Background
The Local Self Government Department's page on Suchitwa Mission records that the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) in the state was coordinated and monitored by the Kerala Total Sanitation and Health Mission (KTSHM), whose activities were confined to the rural Panchayats.
The Clean Kerala Mission (CKM) was separately enabling the urban and rural local bodies in establishing solid waste management systems.
To avoid duplication of efforts and to tackle existing and emerging challenges in various sanitation aspects for an overall health and environmental outcome, the page says it was felt necessary to have a professional institution.
Accordingly the above Missions were integrated as Suchitwa Mission, which started functioning since April 2008.
The department says this institutional reform enabled the up scaling of initiatives envisaged in the Malinya Mukta Keralam Action Plan.
Suchitwa Mission is listed among the Allied Institutions of the Local Self Government Department, alongside Kudumbashree, the Kerala Institute of Local Administration and the Clean Kerala Company.
Started functioning:
April 2008
Merged body one:
Kerala Total Sanitation and Health Mission (KTSHM)
Merged body two:
Clean Kerala Mission (CKM)
Earlier campaign:
Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC)
Action plan scaled up:
Malinya Mukta Keralam Action Plan
Parent department:
Local Self Government Department
Why it matters for exams: Kerala's sanitation and waste questions usually turn on which body does what, and the merger that created Suchitwa Mission explains why one agency now covers both rural and urban local bodies instead of two.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
KTSHM Kerala Total Sanitation and Health Mission — The body that coordinated and monitored the Total Sanitation Campaign in Kerala's rural panchayats before the merger.
CKM Clean Kerala Mission — The body that helped both urban and rural local bodies set up solid waste management systems before the merger.
7 October 2026
A Nature paper published on 7 October 2026 links Australia's current wildfire crisis to colonial land-use change.
A team with corresponding author Michael-Shawn Fletcher of the University of Melbourne reconstructed 1,000 years of vegetation and fire history from a lake-sediment record in a temperate eucalypt forest in southeastern Australia.
Before British colonisation in 1788, the Gunaikurnai people's frequent, low-temperature cultural burning kept woodlands open and stable.
After colonial disruption, fire temperatures rose and eucalypt cover roughly quadrupled.
The authors describe a "catastrophic wildfire loop" and say integrating Indigenous knowledge into fire management is essential.
Record length:
1,000 years
Colonisation year used:
1788
Change in eucalypt cover:
Roughly quadrupled
Why it matters for exams: Wildfire, Indigenous knowledge and land-use change link environment and geography current affairs.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Cultural burning Indigenous fire management — Frequent, low-temperature burning practised by Indigenous peoples to manage land.
7 October 2026
The Haryana Forest and Wildlife Department is planning to install artificial intelligence enabled cameras at identified locations across the state to keep a systematic count of migratory bird species.
Chief Wildlife Warden Navdeep Singh said on 7 October 2026 that the system is expected to help the department identify and record birds more efficiently and reduce dependence on manual counting.
Cameras are already working at Sultanpur National Park in Gurugram and at Kalesar National Park in Yamunanagar, and more sites are to be covered.
Coverage will extend to notified wetlands and other water bodies, with the peak migration season in November and December.
Officials said about 200 bird species, of which about 100 are migratory, visit Haryana every year, as the state lies along the Central Asian Flyway.
Wildlife Week 2026 is being observed from 2 to 8 October on the theme of connecting habitats for thriving wildlife.
Bird species visiting Haryana yearly:
About 200, of which about 100 are migratory
Parks where cameras already work:
Sultanpur National Park and Kalesar National Park
Why it matters for exams: The Central Asian Flyway, Haryana's two national parks and the use of artificial intelligence in wildlife counting are all examinable.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Central Asian Flyway A migratory route linking Arctic and Central Asian breeding grounds with South Asia — India lies on this flyway, which is why northern Indian wetlands fill with winter visitors.
7 October 2026
Agriculture Minister T. Siddique said on 7 October 2026 that a Carbon Cell will be formed under the Agriculture Department so that farmers who adopt climate-resilient methods can earn carbon credits.
The proposal was placed before a visiting World Bank mission, which accepted it, and the two sides will work on it in the coming months.
The mission is in Kerala to review progress on the KERA project, a World Bank-funded programme implemented by the Agriculture Department.
KERA will provide ₹2365 crore to Kerala's agriculture sector.
The Minister named coconut development and higher productivity, stronger agricultural marketing, empowering Farmer Producer Organisations and value chains for high-value crops as the priorities.
Smart Krishi Bhavans, full digitalisation of the Agriculture Department and comprehensive development of the Kathir portal were also stressed.
The World Bank mission remains in Kerala until 13 October and will visit KERA project sites.
KERA project outlay for Kerala agriculture:
₹2365 crore
Funding agency:
World Bank
World Bank mission in Kerala until:
13 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: A new institutional mechanism in a state department, a World Bank-funded project and its outlay are exactly the scheme details Kerala PSC and UPSC ask about.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
KERA Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernization Project — A World Bank-funded project implemented by the Kerala Agriculture Department, bringing ₹2365 crore to the state's agriculture sector.
Carbon credit — A tradable unit representing greenhouse gas kept out of the atmosphere or stored, which the holder can sell for income.
Krishi Bhavan — The Agriculture Department's office at panchayat level, the point at which farmers deal with the department.
FPO Farmer Producer Organisation — A registered body of farmers that buys inputs and markets produce collectively.
7 October 2026
The eighth e-auction of mementos received by the Prime Minister is currently live, and has been extended until 31 October 2026.
A collection of 16 mementos from Chhattisgarh is on offer.
At the heart of the collection is Dhokra, the traditional lost-wax metal-casting craft with a history of more than 4,000 years in India, with works such as an Elephant Head Nandi, a Standing Nandi and a Madia-Madin Tribal Couple Bust.
The collection also has a traditional ceremonial headgear with a peacock-feather cluster, cowrie shells, metallic discs and brass bells, and a Ramnami Samaj chanting stole covered with repeated inscriptions of 'Ram Ram'.
Contemporary items include a woodcut panel depicting the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, a memento marking the Rajat Jayanti of the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha, and models representing institutions in Nava Raipur.
Proceeds from the auction will support the Namami Gange Project. Bids are placed on the PM Mementos e-Auction portal at pmmementos.gov.in, and the release was issued by the Ministry of Culture.
Edition:
8th e-auction
Chhattisgarh items:
16
Last date:
31 October 2026
Proceeds to:
Namami Gange project
Why it matters for exams: The auction links a traditional craft, a welfare scheme and a river-cleaning mission, all of which appear separately in exams.
Kerala PSCSSC
In plain words
Dhokra Dhokra metal craft — A tribal metal-casting craft using the lost-wax technique, practised in Chhattisgarh and neighbouring regions.
7 October 2026
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has compiled and released a document titled 'Strategy for Environmental Economic Accounts in India 2026-2030'.
It is an extension of the earlier 'Strategy for Environmental-Economic Accounts in India 2022-2026', which the Ministry's National Statistical Office had released.
The work follows the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting, which is endorsed by the United Nations Statistical Commission, and the SEEA-Central Framework.
The new document aims to cover, or widen the scope of, subjects such as forest, minerals, soil resources, land, water, carbon stock, environment-related activities, biodiversity and environment statistics.
The 2022-2026 strategy had identified material flow accounts, ocean accounts, energy accounts and thematic accounts for biodiversity and urban areas as the areas to work on.
The areas in the new document are selected mainly on the recommendations in the report 'Green National Account in India: A Framework' and the SEEA-CF framework, and the Ministry links its importance to the System of National Accounts 2025, which recognises natural resource accounting within the national accounting framework. The document is available on www.mospi.gov.in.
Document:
Strategy for Environmental Economic Accounts in India 2026-2030
Previous strategy:
Strategy for Environmental-Economic Accounts in India 2022-2026
Released by:
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (NSO)
Why it matters for exams: Environmental accounting frameworks and the bodies that approve them are standard prelims material on reports and indices.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SEEA System of Environmental-Economic Accounting — An international statistical standard, approved by the UN Statistical Commission, for measuring the environment alongside the economy.
NSO National Statistical Office — The statistical wing of MoSPI that compiles national accounts and large-scale surveys.
Background
Established in 1982, the Wildlife Institute of India offers training programmes, academic courses and advisory work in wildlife research and management.
Its own site describes it as an Autonomous Institute of MoEFCC, Govt. of India, with its campus at Chandrabani, Dehradun.
The Institute is a nodal national agency for research and training in the field of wildlife conservation.
It is a four-star top rated accredited institute as per the Capacity Building Commission amongst all National Civil Service Training Institutes.
Its mandate includes generating quality knowledge in wildlife science and complementing national efforts in wildlife conservation.
Its courses include a two-year course in Wildlife Science, a PG Diploma in Advanced Wildlife Management and a Certificate Course in Wildlife Management for in-service Range Officers and Deputy Range Officers.
The WII-C2C was established in 2015 to realise the objectives of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, 1972 by building capacity on World Heritage.
Established:
1982
Status:
Autonomous Institute of MoEFCC, Govt. of India
Capacity Building Commission rating:
four-star top rated
WII-C2C established:
2015
Why it matters for exams: WII's 1982 founding, its Dehradun base and its role as the nodal agency behind tiger and cheetah monitoring work are recurring exam facts.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
MoEFCC Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change — WII is an autonomous institute of this ministry.
WII-C2C The WII centre set up in 2015 for World Heritage capacity building — It works towards the objectives of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, 1972.
Background
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was opened for signature on 10 December 1982 at Montego Bay, Jamaica, after more than 14 years of work involving more than 150 countries.
It entered into force in accordance with its article 308 on 16 November 1994, twelve months after the sixtieth instrument of ratification or accession was deposited.
The Convention comprises 320 articles and nine annexes covering delimitation, environmental control, marine scientific research, economic activities, transfer of technology and dispute settlement.
A coastal State may establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not to exceed 12 nautical miles, and foreign vessels enjoy innocent passage through those waters.
Coastal States have sovereign rights in a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone over natural resources and certain economic activities, while all other States keep freedom of navigation and overflight there.
Disputes may go to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, to the International Court of Justice or to arbitration, and the Tribunal has exclusive jurisdiction over deep seabed mining disputes.
Opened for signature:
10 December 1982, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Entry into force:
16 November 1994
Articles and annexes:
320 articles and nine annexes
Territorial sea limit:
not to exceed 12 nautical miles
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nautical miles
Why it matters for exams: The 12-nautical mile territorial sea and the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone are standard maritime-law questions in Kerala PSC and UPSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone — A 200-nautical mile belt where the coastal State has sovereign rights over natural resources.
Innocent passage Right of innocent passage — Foreign vessels may pass through a coastal State's territorial sea without threatening its peace or security.
ITLOS International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea — The court set up by the Convention; it alone can hear deep seabed mining disputes.
Background
Silent Valley National Park lies 40 km northwest of Mannarkkad in Palakkad district.
The district administration describes the 89.52 sq.km national park as the sole surviving bit of evergreen forest in the Sahya Ranges.
A peculiarity of the Silent Valley forest is that it is even devoid of the chirping of cicadas.
Vehicular transport is possible only up to Mukkali, nearly 24 km from the park, and the rest of the way to the source of the Kunthipuzha has to be covered on foot.
The Kunthipuzha flows through the valley before merging into the Bharathapuzha River.
The permitting authority is the Asst. Wildlife Warden, Silent Valley National Park, Mukkali.
By road the park is 55 km from Palakkad, 100 km from Pollachi in Tamil Nadu and 97 km from Thrissur.
Area:
89.52 sq.km
Distance from Mannarkkad:
40 km northwest
Road head:
Mukkali, nearly 24 km from the park
Distance from Palakkad:
55 km
Why it matters for exams: Protected areas of Kerala with their areas, rivers and access points are standing Kerala PSC geography questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Kunthipuzha Kunthipuzha river — The river that flows through Silent Valley before merging into the Bharathapuzha.
Sahya Ranges Sahyadri, the Western Ghats — The hill chain along Kerala's eastern border.
7 October 2026
NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) report that Arctic sea ice reached its 2026 annual minimum on September 12, 2026.
The ice covered an estimated 4.6 million square kilometers (1.78 million square miles) at that point.
The 2026 minimum ties 2008, 2010 and 2025 for the 10th-lowest minimum in the satellite record.
Each of the past 20 summers, from 2007 through 2026, ranks among the 20 lowest minimum extents in the satellite record.
The lowest minimum of all occurred in September 2012.
The March 2026 maximum ice extent tied the 2025 maximum for the lowest in the satellite record.
The analysis was written by Michala Garrison for the NASA Earth Observatory.
2026 minimum extent:
4.6 million square kilometers (1.78 million square miles)
Date of minimum:
September 12, 2026
Rank in satellite record:
10th-lowest, tied with 2008, 2010 and 2025
Lowest minimum ever:
September 2012
Why it matters for exams: Arctic sea ice minimum figures and their ranking are a standard climate-data question in both Kerala PSC and UPSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NSIDC National Snow and Ice Data Center — The United States centre that archives and reports snow and ice data, including daily sea ice extent.
Sea ice extent Sea ice extent — The total area of ocean where sea ice cover crosses a set threshold, used to compare years.
7 October 2026
Chief Minister V D Satheesan said in a Facebook post that Kerala has reached an understanding with NTPC after talks in New Delhi.
Kerala will get up to 300 MW from NTPC's Sinnar project in Maharashtra at ₹5.18 per unit.
A battery energy storage system of 2,000 MWh is planned at Kayamkulam, where NTPC already has a plant site.
Storage of 160 MWh in all is to come up at Pothencode and Sreekandapuram, to be finished by March 2027.
A 27 MW solar project is also planned at Kayamkulam.
KSEB, NTPC and NTPC Green Energy Limited are to sign a memorandum of understanding for the Kayamkulam project, and a long-term power purchase agreement from the Ramagundam plant is under discussion.
Power from Sinnar project:
up to 300 MW
Rate:
₹5.18 per unit
Battery storage at Kayamkulam:
2,000 MWh
Storage at Pothencode and Sreekandapuram:
160 MWh, by March 2027
Solar project at Kayamkulam:
27 MW
Why it matters for exams: Power purchase rates, storage capacity and the agencies involved are standard Kerala economy and infrastructure questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
BESS Battery Energy Storage System — A bank of batteries that stores electricity when it is cheap or surplus and releases it when demand peaks.
PPA Power Purchase Agreement — A long-term contract fixing how much power a utility buys from a generator and at what rate.
Background
The Indravati Tiger Reserve lies in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.
Its critical tiger habitat, or core, is 1,258.37 sq km and its buffer or peripheral area is 1,540.70 sq km, making a total of 2,799.07 sq km.
The Indravati river forms the boundary of the reserve on its northern and western sides.
The reserve has connectivity with tiger reserves in Telangana, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, and is contiguous with forests in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
The reserve is preparing to admit visitors again after about four decades.
Core area:
1,258.37 sq km
Buffer area:
1,540.70 sq km
Total area:
2,799.07 sq km
District:
Bijapur
Why it matters for exams: Core and buffer areas of named tiger reserves, and the rivers that bound them, are standard map and environment questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Critical tiger habitat critical tiger habitat — The core area of a tiger reserve notified as needing to be kept inviolate for tiger conservation.
NTCA National Tiger Conservation Authority — The statutory authority that oversees Project Tiger and India's tiger reserves.
Background
The Bailadila range in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh carries the iron ore deposits worked by NMDC Limited, a central public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Steel.
Bacheli is the mining and processing settlement on the range, and Kirandul is the other principal mining town.
Ore fines and slimes from the Bailadila operations are turned into concentrate, which is then made into pellets for steelmakers.
Nagarnar, near Jagdalpur in Bastar district, is the site of NMDC's downstream plant complex.
A 135-km slurry pipeline links the processing plant on the range to Nagarnar, running through Bastar and Dantewada districts.
Range:
Bailadila, Dantewada district
Mining towns:
Bacheli and Kirandul
Downstream site:
Nagarnar, Bastar district
Why it matters for exams: Bailadila, Bacheli, Kirandul and Nagarnar are the place names that carry almost every question on Chhattisgarh's mineral economy.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Ore fines iron ore fines — The small-sized particles left over from mining and crushing iron ore, too fine to charge directly into a blast furnace.
Concentrate iron ore concentrate — Ore from which much of the waste rock has been removed, raising the iron content.
Background
Royal Manas National Park spans 1057 km2 in the south-central foothills of Bhutan, in the dzongkhags of Zhemgang, Sarpang and Pemagatshel.
It began as a game sanctuary and was notified as Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in 1964.
In 1993 it was upgraded to Royal Manas National Park through the merger of Namgyel Wangchuck Reserve and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary.
It abuts the Indian Manas National Park in the south, forming part of the Transboundary Manas Conservation Area (TraMCA), and can be accessed from Bhutan and the Indian state of Assam.
UNESCO lists Royal Manas National Park and Jigme Dorji National Park on Bhutan's Tentative List (2012); Bhutan ratified the World Heritage Convention on 22 October 2001.
Area:
1057 km2
Notified as Manas Wildlife Sanctuary:
1964
Upgraded to national park:
1993
Why it matters for exams: Protected areas, their shared landscapes with India, and the UNESCO Tentative List are routine geography and environment questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
TraMCA Transboundary Manas Conservation Area — A landscape-level conservation area formed with the adjoining Indian Manas National Park.
Background
Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP) was gazetted in 1974 as a wildlife sanctuary and upgraded to a national park in 1993.
Its revised area is 4,319 km2; until the Wangchuck Centennial Park was established, JDNP was the largest national park.
It covers five dzongkhags: Gasa (entirely), Paro, Punakha, Thimphu and Wangduephodrang, and 15 geogs.
Four major rivers originate in the park: Pachhu, Wangchhu, Pochhu and Mochhu, and major hydropower dams are built on them.
The park holds all four national symbols: blue poppy, takin, raven and cypress.
Gazetted as wildlife sanctuary:
1974
Upgraded to national park:
1993
Revised area:
4,319 km2
Why it matters for exams: National symbols, protected areas and administrative units of Bhutan are standard fact-recall material.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Dzongkhag District — The first-level administrative unit of Bhutan, made up of geogs.
Geog Block of villages — A sub-district unit within a dzongkhag.
Background
The Department of Census and Statistics says the central highlands have peaks rising about 2000 m, with Piduruthalagala being the highest at 2524 m.
The central mountain region is surrounded by a plain rising up to about 300 m above sea level, which spreads over two thirds of the island.
Adam’s Bridge across the Palk Strait was created through the gradual separation of the island from the South Asian land-mass.
The Mahaweli occupies a unique position among Sri Lanka's rivers in both length and basin size; it is longer than the combined length of any other two rivers on the island.
Sri Lanka has a total of 103 distinct natural stream basins.
The tallest waterfall is Bambarakanda, at 241 m.
Highest peak:
Piduruthalagala, 2524 m
Prominent river:
Mahaweli
Natural stream basins:
103
Tallest waterfall:
Bambarakanda, 241 m
Why it matters for exams: Highest peak, principal river and the Palk Strait feature are staple physical-geography questions for any country profile.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Palk Strait The strait across which Adam’s Bridge lies — The statistics department links Adam’s Bridge with the island's separation from the South Asian land-mass.
Background
A Ganga/Ganges Waters sharing Treaty was signed with Bangladesh in 1996.
It covers the sharing of Ganga/Ganges waters at Farakka.
PIB describes Farakka as the last control structure on river Ganga in India.
As per the Treaty, the waters are shared during the lean period, from 1 January to 31 May every year.
Sharing is on a 10-day period basis, as per the formula provided in the Treaty.
Treaty year:
1996
Sharing point:
Farakka
Sharing period:
1 January to 31 May
Basis:
10-day period
Why it matters for exams: India's water treaties with its neighbours are asked by year, river, location and the sharing period.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
UNESCO's World Heritage Convention page for Bangladesh lists two cultural and one natural property.
The Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat is listed as a cultural property, with the year 1985.
The Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur is also a cultural property, with the year 1985.
The Sundarbans is the natural property, with the year 1997.
The page also records state-of-conservation reports on the Sundarbans.
Cultural properties:
Bagerhat (1985), Paharpur (1985)
Natural property:
The Sundarbans (1997)
Why it matters for exams: World Heritage lists are asked by category (cultural or natural) and by year of inscription.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The capital city of Bangladesh is Dhaka.
The Commonwealth profile says Bangladesh is surrounded by India to the west, north and east.
It borders Myanmar in the south-east, and the Bay of Bengal lies to the south.
Bangladesh is mainly low-lying delta, but mountains separate it from Myanmar and parts of India.
There is a large area of swamp forest in the south.
The profile gives the area as 147,570 square kilometres.
Capital:
Dhaka
Land neighbours:
India, Myanmar
Water to the south:
Bay of Bengal
Area:
147,570 square kilometres
Why it matters for exams: Capital, neighbours and basic physical geography are the opening questions in every country-profile set.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Haryana Government portal divides the State into five natural topographic divisions.
They are the Bagar and undulating sandy plains, the Alluvial Plain (Ghaggar-Yamuna Plain), the Aravali outliers, the Shiwaliks and the Foot Hill Zone.
The Bagar lies in parts of Sirsa, Hisar and Bhiwani districts, in sand dunes adjacent to the Thar desert on about 11 per cent of the total area of the State.
The alluvial plain forms the water divide between the Ganga and the Indus river systems.
Within it lie the flood plains known as Khadar of Yamuna, Nali of Ghaggar and Bet of Markanda.
Natural topographic divisions:
5
Share of State area under Bagar sand dunes:
About 11 per cent
Bagar districts:
Sirsa, Hisar, Bhiwani (parts)
Why it matters for exams: Physiographic divisions and local landform names (Bagar, Khadar, Nali, Bet) are asked in state geography papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Bagar Bagar (sandy plain of south-western Haryana) — The local name for the sand-dune region of south-western Haryana.