17 October 2026
Justice S. Manu of the Kerala High Court refused to stay a State Government order of October 16 that reconstituted the Kerala State Waqf Board and appointed nine new members. The order came in WP(C) Nos. 36037 and 36041 of 2026, filed by K.S. Hazma, a former Chairperson of the Board, and C.K. Usman Haji, a former member. The court directed that the reconstitution shall be subject to the outcome of the writ petitions and issued notice to the newly appointed Chairperson and members. At the prima facie stage the judge recorded that he found no merit in the petitioners' submission that the reconstitution breached earlier Division Bench orders. The court relied on the Supreme Court decision in State of Maharashtra v. Shaikh Mahemud for the position that the power to appoint Board members carries with it the power to cancel those appointments. Both petitions were referred to the Division Bench already hearing related public interest litigation. The petitioners had invoked Sections 14(1)(b)(i), 14(1)(f), 14(6), 20 and 99(1) of the Waqf Act.
New members appointed:
9
Writ petitions:
WP(C) Nos. 36037 & 36041 of 2026
Date of government order:
October 16
Why it matters for exams: Waqf Board composition and the government's power of appointment and supersession are standard polity and law questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Waqf Waqf — A permanent dedication of property for a purpose recognised by Muslim law.
Prima facie Prima facie — On first examination, before the case is fully heard.
15 October 2026
Justice G. Girish of the Kerala High Court held that the amended requirements in Rules 83 and 86 of the Explosives Rules, 2008 cannot be insisted upon when a temporary licence for a fireworks shop is applied for. The ruling came in WP(C) 31093/2026, filed by Prasanth K., who sells fireworks temporarily during festival seasons, against the District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram, and another respondent. The Collector had asked the Tahsildar, the Station House Officer and the Fire and Rescue Services to check compliance with the amended Rules 83 and 86. Amended Rule 83 deals with building layout and exits, while amended Rule 86 adds requirements such as fire detection, sprinklers and backup power. The court pointed to Rule 84, which separately governs temporary licences, and to the phrase 'existing fireworks shop' in sub-rule 7 of Rule 86, holding that the legislature consciously used that term. The court said there is no justification for insisting on compliance with the amendments made to Rule 83 and Rule 86, and directed the authorities to consider and decide the application without applying the Rule 86 amendment requirements. The judgment is reported as 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 584.
Writ petition:
WP(C) 31093/2026
Rules considered:
Rules 83, 84 and 86 of the Explosives Rules, 2008
Citation:
2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 584
Why it matters for exams: Subordinate legislation and the distinction between permanent and temporary licences under the Explosives Rules are examinable law and governance points.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Sub-rule Sub-rule — A numbered division within a rule of subordinate legislation.
20 October 2026
The Kerala Information and Public Relations Department issued a fishermen's vigilance advisory on October 20, as press release PNX 4394/2026, carrying the Central Weather Department's warning. Fishing is prohibited along the Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep coasts on October 22 and 23, when winds of 35 to 45 kilometres an hour, at times rising to 55 kilometres an hour, are expected. Over the southwest Arabian Sea on October 20 and 21, winds of 40 to 50 kilometres an hour, at times rising to 60 kilometres an hour, are expected. In the Andaman Sea area, people are asked not to go fishing on October 23 and 24, when winds of 35 to 45 kilometres an hour, at times rising to 55 kilometres an hour, are expected.
Coasts where fishing is prohibited:
Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep
Dates of the prohibition:
22 and 23 October
Wind speed on those coasts:
35 to 45 km/h, at times up to 55 km/h
Southwest Arabian Sea winds:
40 to 50 km/h, at times up to 60 km/h
Press release number:
PNX 4394/2026
Why it matters for exams: Marine weather advisories and the coasts they cover are asked in Kerala PSC general awareness and geography sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Andaman Sea Andaman Sea — The sea east of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, between them and the Myanmar and Thailand coasts.
17 October 2026
Minister for Labour and Women and Child Development Bindu Krishna said the State Government will frame a new women's policy that addresses women's social and workplace safety along with their mental health and wellbeing. She was inaugurating a state-level seminar on the POSH Act 2013 and women's mental health, organised by the Kerala Women's Commission at the Thaikkad Government Rest House in Thiruvananthapuram. The minister said the policy will be drafted from suggestions gathered across sectors of society, with the aim of announcing it on the next International Women's Day. She said establishments with ten or more employees must have working internal complaints committees under the POSH Act 2013, and that the department will carry out close monitoring and strict inspections to ensure they function rather than exist on paper. Commission chairperson P. Satheedevi, who presided, said existing laws will protect women only if men are also made aware of them. Shiji V., Deputy Secretary in the Law Department, took a session on the POSH Act 2013, and Dr P.M. Binu Thottathil spoke on women's mental health. The release is numbered PNX 4365/2026.
Internal complaints committee threshold:
10 or more employees
Target for announcing the policy:
Next International Women's Day
Press release number:
PNX 4365/2026
Why it matters for exams: The POSH Act threshold of ten employees and the Kerala Women's Commission are recurring Kerala PSC questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
POSH Act Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 — The central law requiring internal complaints committees at workplaces with ten or more employees.
17 October 2026
Minister for Industries, Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence P.K. Kunhalikutty inaugurated a district level idea formulation meeting for the Fifteenth Five Year Plan at the conference hall of the District Planning Committee, Malappuram. He said Malappuram has a large infrastructure gap compared with other districts, especially in education and health, and that closing it will need large scale projects and major planning. He said classrooms in the district hold about 65 students each, which he called unscientific, and that treatment facilities including ventilators are not in proportion to the population. He said local bodies face limits on funds and borrowing, and urged the use of public private partnership models and private investment, noting that authorities have been set up at district and state levels to simplify partnership procedures. MLA M. Rahmathulla presided and State Planning Board Vice Chairman K.M. Chandrasekhar gave the introductory address. District Collector Dr Vinay Goel gave the welcome address and District Development Commissioner Sakshi Mohan attended. The morning session brought together elected representatives and district officials, and the afternoon session brought together experts and entrepreneurs.
Students per classroom cited:
about 65
District:
Malappuram
Plan being drafted:
Fifteenth Five Year Plan
Why it matters for exams: District planning committees and the Fifteenth Five Year Plan process are core Kerala governance topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
PPP Public Private Partnership — A model in which a government body and a private party jointly finance and run a project.
17 October 2026
The foundation stone for a new building for the Makkarapparamba family health centre in Malappuram district was laid by Minister for Local Self Government K.M. Shaji. The building costs 1.43 crore rupees and is funded by the National Health Mission through the Fifteenth Finance Commission grant. The minister called for wider health care campaigns on healthy eating habits and for strengthening health centres. Manjalamkuzhi Ali MLA presided over the function and Prof. K.K. Abid Hussain Thangal MLA was the chief guest. Dr K.M. Janif, District Programme Manager of Arogya Keralam, explained the project, and grama panchayat president C.P. Abdu Rahiman gave the welcome address. Dr P.T. Divya, Medical Officer of the health centre, gave the vote of thanks. District panchayat, block panchayat and grama panchayat office bearers, standing committee chairpersons and ward members attended.
Cost of the building:
1.43 crore rupees
Funding source:
National Health Mission through the Fifteenth Finance Commission grant
District:
Malappuram
Why it matters for exams: Family health centres and the funding route through the Fifteenth Finance Commission grant are examinable health governance facts.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
NHM National Health Mission — The central mission that funds state public health infrastructure and programmes.
17 October 2026
Provisional select lists of candidates for job opportunities expected through the Vadakara employment exchange in the period 2027 to 2029 have been published. The lists are available on the eemployment.kerala.gov.in website. Candidates may also examine them in person at the Vadakara Town Employment Exchange. Complaints and appeals about the lists may be submitted until November 18, either in person at the office or online.
Period covered by the lists:
2027 to 2029
Last date for complaints:
November 18
Website:
eemployment.kerala.gov.in
Why it matters for exams: Employment exchange procedures and their appeal windows are asked in Kerala PSC general awareness.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Select list Select list — A ranked list of candidates from which an employment exchange sponsors names for vacancies.
17 October 2026
The Employability Centre under the Ernakulam district employment exchange, together with the Kothamangalam employment exchange, will hold a one time lifetime registration drive for job seekers at the Kunnathunad town employment exchange on October 24 from 11 in the morning to half past three in the afternoon. The registration is meant for those seeking employment with prominent private sector companies. The registration fee is 300 rupees, and both registered and unregistered employment exchange members may register. Registrants receive soft skills training, career counselling, computer training including MS Office, and communication skills training free of cost, and may take part in job drives held at the Employability Centre at no cost. Applicants need a valid email address or phone number and one photo identity document, which may be an Aadhaar card, a voter identity card, a passport or a PAN card.
Date of the drive:
October 24
Time:
11 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
Registration fee:
300 rupees
Venue:
Kunnathunad town employment exchange
Why it matters for exams: Employability Centres and their services are part of Kerala's employment administration syllabus.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Employability Centre Employability Centre — A unit under a district employment exchange that links registered job seekers with private employers and gives skills training.
17 October 2026
Applications have been invited to form a panel of interventional radiologists in the radiology department of the super speciality block at Ernakulam General Hospital. Eligible applicants must submit documents proving their qualifications along with the application. Applications must reach the office of the Hospital Superintendent by five in the evening on October 24. The contact number given in the notice is 0484 2386000.
Hospital:
Ernakulam General Hospital
Last date and time:
5 p.m. on October 24
Contact number:
0484 2386000
Why it matters for exams: Panel appointments in government hospitals and the role of super speciality blocks appear in Kerala health administration questions.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Interventional radiology Interventional radiology — A branch of medicine that treats patients through small incisions guided by imaging rather than open surgery.
17 October 2026
The Kozhikode regional transport office announced that the driving test and the learners test scheduled for October 19 have been moved to October 24. The reason given is that October 19 is a public holiday.
Original test date:
October 19
New test date:
October 24
Office:
Kozhikode regional transport office
Why it matters for exams: Motor vehicle department testing procedure and the regional transport office's role are examinable administration facts.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
RTO Regional Transport Office — The district level office of the Motor Vehicles Department that licenses drivers and registers vehicles.
Background
Malappuram, the district where ministers have been setting priorities for the Fifteenth Five Year Plan and where the Makkarapparamba family health centre building was begun, was formed on 16th of June 1969. The district administration states its area as 3550 sq. kms, which is 9.13% of total area of the state, and says it ranks 3rd in the state by area. It lies between 75 to 77 East longitude and 10 Degree to 12 degree North Latitude. Its total forest area is 758.8684 sq km, made up of reserve forests of 325.3261 sq km and vested forests of 433.5423 sq km. Average annual rainfall is given as 290mm, with nearly 75 percent of the annual rains coming in the monsoon, and temperature ranging between 30 degree C and 20 degree C. The Chaliyar runs 169 KMs, the Kadalundippuzha takes a circuitus course of 130 Kms and the Tirurpuzha runs 48 Kms. About 50 Acres of mangrove forest lie at the Kadalundi estuary.
Formation date:
16th of June 1969
Area:
3550 sq. kms
Share of state area:
9.13%
Total forest area:
758.8684 sq km
Length of the Chaliyar:
169 KMs
Why it matters for exams: District formation dates, areas and river lengths are directly asked in Kerala PSC geography sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Vested forest Vested forest — Private forest land that vested in the government under Kerala's private forests legislation.