15 October 2026
Kerala has formally asked the Union Government to amend the law so that the seven-year waiting period before a death certificate can be issued for a person lost at sea is reduced. Fisheries Minister V.E. Abdul Gafoor said this in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, replying to questions from M. Vincent and C.R. Manoj. Under the law as it stands, a death certificate for a missing person can be issued only after seven years have passed since the disappearance, which the Government said causes serious hardship to fishing families. Cases in which seven years have already passed will be taken up urgently. Jobs for the families of those who died in the Ockhi disaster will be considered on the basis of educational qualifications. Compensation for fishermen who lost boats and nets in accidents involving ships and containers will be speeded up; a related case is pending before the High Court.
Present waiting period:
Seven years
Minister who replied:
V.E. Abdul Gafoor, Fisheries
Why it matters for exams: A State asking the Union Government for a central legal amendment on behalf of one occupational group is a clean example of Centre-State legislative interaction.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Ockhi Cyclone Ockhi — The 2017 cyclone in which many Kerala fishermen went missing at sea.
15 October 2026
Fisheries Minister V.E. Abdul Gafoor told the Kerala Legislative Assembly that the Government plans a comprehensive housing scheme for fishermen that would merge existing programmes, including Punargeham, into a single scheme. He said the Government is actively considering raising the house-construction grant, because complaints say the present amount is not enough, and that the Punargeham budget has not been cut and funds will be given to complete the houses. He was replying to Parakkal Abdulla, who raised complaints that LIFE Mission houses were not reaching fishermen on time. The Minister said the State aims to double fish production within five years with new inland fisheries projects, and that Rs 50 crore has been allocated under the sub-plan for Blue Economy activities. Tourism projects at existing harbours will be examined, and Vettam panchayat will be considered for the Integrated Model Village project in a later phase. Questions were also raised by T.M. Sasi, Faisal Babu, V. Muraleedharan, Kurukkoli Moideen, C.V. Shanthakumar and P.K. Navas.
Blue Economy sub-plan allocation:
Rs 50 crore
Fish production target:
Double within five years
Why it matters for exams: Merging Punargeham into one fishermen housing scheme, with the Blue Economy sub-plan figure, links welfare delivery to the coastal economy.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Punargeham Punargeham scheme — Kerala's scheme to move fishing families living within 50 m of the sea to safer housing.
LIFE Mission Livelihood Inclusion and Financial Empowerment Mission — Kerala's mass housing mission for the landless and homeless.
15 October 2026
The Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority has invited applications for appointment on contract to five posts: Chief Engineer, Town Planner, Administrative and Revenue Officer, Assistant Executive Engineer (Civil) and Assistant Executive Engineer (Electrical). Retired employees of the Government or of local self-government institutions who held these same posts may apply. Applications, with a biodata and a self-addressed envelope bearing a postage stamp, must reach the Secretary, Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority, Jayamansion, Vazhuthacad, Sasthamangalam PO, Thiruvananthapuram 10, before 5 p.m. on 26 October. The notice gives the phone number 2722748, the website www.trida.kerala.gov.in and the e-mail tridasecretary@gmail.com.
Posts:
Five, including Chief Engineer and Town Planner
Last date:
26 October, before 5 p.m.
Why it matters for exams: TRIDA is one of the statutory development authorities a Kerala PSC candidate is expected to place, and the notice fixes both the posts and the deadline.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
TRIDA Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority — The statutory authority for planned development in the Thiruvananthapuram region.
14 October 2026
The Kerala Puraskarams, the State's highest honours, will be presented at Lok Bhavan at 11 a.m. on 22 October by the Governor, with the Chief Minister presiding.
These are the 2025 awards, whose recipients were announced on 31 October 2025.
The State Government instituted the awards to honour lifetime contributions of distinguished persons in various fields.
Dr. M.R. Raghava Warrier (education) receives the Kerala Jyothi.
Aneesh P.B. (agriculture) and Rajasree Warrier (art) receive the Kerala Prabha.
Sasikumar (journalism), Shahal Hasan Musliyar (education), Vimal Govind M.K. (start-up), Jilumol Mariet Thomas (various fields) and Abhilash Tomy (sports) receive the Kerala Sree.
Presentation:
22 October, Lok Bhavan
Kerala Jyothi:
Dr. M.R. Raghava Warrier
Kerala Prabha:
2 recipients
Kerala Sree:
5 recipients
Why it matters for exams: The three tiers of the Kerala Puraskaram and their recipients are standard Kerala PSC award questions.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Kerala Puraskaram Kerala Puraskaram — Kerala's highest civilian honours, given in three tiers: Kerala Jyothi, Kerala Prabha and Kerala Sree.
Lok Bhavan Lok Bhavan — The official residence of the Governor in Thiruvananthapuram.
14 October 2026
SC/ST and Backward Classes Welfare Minister K.A. Thulasi told the Assembly that 546 of the 860 nagars chosen under the Ambedkar Grama development scheme from 2016 to 2026 have been completed.
Under the Dakshayani scheme, self-employment ventures of Scheduled Caste women get a subsidy of up to 75 per cent of project cost: up to ₹10 lakh for groups and ₹3.75 lakh for individuals.
The Panchami Grama scheme gives ₹40 lakh to a village, with at most two villages per Assembly constituency a year.
A study-room grant of ₹2 lakh will reach 5,000 Scheduled Caste students this year, and four new post-matric hostels are planned.
The Samagra 2026 scheme has given loans of over ₹200 crore to more than 16,000 beneficiaries; 17 mobile medical units serve tribal areas.
Ambedkar Grama nagars completed:
546 of 860
Panchami Grama grant:
₹40 lakh a village
Dakshayani subsidy:
Up to 75% (₹10 lakh group / ₹3.75 lakh individual)
Study-room grant:
₹2 lakh, 5,000 students
Why it matters for exams: Kerala's SC/ST welfare schemes, their names and their ceilings are routinely asked in Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Nagar Nagar — The term Kerala now uses for settlements earlier called colonies, chiefly of Scheduled Caste and tribal families.
Post-matric hostel Post-matric hostel — A hostel for students studying beyond Class 10.
14 October 2026
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala flagged off 164 new police vehicles at the Police Training College, Thycaud.
Of these, 84 vehicles bought for ₹10.92 crore are for anti-drug work including DANSAF.
24 vehicles costing ₹5.04 crore go to district and range-level Narcotic Control Units.
56 vehicles costing ₹7.69 crore are for the district Anti-Terrorist Squads and the Intelligence wing, including counter-intelligence.
The minister also honoured Kerala Police athletes who did well at the Asian Games: Assistant Commandant Sajan Prakash and Havildars Manu T.S., Ansa Babu and Erin Varghese.
State Police Chief Ravada Azad Chandrasekhar presided.
Total vehicles:
164
Anti-drug (incl. DANSAF):
84 vehicles, ₹10.92 crore
Narcotic Control Units:
24 vehicles, ₹5.04 crore
Anti-terror and intelligence:
56 vehicles, ₹7.69 crore
Why it matters for exams: Police modernisation figures, DANSAF and the officers named are likely Kerala PSC current-affairs material.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
DANSAF District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force — A district-level Kerala Police team that acts against drug trafficking.
ATS Anti-Terrorist Squad — A police unit that handles terrorism-related investigation and prevention.
14 October 2026
The Kerala State Information Commission has decided to seek an explanation from the Kochi Corporation.
The civic body had decided to hand over details of people who repeatedly file applications under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau for a probe into their finances.
A Commission meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, chaired by Chief Information Commissioner Hari Nair, found the move contrary to the provisions of the RTI Act.
The meeting noted that such a step would curtail the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a).
The Commission's secretary has sought clarification from the Corporation secretary, including a copy of any resolution passed.
Body:
Kerala State Information Commission
Chief Information Commissioner:
Hari Nair
Right cited:
Article 19(1)(a)
Why it matters for exams: The RTI Act, 2005, the State Information Commission and Article 19(1)(a) are core polity topics for both Kerala PSC and UPSC.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
RTI Right to Information — The 2005 law that lets citizens obtain information held by public authorities.
VACB Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau — Kerala's agency for investigating corruption by public servants.
14 October 2026
The Kerala Maritime Board (Amendment) Bill was presented in the Assembly on Wednesday and later referred to a subject committee.
An amendment to Section 3 makes the Chief Minister the chairperson of the board, with Ports, Fisheries, Industries, Finance, Revenue, Law and Coastal Security represented on it.
A new Section 7A lists the board's responsibilities in 48 clauses.
Under a new Section 22A, a State maritime land bank will be formed from land under government control.
Section 22 is amended to give a statutory framework for public-private partnerships, with concession tenure of up to 45 years.
The changes are part of the government's 'Mission Samudra' for port-led development.
New chairperson:
Chief Minister
Responsibilities (Section 7A):
48 clauses
PPP concession tenure:
Up to 45 years
Programme:
Mission Samudra
Why it matters for exams: Port governance, PPP concessions and the Kerala Maritime Board are linked to Vizhinjam and are likely Kerala PSC and UPSC economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
PPP Public-Private Partnership — A project model in which government and private investors share investment and risk.
Subject committee Subject committee — An Assembly committee that examines a Bill in detail before it is passed.
Land bank Land bank — A pool of government land kept ready for allotment to projects.
14 October 2026
Transport Minister C.P. John introduced the Kerala Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Assembly on Wednesday.
It provides for Approved Vehicle Seizure Yards in every taluk to keep vehicles seized for non-payment of tax.
Under the Kerala Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1976, MVD officers of Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector rank and above and police of Sub-Inspector rank and above can seize such vehicles, but lack of suitable land had hampered enforcement.
Owners must pay transport and parking charges before release, even after showing proof of tax payment; rates will be fixed later.
The Bill was referred to the subject committee.
Parent Act:
Kerala Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1976
Yards:
One in every taluk
Moved by:
Transport Minister C.P. John
Why it matters for exams: State Bills introduced in the Assembly, the ministers who moved them and the parent Acts are frequent Kerala PSC questions.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
MVD Motor Vehicles Department — The State department that registers vehicles, issues licences and collects vehicle tax.
Taluk Taluk — A revenue sub-division of a district.
14 October 2026
Revenue Minister A.P. Anilkumar told the Assembly that desilting of rivers would restart by December-end or early January, with 182 quays identified, to be operated by local bodies; clearances from the Industries and Environment Departments are still pending.
Irrigation Minister Mons Joseph said desilting had stopped in the State by 2017.
He cited a Kerala Engineering Research Institute study showing the carrying capacity of 15 Irrigation Department dams had fallen by an average of 13.82%.
Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan raised flooding around Vembanad Lake, which cannot drain the five rivers that flow into it.
The Chief Minister assured a time-bound project to protect the Vembanad region, affecting Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and parts of Ernakulam.
Restart:
December-end or early January
Quays identified:
182
Dam capacity loss (15 dams):
13.82% average
Desilting halted:
By 2017
Why it matters for exams: Vembanad Lake, Kuttanad flooding and river sand mining are recurring Kerala geography and environment topics.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
KERI Kerala Engineering Research Institute — The Irrigation Department's research institute at Peechi, Thrissur.
Desilting Desilting — Removing sand and silt from river beds and reservoirs to restore their capacity.