30 October 2026
The Unique Identification Authority of India has begun running a new Aadhaar Seva Kendra at Kozhikode. With it, the authority now has nine such centres working in Keralam, and five more are to open in other districts, which will take the state's total to fourteen. The centre was opened by Assistant Collector of Kozhikode Malavika G. Nair, with officers of the UIDAI Regional Office at Bengaluru present. Eight working kits have been installed there. A centre of this kind handles enrolment, changes to demographic and biometric details, and complaints, all at one place; the Kozhikode centre will also pass complaints to the Regional Office for settlement. It stays open on every day other than a public holiday, and residents may book a slot through the authority's appointment portal. Daily running of the centre has been given to BLS International Limited.
Aadhaar Seva Kendras now working in Keralam:
9
Planned total in the State:
14
Regional Office covering Keralam:
Bengaluru
Why it matters for exams: UIDAI, the statutory authority that issues Aadhaar, and the Aadhaar Seva Kendra as its service outlet are standard Polity and governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
UIDAI Unique Identification Authority of India — The statutory authority that issues Aadhaar numbers and runs Aadhaar services.
ASK Aadhaar Seva Kendra — A UIDAI-run centre where enrolment, updates and grievances are handled together.
30 October 2026
An exhibition called 'Atoms in the Service of the Nation' has opened at Kottayam Science City and runs to 1 November. It is being held jointly by the Kerala State Science and Technology Museum, which runs the Science City, and the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research at Kalpakkam, a centre under the Department of Atomic Energy. Kerala's Minister for Irrigation and Housing, Mons Joseph, opened it. The displays explain how nuclear science is used in power generation, in medicine and in research, and they carry models and parts of the Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor, the Fast Breeder Test Reactor, the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor and the KAMINI reactor. Material on kinds of radiation and on nuclear medicine is also on show. The aim is to tell students, teachers and the public what India has achieved in this field. The exhibition opened on the 117th birth anniversary of Homi Jehangir Bhabha, who is regarded as the architect of India's nuclear programme.
Organisers:
KSSTM and IGCAR, Kalpakkam
Runs until:
1 November 2026
Opened on the birth anniversary of:
Homi Jehangir Bhabha, 117th
Why it matters for exams: IGCAR at Kalpakkam, the Department of Atomic Energy and India's reactor types (PHWR, FBTR, PFBR, KAMINI) are recurring Science and Technology questions, as is Homi Bhabha's place in the nuclear programme.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
IGCAR Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research — A Department of Atomic Energy research centre at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu, known for fast breeder reactor work.
PFBR Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor — India's prototype fast breeder reactor, built at Kalpakkam as the second stage of the nuclear programme.
KAMINI Kalpakkam Mini reactor — A small research reactor at Kalpakkam, notable for using uranium-233 fuel.
29 October 2026
Justice G Girish of the Kerala High Court rejected the police report in a medical negligence complaint and ordered a fresh investigation by a special team of the Crime Branch.
The team has to be set up within two weeks and must file its report within six months of being formed.
The complainant, Neethu, a software professional from Thiruvananthapuram, says complications after fat removal surgery cost her nine fingers and left her with more than 80 per cent physical disability.
The surgery was done at a clinic that was registered only as a day care centre, and the Court called that a serious lapse.
Under the Kerala Clinical Establishments Rules, 2023, a day care centre may take up only procedures that let a patient be discharged within 24 hours of admission.
District level and State level expert panels had looked at the complaint earlier without confirming negligence, and the Court said neither had asked whether the choice of facility was itself negligent.
The State Level Apex Committee had confined itself to criminal negligence, leaving civil liability to the competent authority.
Day care discharge limit:
24 hours of admission
Time to constitute SIT:
Two weeks
Time to complete investigation:
Six months from formation
Judge who ordered the investigation:
Justice G Girish
Why it matters for exams: The durable fact is the Kerala Clinical Establishments Rules, 2023 limit on day care centres, which may handle only procedures allowing discharge within 24 hours of admission.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Kerala Clinical Establishments Rules, 2023 Kerala Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Rules, 2023 — State rules that classify and register hospitals, clinics and day care centres and set what each may do.
30 October 2026
Kerala has announced the NORKA Private Industrial Estate Scheme 2026 so that expatriates can set up their own industrial parks in the State. Returned expatriates with their own land or a 30-year lease can apply, along with their spouses and children, expatriate-led companies, co-operative and charitable societies, partnership firms and MSME consortiums. The Industries Department will reimburse up to ₹3 crore spent on roads, power, water supply, drainage, effluent treatment (ETP or CETP) and common facilities. A plot of three to seven acres is treated as a Standard Design Factory, which must be a multi-storey block of at least 10,000 sq ft with at least five units of 1,000 sq ft each. Land of seven to 15 acres is treated as an industrial park. District Industries Centres run the scheme; approved parks get the Single Window Clearance Board route and relaxed building rules. It is part of the State government's 100-day action plan.
Maximum assistance:
₹3 crore
Standard Design Factory land:
3 to 7 acres
Industrial park land:
7 to 15 acres
Lease needed:
30 years
Why it matters for exams: A new State scheme with its target group, aid ceiling and implementing agency — the standard scheme question for Kerala PSC.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NORKA Non-Resident Keralites' Affairs — The Kerala government department that looks after expatriate Keralites.
CETP Common Effluent Treatment Plant — A shared plant that treats the waste water of several factories together.
MSME Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises — The category of small businesses classed by investment and turnover.
Standard Design Factory — A ready-built multi-storey factory block divided into small units for lease.
30 October 2026
Kerala released the logo of 'Festival of Keralam 2026' at the Sankara Narayanan Thampi Hall in the Legislative Assembly complex. The celebrations mark seven decades since the State was formed, and their first phase begins on 1 November. In this phase, the festival will be held in Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata. It will show Kerala's own art forms and cultural traditions and is also meant to draw investment to the State. Chief Minister V D Satheesan released the logo together with Deputy Speaker Shanimol Usman, Minister P C Vishnunath, two young people and two people aged seventy, standing for the generations. Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan offered greetings.
Anniversary:
70th
First phase begins:
1 November
Host cities, first phase:
5
Why it matters for exams: Kerala Piravi falls on 1 November and 2026 is the 70th anniversary of the State's formation in 1956; the first Speaker of the Assembly is a standard Kerala PSC question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Kerala Piravi — Kerala's formation day, observed on 1 November.
30 October 2026
Kerala has announced its State awards for using Malayalam as the language of administration. The awards go to the department and the district that best co-ordinated the switch to Malayalam, and to officials for their service. National Employment Services was chosen as the best department, with ₹25,000, a plaque and a citation. Thrissur is the best district and receives ₹20,000, a plaque and a citation. In the book-writing category, Sundev N, Joint Secretary in the Minority Welfare Department, came first. Officials in Groups A, B and C were also honoured; first-place winners get ₹20,000 and second-place winners ₹10,000. The awards are part of the State's effort to make Malayalam universal at every level of government.
Best department:
National Employment Services
Best district:
Thrissur
Department award:
₹25,000
District award:
₹20,000
Why it matters for exams: State awards and their winners are asked in Kerala PSC papers, especially around Kerala Piravi and Malayalam (official language) week.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Bharanabhasha Official (administrative) language — The language used for government work; in Kerala the push is to use Malayalam.
National Employment Services — The Kerala department that runs the employment exchanges.
29 October 2026
The Kerala Cabinet has decided to give a revised administrative sanction of ₹464 crore for coastal protection works at Chellanam in Kochi. The main work in this second phase is rebuilding 6.1 km of seawall protected by tetrapods. It also covers repairing sunken seawalls, groyne works at Bazar, an RCC walkway, shifting utilities and electrification. The Chellanam coast is 20.90 km long and about a thousand houses stand close to the sea; many of its seawalls and groynes are about 60 years old. The first phase, 7.30 km long, built 6.64 km of seawall and six groynes covering 0.66 km. Chellanam is one of the State's worst hotspots for coastal erosion. The work is carried out by the Kerala Irrigation Infrastructure Development Corporation under the Water Resources Department.
Revised sanction:
₹464 crore
Phase II seawall:
6.1 km
Chellanam coastline:
20.90 km
Phase I length:
7.30 km
Why it matters for exams: Coastal erosion hotspots, tetrapod seawalls and the agency that builds them (KIIDC) are asked under Kerala geography and disaster management.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Tetrapod — A four-legged concrete block piled along a seawall to break the force of waves.
Groyne — A wall built out into the sea at right angles to the shore to hold sand in place.
KIIDC Kerala Irrigation Infrastructure Development Corporation — A company under Kerala's Water Resources Department that executes large water works.
Administrative sanction — Government approval of a project and its cost before work can be tendered.
30 October 2026
The Kerala government has invited Expressions of Interest from agencies to carry out a social impact study for the second, third and fourth phases of the Vizhinjam international seaport. The study will measure the jobs and livelihoods that the expansion could take away. It will identify affected groups such as fishers, tourism workers and small traders, and the problems they face. The areas covered are Vizhinjam, Adimalathura, Jubilee Nagar, Pulinkudi and Ambalathumoola. Proposals must reach the Sub Collector, who also chairs the Rehabilitation Implementation Committee (RIC), by November 13. To apply, an agency must already be on Thiruvananthapuram district's panel for social impact studies under the land acquisition law and have at least five years of experience.
Phases covered:
2, 3 and 4
Last date for EoI:
13 November
Minimum experience:
5 years
Why it matters for exams: Vizhinjam is India's deep-water transshipment port in Thiruvananthapuram, and social impact assessment is a required step under the land acquisition law of 2013.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SIS Social impact study — A study of how a project will affect people's homes, jobs and livelihoods.
EoI Expression of Interest — A first-stage invitation asking agencies to show they want and can do a job.
RIC Rehabilitation Implementation Committee — The district committee, chaired here by the Sub Collector, that oversees rehabilitation for the project.
29 October 2026
The Health Minister told the Kerala Assembly that the State has shared details of 10 possible sites for an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) with the Union Health Ministry. The Centre requires at least 200 acres of contiguous, undisputed land with links to national highways, railway stations and airports, and enough drinking water and electricity. Kerala first proposed four locations in 2014 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. In 2017 it recommended land held by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) in Kozhikode. Collectors of six districts were asked to find land. Kottayam offered 487.31 acres of Kerala Paper Products Ltd (KPPL) at Velloor, and Kasaragod 274.69 acres of the Plantation Corporation at Periya-Panayal. In October 2024, the Union Health Ministry had asked the Union Finance Ministry for in-principle approval for an AIIMS in Kerala.
Sites sent to the Centre:
10
Minimum land:
200 acres
KPPL land at Velloor:
487.31 acres
Plantation Corporation land at Periya-Panayal:
274.69 acres
Why it matters for exams: AIIMS institutions, their expansion and their siting criteria are frequent questions in UPSC and Kerala PSC health and polity sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
AIIMS All India Institute of Medical Sciences — Autonomous central medical institutes for teaching, research and patient care.
KPPL Kerala Paper Products Ltd — The State-owned newsprint company at Velloor in Kottayam.
KSIDC Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation — The State agency that promotes and finances large industries in Kerala.
Calling attention motion — A notice in the House that draws a minister's attention to an urgent public matter and seeks a statement.
30 October 2026
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has approved 39 road projects in Kerala with an outlay of ₹988.75 crore under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF). Public Works Minister P.K. Basheer said the projects will develop 486 km of roads across the State. They cover major district roads, other district roads and roads inside municipal corporation limits, with selected roads in every district. Kerala has already issued administrative sanction; technical and financial clearance will be done within a fixed time. Construction is scheduled to begin in December. The Minister said the works will follow standards comparable to those used on national highways.
Projects:
39
Outlay:
₹988.75 crore
Road length:
486 km
Work to begin:
December
Why it matters for exams: CRIF, the central fund for State roads, and the ministry that runs it are standard economy and infrastructure questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
CRIF Central Road and Infrastructure Fund — A central fund, fed by a cess on fuel, that pays for State roads and other infrastructure.
MoRTH Ministry of Road Transport and Highways — The Union ministry in charge of national highways and road transport.
Major district road — A road linking a district's main towns and production centres with highways.
29 October 2026
Kerala is holding district-level meetings to shape its Fifteenth Five-Year Plan, which will run from 2027 to 2032. Pathanamthitta's meeting was set for 30 October at the District Planning Committee secretariat, to be opened by Culture and Tourism Minister P C Vishnunath. State Planning Board Vice-Chairman K M Chandrasekhar was to give the introductory address. The talks run in two sessions: the first with elected representatives and district officials, the second with experts from research institutions and entrepreneurs. They are to list each district's needs, gaps and priorities and review schemes now run by local bodies and departments. The suggestions will be put together into the approach paper of the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan.
Plan:
Fifteenth Five-Year Plan
Plan period:
2027-2032
Planning Board Vice-Chairman:
K M Chandrasekhar
Why it matters for exams: Kerala still plans in five-year cycles through its State Planning Board; the plan number, its period and the constitutional basis of District Planning Committees are likely questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Approach paper — The first document of a plan that sets out its goals and priorities before detailed schemes are drawn up.
District Planning Committee — The body in each district that consolidates plans of panchayats and municipalities.
State Planning Board — Kerala's advisory body that prepares the State's five-year and annual plans.
Background
Background to this week's launch of the 'Festival of Keralam 2026' for the State's 70th formation anniversary. Kerala was formed on 1 November 1956, when the States of India were reorganised on linguistic lines. The new State joined the former Travancore-Cochin State with the Malabar District and the Kasaragod Taluk. Malabar District and Kasaragod Taluk, then part of South Kanara district, came from the old composite Madras State. Not all of Travancore-Cochin came in: the present Kanyakumari District and the Shencottah Taluk went to what is now Tamil Nadu. The day is marked every year as Kerala Piravi, Kerala's birthday.
Formed on:
1 November 1956
Units joined:
Travancore-Cochin, Malabar District, Kasaragod Taluk
Went to Tamil Nadu:
Kanyakumari District, Shencottah Taluk
Why it matters for exams: The date of Kerala's formation and the units that made it up are among the most asked Kerala PSC history questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Travancore-Cochin — The State formed in 1949 by uniting the princely states of Travancore and Cochin.
South Kanara — A district of the old Madras State on the coast north of Kerala; Kasaragod taluk was part of it.
Kerala Piravi — Kerala's formation day, 1 November.