12 October 2026
The mascot of the 68th Kerala State School Sports Meet is named 'Kuttu'. General Education Minister N. Shamsudheen unveiled it at the Niyamasabha media room in Thiruvananthapuram. It was designed by R. S. Lakshmi Nandana, a Class 8 student from Kollam district. The meet runs from 25 to 31 October in Kozhikode, with about 15,000 athletes, team managers, officials and organisers. Athletics is at NIT Calicut from 27 to 31 October, with about 2,800 athletes in the sub-junior, junior and senior categories.
Mascot:
Kuttu
Host district:
Kozhikode
Meet dates:
25 to 31 October
Participants:
About 15,000
Why it matters for exams: Mascots, hosts and dates of the State School Sports Meet are a staple of Kerala PSC general-knowledge papers on sport.
Kerala PSC
13 October 2026
Kerala has published a revised cadastral map of the Western Ghats ecologically sensitive area, based on its recommendations to the Union Environment Ministry. The proposed area falls from 9,993.7 sq km to 8,590.69 sq km, a cut of about 1,403 sq km, and 33 villages are excluded. In Idukki, 23 of 51 villages are excluded. In Pathanamthitta, the Sabarimala temple complex, Pampa and the Nilakkal parking ground are excluded. Kerala submitted its documents to the Centre on 24 September, in response to the seventh draft notification.
Earlier proposed area:
9,993.7 sq km
Revised area:
8,590.69 sq km
Villages excluded:
33
Idukki villages excluded:
23 of 51
Why it matters for exams: The Western Ghats ESA notification is a long-running environment and federalism topic, and the area and village figures are likely recall questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ESA Ecologically Sensitive Area — A zone where activities such as mining and large construction are restricted.
12 October 2026
On Monday, 12 October, a Kerala High Court Division Bench of Dr. Justice A. K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Preeta A. K. admitted the State's appeals (WA 2100/2026) against a Single Judge's decision. On 29 September Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas had quashed a government order that reorganised three recognised police associations into two and abolished the Kerala Police Officers' Association. He held that it infringed rights under Article 19(1)(c) and the associations' bylaws. The State relies on Article 33 and the Police Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966.
Appeal:
WA 2100/2026
Single Judge:
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas (29 September)
Division Bench:
Dr. Justice A. K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Preeta A. K.
Association abolished by the order:
Kerala Police Officers' Association
Why it matters for exams: Article 19(1)(c) and Article 33 are core fundamental-rights provisions, and this case tests them on the police force.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Article 33 Power of Parliament to modify fundamental rights for armed forces and similar forces — It lets Parliament restrict or abrogate Part III rights of members of the armed forces and police forces.
11 October 2026
The Keralam Sports Bill, 2026 is to be introduced in the Assembly session that began on 12 October, reports say. The draft proposes a Sports Authority of Kerala in place of the Sports Council, by merging the Council with the Directorate of Sports; it would be led by government-nominated representatives, with no elections to its governing body. It proposes fines of ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh for violations, and an online platform to issue and verify sports merit certificates. The draft is under final scrutiny by the Law Department and has not been made public. The Bill falls under the department of Sports Minister O. J. Janeesh.
Proposed body:
Sports Authority of Kerala
Body it replaces:
Sports Council
Fines:
₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh
Sports Minister:
O. J. Janeesh
Why it matters for exams: A change in sports governance, with a new statutory body and fine range, is a likely Kerala PSC question on legislation and sport.
Kerala PSC
13 October 2026
Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan tabled the Keralam Senior Citizens' (Care and Protection of Rights) Bill, 2026 in the Assembly on 13 October. The Bill has been referred to the Assembly Subject Committee. It sets up State-level and district-level Senior Citizen Protection Units. Cruelty to an elder is punishable by up to three years' imprisonment, and doctors and care centres must report abuse within 48 hours. Elders can record a living will on end-of-life care. The Bill also requires registration of care homes and home-care agencies.
Bill:
Senior Citizens' (Care and Protection of Rights) Bill, 2026
Tabled by:
Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan
Maximum jail term for cruelty:
Three years
Abuse reporting deadline:
48 hours
Why it matters for exams: A new statutory framework for elder care, with its penalties and reporting duty, is a likely Kerala PSC question on welfare legislation.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Living will Advance declaration on end-of-life medical care — A written statement of the treatments a person would not want near the end of life.
10 October 2026
The Kerala government has decided to pay ₹12.5 lakh to K. K. Surendran, a former senior lecturer at the Sulthan Bathery DIET in Wayanad, who was tortured in police custody in 2003 during the Muthanga agitation. The government chose to implement the court order without filing an appeal. The State Police Chief has been directed to recover the amount, with interest, from the police officers responsible. The Home Department order was reported on 10 October.
Compensation:
₹12.5 lakh
Recipient:
K. K. Surendran
Year of the custodial torture:
2003
To be recovered from:
The police officers responsible
Why it matters for exams: The Muthanga agitation of 2003 is a recurring Kerala history and tribal-rights topic, and this order is its latest official consequence.
Kerala PSC
13 October 2026
A Kerala High Court Division Bench of Justice K. Natarajan and Justice Johnson John heard appeals on Tuesday, 13 October, against the Single Judge's order of 9 October directing the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to register an FIR in the CMRL-Exalogic case. The appellants include former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena and her husband Mohammed Riyas. They were not parties to the writ petition filed by Advocate K. M. Shajahan. The Bench reserved its verdict on whether the appellants may be heard on the main appeals.
Division Bench:
Justice K. Natarajan and Justice Johnson John
Hearing date:
13 October 2026
Single Judge's order:
9 October, Justice A. Badharudeen
Writ petitioner:
Adv. K. M. Shajahan
Why it matters for exams: Who may challenge a court's order and the PMLA route by which the ED passes information to State police are procedural points that law-linked questions pick up.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
PMLA Section 66(2) Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Section 66(2) — The provision under which the Enforcement Directorate shares information with another authority.
13 October 2026
The Keralam Senior Citizens' (Care and Protection of Rights) Bill, 2026 was tabled in the Kerala Legislative Assembly on 13 October 2026 and referred to the Subject Committee.
The Legislature lists it as Bill No. 15 of the Sixteenth Kerala Legislative Assembly, published on 12 October 2026.
The Bill rests on the principles of dignity, the best interest of the senior citizen, ageing in place with home-based care, safety and a social care ecosystem, independence, and participation in policy-making.
It provides for a State Senior Citizen Protection Unit, a District Senior Citizen Protection Forum in every district, and a District Senior Citizen Protection Unit to assist the forum.
The forum will monitor government policies and schemes, the working of care centres, and may take action on complaints on its own motion.
Cruelty towards a senior citizen carries imprisonment of up to three years.
Registered medical practitioners and care centres must report abuse, neglect or exploitation to the district level protection unit within 48 hours, with evidence.
The Bill also provides for the registration and regulation of senior citizen care centres and for capacity-building for families and caregivers.
Bill number:
Bill No. 15 of the Sixteenth Kerala Legislative Assembly
Guiding principles:
Six
Maximum imprisonment for cruelty:
Three years
Time to report abuse:
48 hours
Why it matters for exams: A new State Bill with named institutions, time limits and penalties is the kind of detail Kerala PSC asks directly.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Subject Committee Subject Committee of the Legislative Assembly — A committee of the Assembly to which a Bill is referred for detailed scrutiny before the House takes it up for passing.
13 October 2026
General Education Minister N. Shamsudheen released 'Kuttu', the mascot of the 68th State School Sports Meet, at the Niyamasabha media room.
The mascot was designed by R. S. Lakshmi Nandana, a Class 8 student of KNNM Higher Secondary School in Kollam district.
The meet will be held in Kozhikode from 25 to 31 October 2026 across 10 venues in the district.
The NIT Calicut campus is the main venue; athletics begin on 27 October and inclusive sports are held on 26 October.
About 15,000 people including athletes, team managers, officials and organisers will be involved; about 2,800 athletes compete in the sub-junior, junior and senior athletics categories and more than 2,000 in inclusive events.
A total of 48 athletes based in the Gulf region will take part.
The golden cup procession starts from Thiruvananthapuram on 22 October and the torch relay from Kasaragod on 23 October; both reach Kozhikode beach on 25 October.
Seventeen sub-committees are working under Kunnamangalam MLA M. A. Razak Master, with 620 officials, 140 selectors and 100 technical officials arranged.
Mascot:
Kuttu
Edition:
68th State School Sports Meet
Dates and host district:
25 to 31 October 2026, Kozhikode
Venues:
10
Why it matters for exams: The mascot, host district and edition number of the State School Sports Meet are repeatedly asked in Kerala PSC general knowledge papers.
Kerala PSCSSC
In plain words
Mascot Mascot of a sporting event — A figure or character adopted as the emblem of a sporting event.
13 October 2026
A Division Bench of Justice Sathish Ninan and Justice P. Krishna Kumar upheld the constitutional validity of Section 69 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925.
Section 69 provides that a will is revoked by the maker's marriage, except a will made in exercise of a power of appointment in the circumstances the section specifies.
The provision does not apply to Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jainas, and the reference asked whether its restriction to Christians, Parsis and Jews violated Part III of the Constitution.
The Court held the classification was reasonable and had a nexus with the object sought to be achieved, and rejected the challenge under Articles 14 and 15.
The Court said the object of Section 69 is to protect the new family, and that the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act sufficiently takes care of that obligation for Hindus.
It also held that Section 69 does not conflict with Section 20 of the Act, as it neither creates an interest in a spouse's property upon marriage nor restricts the power of disposal.
The matter came before the Court as a suo motu civil reference with connected proceedings.
Provision upheld:
Section 69, Indian Succession Act, 1925
Bench:
Justice Sathish Ninan and Justice P. Krishna Kumar
Articles challenged under:
Articles 14 and 15
Why it matters for exams: Personal law provisions tested against Articles 14 and 15 are standard material for law and polity questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Suo motu Suo motu reference — A matter taken up on the court's own motion, without a party asking for it.
Will Testamentary document — A document by which a person directs how their property is to pass after death.
13 October 2026
Justice P. V. Kunhikrishnan directed the Director of the Directorate of Social Justice to disburse Rs 21,000 to a transgender person as financial assistance for post-operative treatment and care after sex reassignment surgery.
Under the State scheme the petitioner was entitled to Rs 36,000 in all; he had received Rs 15,000 and the balance of Rs 21,000 had not been paid.
The scheme rests on a government order dated 14 November 2018, which provides Rs 3,000 a month for twelve months after the surgery.
The petitioner had earlier been given Rs 62,563 as assistance for the surgery itself.
The Government Pleader told the Court that steps were being taken to release the amount and that approval from the concerned authority was awaited.
The Court disposed of the writ petition with a direction to pay the amount as expeditiously as possible and in any case within two months of receipt of a certified copy of the judgment.
Advocates P. V. Uttara and Sarath K. P. appeared for the petitioner and Government Pleader Laya Mary Joseph for the State.
Amount directed to be paid:
Rs 21,000
Total entitlement under the scheme:
Rs 36,000
Monthly assistance:
Rs 3,000 a month for twelve months
Deadline fixed:
Two months
Why it matters for exams: Welfare schemes with exact amounts and the court's enforcement of them are frequently asked together in Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SRS Sex Reassignment Surgery — Surgery undergone by a transgender person to change physical sex characteristics.
13 October 2026
A Comptroller and Auditor General report on roadworks under the Rebuild Kerala Initiative found deficiencies in project planning, deviations from contractual provisions and irregular payment arrangements that gave contractors undue financial benefit and added to the State's financial burden.
Under the initiative, 29 roads spanning 718.94 km across 13 districts were selected for reconstruction during 2019-20 and 2020-21 at a sanctioned cost of Rs 5,119.54 crore.
The CAG examined 10 of the 29 roadworks, implemented by the Kerala State Transport Project, as part of its compliance audit.
On the Alappuzha-Changanassery road the audit identified an undue benefit of Rs 39.27 crore to the contractor after deviations in the procedure for approving changes to bridge-widening works.
A further Rs 28.22 crore of undue benefit was attributed to the splitting of payment stages for earthwork and ground-improvement works, which in some cases allowed payments between 333 and 911 days ahead of the scheduled completion of the stage.
The Uruvachal-Maruthayi road contract, awarded for Rs 100.43 crore in October 2020, was entirely subcontracted for Rs 93.67 crore in August 2021, contrary to the agreement conditions.
The audit observed that this undermined the tendering process, which required bids to be considered only from contractors who had qualified through technical evaluation.
Undue benefit flagged:
Rs 67.49 crore
Roads selected:
29 roads, 718.94 km, 13 districts
Sanctioned cost:
Rs 5,119.54 crore
Roadworks audited:
10 of 29
Why it matters for exams: CAG findings with exact figures on a named State programme are classic report-and-index questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
CAG Comptroller and Auditor General of India — The constitutional authority that audits the accounts of the Union and the States.
RKI Rebuild Kerala Initiative — The State programme for reconstruction after the floods and landslides of 2018.
KSTP Kerala State Transport Project — The State agency that implemented the audited roadworks.