the Diploma in Ayurveda Pharmacy and the Diploma in Ayurveda Therapy for the 2026-27 academic year have been published.
The list is available on the website of the LBS Centre, www.lbscentre.kerala.gov.in.
Complaints on the list must be sent by email by 4 pm on 8 October 2026.
The notice was issued through the Information and Public Relations Department on 7 October 2026.
Enquiries are taken on the numbers given in the notice, including 0471-2324396.
Courses:
Diploma in Ayurveda Pharmacy; Diploma in Ayurveda Therapy
Academic year:
2026-27
Last time for complaints:
4 pm, 8 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: Which state agency conducts which admission is a recurring Kerala PSC question, and these two Ayurveda diplomas are handled by the LBS Centre.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
LBS Centre LBS Centre for Science and Technology — A Kerala government institution that conducts entrance examinations and admissions for several professional and diploma courses in the state.
Index mark — A combined score worked out from qualifying examination marks, used to rank candidates for admission.
Background
The Local Self Government Department lists Kudumbashree among its Allied Institutions, and its page records that Kudumbashree was launched in 1998 as a community network that would work in tandem with local self governments for poverty eradication and woman empowerment.
The department traces the idea to the early nineties, when a community led Poverty Identification Format was developed as part of the Alappuzha Urban Basic Services for the Poor Programme.
By that time, the page says, the NABARD promoted Self Help Groups and linkage banking program had established itself as a viable microfinance model.
In 1994, the Community Based Nutrition project of Malappuram tried to assimilate these experiences and develop a woman based community structure for service delivery of government programs.
The page credits the 73rd and the 74th amendments to the Constitution with strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutes and Urban Local Bodies.
Shortly afterwards, it says, the People's Plan Campaign for decentralized Governance created strong local self governments, the panchayats and municipalities, in the State, and Kudumbashree was launched to work with them.
Launched:
1998
Parent department:
Local Self Government Department
Stated purpose:
poverty eradication and woman empowerment
Earlier programme it grew from:
Alappuzha Urban Basic Services for the Poor Programme
Nutrition project assimilated:
Community Based Nutrition project of Malappuram
Why it matters for exams: Kudumbashree's founding year, its parent department and the two programmes it grew out of are standard Kerala PSC questions, and examiners like to test whether a candidate knows it is a network attached to local governments rather than a department of its own.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Allied Institution Allied Institution of the Local Self Government Department — A body listed by the department as attached to it rather than forming part of its directorates.
Poverty Identification Format community led Poverty Identification Format — A format for identifying poor families that was drawn up with the community rather than by officials alone.
Background
ISRO describes the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Thiruvananthapuram as the lead centre of ISRO responsible for the design and development of launch vehicle technology. Its research and development fields include aeronautics, avionics, materials, mechanisms, vehicle integration, chemicals, propulsion, stage separation systems, structures, space physics and systems reliability. The centre has extension centres at Valiamala, which houses major facilities of mechanisms, vehicle integration and testing, and at Vattiyoorkavu, for the development of composites. The Ammonium Perchlorate Experimental Plant has been set up by VSSC at Aluva near Kochi. Its major programmes include the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and Rohini Sounding Rockets, along with reusable launch vehicles, advanced technology vehicles, air-breathing propulsion and critical technologies towards human spaceflight.
Lead responsibility:
Design and development of launch vehicle technology
Extension centres:
Valiamala and Vattiyoorkavu
Plant near Kochi:
Ammonium Perchlorate Experimental Plant, Aluva
Why it matters for exams: Both Kerala PSC and UPSC ask which ISRO centre carries which mandate, and the launch vehicle centre with its Valiamala, Vattiyoorkavu and Aluva facilities is the Kerala half of that map.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
VSSC Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre — The ISRO centre at Thiruvananthapuram that leads launch vehicle technology.
APEP Ammonium Perchlorate Experimental Plant — A VSSC plant set up at Aluva near Kochi.
PSLV Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle — One of the major launch vehicle programmes run from the centre.