27 October 2026
The Kerala Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed the Kerala Senior Citizens' (Care and Protection of Rights) Bill, 2026, after a debate in which nearly 1,300 amendments were moved. The Bill rests on six guiding principles, including dignity and respect, ageing in place and home-based care, independence with opportunities to earn income, and participation in policymaking. The rights it lays down include priority shelter for senior women in government and government-aided care centres, affordable home care regardless of gender or sexual orientation, senior-friendly public spaces under universal design principles, digital inclusion and safety, free legal aid, and access to affordable assistive products such as mobility aids, hearing aids and spectacles. Registered medical practitioners and care centres must report abuse, neglect or exploitation to the District Level Senior Citizen Protection Unit within 48 hours, with evidence. Cruelty towards a senior citizen is punishable with up to three years in jail, and the definition covers conduct likely to force an elder out of their home and harassment to coerce unlawful demands for property. The Government will prescribe a unified geriatric care curriculum that training centres must follow. The law builds on the Kerala State Senior Citizens Commission Act, 2025 and the central Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
Amendments moved:
nearly 1,300
Reporting deadline for abuse:
48 hours
Punishment for cruelty:
up to three years in jail
Why it matters for exams: The central law on elder care is the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, and Kerala's new Bill adds District Level Senior Citizen Protection Units on top of it - the Act and the enforcing body are both askable.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Universal design Universal design — Designing buildings and spaces so that people of all ages and abilities can use them without special adaptation.
Geriatric care Geriatric care — Health care that deals with the illnesses and needs of old age.
27 October 2026
Om Prakash Mathur has been sworn in as the 29th Governor of Kerala. The swearing-in was held at Lok Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram. He takes over from Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who had been holding the office. The Governor of a State is appointed by the President under the Constitution and is the head of the State executive, with every State government acting in the Governor's name. In Kerala the Governor is also the Chancellor of the State universities, a role that brings the office into decisions on Vice-Chancellor appointments. The outgoing Governor had recently recommended to the President the removal of the Kerala Public Service Commission chairman and members.
Office:
29th Governor of Kerala
Venue of the oath:
Lok Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram
Why it matters for exams: The Governor is appointed by the President, is the head of the State executive, and in Kerala is Chancellor of the State universities - the office itself is the durable fact, not the name of the day.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Chancellor Chancellor — The ceremonial head of a university; in Kerala the Governor holds this post for State universities.
27 October 2026
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court made up of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar has struck down State guidelines on producing arrested persons before Judicial Officers. The case was Adv. P.S. Subeesh v. State of Kerala, decided on a writ petition in the nature of a public interest litigation. The challenged clauses said accused persons should as far as possible be produced during working hours of 10 am to 5 pm, and that production after 5 pm was permissible only in exceptional circumstances. The Court held that the 24-hour limit in Article 22(2) of the Constitution and in Sections 57 and 58 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 is an outer limit and does not replace the separate duty to produce an arrested person without unnecessary delay. It said phrases such as 'as far as possible' and 'exceptional circumstances' could in practice discourage production after 5 pm even when it is urgently needed, and that an executive protocol cannot dilute constitutional or statutory safeguards. The requirement of prior intimation to the Magistrate for production after 5 pm was, however, upheld.
Case:
Adv. P.S. Subeesh v. State of Kerala
Provisions relied on:
Article 22(2); Sections 57 and 58, BNSS, 2023
Why it matters for exams: Article 22(2) of the Constitution and Sections 57 and 58 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 are the provisions that require an arrested person to be produced before a Magistrate within 24 hours - a core Polity and criminal law question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
BNSS Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — The criminal procedure law that replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
Division Bench Division Bench — A bench of two or more judges of a High Court.
27 October 2026
The Kerala High Court, in Bureau of Indian Standards v. M/s. Mars Veneers and Boards and Others, has held that merely possessing a spurious ISI mark is not punishable under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986. Justice A. Badharudeen held that Sections 11(1) and 12(b) of that Act, read with Section 33, penalise the use of a standard mark, not its mere possession. The Court noted that the statute is worded to punish use, so the prosecution must prove that the mark was actually used on goods. The Bureau of Indian Standards is the national standards body of India, set up under the BIS Act, 2016, and the ISI mark is the certification mark it issues for products that conform to an Indian Standard. The ruling therefore turns on what exactly a penal provision of a consumer-standards statute covers.
Case:
Bureau of Indian Standards v. M/s. Mars Veneers and Boards and Others
Sections considered:
Sections 11(1) and 12(b) read with Section 33, BIS Act, 1986
Why it matters for exams: The ISI mark is issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards, which today stands constituted under the BIS Act, 2016; this ruling, on the earlier BIS Act, 1986, fixes that its penal sections punish use of the mark and not mere possession.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
BIS Bureau of Indian Standards — India's national standards body, which issues the ISI mark.
ISI mark ISI mark — The certification mark showing that a product conforms to the relevant Indian Standard.
Background
Kerala's wetlands are under pressure as reclamation for development presses on them, and the Kerala Forest Department sets out where the State's best known lakes stand.
The Department names Vembanad-Kole, Ashtamudi and Sasthamcotta lakes as Kerala wetlands of international and national significance designated as Ramsar sites.
Sasthamkotta lake is described as a tributary of the Kallada River, and it provides drinking water to Kollam town.
The Department notes that its water level is declining, raising concerns about future shortages.
Pokkode, Sasthamkotta and Vellayani are named as the notable inland lakes of a State that has few of them.
The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment has prepared management plans for Vembanad, Sasthamcotta and Ashtamudi.
Ramsar lakes of Kerala:
Vembanad-Kole, Ashtamudi, Sasthamcotta
Town it supplies:
Kollam
Related river:
Kallada River
Why it matters for exams: Which Kerala lakes are Ramsar sites, and which lake supplies which town, are standard Geography questions in Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Ramsar site Wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention — A wetland listed under the Ramsar Convention as being of international importance.
KSCSTE Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment — The State council that runs Kerala's research and development centres in science and environment.
Background
Mangroves are unique ecosystems found along coastlines around the world, and Kerala is home to a diverse array of them.
The Kerala Forest Department describes mangroves as the State's natural defence system, whose dense roots stabilise the coastline and act as barriers against cyclones and tsunamis.
Mangroves are called Kandal locally, and they grow in the upper reaches of estuaries, lagoons, backwaters and creeks.
Every district except Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Palakkad and Wayanad has some mangrove cover, and Kannur has the largest extent at over 7.55 square kilometers.
The total mangrove area of Kerala is estimated to be less than 50 square kilometers, though Kerala holds the distinction of having the most diverse mangrove growth in India.
Azima tetracantha and Ceriops tagal have vanished from the Kerala coast, while Calamus rotang and Syzygium travancoricum face the threat of extinction.
Largest mangrove district:
Kannur, over 7.55 square kilometers
Total mangrove area:
less than 50 square kilometers
Local name:
Kandal
Why it matters for exams: Which district leads in mangrove cover, and which districts have none, are repeat Kerala PSC Geography questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Mangrove Salt-tolerant coastal forest — A coastal forest that grows in the brackish water between land and sea.
Kandal The local Malayalam name for mangroves — The name by which Kerala's mangrove clusters are known locally.
Background
Among Kerala's wetlands the Myristica swamps stand apart, and the Kerala Forest Department records that they face habitat destruction, developmental activities and climate change.
The Kerala Forest Department describes Myristica swamps as unique freshwater swamp ecosystems found in select regions of the Southern Western Ghats, dominated by Myristica species.
They sit in low-lying evergreen forest areas that remain waterlogged throughout the year, and the trees carry stilt roots for structural support and pneumatophores, or breathing roots, to respire in oxygen-poor soil.
They cover just 0.004% of Kerala's total land area yet harbour 16.3% of the endemic species of the Western Ghats.
Kulathupuzha, Shendurney, Arippa, Madathara, Palode and Anchal are among the notable Myristica swamp areas of Kerala.
Their existence was first documented by the botanist and forest officer Krishnamurthy, in the Travancore forests.
Share of Kerala's land area:
0.004%
Share of Western Ghats endemics:
16.3%
Why it matters for exams: Myristica swamps are the Western Ghats biodiversity question that carries two memorable figures, 0.004% of the land and 16.3% of the endemics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Pneumatophores Breathing roots — Roots with air spaces that let a swamp tree breathe in waterlogged soil.
Endemic species A species found only in one region — A plant or animal that occurs naturally in one region and nowhere else.
Background
Tiger reserves are sanctuaries established to conserve the tiger, Panthera tigris, and they aim at the well-being of tigers and their prey base while also considering the needs of local communities.
The Kerala Forest Department says Kerala is home to two tiger reserves, Periyar and Parambikulam.
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve has a core area of 390.89 sq km and a buffer area of 252.77 sq km, a total of 643.66 sq km.
Tiger reserves rest on the Wildlife (Protection) Act, which was amended to set up the National Tiger Conservation Authority and to empower States to notify tiger reserves.
Under the Authority's tourism guidelines, only designated areas within the buffer zone, not exceeding 20% of the total area, are permitted for tourism.
Jeep safaris, nature walks and bird watching are encouraged, while activities causing noise, pollution or disruption to wildlife are strictly prohibited.
Core area:
390.89 sq km
Buffer area:
252.77 sq km
Total area:
643.66 sq km
Tiger reserves in Kerala:
Periyar and Parambikulam
Why it matters for exams: Kerala's two tiger reserves and the Authority behind them are the standard Environment questions, and the core and buffer figures are the ones papers ask for.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
NTCA National Tiger Conservation Authority — The central authority set up under the wildlife law to oversee tiger reserves.
Core area The critical tiger habitat of a reserve — The inner part of a tiger reserve kept free of human disturbance.
Background
Biosphere Reserves are relatively larger areas that stand for landscape level conservation, beyond even state or nation borders.
The Kerala Forest Department records that the Biosphere Reserve concept was introduced by UNESCO under its Man and Biosphere Programme.
A Biosphere Reserve is a voluntary, co-operative conservation area created to protect the biological and cultural diversity of a region while promoting sustainable economic development.
Kerala has two of them: Nilgiri, which extends into Karnataka, and Agasthyamalai, which stretches into Tamil Nadu.
The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve has an extent of 1828 sq km, against 1455.40 sq km for the Nilgiri reserve.
Its Kerala part takes in the Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney wildlife sanctuaries, the Achencoil, Thenmala, Konni, Punalur and Thiruvananthapuram divisions, and the Agasthyavanam Biological Park Range.
Extent of Agasthyamalai:
1828 sq km
Extent of Nilgiri:
1455.40 sq km
Biosphere Reserves of Kerala:
Nilgiri and Agasthyamalai
Why it matters for exams: Which body created Biosphere Reserves, and which Kerala reserve runs into which neighbouring State, are repeat Geography questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Biosphere Reserve A co-operative conservation area under the UNESCO programme — A large area where conservation of nature and culture is combined with sustainable development.
MAB Man and Biosphere Programme — The UNESCO programme under which Biosphere Reserves are recognised.
Background
Kerala's beaches are a nesting ground for sea turtles, and the Kerala Forest Department records how they came to be guarded.
The Kerala Forest Department records that Kerala's coastline stretches for 590 kilometers, dotted with rocks, inlets, backwaters and seawalls.
Olive Ridley turtles are frequent nesting visitors, green turtles have been documented nesting on the southern coast near Quilon, and leatherback turtles, though occasionally found stranded, do not nest in this region.
A group of young fishermen at Kolavipalam, led by Surendra Babu, formed the Theeram Prakriti Samrakshana Samiti, which translates to Coastal Ecosystem Protection Committee.
It started with just 12 members, ran nightly beach patrols during nesting season and created a fenced hatchery to safeguard eggs from predators and poachers.
The state Forest Department later supported it by hiring some members to patrol the beach during the nesting season.
Length of Kerala's coastline:
590 kilometers
Frequent nesting turtle:
Olive Ridley
Members at the start:
12
Why it matters for exams: The length of Kerala's coastline and which turtle nests on it are both single-fact questions Kerala PSC asks often.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
TPSS Theeram Prakriti Samrakshana Samiti — A fishermen's committee at Kolavipalam that guards sea turtle nests.
Hatchery A protected pen where eggs are kept until they hatch — A fenced enclosure where turtle eggs are kept safe from predators until they hatch.
Background
The Kerala Forest Department sets out the Acts it works under in two lists, one of Acts notified by the State Government and one of Acts notified by the Central Government.
The Department lists the State Acts it applies, among them the Kerala Forest Act, the Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act and the Kerala Preservation of Trees Act.
Also on the State list are the Kerala Restriction on Cutting and Destruction of Valuable Trees Act, the Kerala Forest Produce (Fixation of Selling Price) Act and the Kerala Forests (Vesting and Management of Ecologically Fragile Lands) Act.
The newest entry is the Kerala Forest (Amendment) Act.
The central Acts it lists include the Indian Forest Act, the Wild Life (Protection) Act, the Forest (Conservation) Act and the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act.
The Cattle-trespass Act, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, the Environment (Protection) Act, the Biological Diversity Act and the National Green Tribunal Act complete the central list.
Newest State Act listed:
The Kerala Forest (Amendment) Act, 2025
Oldest central Act listed:
Cattle-trespass Act 1871
Why it matters for exams: Which Act covers which subject is the commonest form of Kerala PSC law question, and forest law carries both State and central Acts.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Vesting Transfer of ownership to the Government — The legal transfer of ownership of land or forest to the Government.
Ecologically fragile land Land notified as ecologically fragile — Private forest land notified for vesting because it is ecologically sensitive.
Background
Established in 1975, the Kerala Forest Research Institute has entered its 50th year of service.
It is at Peechi in Thrissur district and calls itself a multidisciplinary centre of excellence for research in tropical forests and forestry.
It became a constituent institution of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment and is one among the R&D centres of the State.
The institute is structured into 17 Research Departments grouped under nine Programme Divisions.
It is accredited as a research centre for doctoral work by FRI University Dehradun, the University of Calicut and Cochin University of Science and Technology.
It also serves as the secretariat for TEAKNET, an international network funded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, and runs museums including the Teak Museum and a Xylarium.
Location:
Peechi, Thrissur District
Research Departments:
17
Programme Divisions:
nine
Parent council:
KSCSTE
Why it matters for exams: Where KFRI sits, which council it belongs to and which FAO network it hosts are the three facts Kerala PSC asks about the institute.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
KFRI Kerala Forest Research Institute — The State's research institute for tropical forests and forestry, at Peechi.
TEAKNET The international teak network whose secretariat is at KFRI — An international network on teak, funded by the FAO, with its secretariat at KFRI.