10 October 2026
The Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) has begun procuring medicines directly from manufacturers instead of through intermediaries.
The step followed a directive of Health Minister K. Muraleedharan amid medicine shortages in government hospitals.
A 10 ml vial of insulin that cost ₹99.60 will now be bought at ₹73; a four-month supply at this rate saves about ₹18.50 crore.
Erythropoietin injections, earlier sourced through agents at ₹110 a dose, will now cost ₹80.
Manufacturers agreed to the lower prices on condition that KMSCL pays within two months of supply, which KMSCL accepted.
KMSCL plans to extend direct purchase to other medicines in short supply.
Insulin vial (10 ml), old price:
₹99.60
Insulin vial, new price:
₹73
Saving on four-month insulin supply:
₹18.50 crore
Erythropoietin per dose:
₹110 → ₹80
Payment window accepted:
Within two months
Why it matters for exams: Tests knowledge of Kerala's central drug procurement agency and how public procurement costs are reduced.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
KMSCL Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd — The State agency that buys and distributes medicines and equipment for Kerala's government hospitals.
Erythropoietin Erythropoietin (EPO) — A hormone injection that stimulates red blood cell production, used in kidney disease and during cancer treatment.
10 October 2026
c0c0n 2026, the cyber security and hacking conference organised under the leadership of the Kerala Police, concluded in Kochi on Saturday, 10 October.
It was the 19th edition of the two-day conference, held at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had inaugurated it on 9 October; over 200 speakers and 3,000 participants were expected across six tracks.
Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan inaugurated the valedictory session and distributed prizes.
The next edition is scheduled for September 21–28, 2027.
State Police Chief Ravada Azad Chandrasekhar is the c0c0n chairman.
Edition:
19th
Venue:
Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty
Duration:
Two days (9–10 October 2026)
Next edition:
September 21–28, 2027
Why it matters for exams: Cyber security initiatives of State police forces and their flagship events are asked in internal security and State GK papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
c0c0n c0c0n (pronounced 'cocon') — An annual international cyber security and hacking conference organised with the Kerala Police in Kochi.
10 October 2026
Transport Minister C. P. John on Saturday, 10 October, honoured three teachers of Government UP School, Ponmudi, in Thiruvananthapuram district.
The teachers — P. Nimisha, Jayasree Devan and Shalu Paulose — commute daily under the Priyadarshini free travel scheme.
They set aside the fare they save to provide meals to children of plantation workers.
The school began an evening meal programme three years ago because many parents in the plantations return home late; it was first run with sponsors' help.
When sponsors ran into financial difficulty, the three teachers kept the meals going.
The minister invited the teachers and students to his official residence and felicitated them.
School:
Government UP School, Ponmudi
Teachers honoured:
3
Evening meal programme began:
Three years ago
Why it matters for exams: The Priyadarshini free travel scheme and school meal initiatives are State welfare topics in Kerala PSC general knowledge.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Priyadarshini scheme Priyadarshini free travel scheme — A Kerala government free bus travel scheme that the three Ponmudi teachers use for their daily commute.
11 October 2026
Work on the Wayanad tunnel road, linking Wayanad with Kozhikode district, remains suspended.
The Meppadi–Kalladi–Anakampoyil road is an 8.1 km twin tunnel meant as an alternative to the Thamarassery Ghat road.
Work stopped after a slide of mud and debris at the Kalladi construction site, the Wayanad entrance, on July 7.
An expert committee led by geoscientist Dr C. P. Rajendran is examining whether the project can continue; it has not yet submitted its report.
The Meppadi grama panchayat has passed a resolution urging the government to resume the work.
Construction had been inaugurated on August 31, 2025.
Tunnel length:
8.1 km (twin tunnel)
Route:
Meppadi–Kalladi–Anakampoyil
Work halted after slide on:
July 7
Construction inaugurated:
August 31, 2025
Why it matters for exams: Large infrastructure in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats, and its review, is a recurring Kerala geography and environment topic.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Thamarassery Ghat Thamarassery Churam — The hairpin-bend mountain pass on the Kozhikode–Wayanad road that the tunnel road is meant to bypass.
10 October 2026
A Division Bench of Justice A. K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Preetha A. K. imposed a total penalty of ₹30,000 on three revenue officials.
They are the Thiruvananthapuram Revenue Divisional Officer, the Tahsildar (Land Records) and the Vanchiyoor Village Officer; each must bear ₹10,000.
The government is to pay the landowner first and recover the amount from the officials.
Retired Additional Secretary A. Maideen Pillai owned 4.151 cents in Vanchiyoor village and paid land tax until 2018; after a resurvey cut the recorded area to 3.53 cents, officials refused tax for the full extent.
The Lokayukta had issued an interim order directing the officials to provisionally accept tax for the full 4.151 cents; the officials challenged that order in the High Court, which dismissed their plea.
The court also asked the government to consider disciplinary action against the officials.
Total penalty:
₹30,000
Per official:
₹10,000
Land extent:
4.151 cents
Tax paid until:
2018
Why it matters for exams: Shows the Kerala Lokayukta's role and how courts enforce citizen-friendly government orders against officials.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Lokayukta Kerala Lokayukta — Kerala's statutory anti-corruption ombudsman, which hears complaints against public servants.
10 October 2026
Melpadom Chundan, rowed by Pallathuruthy Boat Club, won the Kochi leg of the sixth season of the Champions Boat League (CBL-6) on Saturday, 10 October.
The race was held at Marine Drive, Kochi; it was the fifth race of the season.
Melpadom finished in 4:08:064 minutes, ahead of Veeyapuram Chundan (4:08:166); Nadubhagam Chundan was third.
It was Melpadom's third straight win this season, after the third race at Pandanad and the fourth at Kottappuram.
Higher Education Minister Roji M. John inaugurated the Water Sports Festival organised by the Tourism Department.
Winner:
Melpadom Chundan (Pallathuruthy Boat Club)
Winning time:
4:08:064 minutes
Runner-up:
Veeyapuram Chundan
Race number in season:
Fifth
Why it matters for exams: Snake boat races and the Champions Boat League are standard Kerala culture and sports questions.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
CBL Champions Boat League — An IPL-style league of snake boat races organised by Kerala's Tourism Department across several venues.
10 October 2026
The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed authorities to include rugby in the State School Sports Meet.
The order was issued by a full bench of members Dr F. Wilson and P. Shajesh Bhaskar.
The General Education Department must decide quickly on a separate district- or State-level competition or a transparent selection trial.
The petitioner, Ameya Sandeep of GHSS Peroorkada, Thiruvananthapuram, represented the Under-18 girls' team at the National Rugby Championship 2026.
Rugby is part of the 70th National School Games but is not in the Kerala State School Games manual.
The High Court had earlier directed the government to consider the matter seriously.
Sport to be included:
Rugby
Petitioner:
Ameya Sandeep, GHSS Peroorkada
National event featuring rugby:
70th National School Games
Why it matters for exams: Shows the role of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in enforcing children's right to participate in sport.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
KSCPCR Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights — The statutory State body that safeguards children's rights and can issue directions to authorities.
10 October 2026
Milma, the Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF), recorded a turnover of ₹2,559.71 crore in the first six months of 2026-27.
This is 15.09 per cent more than the ₹2,224.12 crore of the same period of the previous year.
The three regional milk producers' unions together contributed ₹2,328.87 crore; products from the federation's own units accounted for ₹230.84 crore.
The Malabar union (MRCMPU) had the highest turnover at ₹1,011.62 crore.
The Thiruvananthapuram union (TRCMPU) recorded ₹746.21 crore and the Ernakulam union (ERCMPU) ₹571.04 crore.
Turnover, first half 2026-27:
₹2,559.71 crore
Growth:
15.09 per cent
Same period previous year:
₹2,224.12 crore
Malabar union:
₹1,011.62 crore
Three regional unions together:
₹2,328.87 crore
Why it matters for exams: Milma and its three-tier cooperative structure are standard Kerala economy and cooperation questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Milma Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF) — Kerala's apex dairy cooperative, working through three regional unions — Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Malabar.
10 October 2026
Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said on Saturday, 10 October, that the government will create 1,800 doctor posts, including specialist positions, in government hospitals.
The government will also fill 500 vacancies of nurses and pharmacists.
A letter has been sent on this to the Chief Minister, who holds the Finance portfolio.
He was inaugurating construction of primary health centre buildings at Chottanikkara, Thottur and Koovappady as part of the government's 100-day action programme.
All district hospitals will be made capable of working round the clock once enough doctors are available, he said.
Doctor posts to be created:
1,800
Nurse and pharmacist vacancies to be filled:
500
PHC buildings begun at:
Chottanikkara, Thottur, Koovappady
Why it matters for exams: Public health staffing and the State's 100-day action programme are recurring Kerala governance topics.
Kerala PSC
Background
The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), in Thiruvananthapuram, began in 1990 as a small charitable society called the Centre for Development of Education, Science and Technology (C-DEST).
In 1991 C-DEST became a Grant-in-Aid institute of the Government of Kerala and was renamed RGC-DEST, the first institute in the country to be named after Rajiv Gandhi.
On 18 April 1994 the Government of Kerala restructured it into a comprehensive biotechnology centre, the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology.
The foundation stone of the new building was laid on 18 November 1995 by the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao; on 18 November 2002 President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam dedicated the centre to the nation.
On 28 February 2006 Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram announced in the Union Budget that RGCB would be given the status of an autonomous National Institute.
On 2 August 2007 the Union Council of Ministers approved the take over of RGCB from 1 April 2007.
Began as C-DEST:
1990
Restructured as RGCB:
18 April 1994
Foundation stone laid:
18 November 1995 by Narasimha Rao
Dedicated to the nation:
18 November 2002 by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Union take over effective from:
1 April 2007
Why it matters for exams: Kerala's science institutions and their founding milestones are regular Kerala PSC questions on science and technology.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
C-DEST Centre for Development of Education, Science and Technology — The small charitable society from which RGCB grew in 1990.
Grant-in-Aid institute Institute funded by grants from a government — C-DEST became a Grant-in-Aid institute of the Government of Kerala in 1991.