25 October 2026
The India Meteorological Department has placed Idukki and Palakkad under a red alert for Monday, shifting the warning from the northern districts.
For Sunday the red alert covers Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad, with an orange alert for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kannur.
A red alert means extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm in 24 hours; orange means 12 to 20 cm and yellow 7 to 11 cm.
Squally winds of 35 to 45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph are likely along and off the Kerala, Lakshadweep and Karnataka coasts, and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.
The warning lists flash floods, waterlogging, landslides and damage to standing crops among the likely effects.
Red alert threshold:
over 20 cm in 24 hours
Orange alert threshold:
12-20 cm
Yellow alert threshold:
7-11 cm
Wind speed:
35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph
Why it matters for exams: The rainfall thresholds behind IMD colour codes are asked directly in disaster management questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
IMD India Meteorological Department — The national weather agency that issues rainfall alerts and colour codes.
Northeast monsoon Northeast monsoon — The retreating monsoon that brings Kerala rain from October onwards.
25 October 2026
The Kerala Public Service Commission's latest notification list shows an Extra Ordinary Gazette dated 30/09/2026 carrying Cat.No.151/2026 to Cat.No.161/2026.
The last date for applications against that gazette is 04-11-2026.
The previous gazette, dated 31/08/2026, carried Cat.No. 130/2026 to Cat.No. 150/2026 with a last date of 07-10-2026, which has closed.
The gazette dated 30/07/2026 carried the largest block this year, Cat.No. 73/2026 to Cat.No. 128/2026.
Kerala PSC publishes its notifications as numbered categories in an extraordinary gazette, and candidates apply online through the Commission's One Time Registration profile.
Gazette date:
30/09/2026
Category numbers:
CAT.NO.151/2026 TO CAT.NO.161/2026
Last date:
04-11-2026
Why it matters for exams: Aspirants are examined on how Kerala PSC notifies posts, and the live category numbers and last dates decide who can apply.
Kerala PSCSSC
In plain words
Kerala PSC Kerala Public Service Commission — The constitutional body that recruits for Kerala government service.
Extraordinary gazette Extraordinary gazette — A special issue of the official gazette published outside the regular schedule.
One Time Registration One Time Registration — The single online profile every Kerala PSC applicant must create before applying.
Background
Ernakulam is a district of Kerala, and the district administration's own profile sets out where the district lies. Ernakulam borders the district of Thrissur in the north, Idukki in the East, Alappuzha and Kottayam in the south, and the Lakshadweep Sea in the west, and is described as an amalgam of a hoary heritage and global growth of industry and commerce. For the outside world, Ernakulam is part of Kochi referred to in the history of Kerala as the Queen of Arabian Sea. The densely populated Ernakulam District embodies the achievements of the Kerala State in literacy, industry, trade, and commerce, and the administration describes it as representing the high modern phase of the Kerala society.
District to the north:
Thrissur
District to the east:
Idukki
Districts to the south:
Alappuzha and Kottayam
Water body to the west:
Lakshadweep Sea
Why it matters for exams: The neighbouring districts of Ernakulam and the epithet used for Kochi are routine Kerala PSC questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
Queen of Arabian Sea — The name by which the history of Kerala refers to Kochi, as the district administration records.
Background
The Kerala High Court, which this week set aside the State's guidelines on producing arrested persons after 5 p.m., sits at Ernakulam in Kochi.
It was established on 1 November 1956 when the State of Kerala was formed, replacing the Travancore-Cochin High Court.
Its jurisdiction covers the State of Kerala and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
A Single Judge hears a writ petition at first instance, while a Division Bench of two judges hears appeals from a Single Judge as well as public interest litigation.
The Chief Justice is appointed by the President under Article 217 of the Constitution, on the collegium's recommendation.
Established:
1 November 1956
Jurisdiction:
Kerala and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep
Why it matters for exams: The Kerala High Court's seat, year of establishment and jurisdiction over Lakshadweep are standing Kerala PSC facts.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Division Bench Division Bench of a High Court — A bench of two or more judges that hears appeals from a Single Judge and public interest matters.
Background
Malappuram, one of the districts carrying the heaviest rain warning this weekend, was formed on the 16th of June 1969.
The district covers 3550 sq. kms, which is 9.13% of the state's total area and ranks 3rd in the state.
Four rivers flow through it — the Chaliyar, the Kadalundippuzha, the Bharathapuzha and the Tirurpuzha — and only the Chaliyar is perennial.
It is bounded by the Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu on the east, the Arabian Sea on the west, Kozhikode and Wayanad on the north, and Palakkad and Thrissur on the south.
The Nilambur and Wandoor blocks lie in its eastern, hilly part.
Formed:
16th of June 1969
Area:
3550 sq. kms
Share of State area:
9.13%
Why it matters for exams: District formation dates, area shares and river names are the staple of Kerala PSC geography.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Perennial river Perennial river — A river that carries water through the whole year.
Background
Pathanamthitta, under an orange rain alert in this spell, is the thirteenth revenue district of the State of Kerala.
It was formed with effect from 1 November 1982 under a government order dated 29 October 1982, G.O. (M.S) No.1026/82/RD.
The district headquarters is at Pathanamthitta.
It lies on the slopes of the Western Ghats and extends to low-lying rice fields bordering Alappuzha district.
Changanassery and Kanjirappally taluks of Kottayam district and Peerumade taluk of Idukki district lie to its north, Tamil Nadu to the east, Kunnathur, Pathanapuram and Kottarakkara taluks of Kollam district to the south, and Chengannur, Mavelikkara and Kuttanad taluks of Alappuzha district to the west.
Formed with effect from:
1 November 1982
Government order:
G.O. (M.S) No.1026/82/RD
Place among districts:
Thirteenth revenue district
Why it matters for exams: The order number and date of a district's formation, and its serial place among Kerala's districts, are asked directly.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Revenue district Revenue district — The unit of land administration headed by a District Collector.
Background
Kollam, on the yellow alert list in this rain spell, covers 2,491 sq km and had a population of 25,84,118.
The district was previously called Quilon and its administration is centred at Kollam City.
It has two revenue divisions, Kollam and Punalur, with three taluks under each.
Ashtamudi Lake, a large multi-branched water body with several islands, lies at the heart of the district.
Kollam has been the centre of Kerala's cashew industry since the Portuguese era in the 16th century, has hundreds of working cashew factories and is the largest processed cashew exporter in India.
The Arabian Sea lies to its west, Tamil Nadu to the east, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta to the north and Thiruvananthapuram to the south.
Area:
2,491 sq km
Population:
25,84,118
Revenue divisions:
Kollam and Punalur
Why it matters for exams: Kollam's area, population, cashew trade rank and Ashtamudi Lake are repeat Kerala PSC facts.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Revenue division Revenue division — A group of taluks under a Revenue Divisional Officer.
Background
Alappuzha, under a yellow rain alert in this spell, is described by its district administration as the smallest district of Kerala.
The Pamba, Manimala and Achenkovil rivers form a delta near the Vembanad lake in the district.
Kuttanad, called the rice bowl of Kerala, lies below sea level and was known in early Sangam-age literature.
The taluks of Cherthala, Ambalapuzha, Kuttanad and Karthikappally lie fully in low-lying land.
The present town owes its existence to Diwan Rajakesavadas in the second half of the 18th century, and the town was formerly called Alleppey.
The district lies between north latitudes 9°05′ and 9°54′ and east longitudes 76°17′30″ and 76°40′, with the Lakshadweep (Arabian) sea to its west.
Rank by size:
Smallest district of Kerala
Rivers forming the delta:
Pamba, Manimala, Achenkovil
Why it matters for exams: Kuttanad below sea level, the three rivers of the delta and Alappuzha's size rank are classic questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Kuttanad Kuttanad — The low-lying farming region of Kerala that lies below sea level.
Delta Delta — The fan of land and channels a river builds where it meets still water.
Background
Kottayam, under an orange rain alert in this spell, is in central Kerala with Kottayam town as its administrative capital.
The district administration records that Kottayam Town was the first town in India to have achieved 100% literacy, in 1989.
The district is bounded by the Western Ghats to the east and by Vembanad Lake and the Kuttanad paddy fields to the west.
It is nicknamed the land of letters, legends, latex and lakes.
Its western side, next to the Kuttanad paddy fields, is the part that floods when the rivers run high.
Full literacy achieved:
1989
Eastern boundary:
The Western Ghats
Why it matters for exams: The first fully literate town in India is a standard one-line question, and examiners test whether it is a town or a district.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Latex Latex — The milky sap tapped from rubber trees, central to Kottayam's economy.
Background
The Alappuzha district administration records that the present town owes its existence to Diwan Rajakesavadas in the second half of the 18th century.
The town was formerly called Alleppey.
Four taluks of the district lie fully in low-lying land: Cherthala, Ambalappuzha, Kuttanad and Karthikappally.
Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala, lies below sea level and was well known even from the early periods of the Sangam age.
The rivers Pamba, Manimala and Achenkovil form a delta near Vembanad lake.
Town's founder:
Diwan Rajakesavadas
Period:
Second half of the 18th century
Low-lying taluks:
Cherthala, Ambalapuzha, Kuttanad, Karthikappally
Why it matters for exams: Who founded Alappuzha town and which taluks lie wholly in low land are both asked in Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Diwan Diwan — The chief minister of a princely state such as Travancore.
Sangam age Sangam age — The early classical period of Tamil literature.
Background
The Pathanamthitta district administration lists the taluks that surround the district, which matters when its rivers are in spate.
To the north lie Changanassery and Kanjirappally taluks of Kottayam district and Peerumade taluk of Idukki district.
To the east lies Tamil Nadu.
To the south lie Kunnathur, Pathanapuram and Kottarakkara taluks of Kollam district.
To the west lie Chengannur, Mavelikkara and Kuttanad taluks of Alappuzha district.
The district itself runs from the slopes of the Western Ghats down to low-lying rice fields bordering Alappuzha.
Taluks to the north:
Changanassery, Kanjirappally, Peerumade
Taluks to the south:
Kunnathur, Pathanapuram, Kottarakkara
Taluks to the west:
Chengannur, Mavelikkara, Kuttanad
Why it matters for exams: Taluk-level boundaries between Kerala districts are asked in map and administration questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Taluk Taluk — The revenue unit below a district, headed by a Tahsildar.