2 October 2026
The West Bengal government has enhanced the monthly remuneration of several categories of contractual employees in the school education system, with effect from 1 October 2026. The decision was taken with the concurrence of the Finance Department and the approval of the state Cabinet. The employees covered work under the Paschim Banga Samagra Shiksha Mission, the Paschim Banga Rajya Sishu Shakti Mission, the Directorate of School Education and the PM-POSHAN programme. The government described the step as strengthening financial support for contractual staff associated with the state's education system.
Effective from:
1 October 2026
Approved by:
State Cabinet, with Finance Department concurrence
Why it matters for exams: Scheme and mission names in a state's school education set-up, and the department whose concurrence a pay order needs, are both asked directly.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
PM-POSHAN Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman — The centrally sponsored scheme that provides hot cooked meals to schoolchildren, formerly the Mid-Day Meal scheme.
PBSSM Paschim Banga Samagra Shiksha Mission — West Bengal's state mission that implements the centrally supported Samagra Shiksha programme for school education.
Concurrence Finance Department concurrence — The finance department's formal agreement, needed before a government order creates a new financial commitment.
Background
In the 1890s Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata decided to set up a world class university in India using his personal wealth.
The Regent Queen Maharani Kempananjammani Vani Vilasa Sannidhana provided 371 acres and 16 guntas of land in Bangalore, funds for capital expenditure, and an annual contribution.
The remaining money to set up the Institute came from the colonial government of India.
The Indian Institute of Science came into existence on 27 May 1909 in Bangalore following a vesting order and resolution passed by the government of India.
Its first Director was the English chemist Morris Travers, and twenty-four students joined when the Institute opened its doors to students in 1911.
The Institute started with just two academic departments: General and Applied Chemistry, and Electrical Technology.
The Department of Physics was set up under Sir CV Raman, a Nobel Laureate who also became the first Indian Director of the Institute in 1933.
The Institute has expanded to include a 1500-acre campus at Challakere in Chitradurga district, Karnataka.
Came into existence:
27 May 1909, in Bangalore
Land provided by the Regent Queen:
371 acres and 16 guntas
First Director:
Morris Travers
Students at opening:
Twenty-four, in 1911
First Indian Director:
Sir CV Raman, in 1933
Challakere campus:
1500 acres, Chitradurga district, Karnataka
Why it matters for exams: IISc's first Director, its founding endowment and CV Raman's role are recurring questions on Indian scientific institutions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Gunta A traditional unit of land area — Used along with acres in the Institute's founding land grant.
Vesting order A government order transferring property or rights — The order through which the Institute formally came into existence.
IISc Indian Institute of Science — A research university at Bangalore, with a second campus at Challakere.
Background
The science behind India's tiger and elephant assessments comes largely from the Wildlife Institute of India at Dehradun in Uttarakhand, which its own website describes as a premier national institute for wildlife research and biodiversity conservation. The Institute was established in 1982 and offers training programmes, academic courses and advisory services in wildlife research and management. It is the nodal national agency for research and training in the field of wildlife conservation, and is actively engaged in research across the breadth of the country on biodiversity-related issues. Its mandate includes generating quality knowledge in wildlife science and complementing national efforts in wildlife conservation. The Institute is a four-star top-rated accredited institute as per the Capacity Building Commission among all national civil service training institutes.
Established:
1982
Location:
Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Role:
Nodal national agency for wildlife research and training
Why it matters for exams: Candidates are often asked to match a national institute with its town and its mandate, and this one recurs in questions on wildlife conservation.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
WII Wildlife Institute of India — A national institute at Dehradun for research and training in wildlife conservation.
2 October 2026
A new report by the UN refugee agency UNHCR says that of an estimated 13.1 million school-age refugee children worldwide in 2025, nearly half - 5.8 million - remain out of school.
Enrolment stood at 65 per cent at primary level but only 32 per cent at secondary level, making the transition to high school the biggest single gap.
Two in three refugee children arrive at primary school without the foundational learning that prepares them for the classroom.
Refugee enrolment in higher education reached a record 11 per cent in 2025, with more than 450,000 students in university or technical and vocational training, keeping the 15x30 pledge of 15 per cent by 2030 within reach.
Refugee enrolment remains below the national average in more than 80 per cent of reporting countries; in low-income and conflict-affected countries only 2 per cent of refugees were in higher education against 13 per cent of nationals.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih said cuts to education "risk reversing decades of collective investment".
School-age refugee children, 2025:
13.1 million
Out of school:
5.8 million
Primary enrolment:
65 per cent
Secondary enrolment:
32 per cent
Higher education enrolment, 2025:
11 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Refugee education figures recur in questions on the Sustainable Development Goals and on UNHCR's mandate.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees — The UN refugee agency, which protects and assists people forced to flee.
15x30 pledge Goal of 15 per cent refugee enrolment in higher education by 2030 — A UNHCR-led target for refugee access to universities and vocational training.
2 October 2026
Applications for the Master of Public Health course may be submitted until October 17, 2026.
The entrance examination will be held on October 24, 2026 at Thiruvananthapuram.
The application fee is Rs 1,800 for general candidates and Rs 900 for candidates in the scheduled categories, payable online or by challan at Federal Bank branches.
Eligibility is a minimum of 50 per cent marks in a medical degree such as MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS or BSMS with State Council registration, or in B.Sc Nursing, B.Pharm or B.Sc Allied Medical with State Council registration, or a regular B.Sc Veterinary degree from Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University or another recognised university, or a pass with 50 per cent marks from the Kerala University of Health Sciences having studied public health as a subject at degree or postgraduate level.
Details are published on www.lbscentre.kerala.gov.in and enquiries are taken on 0471 2560361 to 364.
Last date to apply:
October 17, 2026
Entrance examination:
October 24, 2026, Thiruvananthapuram
Application fee, general:
Rs 1,800
Application fee, scheduled categories:
Rs 900
Why it matters for exams: Admission notifications with dates and fee slabs are routinely lifted into Kerala PSC and State-level current affairs sets.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
MPH Master of Public Health — A postgraduate course on population health, epidemiology and health administration.
LBS Centre LBS Centre for Science and Technology — A Kerala government autonomous body that conducts entrance examinations and professional courses.
2 October 2026
The Kerala government has set up a help desk through NORKA Roots for Malayali students at Lovely Professional University in Punjab, where a clash took place.
The help desk will function 24 hours a day.
Students and families can reach it on the toll-free number 1800 425 3939, and a missed call facility is available on +91 8802 012345.
Support is also available through the NORKA NRK Development Office at Kerala House, New Delhi, on 011 2336 0350 and 011 2334 9202.
The arrangement was announced by the Information and Public Relations Department on October 1, 2026.
Toll-free number:
1800 425 3939
Missed call facility:
+91 8802 012345
Working hours:
24 hours
Delhi office:
NORKA NRK Development Office, Kerala House, New Delhi
Why it matters for exams: NORKA Roots and its helpline machinery are standard Kerala PSC questions on the State's non-resident welfare system.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
NORKA Non-Resident Keralites Affairs — The Kerala government department for Keralites living outside the State and the country.
1 October 2026
Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha spoke at Women's College, Agartala, where he inaugurated renovation and development work on the Matangini Pritilata Auditorium. He launched the Seva First Innovation Challenge 2026, the Mukhyamantri Yuva Jogajog Yojana and Digi-SAPNE 3.0. He called young people a key resource for national development. He stressed the need to combine institutional education with modern technology and spirituality, and said the state is prioritising technology-driven upgrades to educational infrastructure, with a greater focus on Artificial Intelligence.
Scheme launched:
Mukhyamantri Yuva Jogajog Yojana
Challenge:
Seva First Innovation Challenge 2026
Programme:
Digi-SAPNE 3.0
Venue:
Women's College, Agartala
Why it matters for exams: Names of new state schemes and their launch details are routine scheme questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
1 October 2026
A notice published on 1 October 2026 invites applications for the Master of Public Health course until 17 October. The application fee is Rs 1,800 for the general category and Rs 900 for the Scheduled category (SC/ST), payable online or at a Federal Bank branch with a challan. Eligible applicants include degree holders in MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS or BSMS with at least 50 per cent marks and state council registration. The entrance examination will be held on 24 October 2026 in Thiruvananthapuram. Applications are made through the LBS Centre website, www.lbscentre.kerala.gov.in.
Last date to apply:
17 October 2026
Entrance exam:
24 October 2026
Fee (General / Scheduled category):
₹1,800 / ₹900
Why it matters for exams: Admission deadlines and eligibility rules are useful for candidates in health and public-health streams.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
LBS Centre LBS Centre for Science and Technology — A Kerala government agency that runs admission and entrance processes.
1 October 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in the centenary celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
He released a commemorative postage stamp, a special coin and a compilation of 100 landmark case laws.
He said the aim must be to bring in youth 'who are driven by Public Service, not Public Office'.
He asked that examination cycles be shortened so that candidates spend less on coaching and on living away from home.
The share of women among candidates has risen from 3 per cent in 1952 to over 30 per cent today, and three of the four UPSC Chairpersons appointed after 2014 are women.
He urged wider use of the iGOT platform under Mission Karmayogi for the training of serving officers.
Venue:
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
Women candidates:
3% in 1952 to over 30% today
Released:
Postage stamp, special coin, compilation of 100 case laws
Why it matters for exams: UPSC's constitutional position, its centenary and the Mission Karmayogi framework are standard polity and governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
UPSC Union Public Service Commission — The central recruiting body for the All India and Central Services, set up under Article 315 of the Constitution.
Mission Karmayogi National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building — A continuous training programme for government employees delivered largely through the online iGOT platform.
1 October 2026
The Kerala Council for Historical Research has invited applications for internships in its Online Digital Archive Project. KCHR is an autonomous research institution under the Higher Education Department of the Government of Kerala. Applicants must hold a bachelor's or postgraduate degree in History or in Malayalam. Detailed biodata is to be sent by email to the Council with the subject line 'Application for Internship - Online Digital Archive Project'. The last date to apply is October 5, 2026. The project digitises historical records so that they can be read online rather than only in the archive room.
Qualification:
Degree or postgraduate degree in History or Malayalam
Last date:
October 5, 2026
Why it matters for exams: KCHR and the State's archive institutions appear in Kerala PSC questions on culture, research bodies and higher education.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
KCHR Kerala Council for Historical Research — An autonomous research institution under Kerala's Higher Education Department that works on the State's history and archives.
Digital archive Digital archive — A collection of records scanned and stored electronically so that readers can use them without handling the originals.
Background
Why it matters now: a Private Universities Bill is listed for the Assembly session that begins on 12 October 2026.
The Kerala State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Bill was passed by the Assembly in March 2025.
As passed, it requires sponsoring bodies to set up a minimum Rs 25 crore endowment fund and hold at least 10 acres of land.
40% of seats in each course are reserved for permanent Kerala residents, and the Bill excludes foreign universities.
Minimum endowment fund:
₹25 crore
Minimum land:
10 acres
Seats reserved for Kerala residents:
40%
Why it matters for exams: Higher-education policy and the legislation behind it are regular polity and current-affairs topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
1 October 2026
The Kerala Public Service Commission's extraordinary gazette dated 30/09/2026 carries Category Numbers CAT.NO.151/2026 TO CAT.NO.161/2026 for the year 2026.
The last date shown against the gazette is 04-11-2026.
The posts notified include Draftsman Grade-II in the Kerala Ports service (Hydrographic Survey Wing) as Cat.No.151/2026 and Forest Boat Driver (Part-I) under Forest & Wildlife as Cat.No.153/2026.
Forest Boat Driver (Part II-By Transfer) under Forest & Wildlife is Cat.No.154/2026.
Higher Secondary School Teacher - Statistics (SR for ST Only) under Kerala Higher Secondary Education is Cat.No.155/2026, and Draftsman Grade-II / Town Planning Surveyor Grade-II (SR for SC/ST) under the LSG Department (Group IV Planning Wing) is Cat.No.156/2026.
Higher Secondary School Teacher (Jr.) Arabic (VII NCA-SC&ST) is notified as Cat.No.157&158/2026, and Police Constable Driver / Woman Police Constable Driver (I NCA-LC/AI) under Kerala Police as Cat.No.159/2026.
Three entries are for Peon/Watchman posts by direct recruitment from among the part-time employees in KSFE Ltd - Cat.No.152/2026, Cat.No.160/2026 and Cat.No.161/2026.
The Commission's head office is at Thulasi Hills, Pattom Palace P.O., Thiruvananthapuram 695 004.
Gazette:
EXTRA ORDINARY GAZETTE DATE 30/09/2026
Category Numbers:
CAT.NO.151/2026 TO CAT.NO.161/2026
Last date:
04-11-2026
Year:
2026
Head office:
Thulasi Hills, Pattom Palace P.O., Thiruvananthapuram 695 004
Why it matters for exams: Kerala PSC aspirants are asked which gazette carried which category number and by when applications close, and the same list shows which service each post belongs to.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
KPSC Kerala Public Service Commission — The State recruitment body that issues these category-numbered notifications through extraordinary gazettes.
KSFE Kerala State Financial Enterprises Ltd — The State-owned chit and loan company whose part-time employees are the feeder group for three of these Peon/Watchman notifications.
Background
UNESCO's country profile records that Finland has been a UNESCO member since 1956.
It places Finland in the Europe and North America region and in Group I.
The profile lists 8 World Heritage Sites and 4 cultural practices and expressions of intangible heritage in Finland.
It also lists 5 UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks, 6 entries on the Memory of the World International Register, 2 biosphere reserves and 5 sites under the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme.
Finland's representation to UNESCO is the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Finland to the OECD and to UNESCO, based at the UNESCO House in Paris.
The Finnish National Commission for UNESCO sits in the Ministry of Education and Culture.
UNESCO member since:
1956
Region and group:
Europe and North America, Group I
World Heritage Sites:
8
Intangible heritage practices:
4
Biosphere reserves:
2
Global geoparks:
5
Memory of the World entries:
6
Why it matters for exams: The number of a country's World Heritage Sites and its UNESCO regional group are standard objective questions in the international-organisations section.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization — The United Nations agency for education, the sciences, culture and communication.
Biosphere reserve Biosphere reserve — A site recognised under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme for balancing conservation with human use.
1 October 2026
A village coordination meeting and civic action programme was organised by the Border Security Force's 121 Battalion at Jaipur High School in Rishyamukh block on 30 September 2026.
BSF Tripura Frontier Inspector General Princee Rani inaugurated a newly constructed computer laboratory at the school and planted saplings on the school premises.
121 Battalion Commandant Sunil Kumar Mishra, Rishyamukh Panchayat Samiti Chairman Shambhunath Kar and Poangbari Panchayat Samiti Chairperson Manibala Baidya Dutta were among those present.
As part of its civic action programme, the BSF distributed educational and sports materials to four border schools.
Inspector General Princee Rani stressed the importance of public cooperation in strengthening border security and promoting development in border areas.
Commandant Sunil Kumar Mishra urged local residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities and support efforts to prevent smuggling and drug abuse.
Students from various schools presented folk and tribal dances during the event.
Battalion:
121 Battalion, Border Security Force
Venue:
Jaipur High School, Rishyamukh block
BSF Tripura Frontier Inspector General:
Princee Rani
Border schools given materials:
Four
Why it matters for exams: Civic action programmes are the standard example of a central armed police force's development role in border districts, and the Tripura Frontier's leadership is askable.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
BSF Border Security Force — The central armed police force that guards India's land borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Civic Action Programme Civic Action Programme — Welfare work such as school facilities, sports material and tree planting that armed and central police forces carry out to build goodwill where they are deployed.
1 October 2026
Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha launched the Seva First Innovation Challenge 2026, the Mukhyamantri Yuva Jogajog Yojana and Digi-SAPNE 3.0 at an event at Women's College, Agartala on 1 October 2026.
At the same event he inaugurated the renovation and development works of the Matangini Pritilata Auditorium.
He said the youth are a vital human resource and that the younger generation will lead the way towards building a developed nation.
He said technology and innovation would guide Tripura's future development and economic growth.
He added that the state government is prioritising technology-driven improvements in educational infrastructure, with greater emphasis on Artificial Intelligence.
He also stressed the need to combine institutional education with modern technology so that learning stays rooted in ethics and practical skills.
Launched on:
1 October 2026
Venue:
Women's College, Agartala
Schemes launched:
Seva First Innovation Challenge 2026, Mukhyamantri Yuva Jogajog Yojana, Digi-SAPNE 3.0
Auditorium renovated:
Matangini Pritilata Auditorium
Why it matters for exams: New state scheme names and the venue at which they were launched are standard one-mark current affairs questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
AI Artificial Intelligence — Computer systems that perform tasks such as recognition, prediction and language use that normally need human intelligence.
1 October 2026
Justice Viju Abraham held that the mandatory one-year senior residency obligation of postgraduate doctors from government medical colleges begins on the date the examination result is published, and not on the date they are actually posted.
The judge said the obligation starts from the date of publication of the result irrespective of whether a posting could be granted soon after.
The court described postgraduate doctors being left idle without a posting as a national waste.
The government was directed to decide within one month whether to create supernumerary posts for the petitioners or to relieve them of the bond obligation.
The judgment is reported as 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 539 in WP(C) Nos. 25441 and 9651 of 2026.
The court referred to the earlier Division Bench decision in Ayisha Beegam v. State of Kerala.
Bond period:
One year
Time given to government:
One month
Citation:
2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 539
Why it matters for exams: Service bonds in government medical education and the courts' reading of them recur in Kerala current affairs.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Senior residency Senior residency — A period of service a postgraduate medical graduate performs in a hospital after completing the PG course.
Supernumerary post Supernumerary post — A post created over and above the sanctioned strength, usually for a limited purpose or period.
1 October 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to participate in the Centenary Celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, at 11 AM on 1 October 2026.
The event is to mark 100 years since the establishment of the UPSC in 1926.
He is to release a commemorative coin, a commemorative stamp and the book '100 Landmark Judgements- Shaping the Policies of UPSC and Public Service Commissions in India'.
The centenary observance began on 1 October 2025.
Chairmen and Members of State Public Service Commissions are among the expected participants.
UPSC established:
1926
Venue:
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
Released:
Coin, stamp and book
Why it matters for exams: UPSC and the State Public Service Commissions are constitutional bodies under Articles 315 to 323, a core polity topic.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
UPSC Union Public Service Commission — The constitutional body that conducts recruitment exams for central services.
30 September 2026
The Kerala Public Service Commission's Extraordinary Gazette dated 30 September 2026 carries notifications for Category Numbers 151/2026 to 161/2026.
The last date to submit applications is 04-11-2026.
The posts include Draftsman Grade-II in the Kerala Ports Service (Hydrographic Survey Wing) and Forest Boat Driver in the Forest and Wildlife Department, the latter notified in two parts, Part I and Part II (by transfer).
Higher Secondary School Teacher in Statistics is notified as a special recruitment for Scheduled Tribes only, and Higher Secondary School Teacher (Junior) Arabic as NCA vacancies for SC and ST.
Draftsman Grade-II / Town Planning Surveyor Grade-II in the Local Self Government Department (Group IV Planning Wing) is a special recruitment for SC and ST candidates.
Police Constable Driver and Woman Police Constable Driver in the Kerala Police are notified as NCA vacancies for Latin Catholic/Anglo-Indian candidates.
Peon/Watchman posts in KSFE Ltd. are notified by direct recruitment from among part-time employees, including NCA vacancies for Scheduled Tribes.
Gazette date:
30/09/2026
Category numbers:
151/2026 to 161/2026
Last date to apply:
04-11-2026
Why it matters for exams: Kerala PSC aspirants are examined on how the Commission notifies posts, and these categories show direct recruitment, recruitment by transfer, special recruitment and NCA vacancies side by side.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
NCA No Candidate Available — A vacancy reserved for a community for which no suitable candidate was available in an earlier recruitment, notified again separately for that community.
KSFE Kerala State Financial Enterprises Limited — A Kerala government company best known for running chitties, whose posts are filled through the PSC.
Extraordinary Gazette — A special issue of the Kerala Gazette published between regular issues, used by the PSC to publish fresh notifications.
30 September 2026
On 29 September 2026 a Supreme Court bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe took up implementation of Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education Act.
The provision requires private unaided schools to admit 25 per cent of their students from economically weaker and disadvantaged groups.
The Court asked the NCPCR Chairperson and Director to appear at the next hearing.
The bench asked, "How can they act so indifferent? Who heads the NCPCR?"
The Court said the NCPCR must move beyond collecting data and ensure that Section 12 is put into practice.
The case is Dinesh Biwaji Ashtikar v. State of Maharashtra.
RTE quota in private unaided schools:
25 per cent
Provision:
Section 12(1)(c), RTE Act
Bench:
Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe
Why it matters for exams: The RTE Act's 25 per cent quota and the role of the NCPCR are frequent polity and education questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
The Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights held a stakeholder convergence meeting at the Secretariat, Porvorim, on September 29, 2026.
Chairperson Shashikant K. Punaji chaired the meeting.
It was attended by representatives of the North Goa, South Goa and Kushavati district administrations, the police, the judiciary, the health department, District Child Protection Units, Child Welfare Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards, Special Juvenile Police Units, Child Helpline and the Victim Assistance Unit.
Discussion covered coordination between stakeholders, timely referral and response, information sharing, rehabilitation and support services under the Juvenile Justice, POCSO and Goa Children's Acts.
The chairperson said child protection is a shared responsibility and stressed addressing institutional gaps through clearly defined responsibilities.
The next such meeting is scheduled for January 6, 2027.
Body:
Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights
Venue:
Secretariat, Porvorim
Next meeting:
January 6, 2027
Why it matters for exams: State child rights commissions, the POCSO Act and Juvenile Justice machinery are repeated topics, and Goa has its own Children's Act.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
POCSO Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act — The central law dealing with sexual offences against children.
GSCPCR Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights — The State level statutory commission for children's rights in Goa.