6 November 2026
Hearing a long-running public interest petition on roads in Kochi, Justice Devan Ramachandran recorded a set of undertakings from the authorities. The Police told the Kerala High Court that they would introduce a Smart ID System carrying QR codes for employees of public transport vehicles, so that drivers and staff can be identified and monitored. They also undertook to act against reckless and speedy driving, to restore public camera surveillance systems that are not working, and to draw up a protocol making vehicle owners accountable for what their drivers and employees do. The Cochin Corporation said it would work with the Police on pedestrian safety. The Judge noted that the Supreme Court has recognised a right to pedestrian pathways as a fundamental right, and said the work must begin at once. The GCDA and the Kerala Water Authority are also parties.
Judge:
Justice Devan Ramachandran
Case:
C.P. Ajithkumar v State of Kerala
Civic bodies before the Court:
Cochin Corporation, GCDA, Kerala Water Authority
Why it matters for exams: The Supreme Court has recognised a right to pedestrian pathways as a fundamental right, and Kochi's police have undertaken a QR-code Smart ID System for public transport staff.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
GCDA Greater Cochin Development Authority — The statutory authority for planned development in the Kochi region.
7 November 2026
Shigella infection has been confirmed in Malappuram district, days after cases among schoolchildren in Kozhikode.
In Nilambur, a four-year-old girl who ate snacks from a shop at Amarambalam and two people who ate mandi from an eatery at Palunda tested positive.
More cases near Perinthalmanna are linked to a wedding feast in Elamkulam panchayat, where many guests fell ill with diarrhoea.
The Health department has stepped up surveillance and issued an alert in the affected areas.
Shigellosis is an intestinal infection caused by Shigella bacteria. It spreads through contaminated water and spoiled or unhygienic food.
Children under five and people with low immunity face the greatest risk, and severe cases can be fatal without timely treatment.
Disease:
Shigellosis (Shigella bacteria)
Districts:
Kozhikode, Malappuram
Why it matters for exams: Which pathogen causes a disease and how it spreads (bacterial shigellosis, faecal-oral route) is a standard science and health question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Shigellosis — An intestinal infection caused by Shigella bacteria, with diarrhoea as the main symptom.
7 November 2026
Thrissur district won the overall championship at the 27th Kerala Special School Kalolsavam, held at GVHSS Manacaud in Thiruvananthapuram.
Thrissur scored 642 points; Malappuram came second with 582 points.
In the section for hearing-impaired students, Thrissur (364 points) and Malappuram (314 points) took the first two places.
In the section for visually impaired students, Thiruvananthapuram won with 309 points and Kottayam was second with 236.
The festival is the State's arts meet for students of special schools, organised by the General Education Department.
Shashi Tharoor MP inaugurated the closing session; State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Dr P.T. Baburaj attended.
Overall champion:
Thrissur (642 points)
Runner-up:
Malappuram (582 points)
Venue:
GVHSS Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram
Why it matters for exams: State-level festival winners and the office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (under the RPwD Act, 2016) are asked in Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
RPwD Act Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 — The central law on the rights of disabled persons, which replaced the 1995 Act.
6 November 2026
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has added five buses taken under the wet-lease system.
Transport Minister C P John flagged them off at the Thiruvananthapuram Central depot.
Two are air-conditioned and three are non-AC. They run three new Superfast services: two to Palakkad and one to Amrita Hospital in Ernakulam.
The AC bus to Palakkad leaves the capital at 12.30 am; its fare is Rs 467. The non-AC Palakkad fare is Rs 411 and the Amrita fare Rs 276.
Under a wet lease, the owner hands over a vehicle that is ready to run, usually with its crew, and the user pays for its use.
The step lets KSRTC open routes without buying new buses.
Buses added:
5 (2 AC, 3 non-AC)
AC Thiruvananthapuram–Palakkad fare:
Rs 467
Why it matters for exams: KSRTC's full form and set-up, and the State Transport Minister, are frequent Kerala PSC questions; 'wet lease' is a term worth knowing.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Wet lease — A lease in which the owner supplies a vehicle ready to operate, usually with its crew.
7 November 2026
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala reviewed police arrangements for the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage at Sabarimala and opened a new police barrack at Nilakkal.
The barrack, built under the Sabarimala master plan, can house more than 700 police personnel.
The pilgrimage area is split into three zones for security: Sannidhanam, Pampa and Nilakkal, with the ADGP (Law and Order) as nodal officer.
Police on duty will get a luggage allowance of Rs 600 instead of Rs 300, and a daily mess grant of Rs 90; Rs 3.60 crore is sanctioned for this.
Rs 3 crore goes to an Artificial Intelligence-based smart parking system at Nilakkal, and Rs 13 lakh to wrist tags that help reunite lost children with their families.
Temporary police stations will work at Sannidhanam, Nilakkal and Vadaserikkara. The 41-day Mandalam phase begins on November 17.
Barrack capacity:
700+ police personnel
Sanctioned for police welfare:
Rs 3.60 crore
Police zones:
Sannidhanam, Pampa, Nilakkal
Why it matters for exams: Sabarimala's district, its managing body (Travancore Devaswom Board) and the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season are regular Kerala PSC questions.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
ADGP Additional Director General of Police — A senior police rank just below the Director General.
Mandalam-Makaravilakku — The annual Sabarimala pilgrimage season, from the 41-day Mandalam to the Makaravilakku festival.
7 November 2026
A Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela, organised by the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and the State Department of Industrial Training and led by the RI Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, will be held on November 16 at the Chakka Government ITI campus.
Central and State government bodies, public sector units and private firms in the district will take part.
ITI-qualified candidates in engineering and non-engineering trades will be picked as apprentices for one year.
Candidates must bring their trade certificate and other documents to Chakka Government ITI; registration opens at 8.30 am on November 16.
Date:
November 16
Venue:
Chakka Government ITI, Thiruvananthapuram
Apprenticeship period:
One year
Why it matters for exams: Which ministry runs the apprenticeship mela and the law behind apprenticeships (Apprentices Act, 1961) are common GK and SSC questions.
Kerala PSCSSC
In plain words
ITI Industrial Training Institute — A government or private institute that gives trade training in engineering and non-engineering skills.
7 November 2026
With intermittent rain in the district, the Health department has asked people to stay alert against dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.
Dengue is spread by Aedes mosquitoes, which lay eggs in clean water collecting in plastic containers, bottles, tins, old tyres, coconut shells and flower pots.
People are told to check all such spots once a week, destroy breeding sources and keep water containers covered.
Under the weekly dry day, cleaning drives are to be held in schools on Fridays, in government and private offices on Saturdays, and in homes on Sundays.
Fever, severe body ache, headache and pain behind the eyes should be treated as possible dengue, and people should go to a health centre without delay.
People are asked to guard against mosquito bites in the daytime too, by wearing covering clothes and using mosquito nets and repellents.
Vector:
Aedes mosquito
Dry day:
Schools Friday, offices Saturday, homes Sunday
Why it matters for exams: The vector of dengue (Aedes mosquito) and the type of pathogen behind it are among the most asked health questions in Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Dry day — A weekly day set aside to empty and clean water containers so mosquitoes cannot breed.
Background
Applications are still open on the Kerala Public Service Commission's latest Extraordinary Gazette, which carries Category Numbers 162/2026 to 173/2026 and closes on 2 December 2026. The notification shows how wide the Commission's reach is. Four of the categories are Assistant Professor posts under Medical Education, in Cardiology, Pathology and Cardio Vascular and Thoracic Surgery. Two are Laboratory Assistant (Dairy/CFP) posts with the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. One is an Attender post with Travancore - Cochin Chemicals Limited. Kerala Police is recruiting a Police Constable (Trainee) for the Armed Police Battalion, and the N.C.C./Sainik Welfare department a Typist post reserved for ex-servicemen. The Commission therefore recruits not only for government departments but also for State public sector undertakings and co-operative federations.
Category numbers:
162/2026 to 173/2026
Last date:
02-12-2026
Milk federation posts:
Laboratory Assistant (Dairy/CFP)
Why it matters for exams: The Kerala Public Service Commission recruits for State public sector undertakings such as Travancore - Cochin Chemicals Limited and for the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., not only for government departments.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
KPSC Kerala Public Service Commission — The constitutional body that recruits for Kerala's public services.
Extraordinary Gazette Extraordinary Gazette — A special issue of the official Gazette, used by the Commission to publish its notifications.
Background
Most of the twelve categories open in the Kerala Public Service Commission's latest Extraordinary Gazette, which closes on 2 December 2026, are marked NCA. NCA stands for No Candidate Available. When a reserved turn in a rank list goes unfilled because no candidate from that community qualified, the Commission issues a fresh notification for that turn alone, open only to candidates of that community. That is why the gazette shows posts such as Assistant Professor in Cardiology (II NCA-SC) and Assistant Professor in Pathology (II NCA-Dheevara). Dheevara is one of Kerala's Other Backward Classes communities, traditionally of fishing occupations. LC/AI stands for Latin Catholics and Anglo-Indians, another reservation group in the State's rules. A roman numeral before NCA shows how many times that turn has already been notified without being filled.
NCA:
No Candidate Available
LC/AI:
Latin Catholics and Anglo-Indians
Categories in the gazette:
162/2026 to 173/2026
Why it matters for exams: NCA on a Kerala PSC notification stands for No Candidate Available, a reserved turn re-notified only for that community; LC/AI means Latin Catholics and Anglo-Indians.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
NCA No Candidate Available — A reserved turn re-notified because no candidate of that community qualified earlier.
LC/AI Latin Catholics and Anglo-Indians — A reservation group under Kerala's rules of reservation.