19 October 2026
General Education Minister Adv. N. Shamsudheen said the Government is drawing up a scheme to start skill development centres in schools in the State from the upper primary level, to identify and nurture children's aptitude.
He was speaking after inaugurating the new building of Kappumukham GLP School in Thazhekode grama panchayat.
As part of the hundred-day programme the department is upgrading single-teacher schools into LP schools and has sanctioned 60 additional Plus One batches in the district.
The Minister said reforms would be brought into school education through Digital Square and the ARISE project, which introduces artificial intelligence.
The two-classroom building was completed at a cost of 50 lakh rupees from the asset development fund of Perinthalmanna MLA Najeeb Kanthapuram, who presided over the function.
New building cost:
50 lakh rupees
Additional Plus One batches in the district:
60
Why it matters for exams: Kerala PSC asks about new school education initiatives and the departments that run them.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
GLP School Government Lower Primary School — A State-run school covering Standards 1 to 4.
19 October 2026
State Planning Board Vice Chairperson K.M. Chandrasekhar said local self-government institutions must become development units that create jobs for young people instead of being mere fund-spending bodies.
He was delivering the keynote address at the district-level idea-formulation meeting held as part of the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan, which begins in the 2027-28 financial year.
He said the State's growth rate over the past five years is 4.1 per cent and the unemployment rate is 29.8 per cent.
Own tax revenue has shrunk to 6.41 per cent of GSDP and capital expenditure to 1.34 per cent, about 22,000 to 23,000 crore rupees.
The Board will convert every department's schemes into specific, measurable, time-bound and result-oriented SMART projects, with the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode assisting in plan formulation.
Growth rate of the past five years:
4.1 per cent
Unemployment rate:
29.8 per cent
Own tax revenue as share of GSDP:
6.41 per cent
Capital expenditure:
1.34 per cent of GSDP
Why it matters for exams: Plan periods, growth and unemployment figures and the Planning Board's role are standard Kerala PSC economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
GSDP Gross State Domestic Product — The total value of goods and services produced in a State in a year.
19 October 2026
Public Works Minister P.K. Basheer said the State needs a development policy based on private and co-operative partnership rather than dependence on government funds alone.
He said no construction work will begin unless at least 80 per cent of the land has been acquired, because starting bridges without land for approach roads creates liabilities of crores of rupees and delays of years.
The Government is considering a special revenue wing under the Public Works Department to speed up land acquisition.
He said the Government aims to implement large roads and bypasses on a joint venture model that brings in investors from within the State and from the expatriate sector.
He was speaking at the State Planning Board's district-level idea-formulation meeting in Malappuram, and said meetings in all 14 districts would be completed by mid-December before the Planning Board finalises the new development document.
Minimum land acquired before construction:
80 per cent
District meetings to be completed by:
Mid-December
Why it matters for exams: Land acquisition thresholds and joint venture models in public works are current governance points for Kerala PSC.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Joint venture Joint venture model — A project built with pooled investment by the Government and private partners.
19 October 2026
The Minority Welfare Department is giving financial assistance for house renovation to widows and to women who are divorced or abandoned, belonging to minority religious communities.
Under the Imbichi Bava Housing Renovation Scheme the assistance is 50,000 rupees for the repair of one house, and the amount need not be repaid.
People belonging to the Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, Parsi and Jain communities may apply.
The aid is for improving basic facilities such as windows, doors, roof, floor, plumbing, sanitation and electrification.
The area of the house in the applicant's own name or her partner's name must not exceed 1,200 square feet, and the applicant must be the sole earner in the family, with preference for BPL families.
Applications must be submitted on the department's form with a copy of the 2026-27 land tax receipt and the ration card, and the last date is October 22.
Assistance per house:
50,000 rupees
Maximum house area:
1,200 square feet
Last date:
October 22
Why it matters for exams: Named Kerala welfare schemes, their amounts and their eligibility limits are directly asked in Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
BPL Below Poverty Line — A household classification used to set priority for welfare benefits.
19 October 2026
The Motor Vehicles Department and the police held a wide vehicle inspection in different areas of Ernakulam district as part of Operation Toofan 2.0.
The inspection, held on the direction of Deputy Inspector General of Police Yatheesh Chandra, found 159 violations, for which challans were prepared and fines of 8,06,500 rupees were imposed.
It was led by Ernakulam Enforcement Regional Transport Officer Biju Isaac and Aluva Deputy Superintendent of Police Baiju Paulose, and ran from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m.
About a hundred officers of the police and the Motor Vehicles Department worked in separate squads, mainly at Angamaly Karukutty, Karayamparambu, Perumbavoor, Aluva, Moovattupuzha, Koothattukulam and Neriamangalam.
Violations found included driving without a licence, vehicles run without tax paid, use of vehicles without the required permit, driving without insurance cover, unauthorised alteration of vehicles, unauthorised colour lights, covered number plates and vehicles not using High Security Registration Plates.
Violations found:
159
Fines imposed:
8,06,500 rupees
Inspection hours:
4 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Why it matters for exams: Named enforcement drives and the agencies that run them appear in Kerala PSC current affairs.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
HSRP High Security Registration Plate — A tamper-resistant number plate that vehicles must carry.
19 October 2026
Following the rainfall forecast of the India Meteorological Department, an orange alert was declared for October 17 in Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur districts.
As part of the warning, the release said sirens forming part of the Kavacham warning system would sound between 4 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. in those five districts.
The release says the sirens would sound in the districts where the orange alert had been declared.
The notice was issued by the Information and Public Relations Department as press note number 4369/2026.
Districts under orange alert:
5
Siren window:
4 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Date of the alert:
October 17
Why it matters for exams: Kerala's colour-coded alerts and the Kavacham warning system are asked in disaster management questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Orange alert Orange alert — A warning level signalling very heavy rain and a need to be prepared to act.
19 October 2026
The bridge at Iruttukuthikkadavu has ended seven years of hardship caused by the flood, and the intervention of Aryadan Shoukath MLA helped to make it a reality.
The Iruttukuthi bridge leading to the tribal settlements inside the Mundery forest was destroyed in the flood of 2019.
People of the Vaniyampuzha, Iruttukuthi, Kumbalappara and Tharippapotti settlements inside the Mundery forest had been reaching the outside world on a bamboo raft, and were cut off during the rains when the raft could not be launched.
Food supplies were taken to them by the Fire Force dinghy boat and by helicopter.
In 2023 Aryadan Shoukath and Sudha of the Vaniyampuzha settlement moved the High Court with a public interest petition seeking rehabilitation, and construction of the bridge at Iruttukuthikkadavu began on the court's direction.
Year the old bridge was destroyed:
2019
Settlements served:
4
Year of the public interest petition:
2023
Why it matters for exams: Tribal connectivity projects and court-driven rehabilitation are recurring Kerala PSC themes.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Unnathi Tribal settlement — The local Malayalam term for a tribal hamlet in the forest.
19 October 2026
Field-level work of the ReLove project, led by Ernakulam District Collector G. Priyanka to cut the quantity of waste and promote a culture of reuse, began at the Tower of Faith apartment in Kakkanad.
The District Collector inaugurated the swap shop organised as part of the project with the support of the District Suchitwa Mission.
The programme was organised by the Tower of Faith Apartment Owners Association under the District Suchitwa Mission with the co-operation of Pelican Kenterra Pvt. Ltd.
The main aim of the swap shop is to reduce waste generation and ensure reuse of resources by exchanging items kept unused at home but still usable.
Residents brought books of various kinds, toys, pens and clothes for exchange, and the project stresses reducing waste at source rather than focusing only on collection and treatment.
Project:
ReLove
District:
Ernakulam
Why it matters for exams: District-level waste reduction models and the Suchitwa Mission's role are asked in Kerala PSC environment questions.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Swap shop Swap shop — A stall where usable items are exchanged instead of being thrown away.
19 October 2026
A sports coach is being appointed at the Thanur Government Regional Technical High School to give football training to students as part of the Fisheries Department's Vidyatheeram scheme.
Those who have proved their ability in football at the State level, or coaches recognised by the Sports Council, may apply.
The interview for eligible candidates will be held on October 27 at 11.30 a.m. at the office of the Deputy Director of Fisheries at Chandappadi in Ponnani.
Candidates must attend the interview with original documents.
Interview date:
October 27, 11.30 a.m.
Scheme:
Vidyatheeram
Why it matters for exams: Vidyatheeram is a named Fisheries Department education scheme that Kerala PSC asks about.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Vidyatheeram Vidyatheeram scheme — A Kerala Fisheries Department scheme supporting education in coastal areas.
19 October 2026
Spot allotment for the B.Pharm course will be held at five government medical colleges in Kerala for the seats that remain vacant.
Five seats at Kannur Government Medical College will be filled on October 24 at 11 a.m., and two seats at Kozhikode Government Medical College on October 26 at 11 a.m.
Two seats at Kottayam Government Medical College will be filled on October 28 at 11 a.m., two at the Government T.D. Medical College Alappuzha on October 29 at 11 a.m., and two at Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College on October 30 at 11 a.m.
Vacancies arising later in these colleges will also be filled through the spot allotment held on those days.
Only students who produce original records, the original transfer certificate and other related documents will be considered, and those allotted a seat must pay the fee and take admission the same day.
Colleges holding spot allotment:
5
Seats at Kannur:
5
First allotment date:
October 24
Why it matters for exams: Admission procedures and the Directorate of Medical Education's role are useful Kerala PSC general awareness points.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Spot allotment Spot allotment — Filling leftover seats by calling candidates to the college on a fixed day.
19 October 2026
Applications had been invited for appointment as District Mission Coordinator and Assistant District Mission Coordinator on deputation in the State Poverty Eradication Mission, which is Kudumbashree.
The qualification for those posts has now been changed.
The amended notification is available at www.kudumbashree.org.
Applications may be submitted in accordance with that amended notification.
The notice was issued by the Information and Public Relations Department as press note number 4387/2026.
Mode of appointment:
Deputation
Where the amended notification is available:
www.kudumbashree.org
Why it matters for exams: Kudumbashree is the State Poverty Eradication Mission, and its official name and structure are asked directly.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Deputation Deputation — Temporary posting of a serving government employee to another body.
Background
The Directorate of Enforcement has pasted summons at a former Kerala Chief Minister's residence, which puts the agency's own standing position in view. The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), established in 1956, is the premier financial investigation agency of the Government of India. It functions under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It is entrusted with enforcing laws relating to foreign exchange management and anti-money laundering. The Directorate moved from the administration of FERA to FEMA, and today leads the enforcement of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA).
Established:
1956
Parent department:
Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
Key laws:
FEMA, PMLA, FEOA
Why it matters for exams: When an enforcement summons is in the Kerala news, examiners ask which ministry the Directorate sits under and which Acts it enforces.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
PMLA Prevention of Money Laundering Act — The central law against money laundering that the Directorate of Enforcement now mainly enforces.
FEMA Foreign Exchange Management Act — The law on foreign exchange that replaced FERA in India.
FEOA Fugitive Economic Offenders Act — The law used against economic offenders who leave the country to avoid prosecution.