3 October 2026
The Kerala Government has given in-principle administrative sanction for phase one of a new fishing harbour at Vizhinjam.
The plan has a 235-metre breakwater at the entrance to the existing Vizhinjam harbour and a 500-metre L-shaped fishery berth.
The work will be carried out by Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd, the operator of the Vizhinjam international seaport.
Phase one includes dredging, lighting and road connectivity.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the harbour will help fishermen safely dock their boats and load and unload fish.
The Week reports that the Central Water and Power Research Station's wave-model studies shaped the revised design.
Breakwater:
235 metres
Fishery berth:
500 metres, L-shaped
Executing company:
Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd
Sanction:
In-principle, phase one
Why it matters for exams: Vizhinjam is Kerala's flagship port; its fishing-harbour commitment ties port development to coastal livelihoods.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Breakwater Breakwater — A barrier built in the sea to shelter a harbour from waves.
CWPRS Central Water and Power Research Station — The agency whose physical wave-model studies shaped the revised harbour design, per The Week.
3 October 2026
Kerala BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar handed a proposal to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu seeking a feasibility study for a Sabarimala airport.
The site proposed is the Kodumon Estate in Pathanamthitta district, of about 3,000 acres.
The Kodumon land is government-assigned land leased to the Plantation Corporation for rubber.
The proposal asks for a detailed examination in consultation with the State government under the Centre's greenfield airports policy.
Pilgrims now land at Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram and travel by road to Sabarimala.
Kodumon came back into discussion after the High Court quashed the land acquisition notification for the Cheruvally site.
Proposed site:
Kodumon Estate, Pathanamthitta district
Area:
about 3,000 acres
Why it matters for exams: Greenfield airport proposals, the districts they fall in and the policy route they take are standard geography and economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Greenfield airport Greenfield airport — An airport built on a fresh site rather than by expanding an existing one.
3 October 2026
The second phase of the 'Samagra 2026' programme of the State Backward Classes Development Corporation was inaugurated at the Parali convention centre, Palakkad.
Loans of various kinds worth Rs 100 crore were handed over to beneficiaries at the launch.
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes Welfare Minister K. A. Tulasi inaugurated the programme.
The Minister said steps are moving ahead to arrange special post-matric hostel facilities for students of backward communities.
The hostels are proposed at district headquarters and in the State capital.
The Minister said the matter had been discussed with the Union Minister and with officials of the national corporation.
Loans distributed:
Rs 100 crore
Programme:
Samagra 2026, second phase
Why it matters for exams: The State Backward Classes Development Corporation and its loan programmes are standard Kerala PSC welfare-administration topics.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Post-matric hostel Post-matriculation hostel — A hostel for students continuing study after Class 10, run for students of notified communities.
3 October 2026
The Chief Minister performed the groundbreaking of HiLITE Cyber Tower, a Rs 600-crore Grade A IT hub at Cyberpark in Kozhikode.
The tower, built by the HiLITE Group, covers 2.5 acres with a built-up area of nine lakh square feet.
It is expected to create more than 10,000 direct IT jobs and strengthen Kozhikode as an IT destination.
It is meant for multinational corporations, high-growth start-ups and research and development centres.
The project is scheduled for completion within two years.
Investment:
Rs 600-crore
Built-up area:
Nine lakh square feet
Direct IT jobs:
More than 10,000
Why it matters for exams: Large IT projects at Cyberpark Kozhikode and their job targets are common Kerala PSC economy and geography questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
3 October 2026
Rajiv Gauba, Member of NITI Aayog, spoke at the plenary session "Regulatory Oversight in an Age of Disruption" at the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave, according to a Press Information Bureau release of 3 October 2026.
He said the choice is not between regulation and growth; rules should manage risk while supporting innovation, competition and investment.
He said regulatory requirements should be calibrated to the nature and consequences of the risks involved, and regulators' independence must come with accountability.
He wanted a State that is "firm where risks are high, and light-touch where risks are low", and called for better coordination among regulators with overlapping mandates.
He linked this to Viksit Bharat by 2047 and the Prime Minister's philosophy of Trust Based Governance, or Jan Vishwas.
Event:
5th Kautilya Economic Conclave
Session:
Regulatory Oversight in an Age of Disruption
Speaker:
Rajiv Gauba, Member, NITI Aayog
Why it matters for exams: Regulatory reform, NITI Aayog's role and the Jan Vishwas approach are useful for governance and economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NITI Aayog National Institution for Transforming India — The Government of India's policy think-tank that replaced the Planning Commission.
3 October 2026
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will get direct Air India Express services to Riyadh and Bahrain from October 27, 2026, and bookings are open.
The Riyadh flight will operate three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The Bahrain flight will operate twice a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Air India Express already flies daily to Dammam, and Gulf Air flies daily to Bahrain from the airport.
The airport has more than 250 weekly air traffic movements to the Gulf, the airport said in a statement on Saturday.
Start date:
October 27, 2026
Riyadh flights:
3 a week (Tue, Thu, Sat)
Bahrain flights:
2 a week (Thu, Sat)
Why it matters for exams: New air links from the State capital are a recurring Kerala PSC theme on transport and the Gulf diaspora.
Kerala PSCUPSC
3 October 2026
The State has decided in principle to set up 'Kerala Desks' in Dubai, London, New York, Singapore and Tokyo.
The desks will run on a 'cooperative, no-cost model' with recognised organisations of non-resident Keralites, with no extra burden on the State exchequer.
A State Industries department order of September 30 sanctions them under the 100-day action plan of the new government.
The desks will build ties with Keralite business persons and investors abroad and pass pre-qualified investment leads to the Invest Keralam Cell in KSIDC.
The order says the aim is to shift diaspora engagement from remittances to investment.
Cities:
Dubai, London, New York, Singapore, Tokyo
Model:
Cooperative, no-cost
Order date:
September 30, 2026
Why it matters for exams: A fresh State order on diaspora-led investment, linked to the KSIDC single-window system, is a likely Kerala PSC and governance question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
KSIDC Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation — The State's industrial promotion agency whose Invest Keralam Cell runs the single-window mechanism.
NoRK Non-Resident Keralite — A Keralite living and working outside the State or country.
Background
Hook: the G7 agreed to release oil and diesel from reserves, which keeps attention on oil transit routes. The Strait of Hormuz lies between Oman and Iran. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The US Energy Information Administration reports that it handled about 21 million barrels per day in 2022, about 21% of global petroleum liquids consumption.
Located between:
Oman and Iran
Oil flow:
about 21 million barrels per day (2022)
Share of global petroleum liquids consumption:
about 21%
Why it matters for exams: Straits and chokepoints, and which water bodies they join, are standard world-geography questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Chokepoint Narrow strategic passage — A narrow waterway through which a large share of trade passes.
Background
Hook: The Kerala High Court, which sits in Kochi, and the Vizhinjam port profile keep Ernakulam in focus.
The district administration describes Ernakulam as an amalgam of a hoary heritage and global growth of industry and commerce.
It borders Thrissur in the north, Idukki in the east, Alappuzha and Kottayam in the south and the Lakshadweep Sea in the west.
Kochi is referred to in the history of Kerala as the Queen of the Arabian Sea.
The district embodies the State's achievements in literacy, industry, trade and commerce.
North border:
Thrissur
East border:
Idukki
South border:
Alappuzha and Kottayam
Epithet of Kochi:
Queen of the Arabian Sea
Why it matters for exams: Neighbouring districts and the Queen of the Arabian Sea epithet are frequent Kerala PSC questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
3 October 2026
The first joint review of the USMCA (T-MEC in Mexico) took place on 1 July 2026 under Article 34.7.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the United States did not agree to renew the pact in its current form.
Mexico and Canada each supported a 16-year extension.
The agreement stays in force until 1 July 2036 and now moves to annual reviews.
The United States is pursuing separate bilateral talks, and three US–Mexico rounds had been completed by late July 2026.
On 29 September 2026 President Sheinbaum said tariff negotiations with Washington were continuing, with Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard travelling there.
First joint review:
1 July 2026
Proposed extension:
16 years
Agreement in force until:
1 July 2036
Why it matters for exams: USMCA is Mexico's central trade framework; review mechanics and expiry dates are favoured exam facts.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
USMCA United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement — The North American trade pact that replaced NAFTA; called T-MEC in Mexico.
3 October 2026
Mexico's central bank, Banco de México (Banxico), announced its monetary policy decision on 24 September 2026.
The target for the overnight interbank funding rate was kept unchanged at 6.50 per cent.
The vote of Banxico's Governing Board was unanimous.
The bank said conditions in Mexico differ from those in the United States, so its policy need not react mechanically to US Federal Reserve moves.
The next decision follows later in the year on Banxico's published calendar.
Target rate:
6.50%
Decision date:
24 September 2026
Vote:
Unanimous
Why it matters for exams: Central-bank rate decisions and the Mexico–US monetary link are standard economy and international-affairs questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Banxico Banco de México — Mexico's central bank, which sets the overnight interbank target rate.
3 October 2026
On 3 October 2026 E. Sreedharan told Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan that high-speed rail is essential for Kerala's growth.
He said trains at 200 kmph would link Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur in about 3.5 hours, with fares matching Jan Shatabdi AC.
He said each day of delay costs an extra Rs 2.8 crore and asked permission for the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to conduct a field survey.
The 473.2 km corridor is estimated at Rs 60,000 crore.
The Cabinet put the proposal on hold in July 2026 after a four-member expert committee found the interim report incomplete.
Corridor:
Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur, 473.2 km
Estimated cost:
Rs 60,000 crore
Speed:
200 kmph
Why it matters for exams: A live Kerala infrastructure debate: corridor length, cost and the State's reasons for putting it on hold.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DMRC Delhi Metro Rail Corporation — The agency Sreedharan wants to survey the corridor.
3 October 2026
A PIB Backgrounder marks one year of PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs), launched on 4 October 2025 and completing a year on 4 October 2026. The scheme upgrades 1,000 Government ITIs through a Hub-and-Spoke model and augments five NSTIs through National Centres of Excellence. Its total outlay is ₹60,000 crore: ₹30,000 crore from the Centre, ₹20,000 crore from States and ₹10,000 crore from industry. Progress so far includes identification of 850 ITIs and approval of 14 ITI clusters.
Total outlay:
₹60,000 crore
Industry share:
₹10,000 crore
ITIs identified:
850
ITI clusters approved:
14
Why it matters for exams: Skilling schemes with their outlays and funding splits are standard questions in scheme-based papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ITI Industrial Training Institute — A vocational institute offering trades under the Craftsmen Training Scheme.
NSTI National Skill Training Institute — A national-level skill training institute, five of which the scheme upgrades.
3 October 2026
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan delivered the inaugural address at the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave in New Delhi on 3 October 2026. The theme was 'Resilience in an Age of Flux'. He said economic resilience cannot be separated from social resilience and that inclusion is the foundation of resilience. He referred to the legacy of the Institute of Economic Growth, which has been linked to India's development journey since its establishment in 1952 under Professor V. K. R. V. Rao.
Edition:
5th Kautilya Economic Conclave
Theme:
Resilience in an Age of Flux
IEG established:
1952
Why it matters for exams: Names of institutes and their founders, plus the Vice-President's role, are common general-knowledge questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
IEG Institute of Economic Growth — An economics research institute set up in 1952 under Professor V. K. R. V. Rao.
3 October 2026
The three-day Ladakh Festival 2026 was held in Leh from 26 to 28 September 2026. It showcased traditional music, folk dances and cultural expressions, with performers from the North Zone and village cultural groups across Ladakh. Ten individuals from tourism and hospitality, including hotel proprietors, adventure tour operators and filmmakers, were honoured. The UT's Secretary and Director of Tourism were among those present. The festival is presented as a platform for cultural dialogue and community participation.
Dates:
26-28 September 2026
Venue:
Leh
Honourees:
10 individuals
Why it matters for exams: State festivals and cultural tourism are regular art-and-culture items.
Kerala PSCUPSC
3 October 2026
Lt Governor VK Saxena visited the heritage village of Hunderman in Kargil on 3 September 2026 to review its development. The village adjoins the Line of Control between India and Pakistan. An 'Exploring LOC and Hunderman Village Experience' project is under way, with a viewpoint, parking, an integrated centre, walking paths, smart toilets, a cafe, solar panels and EV charging. Officials were directed to finish the work by the end of October 2026. A solar lift irrigation system is also being put in place for agriculture.
District:
Kargil
Work to finish by:
end of October 2026
Why it matters for exams: Border and heritage tourism and the Line of Control geography link tourism policy with defence geography.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
LoC Line of Control — The de facto boundary between the Indian- and Pakistan-administered parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
3 October 2026
The 480-metre-long bridge over the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project has been completed. It stands about 36 metres tall on 8 circular piers, 4 of them in the riverbed. The bridge has five spans of 76 metres and two of 50 metres, each built from 23 segments cast in-situ. It was built by the Balanced Cantilever Method, which needs no conventional scaffolding below the deck. Of the 25 river bridges on the corridor, 21 are in Gujarat and 18 of those are now complete.
Bridge length:
480 metres
Height:
about 36 metres
Gujarat river bridges completed:
18 of 21
Why it matters for exams: High-speed rail and its engineering milestones feature in infrastructure and economy papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Balanced Cantilever Method Balanced Cantilever Method — Segments are erected outwards from each pier on both sides and joined by post-tensioning, with no scaffolding below.
3 October 2026
The Ladakh administration restarted subsidised helicopter services on 29 September 2026 through Pawan Hans Limited under a wet lease agreement supported by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Seven routes run from Leh: Kargil, Padum, Turtuk, Lingshed, Dibling, Nyerak and Diskit. Fares range from ₹4,650 for 30-minute sectors to ₹7,750 for Leh-Kargil, which takes 50 minutes. The service is meant to improve air connectivity to remote areas and help tourist and emergency medical movement. Seats are booked on heliservice.ladakh.gov.in.
Operator:
Pawan Hans Limited
Routes from Leh:
7
Leh-Kargil fare:
₹7,750
Leh-Padum fare:
₹6,975
Why it matters for exams: Regional air connectivity and the geography of remote Ladakh (Zanskar, Nubra, Turtuk) are recurring static-plus-current links.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Wet lease Aircraft leased with crew — A lease in which the aircraft is supplied together with its crew and maintenance.
Background
Founded in 1930, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is the oldest international financial institution. It was created at the Hague Conference in the context of the Young Plan, adopted on 20 January 1930, which was meant to settle the reparation payments imposed on Germany after the First World War. A convention establishing the BIS in Switzerland was signed between Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom on one side and Switzerland on the other. The BIS took over the functions of the Agent General for Reparations, and its name comes from this original role. Today it supports central banks' pursuit of monetary and financial stability through international cooperation and hosts the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.
Seat:
Basel, Switzerland
Created at:
Hague Conference
Original task:
Handling German reparation payments
Why it matters for exams: The BIS and the Basel Committee are standard questions in banking and economy papers.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
Young Plan Reparations plan — The plan adopted to settle the reparation payments imposed on Germany after the First World War.
Basel Committee Basel Committee on Banking Supervision — A standard-setting committee hosted by the BIS under the Basel Process.
Background
Under the Reserve Bank's Directions, every bank must maintain in India, as cash reserve, a sum equal to a percentage of its Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL) that the Reserve Bank specifies by notification in the Official Gazette, having regard to monetary stability.
A scheduled bank keeps its Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) as an average daily balance with the Reserve Bank.
In addition, a bank must keep Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) assets worth not less than a percentage, not exceeding forty per cent, of its demand and time liabilities, as the Reserve Bank specifies.
SLR can be held as cash, gold, or unencumbered investment in SLR securities, namely dated securities of the Government of India, Treasury Bills and State Development Loans.
So CRR is parked with the central bank, while SLR stays with the bank itself as liquid assets.
CRR is held:
As an average daily balance with the Reserve Bank
Statutory ceiling on SLR:
Not exceeding forty per cent of demand and time liabilities
Base for both ratios:
Net Demand and Time Liabilities
Why it matters for exams: CRR versus SLR, where each is held and what counts towards SLR are core monetary-policy and banking questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
NDTL Net Demand and Time Liabilities — The deposit and similar liabilities of a bank on which reserve ratios are calculated.
SLR securities SLR securities — Government instruments, such as Treasury Bills, that count towards the SLR requirement.