Background
Santiniketan is in rural West Bengal.
The poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore founded it in 1901 as a residential school and centre for art based on ancient Indian traditions.
A 'world university' was established at Santiniketan in 1921, recognizing the unity of humanity or 'Visva Bharati'.
UNESCO inscribed Santiniketan on the World Heritage List in 2023 under the criteria (iv) and (vi).
The inscribed property covers 36 ha and its buffer zone covers 537.73 ha.
Its architecture draws on ancient, medieval and folk traditions of the region and represents a pan-Asian modernity, set apart from British colonial and European modernist styles.
Founded:
1901
World university established:
1921
Date of inscription:
2023
Criteria:
(iv)(vi)
Area of property:
36 ha
Buffer zone:
537.73 ha
Why it matters for exams: Santiniketan, inscribed in 2023, is among India's recent cultural World Heritage additions, and examiners pair its inscription year with the Tagore dates of 1901 and 1921.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Buffer zone — An area around a World Heritage property that is given extra protection to shield the property itself.
Visva Bharati — The name of the world university at Santiniketan, meaning the unity of humanity.
Background
The Historic Areas of Istanbul, in Turkiye, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985 under criteria (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), with a minor boundary modification in 2017. The property covers 765.5 ha. It is strategically located on the Bosphorus peninsula between the Balkans and Anatolia, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, on a peninsula surrounded by the Golden Horn, or Halic, a natural harbour on the north, the Bosphorus on the east and the Marmara Sea on the south. Its architectural masterpieces reflect the meeting of Europe and Asia over many centuries. The four areas of the property are the Archaeological Park at the tip of the historic peninsula, the Suleymaniye quarter, the Zeyrek area and the area along both sides of the Theodosian land walls. Among the monuments are the Hagia Sophia, the 15th century Topkapi Palace and the Suleymaniye Mosque complex designed by architect Sinan.
Year of inscription:
1985
Criteria:
(i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
Minor boundary modification:
2017
Area of the property:
765.5 ha
Number of areas in the property:
four
Waters bordering the peninsula:
Golden Horn (north), Bosphorus (east), Marmara Sea (south)
Why it matters for exams: This single property carries the geography of the Turkish straits and the two continents together with the country's best known monuments, so one item answers both a heritage question and a map question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Golden Horn Halic — The natural harbour on the north of Istanbul's historic peninsula, named on the World Heritage listing as the Golden Horn or Halic.
Theodosian land walls — The landward fortifications of the old city; the land on both sides of them forms one of the four areas of the property.
Minor boundary modification — A small change to the mapped limits of a World Heritage property, approved without a fresh inscription; this property had one in 2017.
13 October 2026
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reviewed arrangements for the Darbar Move, the shifting of Jammu and Kashmir's capital between Srinagar and Jammu.
He directed JKRTC and the Traffic Department to move employees and records over two days, October 31 and November 1.
The capital moves from Srinagar to Jammu every year in the first week of November.
The 150-year-old practice was started by Dogra Maharaja Gulab Singh.
Commissioner Secretary of the General Administration Department M Raju presented the convoy plan.
A Winter Secretariat will function in Srinagar, with monthly rosters for Ministers and Administrative Secretaries from November.
Convoy dates:
October 31 and November 1
Winter capital:
Jammu (from first week of November)
Started by:
Dogra Maharaja Gulab Singh
Age of practice:
150 years
Why it matters for exams: The Darbar Move, J&K's twin capitals and the Dogra rulers are frequent state-focus and history questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Darbar Move — The twice-yearly shifting of Jammu and Kashmir's seat of government between Srinagar (summer) and Jammu (winter).
JKRTC Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation — The public road transport undertaking of Jammu and Kashmir.
Gulab Singh — Founder of the Dogra dynasty that ruled the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.
13 October 2026
Justice Amit Mahajan of the Delhi High Court has held that allotting public grounds for Ramleela on a first come, first serve basis cannot be countenanced.
The case is Rays of New Beginning Foundation v. Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board & Ors., neutral citation 2026:DHC:9064, reported on 13 October 2026.
The petitioner had held the Ramleela Dussehra Mahotsav at Chunk-C Ground, Shivaji Place, Raja Garden, New Delhi in 2023 and 2024, and its application for 2026 was rejected under guidelines that called for first come, first serve allotment.
The Court said the policy is marred with blemishes, that no notice or publication had set out a specific application window, and that preference for societies which hosted the festivities in earlier years could create a de facto monopoly.
The first respondent, the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, was directed to conduct a reasoned review of the applicable instructions and to frame comprehensive guidelines each year for allotting grounds for Ramleela and similar cultural or religious events, before allotment begins.
The Court did not cancel the existing 2026 allotment because the festivities were about to start, and disposed of the petition.
Judge:
Justice Amit Mahajan
Citation:
2026:DHC:9064
First respondent:
Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board
Ground in dispute:
Chunk-C Ground, Shivaji Place, Raja Garden, New Delhi
Why it matters for exams: DUSIB is one of Delhi's own statutory bodies, and a court holding a first come, first serve allotment policy unreasonable is a clean administrative-law point.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DUSIB Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board — A Delhi government board that handles shelters, slum areas and certain public lands in the capital.
De facto monopoly A monopoly in practice though not in law — A situation where one party in practice controls something even without a legal right to do so.
Background
The University of Kerala was founded in 1937 and was one of the first 16 universities in India.
It was formerly called the University of Travancore, in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore.
It came into being by a promulgation of the Maharajah of Travancore, Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, who was also the first Chancellor of the University.
Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Ayyar, the then Diwan of the State, was its first Vice-Chancellor.
The Kerala University Act (Act 14 of 1957) was brought into force and the University of Travancore was renamed the University of Kerala.
Its earliest origins are traced to University College, Thiruvananthapuram, founded as the Maharaja's Free School by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal in 1834 and grown into a college in 1866.
The other origin is the Trivandrum Observatory, founded in 1838 with the scientist John Caldecott FRS as its first Director; it is the oldest institution under the University.
The University once had campuses at Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode, and in 1968 the Kozhikode centre became a full-fledged university, the University of Calicut.
The Cochin University of Science and Technology and the Kerala Agricultural University followed in 1971 and Mahatma Gandhi University in 1983.
The University of Kerala's jurisdiction now covers Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha districts and some parts of Pathanamthitta district.
Founded:
1937
Original name:
University of Travancore
First Chancellor:
Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma
First Vice-Chancellor:
Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Ayyar
Why it matters for exams: The founding year, the original name and the first Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of Kerala's oldest university are recurring one-mark questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Diwan Chief minister of a princely state — The head of the administration of a princely state, a post Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Ayyar held in Travancore.
Background
Kottayam, the administrative capital of Kottayam district, lies in central Kerala.
It is bordered by the Western Ghats on the east and by the Vembanad Lake and the paddy fields of Kuttanad on the west.
The district administration calls the town 'Akshara Nagari', the city of letters, for its contribution to print media and literature.
Kottayam Town was the first town in India to achieve 100 per cent literacy, a feat recorded in 1989.
English education in South India began at the Old Seminary at Kottayam in 1813.
The first printing press in Kerala, the CMS Press, was established there in 1821 by Rev. Benjamin Baily.
The first college in the State, CMS College, was started at Kottayam in 1840.
The maiden printed Malayalam-English and English-Malayalam dictionaries were published from Kottayam in 1846 and 1847 respectively.
Most of India's natural rubber comes from the district's plantations, and Kottayam is home to the Rubber Board.
Kottayam was the first town in India selected by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to be transformed into an Eco City.
First town in India with 100% literacy:
Kottayam Town, 1989
First printing press in Kerala:
CMS Press, 1821
First college in the State:
CMS College, 1840
Board headquartered here:
Rubber Board
Why it matters for exams: Kerala PSC repeatedly asks for the State's firsts in printing, higher education and literacy, and almost all of them belong to Kottayam.
Kerala PSCSSC
In plain words
CMS Church Missionary Society — The missionary body whose press and college at Kottayam were the first of their kind in Kerala.
Background
The Government of India decided to create a new category of languages as Classical Languages on 12th October 2004, declaring Tamil as Classical Language and setting criteria for the status.
A Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC) was constituted by the Ministry of Culture under Sahitya Akademi in Nov 2004 to examine the proposed languages for the status of Classical Language.
The criteria were revised in Nov 2005 and Sanskrit was declared as Classical Language, with a date of notification of 25/11/2005.
The Government of India records the date of notification for Malayalam as a Classical Language as 08/08/2013, after Telugu and Kannada, both notified on 31/10/2008, and before Odia on 01/03/2014.
Centres for Excellence for studies in Classical Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Odia were established under the auspices of the Central Institute of Indian Languages in Mysuru.
Benefits extended to Classical Languages by the Ministry of Education include National Awards for Classical Languages, Chairs in Universities and Centres for promotion of Classical Languages.
The Linguistics Experts Committee under Sahitya Akademi later revised the criteria again, and the Union Cabinet approved Classical Language status for Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali.
Date of notification for Malayalam:
08/08/2013
Category created:
12th October 2004, with Tamil
Committee that examines proposals:
Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC)
Nodal agency for the LEC:
Sahitya Akademi
Centre for Excellence for Classical Malayalam:
Under the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru
Why it matters for exams: The year Malayalam became a Classical Language, the order of the languages and the body that recommends the status are set in both Kerala PSC and UPSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
LEC Linguistic Experts Committee — The committee constituted under Sahitya Akademi that examines languages proposed for Classical Language status.
Sahitya Akademi India's national academy of letters — The body appointed as nodal agency for the Linguistic Experts Committee on Classical Languages.
CIIL Central Institute of Indian Languages — The Mysuru institute under which the Centres for Excellence for Classical Malayalam and three other languages were set up.
Background
The Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was adopted in London on 16 November 1945.
Its purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture.
The Organization includes a General Conference, an Executive Board and a Secretariat.
The General Conference consists of the representatives of the Member States and determines the policies and main lines of work of the Organization.
The General Conference meets in ordinary session every two years.
The Executive Board is elected by the General Conference and consists of fifty-eight (58) Member States.
The English and French texts of the Constitution are equally authoritative.
Constitution adopted:
London, 16 November 1945
Organs:
General Conference, Executive Board, Secretariat
General Conference sessions:
Every two years
Executive Board:
58 Member States
Why it matters for exams: UNESCO's founding instrument, its organs and the cycle of its General Conference are standard UPSC and Kerala PSC topics on UN specialised agencies.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
General Conference Assembly of all Member States — It determines the policies and main lines of work of UNESCO.
Executive Board 58-member governing body — It is elected by the General Conference from among Member States.
Secretariat Administrative arm — The third organ of the Organization, alongside the General Conference and Executive Board.
Background
Sir William Jones formed a group of antiquarians as the Asiatic Society on 15 January 1784 in Calcutta; its journal, Asiatick Researches, began in 1788.
Bengal Regulation XIX of 1810 was the first attempt to make the government intervene through legislation when monuments were at risk.
Alexander Cunningham was appointed the first Archaeological Surveyor from December 1861.
Lord Lawrence abolished the Archaeological Survey in 1866.
Act XX of 1863 vested the government with powers to prevent injury to and preserve buildings remarkable for their antiquity or for their historical or architectural value.
The Archaeological Survey was revived as a distinct department, and Cunningham, as Director General, assumed charge in February 1871.
Asiatic Society formed:
15 January 1784, Calcutta
First legislation on monuments:
Bengal Regulation XIX of 1810
First Archaeological Surveyor:
Alexander Cunningham, from December 1861
Survey abolished:
1866
Survey revived under Cunningham as Director General:
February 1871
Why it matters for exams: The origins of archaeology and monument protection in India, and the role of Cunningham, are frequent history and culture questions in UPSC and Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Asiatic Society Society of antiquarians formed by Sir William Jones — The society whose researches began the study of India's antiquities.
Director General Head of the Archaeological Survey — The post to which Alexander Cunningham was appointed when the Survey was revived.
Bengal Regulation XIX of 1810 Early monuments law — The first attempt to make the government intervene through legislation when monuments were at risk.
Background
The Thrissur district profile calls it the cultural capital of Kerala, and the land of Poorams.
It is a revenue district in the central part of the State, spanning an area of about 3,032 km2 and home to over 10% of Kerala's population.
It is bordered by the districts of Palakkad and Malappuram to the north and Ernakulam and Idukki to the south; the Arabian Sea lies to the west and the Western Ghats stretch towards the east.
According to the 2011 Census the district has a population of 3,110,327, a ranking of 113th in India out of 640 districts.
The population density is 1,026 inhabitants per square kilometre, and the growth rate over 2001-2011 was 4.58%.
The sex ratio is 1109 females for every 1000 males, and the literacy rate is 95.32%.
Area:
About 3,032 km2
Population (Census 2011):
3,110,327
Rank among India's 640 districts:
113th
Sex ratio:
1109 females per 1000 males
Literacy rate:
95.32%
Why it matters for exams: Census 2011 figures such as population rank, density, sex ratio and literacy are standard Kerala PSC questions on the districts.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Pooram Temple festival of Kerala — The district page calls Thrissur the land of Poorams.
Sex ratio Females per 1000 males — Thrissur records 1109 females for every 1000 males.
Background
Kasaragod district, at the northern end of Kerala, came into being on 24 May 1984.
It was formed on the basis of the order of 19 May 1984, GO (MS) number 520/84/RD, and comprised the Hosdurg and Kasaragod taluks, which were part of the undivided Kannur district.
After independence the area was a taluk on the southern edge of southern Karnataka, part of Madras state; following linguistic reorganisation Kasaragod taluk was merged with Malabar district, and the State of Kerala was formed on 1 November 1956.
The district page records that E. M. S. Namboodiripad, the first Chief Minister of Kerala, was elected from the Nileswaram constituency in Kasaragod district.
It also records the Katakam Forest Satyagraha, held against the Forest Act adopted by the British: after Gandhiji's arrest in January 1932, the leaders entered the Reserve Forest and fasted in protest.
Poet Kuttamath was president of the welcome committee for the Congress meeting at Payyannur in May 1928, which Jawaharlal Nehru attended.
Came into being:
24 May 1984
Formation order:
GO (MS) 520/84/RD of 19 May 1984
Taluks at formation:
Hosdurg and Kasaragod
Parent district:
Kannur (undivided)
Seat of E. M. S. Namboodiripad:
Nileswaram
Why it matters for exams: District formation orders, parent taluks and links to the freedom struggle and the first ministry are standard Kerala PSC topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Katakam Forest Satyagraha Protest against the Forest Act — Leaders entered the Reserve Forest and fasted after Gandhiji's arrest in January 1932.
GO (MS) Government Order (Manuscript) — The order that formed the district carries the number 520/84/RD.
Background
The district records say Kannur witnessed one of the longest and bloodiest resistance to British rule in India.
The revolt led by Pazhassi Raja in the 1792–1806 period kept a large part of the district in a state of war.
Payyannur was the main venue of the Salt Satyagraha in Malabar.
On 13 April 1930, a batch of Congress volunteers under the leadership of K. Kelappan started on foot from Kozhikode to the beaches of Payyannur and broke the salt laws there on April 21.
The Indian National Congress established a Malabar District committee in 1908, and a branch of the Communist Party of India was formally established at Pinarayi by the end of 1939.
St. Angelo Fort, about 3 km from Kannur town, was built in 1505 by Dom Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India; the Dutch captured it in 1663 and the British conquered it in 1790.
Pazhassi Raja revolt:
1792–1806
Payyannur march began:
13 April 1930
Salt law broken at Payyannur:
21 April
March led by:
K. Kelappan
St. Angelo Fort built:
1505
Why it matters for exams: Malabar's role in the freedom movement, the Pazhassi revolt and the Payyannur Salt Satyagraha are standard Kerala PSC history topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Salt Satyagraha Civil disobedience against the salt laws — At Payyannur, Congress volunteers broke the salt laws on April 21.
Pazhassi Raja Leader of the 1792–1806 revolt — His revolt kept a large part of Kannur district in a state of war.
13 October 2026
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the National Culture Fund (NCF) and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) signed a Memorandum of Agreement on 13 October 2026 in New Delhi. It covers heritage conservation and development works at Hampi in Karnataka, the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, and Bekal Fort in Kerala. HAL has accorded in-principle approval for financial support of ₹23.60 crore for the projects over the financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29. At Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the works include the historic North and South Bazaar areas, extending approximately 270 metres and 250 metres respectively. The projects will be carried out under the technical guidance and supervision of the ASI, with the NCF facilitating implementation.
HAL financial support (in-principle):
₹23.60 crore
Period:
2026-27 to 2028-29
Sites:
Hampi, Taj Mahal, Bekal Fort
Hampi works:
North Bazaar about 270 metres; South Bazaar about 250 metres
Why it matters for exams: Heritage sites, the bodies that protect them and corporate (CSR) support for them are standard art-and-culture and current-affairs material, and Bekal Fort is a Kerala site.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NCF National Culture Fund — Set up by the Ministry of Culture to bring the Government and the corporate sector together for heritage conservation and promotion.
ASI Archaeological Survey of India — Gives technical guidance and supervision for the projects.
Background
The Telangana government announced four icons for the new State.
The State Bird is Palapitta (Indian Roller or Blue Jay) and the State Animal is Jinka (Deer).
The State Tree is Jammi Chettu (Prosopis Cineraria) and the State Flower is Tangedu (Tanner's Cassia).
Three of them, Tangedu flowers, Blue Jay and Jammi Chettu, are associated with the festivals of Batukamma and Dasara.
Tangedu flowers are used in stacking Batukammas, spotting the Blue Jay on Dasara is considered a good omen, and people worship Jammi Chettu on that day.
State Bird:
Palapitta (Indian Roller or Blue Jay)
State Animal:
Jinka (Deer)
State Tree:
Jammi Chettu (Prosopis Cineraria)
State Flower:
Tangedu (Tanner's Cassia)
Why it matters for exams: State symbols are a staple of state-level questions: bird Palapitta, animal Jinka, tree Jammi Chettu and flower Tangedu.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Batukamma Telangana festival associated with Dasara — A Telangana festival, associated with Dasara, for which women use Tangedu flowers in stacking Batukammas.
Palapitta Indian Roller — The State Bird of Telangana, also called Blue Jay.
13 October 2026
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced at a programme in Bhadohi on 4 October 2026: "Now our Bhadohi district will be called Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi."
The visit included inaugurations and foundation stones for 112 projects worth over Rs 1,340 crore.
He had first announced the return to the Sant Ravidas Nagar name on 29 July.
Bhadohi was part of Varanasi district until it became the state's 65th district on 30 June 1994.
On 6 December 2014 the Samajwadi Party government led by Akhilesh Yadav had changed the name from Sant Ravidas Nagar-Bhadohi back to Bhadohi.
Announced on:
4 October 2026
Projects in the visit:
112 projects, over Rs 1,340 crore
District formed:
30 June 1994 (65th district)
Earlier rename:
6 December 2014
Why it matters for exams: District creation and renaming, and the districts of Uttar Pradesh, are standard state-GK questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Sant Ravidas Satguru Ravidas Maharaj — A medieval saint of the bhakti tradition after whom the district is named.
12 October 2026
The Kerala Lalithakala Akademi announced on 12 October 2026 that its art exhibition 'Punarjani' would open on 13 October at the Akademi Art Gallery in the Vyloppilli Samskriti Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram. The show features 30 paintings selected from painting camps the Akademi organised in past years. Akademi Chairperson Prof. Prakash Murthy was to inaugurate it at 11 AM, with Secretary Vaikom M.K. Shibu attending. 'Punarjani' is the first step in a project by the Akademi's new governing body to revive its artworks and galleries, with further curated exhibitions planned across its galleries.
Exhibition:
'Punarjani'
Venue:
Akademi Art Gallery, Vyloppilli Samskriti Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram
Works:
30 paintings
Chairperson:
Prof. Prakash Murthy
Why it matters for exams: Kerala's cultural academies, their heads and the Vyloppilli Samskriti Bhavan are asked in Kerala PSC culture questions.
Kerala PSC
12 October 2026
Tourism and Culture Minister P. C. Vishnunath chaired a meeting at the Parumala Seminary Hall on 12 October 2026 to review government arrangements for the Parumala Perunnal. The festival runs from 26 October to 2 November, with the main days on 31 October, 1 November and 2 November. Police in Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts will work under a single operation with a special control room, and the deployment will be divided into 10 sectors under a DySP. Health and AYUSH services will be ensured, with arrangements at the Chengannur and Thiruvalla government hospitals and an AYUSH outpatient clinic near the church for pilgrims arriving on foot; KSRTC will run extra buses. The Thiruvalla Sub Collector will coordinate the departments, and the minister said progress would be reviewed again after a week.
Festival dates:
26 October to 2 November 2026
Main days:
31 October, 1 and 2 November
Police sectors:
10, under a DySP
Coordinator:
Thiruvalla Sub Collector
Why it matters for exams: Major pilgrim festivals of Kerala, their locations and the districts involved are common Kerala PSC culture and geography questions.
Kerala PSC
12 October 2026
A fire overnight from Sunday to Monday, 12 October 2026, destroyed the Marché des Enfants Rouges, the oldest covered food market in Paris. The market, in the Marais district of central Paris, has existed since 1615, during the reign of Louis XIII. Lieutenant Colonel Pierre de Bouvier described it as completely destroyed. Ariel Weil, mayor of central Paris, said no neighbouring buildings were affected. The market was named after a nearby orphanage whose children wore red clothing. The cause was not yet known.
Market:
Marché des Enfants Rouges
In existence since:
1615
District:
Le Marais, central Paris
Why it matters for exams: Loss of historic heritage sites in world capitals is asked in culture and current affairs sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Le Marais Le Marais — A historic district of central Paris known for its old buildings.
12 October 2026
Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan moved the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Kerala Assembly on 12 October 2026 for reference to a committee, and the motion was adopted. The Bill replaces the Fasli year with the financial year for the accounts and audit of temples under the Malabar Devaswom Board. It amends Sections 70, 71, 76 and 79 of the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1951. The minister said 1,403 temples come under the Malabar Devaswom Board and only 115 of them generate income, so most depend on government grants. He said a comprehensive Malabar Devaswom Bill will be introduced in the next Assembly session to strengthen the Board's powers over trustees.
Parent Act:
Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1951
Sections amended:
70, 71, 76 and 79
Temples under MDB:
1,403
Income-generating temples:
115
Why it matters for exams: Kerala's three devaswom systems and the Madras HR&CE Act, 1951 that still governs Malabar temples are asked in Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Fasli year Fasli calendar year — A revenue calendar introduced in Mughal times and long used in South India for land revenue and accounts.
MDB Malabar Devaswom Board — The statutory body that administers temples in the Malabar region of Kerala.
Background
This item explains Iran's World Heritage record, including Alamut Castle and Related Fortifications, the entry dated 2026 on UNESCO's list. UNESCO lists 30 properties for Iran: 28 cultural and 2 natural. The two natural properties are the Hyrcanian Forests (2019, 2023) and the Lut Desert (2016). Persepolis, Meidan Emam in Esfahan and Tchogha Zanbil were inscribed in 1979, and the list also includes Pasargadae, Bisotun, Golestan Palace, the Persian Garden, the Persian Qanat and the Trans-Iranian Railway.
Total properties:
30
Cultural:
28
Natural:
2: Hyrcanian Forests, Lut Desert
Why it matters for exams: The count of World Heritage properties and which are natural versus cultural is a stock heritage question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Qanat — An underground channel that carries water from an aquifer to the surface.