11 October 2026
Medical equipment worth Rs 450 crore, including ventilators, dialysis machines, digital X-ray machines and mammography machines, is lying unused in Kerala's government hospitals, including medical colleges.
The finding is in a report submitted to the government by Health Department Principal Secretary Dr Sharmila Mary Joseph, covering equipment procured over the past 10 years.
The inquiry was ordered by Health Minister K. Muraleedharan after several complaints; the covers of some machines had not even been opened.
Officials cited incomplete hospital buildings and a shortage of staff to operate the machines.
The minister said a detailed investigation would follow and action would be taken.
Value of unused equipment:
Rs 450 crore
Period of procurement covered:
past 10 years
Why it matters for exams: Public health spending, procurement and accountability in Kerala's health system are recurring governance topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
KMSCL Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd — The State company that buys medicines and equipment for government hospitals.
11 October 2026
Travancore Devaswom Board president K Jayakumar said on October 11 that there would be no shortage of aravana when Sabarimala opens for the Thulam month poojas.
He said 15,000 kg of raw rice would reach Pampa on Monday and be taken to Sannidhanam after a food safety check.
The temple opens at 5 pm on October 17 for the Thulam month poojas and closes on October 21.
Concern had arisen after only 27 sacks of raw rice were left for aravana production.
A contract for 1,400 tonnes of raw rice at Rs 51 per kilogram had not yet been signed, so the previous contractor was asked to supply the 15,000 kg.
Rice to reach Pampa:
15,000 kg
Thulam month opening:
5 pm, October 17
Closing:
October 21
Why it matters for exams: Sabarimala, the Travancore Devaswom Board and the temple's ritual calendar are frequent Kerala questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Aravana Aravana payasam — The sweet rice offering sold as prasadam at Sabarimala.
TDB Travancore Devaswom Board — The statutory board that manages Sabarimala and other temples of the former Travancore.
11 October 2026
The Navaratri idol procession from Padmanabhapuram reached Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, October 11, after a journey of three days and two nights.
The idol of Goddess Saraswati from the Padmanabhapuram Thevarakkettu came on an elephant, Suchindram Munnootti Nanga in a palanquin and Velimala Kumaraswamy on a silver horse.
The procession, which carries the sacred sword of the erstwhile Travancore rulers, had begun at Padmanabhapuram Palace with the handover of the sword.
At East Fort, Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, the Sthani of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, welcomed the idols; after the Arattu at Padmatheertham, Saraswati was installed at the Pakadashala, with the Puja Vaippu at the Navaratri Mandapam set for the next morning.
On the same day the flag was hoisted for the Alpashi festival at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple; its Arattu will be held at Shangumugham beach on Vijayadashami.
Arrival in Thiruvananthapuram:
October 11
Duration of journey:
three days and two nights
Why it matters for exams: Travancore's Navaratri procession and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple festivals are standard Kerala culture questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Alpashi festival Alpashi Utsavam — A ten-day festival of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple held in the Tamil month of Aippasi, ending with Arattu at Shangumugham.
Udaval Ceremonial sword — The sacred sword of the Travancore rulers carried with the Navaratri procession.
11 October 2026
The Kannur-Thiruvananthapuram Jan Shatabdi Express began running with upgraded coaches fitted with reclining pushback seats.
After the train was given LHB coaches, passengers had complained about steep L-shaped seats that were unsuitable for long journeys.
The Thiruvananthapuram Division had repeatedly raised the issue with Southern Railway headquarters.
Railway officials said the Kozhikode-Thiruvananthapuram Jan Shatabdi Express will get similar pushback seats in the next phase.
The Jan Shatabdi is the fastest train through Kerala after the Vande Bharat Express.
Train upgraded first:
Kannur-Thiruvananthapuram Jan Shatabdi
Next in line:
Kozhikode-Thiruvananthapuram Jan Shatabdi
Why it matters for exams: Kerala's rail services and coach types such as LHB are asked in general-knowledge papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
LHB Linke Hofmann Busch coaches — German-designed stainless-steel coaches that are safer and run faster than older ICF coaches.
Background
The University of Kerala was founded in 1937 and was one of the first 16 universities in India.
It was formerly called the University of Travancore, in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore.
It came into being by a promulgation of the Maharajah of Travancore, Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, who was also the first Chancellor of the University.
Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Ayyar, the then Diwan of the State, was its first Vice-Chancellor.
The Kerala University Act (Act 14 of 1957) was brought into force and the University of Travancore was renamed the University of Kerala.
Its earliest origins are traced to University College, Thiruvananthapuram, founded as the Maharaja's Free School by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal in 1834 and grown into a college in 1866.
The other origin is the Trivandrum Observatory, founded in 1838 with the scientist John Caldecott FRS as its first Director; it is the oldest institution under the University.
The University once had campuses at Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode, and in 1968 the Kozhikode centre became a full-fledged university, the University of Calicut.
The Cochin University of Science and Technology and the Kerala Agricultural University followed in 1971 and Mahatma Gandhi University in 1983.
The University of Kerala's jurisdiction now covers Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha districts and some parts of Pathanamthitta district.
Founded:
1937
Original name:
University of Travancore
First Chancellor:
Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma
First Vice-Chancellor:
Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Ayyar
Why it matters for exams: The founding year, the original name and the first Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of Kerala's oldest university are recurring one-mark questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Diwan Chief minister of a princely state — The head of the administration of a princely state, a post Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Ayyar held in Travancore.
Background
Kudumbashree was launched in 1998 as a community network that would work in tandem with local self-governments for poverty eradication and woman empowerment.
Its origins lie in a community-led Poverty Identification Format developed in the early nineties as part of the Alappuzha Urban Basic Services for the Poor Programme.
By that time Self Help Groups promoted by NABARD and linkage banking had established themselves 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 the delivery of government programmes.
The 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution strengthened Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies.
The People's Plan Campaign for decentralised governance created strong local self-governments, panchayats and municipalities, in the State shortly before Kudumbashree was launched.
The Local Self Government Department of Kerala lists Kudumbashree among its allied institutions.
Launched:
1998
Twin objectives:
Poverty eradication and woman empowerment
Origin programme:
Alappuzha Urban Basic Services for the Poor Programme
Constitutional amendments cited:
73rd and 74th
Why it matters for exams: Kudumbashree's launch year and its link to decentralised local government are asked in Kerala PSC, UPSC and banking papers alike.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
NABARD National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development — The national development bank whose Self Help Group and linkage banking work made microfinance a working model in India.