13 October 2026
A Rashtrapati Bhavan communique on 12 October 2026 announced a Governor reshuffle by President Droupadi Murmu.
Om Prakash Mathur, Governor of Sikkim, has been appointed Governor of Keralam (Kerala).
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the outgoing Kerala Governor, has been named Governor of Tamil Nadu.
Dushyant Gautam goes to Sikkim, Braj Mohan Ram to Odisha, Sudha Yadav to Karnataka and Dhal Singh Bisen to Uttarakhand.
The appointments take effect from the dates the appointees assume charge of their offices.
New Governor of Kerala:
Om Prakash Mathur
Moved to:
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to Tamil Nadu
Announced:
12 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: Governor appointments and transfers are routine questions in Kerala PSC and UPSC polity papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Article 155 Article 155 of the Constitution — It says the Governor of a State is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
Rashtrapati Bhavan communique Press communique of the President's Secretariat — It is the official notice through which the President's appointments are announced.
13 October 2026
The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a resolution on 12 October 2026, moved by the Chief Minister under Rule 118.
It was passed unanimously.
The House demanded restoration of voting rights of eligible voters excluded from the rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
It sought proceedings to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
It also asked for the committee that selects the CEC to be reconstituted with the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India.
The House cited the guarantee of universal adult suffrage under Article 326.
Rule used:
Rule 118
Vote:
Passed unanimously
Article cited:
Article 326
Why it matters for exams: Tests knowledge of Assembly procedure, Article 326 and the Election Commission's selection process.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SIR Special Intensive Revision — A special drive to revise electoral rolls.
Rule 118 Rule 118 of the Assembly's Rules of Procedure — The rule under which this resolution was moved in the House.
Article 326 Article 326 of the Constitution — It provides for elections to the Lok Sabha and Assemblies on the basis of adult suffrage.
13 October 2026
Kerala has published a cadastral map of its ecologically sensitive areas (ESA) on the Environment Department website.
The proposed ESA area falls from 9,993.7 sq km to 8,590.69 sq km.
The map is based on documents Kerala sent to the Union Environment Ministry on 24 September, after the Ministry's seventh draft notification.
In Idukki, 23 of 51 villages are excluded, along with cardamom-cultivation areas in the Cardamom Hill Reserve.
In Pathanamthitta, the Sabarimala temple complex, Pampa and the Nilakkal parking ground are excluded.
The Munnar Gap Road stays in the ESA.
Proposed ESA area (revised):
8,590.69 sq km
Earlier area:
9,993.7 sq km
Villages excluded:
33
Idukki villages excluded:
23 of 51
Why it matters for exams: Western Ghats ESA limits are a recurring Kerala environment and governance topic.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ESA Ecologically Sensitive Area — An area around protected zones where activities are regulated to protect the environment.
CHR Cardamom Hill Reserve — A reserve in the Idukki hills where cardamom is cultivated.
Cadastral map Cadastral map — A map showing land boundaries in detail.
13 October 2026
On 9 October 2026 a Single Bench of the Kerala High Court directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to register an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act, based on Enforcement Directorate information in the CMRL-Exalogic case.
Pinarayi Vijayan and T. Veena, among others, filed appeals, saying they were not made parties before the Single Bench.
They argue the transactions were assigned to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office, and that FIR registration by the State Police is barred.
The Division Bench of Justice K. Natarajan and Justice Johnson John orally asked why a person must be heard before an FIR is registered.
The Bench orally observed that a case can be registered where there is prima facie reason to believe a crime has occurred.
No interim order was reported.
Single Bench order:
9 October 2026
Agency told to register FIR:
Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau
Law:
Prevention of Corruption Act
Why it matters for exams: Shows how appeals from a Single Bench go to a Division Bench and how FIR registration works in anti-corruption cases.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SFIO Serious Fraud Investigation Office — A Union agency that investigates complex corporate fraud.
Writ appeal Writ appeal — An appeal to a Division Bench against a Single Judge's writ order.
VACB Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau — Kerala's agency that investigates corruption cases.
13 October 2026
On 12 October 2026 a Division Bench of Dr Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Preeta A.K. admitted the State's appeals in WA 2100/2026.
A Single Judge had quashed the government order of 27 July 2026 that abolished the Kerala Police Officers' Association (KPOA).
The order reduced three recognised associations to two, the Kerala Police Association (KPA) and the Kerala Police Senior Officers' Association (KPSOA).
The State relies on Article 33, the Police Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966 and Section 109 of the Kerala Police Act, 2011.
The associations rely on Article 19(1)(c), the right to form associations.
Case:
WA 2100/2026
Government order:
27 July 2026
Associations:
3 reduced to 2
Why it matters for exams: Links Article 19(1)(c) and Article 33 to a live Kerala Police matter.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Article 33 Article 33 of the Constitution — It lets Parliament restrict fundamental rights of members of the armed forces and police forces.
Article 19(1)(c) Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution — It guarantees the right to form associations or unions.
Ad hoc committee Ad hoc committee — A temporary committee set up to run an association until elections.
13 October 2026
Higher Education Minister Roji M John moved a resolution in the Assembly on 12 October 2026.
It asks the Centre to return the Kerala State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Bill, 2025, now before the President.
The Bill had passed the Assembly unanimously in March 2025; Governor Rajendra Arlekar then referred it to the President under Article 200.
It has stayed pending for about 18 months.
The 2025 Bill required a sponsoring body to hold an endowment fund of at least ₹25 crore and at least 10 acres of land.
The UDF government plans a new Bill that also covers deemed-to-be and foreign universities.
Endowment fund required (2025 Bill):
₹25 crore
Land required (2025 Bill):
10 acres
Pending for:
about 18 months
Why it matters for exams: Shows how a State Bill reserved by the Governor for the President is handled, and Kerala's higher-education policy.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Article 200 Article 200 of the Constitution — It lets the Governor reserve a Bill for the President's consideration.
Deemed-to-be university Deemed-to-be university — An institution declared by the Centre to have the status of a university.
Sponsoring body Sponsoring body — The individual or group that sets up a private university.
13 October 2026
The 68th Kerala State School Sports Meet will be held at Kozhikode from 25 to 31 October 2026.
Its mascot 'Kuttu' was unveiled in Thiruvananthapuram by Education Minister N. Shamsudheen.
Kuttu was designed by R.S. Lakshmi Nandana, a Class 8 student of KNNM HSS and VHSS, Kollam.
About 15,000 people, including athletes, team managers and officials, are expected across 10 competition venues.
Athletics will be held from 27 to 31 October at the NIT Calicut campus with 2,800 athletes.
48 athletes from the Gulf region also take part.
Edition:
68th
Dates:
25 to 31 October 2026
Host district:
Kozhikode
Mascot:
Kuttu
Why it matters for exams: Venue, edition number and mascot of the State School Sports Meet are common Kerala sports questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NIT Calicut National Institute of Technology Calicut — The institute at Chathamangalam whose campus hosts the athletics events.
13 October 2026
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan told the Assembly the government is considering extending the term of the current Pay Revision Commission.
The commission was formed in February 2026, shortly before the Assembly election; its terms of reference were finalised in March.
The previous commission's term expired in July 2024.
The CM put dearness allowance (DA) arrears left by the previous government at Rs 21,670 crore and dearness relief (DR) arrears at Rs 14,387 crore.
The government is examining whether interim relief will be granted until the next pay revision.
DA arrears:
Rs 21,670 crore
DR arrears:
Rs 14,387 crore
Commission formed:
February 2026
Previous term expired:
July 2024
Why it matters for exams: Pay commissions, DA and DR are core Kerala government service and economy topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DA Dearness allowance — Allowance paid to employees to offset a rise in the cost of living.
DR Dearness relief — The equivalent of DA paid to pensioners.
Interim relief Interim relief — A temporary payment made until the pay revision is implemented.
13 October 2026
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. disposed of WP(PIL) 15/2026, filed by C.R. Neelakandan, on 7 October 2026.
The PIL sought directions to make handling of passenger data at airports comply with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act and the DPDP Rules, 2025.
The Union said the Data Protection Board has been constituted but is not yet functional.
The court said it expects the Board to be made functional within eight weeks.
Counsel for the Digi Yatra Foundation submitted that, as of now, Aadhaar and Driving Licence can be considered proof of identity; the court said it expects authorities may also consider accepting Voter ID.
Case:
WP(PIL) 15/2026
Time given for Board:
eight weeks
ID proofs that can be considered now:
Aadhaar, Driving Licence
Why it matters for exams: Links the DPDP Act, the Data Protection Board and privacy rights to a live Kerala High Court case.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DPDP Act Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 — The law that governs how personal digital data is processed in India.
Digi Yatra Digi Yatra — A facial-recognition based paperless entry system at airports.
Data Protection Board Data Protection Board of India — The body set up under the DPDP Act to decide data protection complaints.
13 October 2026
A Division Bench of Justice Sathish Ninan and Justice P. Krishna Kumar answered a suo motu civil reference on Section 69 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925.
Section 69 provides for automatic revocation of a will on the testator's marriage.
The court found no violation of Article 14 or Article 15 and no conflict with Section 20.
It noted Hindus are outside Section 69, since Section 57 says marriage does not revoke a Hindu will.
The court said the object is to protect the new family, and the testator remains free to make a bequest at any time.
Provision upheld:
Section 69, Indian Succession Act, 1925
Articles tested:
Articles 14 and 15
Citation:
2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 571
Why it matters for exams: A recent High Court ruling on equality (Articles 14 and 15) in succession law, useful for law and polity papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Suo motu reference Suo motu civil reference — A reference taken up by the court on its own motion.
Testator Testator — The person who makes a will.
Bequest Bequest — Property left to someone through a will.
13 October 2026
The Kerala Environment Department has published on its website a revised cadastral map of the State's ecologically sensitive areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats.
The map is based on the documents Kerala submitted to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on September 24, in response to the Ministry's seventh draft notification.
The proposed ESA area falls from 9,993.7 sq km to 8,590.69 sq km.
The revised map largely excludes 33 of the villages earlier identified as ecologically sensitive.
In Idukki, 23 of 51 villages are excluded, along with cardamom cultivation areas in the Cardamom Hill Reserve, while the Munnar Gap Road remains within the ESA.
In Pathanamthitta seven villages remain, with the Sabarimala temple complex, Pampa, the Nilakkal parking ground and the Neelimala route excluded.
In Ernakulam, the residential areas of Kuttampuzha, the district's only village on the earlier list, are fully excluded.
Proposed ESA area now:
8,590.69 sq km
Earlier proposed area:
9,993.7 sq km
Villages largely excluded:
33
Idukki villages excluded:
23 of 51
Why it matters for exams: Western Ghats ESA boundaries and the area figures Kerala proposes are a standing question in both Kerala PSC and UPSC environment papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ESA Ecologically Sensitive Area — A zone where the Centre restricts mining, quarrying, red-category industry and large building projects.
Cadastral map — A survey map that shows individual land parcels with their survey numbers, so a boundary can be fixed plot by plot.
13 October 2026
Excise Minister M. Liju told the Kerala Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 that cases have been registered against three bars over liquor served to the 19-year-old driver of a car that struck a scooter near Nedumbassery.
The three bars are at Kadavanthra, Palarivattom and Nedumbassery, and the Excise Department is examining the violations.
The legal drinking age in Kerala is 23.
The crash took place at about 1.45 am on Sunday, October 11, 2026 on the four-lane Nedumbassery airport road near Athani, and three scooter riders died.
The Nedumbassery police have invoked Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act for drunk driving and Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with Sections 281, 49 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The driver has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody, and three co-passengers have been arraigned.
Biological samples have been sent for chemical examination.
Bars booked:
Three, at Kadavanthra, Palarivattom and Nedumbassery
Legal drinking age in Kerala:
23
Sections invoked:
Section 185 Motor Vehicles Act; Sections 105, 281, 49 and 3(5) BNS
Why it matters for exams: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section numbers that replaced the old IPC provisions, and Kerala's legal drinking age, are both directly examinable.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
BNS Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita — The criminal code that replaced the Indian Penal Code; Section 105 covers culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Remand — A court order sending an arrested person to judicial custody for a fixed period while the investigation goes on.