17 October 2026
Kudumbashree will hold the National Saras Fair at Valiyaparamba, near Thalappara, in Malappuram district from 22 to 31 December. The fair is organised under the central and state governments. More than 300 stalls will be set up, of which 250 will be product stalls of Kudumbashree entrepreneurs from several states, besides food stalls. The ten-day fair will also carry arts and cultural programmes and seminars. The meeting to form the organising committee will be held on 24 October at 10.30 am at the Pullattu Convention Centre, Valiyaparamba, chaired by Local Self Government Minister K.M. Shaji.
Fair dates:
22 to 31 December
Product stalls:
250
Total stalls:
More than 300
Why it matters for exams: Kudumbashree's marketing platforms and the ministers holding current portfolios are standard Kerala PSC questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Kudumbashree State Poverty Eradication Mission, Kerala — Kerala's women-centred poverty eradication mission, working through neighbourhood groups under the Local Self Government Department.
17 October 2026
At the State Planning Board's district consultation for the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan, Malappuram's MLAs submitted a written demand for population-proportionate distribution of resources and a special package to close the district's development backlog. The release records that Malabar, with about half the state's population, receives about one-third of resources. In government hospitals the state average is one bed for every 928 people and one doctor for every 5,570, while Malappuram has one bed for every 1,861 and one doctor for every 7,437. Only 11.7 per cent of the district's Plus Two passers get access to government or aided colleges and polytechnics, against about 42 per cent in many districts. The MLAs who placed demands were Adv. M. Rahmathullah, T.V. Ibrahim, Prof. Abid Hussain Thangal, T.P. Ashraf Ali, V.S. Joy and P.K. Navas.
Hospital beds, Malappuram:
One for every 1,861 people
Hospital beds, state average:
One for every 928 people
Plus Two access to government or aided colleges:
11.7 per cent
Why it matters for exams: District-level disparity figures from an official release are usable in both Kerala PSC descriptive answers and UPSC governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
State Planning Board Kerala State Planning Board — The advisory body that drafts Kerala's five-year and annual plans, chaired by the Chief Minister.
17 October 2026
Public Works Minister P.K. Basheer said Kerala needs a development policy built on private and co-operative participation rather than on government funds alone. He said large roads and bypasses are to be funded through joint-venture projects with investors in Kerala and non-resident Malayali investors. He also said a special revenue wing is under consideration under the Public Works Department to speed up land acquisition. He was speaking at the State Planning Board's district idea-formulation meeting in Malappuram. The Planning Board intends to complete such meetings in all 14 districts by mid-December before finalising the new development document.
District meetings to be completed by:
Mid-December
Districts covered:
14
Why it matters for exams: The financing model a state chooses for roads is a recurring question on public private partnership and state finance.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Joint venture Joint venture project — A project in which the government and private or co-operative investors together put in capital and share the returns.
17 October 2026
The Dairy Farmers' Meet 2026 was held at the Vadavukode block panchayat in Ernakulam district as part of a knowledge-dissemination programme for dairy farmers. V.P. Sajeendran MLA inaugurated it and block panchayat president Amrutha Sanoop presided. The block panchayat, the grama panchayats in the block and the dairy co-operative societies organised it jointly. The programme carried exhibitions, discussions, dairy quizzes and a dairy development seminar. Awards were given for young farmers, co-operative societies, the highest milk producer, use of Kshiravardhini scheme funds, grass farms and milk quality, besides education awards from the Dairy Farmers' Welfare Fund.
District:
Ernakulam
Inaugurated by:
V.P. Sajeendran MLA
Why it matters for exams: Kerala PSC asks about dairy co-operative structures and the welfare funds and schemes attached to them.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Kshiravardhini Kshiravardhini scheme — A Kerala dairy development scheme whose funds go to dairy co-operative societies for raising local milk production.
17 October 2026
The district-level launch of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day and Elders' Day was held at EMEA College, Kondotty, in Malappuram district. The Health Department and Arogya Keralam Malappuram organised it jointly. District Medical Officer Dr V. Vinod inaugurated the programme and asked people to be ready to give care and affection to elders and to those who need long-term care. Arogya Keralam district programme manager Dr K.M. Janif presided, college principal Dr A.M. Riyad delivered the day's message, and district palliative care coordinator P. Faisal led an awareness class.
Venue:
EMEA College, Kondotty
Inaugurated by:
District Medical Officer Dr V. Vinod
Why it matters for exams: Kerala's palliative care network and the Arogya Keralam structure are frequently asked in state health questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Arogya Keralam Arogya Keralam, National Health Mission, Kerala — The state health mission that runs National Health Mission programmes in Kerala through district units.
19 October 2026
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. directed the State to release Rs 9,73,85,000 towards 225 claims under the Victim Compensation Scheme, preferably within five weeks. The claims had been pending before the Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, since 16 September 2026 and arose up to July 2026. The court ordered that all pending disbursements be completed within three weeks of the order. The direction came in suo motu proceedings on the working of mediation centres in Kerala, in WP(C) 42844/2025 and a connected case. The Bench also directed payment of mediator honorarium at the rates in the government order of 30 September 2026, which gives Rs 4,500 for a case settled through mediation.
Amount to be released:
Rs 9,73,85,000
Pending claims:
225
Mediator honorarium per settled case:
Rs 4,500
Why it matters for exams: The Victim Compensation Scheme and the legal services authorities that administer it are standard law and polity topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
KeLSA Kerala State Legal Services Authority — The statutory body that provides free legal services and runs legal aid and mediation work in Kerala.
Suo motu Suo motu proceedings — A case the court takes up on its own, without anyone filing a petition.
18 October 2026
The Kerala government directed the cancellation of licences issued for selling Horti wine through bakeries, and recommended disciplinary action against the official who issued the order. Horti wine is a fruit-based drink with alcohol content of up to 15 per cent. The sales rested on a January 2024 amendment to the Foreign Liquor Rules, which allowed fruit wine to be sold through hypermarkets, supermarkets, shopping malls and bakeries with a minimum floor area of 100 square metres. Drinking on the premises was prohibited. Retailers paid an annual licence fee of Rs 10,000 and received a 20 per cent commission on sales. Sales had begun at a bakery in Chalakudy. Four manufacturing units had been permitted to produce Horti wine. The Excise Minister directed officials to review the amendment.
Alcohol content:
Up to 15 per cent
Minimum floor area for a retail outlet:
100 square metres
Annual licence fee:
Rs 10,000
Commission on sales:
20 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Kerala's excise rules on fruit wine and the licensing conditions attached to them are exam-ready administrative facts.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Abkari Abkari Act — Kerala's principal law on liquor, under which excise rules and licences are framed.
17 October 2026
The Office of the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations notified Stray Vacancy Allotment to MBBS/BDS Courses with a facility to register new options, dated 17-10-2026 on the KEAM 2026 notifications page. The third phase allotment list for admission to MBBS and BDS courses under KEAM 2026 is dated 11-10-2026 on the same page, and the third phase provisional allotment was published earlier, on 08-10-2026. The page also carries the KEAM 2026 MBBS/BDS tentative vacancy position and a Malayalam notification on spot allotment to the B.Pharm course for the 2026-27 academic year, both dated 17-10-2026, together with a list of candidates ineligible to participate in State quota counselling. The Commissioner conducts entrance examinations and allotment to professional degree courses through the Centralized Allotment Process.
Stray vacancy notification date:
17-10-2026
Third phase allotment list published:
11-10-2026
Provisional third phase published:
08-10-2026
Authority:
Commissioner for Entrance Examinations
Why it matters for exams: The Centralized Allotment Process, the phases of KEAM allotment and the role of the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations are standard Kerala administration questions.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
CAP Centralized Allotment Process — The single window process through which the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations makes merit-based allotments to professional courses in Kerala.
KEAM Kerala Engineering Architecture and Medical — The state entrance process for admission to engineering, architecture and medical streams in Kerala.
30 September 2026
The Kerala Public Service Commission's extraordinary gazette carries notifications from Cat.No.151/2026 to Cat.No.161/2026 for the year 2026, and the last date for applications is 04-11-2026. The categories include Draftsman Grade-II in the Kerala Ports service, Hydrographic Survey Wing, as Cat.No.151/2026; Peon or Watchman by direct recruitment from among the part-time employees in KSFE Ltd. as Cat.No.152/2026; Forest Boat Driver Part-I in Forest and Wildlife as Cat.No.153/2026 and Forest Boat Driver Part-II by transfer as Cat.No.154/2026; Higher Secondary School Teacher in Statistics, a special recruitment for Scheduled Tribes only, in Kerala Higher Secondary Education as Cat.No.155/2026; Draftsman Grade-II or Town Planning Surveyor Grade-II, a special recruitment for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, in the Local Self Government Department Group IV Planning Wing as Cat.No.156/2026; Higher Secondary School Teacher Junior Arabic as Cat.No.157 and 158/2026; and Police Constable Driver or Woman Police Constable Driver in Kerala Police as Cat.No.159/2026. Two further Peon or Watchman categories in KSFE Ltd. are notified as Cat.No.160/2026 and Cat.No.161/2026.
Category range:
CAT.NO.151/2026 TO CAT.NO.161/2026
Last date:
04-11-2026
Year:
2026
Commission address:
Thulasi Hills, Pattom Palace P.O., Thiruvananthapuram 695 004
Why it matters for exams: Category numbers, the department behind each post and the last date are exactly what Kerala PSC aspirants are tested on and must act upon.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
KSFE Kerala State Financial Enterprises — A Kerala government company whose posts are filled through the Public Service Commission, including by recruitment from its part-time employees.
Background
The Kerala Public Service Commission is a body created by the Constitution of India. It advises the Government on all matters relating to civil services referred to it under Article 320 (3) of the Constitution. It publishes notifications inviting applications for selection to various posts as per the requisitions of the appointing authorities. It conducts written tests, practical tests, physical efficiency tests and interviews. It prepares a ranked list based on the performance of the candidates. It advises candidates for appointment strictly based on their merit, observing the rules of reservation as and when vacancies are reported. The head office of the Commission is at Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram, the State capital.
Constitutional basis for its advice:
Article 320 (3)
Head office:
Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram
Basis of advice for appointment:
Merit, observing the rules of reservation
Why it matters for exams: Every Kerala PSC gazette notification is issued by this body, and its constitutional footing is a standing question in both state and civil services papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Ranked list Rank list prepared by the Commission — The merit order in which the Commission advises candidates for appointment.
Background
The Coir Board was set up under the Coir Industry Act, 1953 by the Government of India for the overall sustainable development of the coir industry in the country. Its functions under the Act include scientific, technological and economic research, modernization, quality improvement, human resource development, market promotion and the welfare of all those engaged in the industry. The head quarters of the Board is located at Coir House, M.G. Road, Kochi, Kerala. The Board runs 48 establishments, including 29 marketing outlets, across the country. The coir industry was concentrated in the State of Kerala and has since spread to other parts of the country through the work of the Board. The Ministry of MSME takes up coir sector programmes in association with the Coir Board, and the Board's schemes include the Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme.
Statute:
Coir Industry Act, 1953
Head quarters:
Coir House, M.G. Road, Kochi
Establishments:
48, including 29 marketing outlets
Ministry working with the Board:
Ministry of MSME
Why it matters for exams: Kerala's coir twisting societies draw support from a central board set up by statute, so the Act, the head office and the Board's establishments are frequently asked.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
MDA Market Development Assistance — A Coir Board scheme that supports the marketing of coir products.
Background
The National Cadet Corps works under the Ministry of Defence. Its cadets are organised directorate-wise, and Kerala and Lakshadweep together make up one directorate. The Kerala and Lakshadweep directorate had 87882 enrolled cadets as on 15.12.2021. The total enrolled strength of the NCC at that count was 14,09,571 cadets. Training activities are governed by the National Cadet Corps Rules, 1948. Under those Rules a cadet undergoes service training of 4 hours per week and for a minimum of 65 hours in a training year. A Senior Division unit holds an annual training camp of 14 days and a Junior Division unit one of 10 days. Certain vacancies in the Armed Forces are reserved for NCC cadets.
Directorate:
Kerala and Lakshadweep
Enrolled cadets in the directorate (as on 15.12.2021):
87882
Total NCC enrolled strength:
14,09,571
Rules governing training:
National Cadet Corps Rules, 1948
Why it matters for exams: Battalion-level enrolment notices in Kerala sit inside this directorate structure, and the Rules, the camp durations and the directorate's strength are standard questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NCC National Cadet Corps — The youth organisation under the Ministry of Defence that trains school and college cadets.