8 October 2026
The World Meteorological Organization published its Global Seasonal Climate Update for October to December 2026.
The update says forecasts point to a further intensification towards stronger El Nino conditions.
The Nino 3.4 sea-surface temperature anomaly is forecast at about plus 3.7 degrees Celsius for the season, peaking around December 2026.
Forecast systems agree closely with one another, which the update treats as high confidence.
Most regions are expected to be warmer than normal, especially in the Northern Hemisphere and across equatorial regions.
A positive Indian Ocean Dipole is expected to peak in October and then weaken, leaving a seasonal mean anomaly of plus 0.5 degrees Celsius.
The equatorial Atlantic is expected to stay warm, with both the North and South Tropical Atlantic above normal.
Nino 3.4 anomaly forecast:
about +3.7 degrees Celsius
Expected peak:
around December 2026
Indian Ocean Dipole anomaly:
+0.5 degrees Celsius seasonal mean
Why it matters for exams: El Nino, the Nino 3.4 index and the Indian Ocean Dipole are standard geography and environment questions, and the WMO is the UN's authority on them.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Nino 3.4 Nino 3.4 region — A box in the central equatorial Pacific whose sea-surface temperature anomaly is the standard measure of El Nino strength.
IOD Indian Ocean Dipole — The difference in sea-surface temperature between the western and eastern tropical Indian Ocean.
8 October 2026
The Forest Department and the Revenue Department in Idukki have begun joint action to clear natural elephant routes after the District Collector ordered the immediate removal of unauthorised structures blocking them.
District Collector Dinesh Cherruvattu, who chairs the District Disaster Management Authority, issued the order after three people were killed in wild elephant attacks in the district over three months.
In the first phase the Forest Department began evicting encroachments on the route leading to Mathikettan.
In Chinnakanal about 10 hectares of encroached land forming part of a proposed reserved forest were cleared, unauthorised cardamom cultivation was destroyed and iron wire and fencing blocking the corridor was cut away.
The Forest Department identifies three elephant routes in Idukki, leading to old Devikulam, Suryanelli and Mathikettan.
Chief Conservator of Forests, High Range Circle, Vinod Kumar said reopening the closed Chinnakanal-to-Mathikettan route is the first priority.
The Revenue Department is to handle encroachments in the KSEB catchment area in a later phase.
Area cleared:
About 10 hectares
Elephant routes identified:
Three: old Devikulam, Suryanelli, Mathikettan
District Collector:
Dinesh Cherruvattu
Why it matters for exams: Elephant corridors, a District Disaster Management Authority order and a proposed reserve forest bring together environment and administration in one live Kerala case.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DDMA District Disaster Management Authority — A district body under the Disaster Management Act chaired by the District Collector, which can order measures to prevent disasters.
8 October 2026
The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission has allowed the Kerala State Electricity Board to continue purchasing 177 MW from two NTPC thermal stations until 30 April 2029.
The quantum is split as 80 MW from Barh Stage-I and 97 MW from Barh Stage-II.
KSEB has been buying from these stations on a short-term basis since 1 October 2024.
For 2025-26 the average tariff worked out to a fixed charge of Rs 2.68 and an energy charge of Rs 2.91 for Barh Stage-I, and a fixed charge of Rs 1.97 and an energy charge of Rs 2.89 for Barh Stage-II.
The Commission observed that the rates, especially the fixed cost of Barh Stage-I, are slightly on the higher side when compared with round-the-clock power discovered through the DEEP portal and the short-term market.
It directed KSEB to take part actively in Central Electricity Regulatory Commission tariff hearings and work to bring the tariffs down.
KSEB had sought the firm power citing peak-hour and night off-peak shortages, grid stability and resource adequacy.
Quantum approved:
177 MW
Barh Stage-I:
80 MW
Barh Stage-II:
97 MW
Valid until:
30 April 2029
Why it matters for exams: Kerala's power purchase, the role of the State regulator and the DEEP portal appear regularly in economy and infrastructure questions.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
DEEP Discovery of Efficient Electricity Price — A national e-bidding portal through which distribution utilities discover short and medium term power prices.
8 October 2026
Leaders gathered for a pre-conference in the South Pacific, in Tuvalu and Fiji, this week to prepare for the COP31 climate summit in Türkiye in November.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed urged "keeping 1.5 alive", the Paris Agreement target of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
She said: "Overshoot is not a reason to surrender. It is a call to accelerate", to make overshoot as short and small as possible.
She asked leaders to deliver on COP28 Dubai promises: transition away from fossil fuels, triple renewable capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030.
She cited 655 million people still living without electricity and called for more early warning systems.
Pre-COP venues:
Tuvalu and Fiji
Paris temperature goal:
1.5 degrees Celsius
People without electricity:
655 million
Why it matters for exams: COP summits, the 1.5 degree target and COP28 commitments are staple environment and IR exam topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Overshoot Temporarily exceeding 1.5C — Going above the 1.5 degree limit before bringing temperatures back down.
Pre-COP Preparatory climate meeting before a COP — A ministerial-level meeting held before the main climate summit to set the agenda.
8 October 2026
The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) on Thursday upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) direction to Karnataka.
Karnataka must ensure release of 3,000 cusecs a day to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, starting at 8 a.m. on October 9.
The release is to be ensured at the Biligundlu inter-State gauge and adds up to 3.88 tmcft.
Karnataka said it could not release more, citing a 54% deficit in cumulative inflows to its four Cauvery basin reservoirs and the need to protect drinking water.
Tamil Nadu said water for its samba crop had been delayed by 81 days.
Daily release:
3,000 cusecs
Duration:
15 days
Total:
3.88 tmcft
Measured at:
Biligundlu inter-State gauge
Why it matters for exams: Inter-State river water disputes, the Cauvery tribunal award and the CWMA are standard polity and geography topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
CWMA Cauvery Water Management Authority — The Centre-constituted body that oversees implementation of the Cauvery tribunal award as modified by the Supreme Court.
CWRC Cauvery Water Regulation Committee — The committee that recommends the periodic release schedule to the CWMA.
Cusec Cubic feet per second — A unit of water flow rate.
8 October 2026
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has warned of possible sea attack (kadalakramanam) from high waves along Thiruvananthapuram district's coast, from Kappil to Pozhiyoor.
Waves of 0.9 to 1.1 metres are expected until 11:30 pm on 9 October.
The alert relates to the Kallakkadal phenomenon, a sudden rough-sea event.
The Kerala Information and Public Relations Department carried the advisory on 8 October 2026.
Stretch of coast:
Kappil to Pozhiyoor
Expected waves:
0.9 to 1.1 metres
Alert valid until:
11:30 pm on 9 October
Why it matters for exams: Kallakkadal and INCOIS advisories recur in disaster-management and geography questions for Kerala.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
INCOIS Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services — Hyderabad-based body that issues ocean state and swell warnings.
8 October 2026
Environment Minister Sunny Joseph released the compilation of project documents "Red List of Ecosystems Assessment and Global Ecosystem Typology of Unique Ecosystems of Kerala", which assesses the current status and degradation of Kerala's ecosystems.
The Kerala State Biodiversity Board leads the project.
The release was held at the minister's chamber in the Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram.
It is part of the state government's 100-day action programme.
The state-level study follows version 2.0 of the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems standards.
It covers ecosystems from the high-altitude areas of the Western Ghats to river basins, coastal zones and wetlands.
The methods use Google Earth Engine, Sentinel satellite imagery, R-based statistical analysis and QGIS mapping.
Standard followed:
IUCN Red List of Ecosystems version 2.0
Lead body:
Kerala State Biodiversity Board
Released by:
Environment Minister Sunny Joseph
Why it matters for exams: Biodiversity bodies and IUCN frameworks are standard environment questions; the Red List of Ecosystems assesses ecosystems, not species.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature — Global body that keeps the Red Lists of threatened species and ecosystems.
8 October 2026
The National Highways Authority of India released the document 'Wildlife Mitigation Measures & Structures' to commemorate National Wildlife Week (2-8 October 2026).
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recently released it at a Chintan Shivir in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.
More than ₹19,700 crore was invested over five years in wildlife-safety infrastructure and environmental protection.
More than 2,150 wildlife-safety structures have been built or proposed.
Over 300 km of highways have guide fencing and noise barriers.
Investment in five years:
More than ₹19,700 crore
Wildlife-safety structures:
More than 2,150
Guide fencing and noise barriers:
Over 300 km
National Wildlife Week:
2-8 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: Wildlife corridors, linear infrastructure and National Wildlife Week are recurring environment topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NHAI National Highways Authority of India — The body under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways that builds and maintains national highways.
8 October 2026
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) received ₹9.68 crore from users of India's biological resources between 01.04.2026 and 30.09.2026.
The agricultural seed sector gave the most at ₹7.16 crore, followed by food and beverages at ₹1.59 crore.
The amount came under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and the ABS Regulations.
East West Seeds India Ltd paid about ₹2.01 crore in total; the largest single payment was ₹1.17 crore from Synergia Life Science Ltd.
Since 2008 the NBA has raised about ₹278 crore through ABS and distributed over ₹200 crore for conservation and beneficiaries.
ABS receipts (Apr-Sep 2026):
₹9.68 crore
Agricultural seed sector:
₹7.16 crore
Raised since 2008:
About ₹278 crore
Distributed:
Over ₹200 crore
Why it matters for exams: The Biological Diversity Act, the NBA and access and benefit sharing are standard environment and Nagoya Protocol questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ABS Access and Benefit Sharing — The system under which users of biological resources share benefits with the providers and local communities.
NBA National Biodiversity Authority — The statutory body set up under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
Background
Britannica describes the Maldives as low-lying coral islands, none rising more than 6 ft (1.8 m) above sea level.
Its islands are grouped in clusters, or atolls, in the north-central Indian Ocean.
The Commonwealth Secretariat calls it a low-lying island country of around 1,200 small coral islands and sandbanks.
Barrier reefs protect the islands.
The Maldives joined the Commonwealth in 1982.
Maximum height above sea level:
6 ft (1.8 m)
Islands and sandbanks:
around 1,200
Why it matters for exams: Low elevation explains the Maldives' exposure to sea-level rise, a frequent environment and geography link.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Barrier reef Barrier reef — A coral reef running parallel to a coast or island that shields it from waves.
Background
Britannica describes the Maldives as an independent island country in the north-central Indian Ocean.
It consists of about 1,200 low-lying small coral islands and sandbanks, only some 200 of which are inhabited.
The Commonwealth Secretariat likewise says it is made up of around 1,200 small coral islands and sandbanks, with around 200 inhabited.
The country's largest industries include fishing, tourism and shipping.
Islands and sandbanks:
about 1,200
Inhabited islands:
about 200
Largest industries:
fishing, tourism, shipping
Why it matters for exams: Island counts, inhabited islands and the main industries of neighbour countries are standard geography and neighbour facts.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Atoll Atoll — A ring-shaped coral reef or chain of coral islands enclosing a lagoon.
Background
The Jharkhand Forest Department calls Parasnath Hill the highest peak in Jharkhand, at 4431 feet above mean sea level.
The Giridih district website gives the highest peak of the range as 1350 metres and places it in Giridih district.
It is a significant pilgrimage site for Jains, who call the hill Sammed Sikhar.
Twenty of the Jain Tirthankaras attained salvation on this hill, and each has a shrine there.
The forest department lists the Parasnath Forest Range as 7035.59 ha in the Giridih East division.
Height (forest department):
4431 feet
Highest point (district site):
1350 metres
Tirthankaras who attained salvation:
Twenty
District:
Giridih
Why it matters for exams: Highest peaks of states and Jain pilgrimage sites are staple geography and culture questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Tirthankara Tirthankara — A teacher who shows the path to liberation in Jainism.
8 October 2026
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi inaugurated the 8th edition of Windergy India 2026 in Chennai on 8 October 2026; the event runs from 7 to 9 October.
India's installed wind capacity was 59.20 GW as on 30 September 2026.
FY2026 saw the highest-ever annual installation, 6.05 GW.
The national target is 100 GW of wind capacity by 2030.
About 400 exhibitors from more than 20 countries and 500 delegates took part, with pavilions from Denmark, Germany and Spain.
State governments were felicitated for land facilitation, timely clearances and Right-of-Way resolution.
Installed wind capacity:
59.20 GW (30 Sep 2026)
Record annual addition, FY2026:
6.05 GW
Target by 2030:
100 GW
Exhibitors:
about 400
Why it matters for exams: Renewable capacity figures and the 2030 targets are frequently asked in economy and environment sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Repowering Repowering — Replacing old wind turbines with newer, higher-capacity ones at the same site.
Right-of-Way Right-of-Way — The legal permission to lay lines or roads across land owned by others.
8 October 2026
Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy, spoke for India at the 20th East Asia Summit Energy Ministers' Meeting in Manila, Philippines, on 8 October 2026.
He cited installed capacity of 558.8 GW and non-fossil capacity of 308 GW, 55% of the total, as on 30 September 2026.
India and Singapore are exploring options for a proposed 2,000 MW cross-border power interconnection.
One option is a land corridor of about 3,000 km from Imphal to Singapore via Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia.
He welcomed the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2026-2030 and reaffirmed India's support for ASEAN's efforts on the ASEAN Power Grid.
Installed capacity:
558.8 GW (30 Sep 2026)
Non-fossil capacity:
308 GW, 55%
India-Singapore interconnection:
2,000 MW
Land corridor option:
about 3,000 km
Why it matters for exams: India-ASEAN links, Act East Policy and installed power capacity figures are standard polity, economy and international relations material.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ASEAN Power Grid ASEAN Power Grid — A plan to link the electricity networks of ASEAN members for cross-border power trade.
East Asia Summit East Asia Summit — A leaders' forum of ASEAN members and partner countries, including India.
Background
The district of Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh was formed in 1960 by combining the formerly separate districts of Lahaul and Spiti.
Its administrative centre is Keylong, in Lahaul.
Before the merger, Kardang was the capital of Lahaul and Dhankar was the capital of Spiti.
Kunzum La, the pass at 4,551 m or 14,931 feet, is the entrance to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul and lies 21 km from Chandra Tal.
The district administration records that Lahaul and Spiti is the fourth least populous district in India out of 640 districts.
Formed:
1960, by merging Lahaul and Spiti districts
Headquarters:
Keylong, in Lahaul
Earlier capitals:
Kardang for Lahaul, Dhankar for Spiti
Kunzum La:
4,551 m (14,931 ft), 21 km from Chandra Tal
Why it matters for exams: Lahaul and Spiti's 1960 formation, Keylong headquarters and Kunzum La altitude are standard Himachal geography facts.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
La La — The word for a mountain pass in Tibetan and in the Bhoti languages of the western Himalaya.
Chandra Tal Chandra Tal — A high-altitude lake in Lahaul, near the source of the Chandra river.
8 October 2026
The World Meteorological Organization published the outlook of the Fifteenth South-West Indian Ocean Climate Outlook Forum on 1 October 2026.
The forum was hosted by the Seychelles Meteorological Agency from 15 to 17 September and covers October to December 2026 and January to March 2027.
Participating Members were Comoros, La Reunion, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa and the United Republic of Tanzania.
The drivers considered were a strengthening El Nino, an Indian Ocean Dipole moving from neutral towards positive, and a Subtropical Indian Ocean Dipole moving from positive towards neutral.
South Africa, southern and central Mozambique, Malawi and south-western Madagascar are more likely to be drier, with higher drought and food-security risk.
Tanzania, northern Malawi, Seychelles and parts of the Mascarene Islands are more likely to be wetter, with flood and landslide risk.
Temperatures are expected to be above normal across the region, while tropical cyclone activity is expected to be below normal basin-wide with tracks shifting south.
Forum:
SWIOCOF15
Host:
Seychelles Meteorological Agency, 15-17 September
Participating Members:
9
Cyclone outlook:
below-normal activity basin-wide
Why it matters for exams: El Nino, the Indian Ocean Dipole and WMO regional climate outlook forums are standard geography and environment topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
El Nino El Nino — The warm phase of the El Nino Southern Oscillation, marked by unusually warm water in the central and eastern tropical Pacific.
IOD Indian Ocean Dipole — The difference in sea surface temperature between the western and eastern tropical Indian Ocean.
WMO World Meteorological Organization — The UN agency for weather, climate and water, based in Geneva.
Background
The Convention on Biological Diversity has three main objectives: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
The negotiations culminated on 22 May 1992 with the Nairobi Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The Convention was opened for signature on 5 June 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the Rio Earth Summit.
It remained open for signature until 4 June 1993, by which time it had received 168 signatures.
The Convention entered into force on 29 December 1993, which was 90 days after the thirtieth ratification.
The first session of the Conference of the Parties was scheduled for 28 November to 9 December 1994 in the Bahamas.
The Convention is supplemented by the Cartagena Protocol and the Nagoya Protocol.
Main objectives:
3
Agreed text adopted:
22 May 1992, Nairobi
Opened for signature:
5 June 1992, Rio Earth Summit
Signatures received:
168
Entry into force:
29 December 1993
Why it matters for exams: The three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the summit at which it opened for signature and its two protocols are among the most frequently set environment questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Nagoya Protocol The protocol on access to genetic resources and benefit sharing — It gives practical effect to the Convention's third objective, the fair and equitable sharing of benefits.
Cartagena Protocol The protocol on biosafety under the Convention — It is one of the two protocols that supplement the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Background
To be included on the World Heritage List, a site must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria.
Criterion (i) asks a site to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius.
Criterion (iii) covers sites that bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization.
Criterion (vi) covers sites directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas or with beliefs, or with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.
Criterion (vii) covers superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.
Criterion (x) covers the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value.
Until the end of 2004 sites were selected on the basis of six cultural and four natural criteria; the revised Operational Guidelines brought them together as a single set of ten.
The protection, management, authenticity and integrity of properties are also important considerations.
Selection criteria:
10
Criteria a site must meet:
At least one
Cultural criteria before the merger:
6
Natural criteria before the merger:
4
Why it matters for exams: Questions on World Heritage sites often turn on how many criteria exist, how many a site must satisfy, and which criterion a given kind of site falls under.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Outstanding universal value The threshold a property must cross to be inscribed — A nominated site must be of outstanding universal value and satisfy at least one of the ten criteria.
Operational Guidelines The rules that govern how the World Heritage Convention is applied — The revised Guidelines replaced the separate cultural and natural lists with one set of ten criteria.
Background
The Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington on 1 December 1959 by the twelve countries whose scientists had been active in and around Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year of 1957-58.
It entered into force in 1961 and has since been acceded to by many other nations.
Article I provides that Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only.
Article II continues freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica and cooperation towards that end, and Article III requires scientific observations and results from Antarctica to be exchanged and made freely available.
Seven of the signatories, namely Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom, had territorial claims that were sometimes overlapping, and other countries do not recognise any claims.
Article IV preserves the status quo: no new claim, and no enlargement of an existing claim, to territorial sovereignty in Antarctica may be asserted while the Treaty is in force.
Under Article VII all areas of Antarctica, including all stations, installations and equipment within those areas, are open at all times to inspection.
Signed:
1 December 1959, Washington
Original signatories:
12
Signatories with territorial claims:
7
Entry into force:
1961
Why it matters for exams: The Antarctic Treaty is the standard example of a demilitarised, science-only regime, and examiners ask for its place of signature, the number of original signatories and the effect of Article IV on territorial claims.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
International Geophysical Year A coordinated worldwide programme of earth science observations — The 1957-58 programme brought scientists from many countries to Antarctica and led directly to the Treaty negotiations.
Article IV The status quo provision of the Antarctic Treaty — It freezes territorial claims: nothing done while the Treaty is in force supports or denies a claim, and no new claim may be made.
Background
Eravikulam National Park was established in 1978 and spans approximately 97 square kilometers in Kerala's Idukki and Ernakulam districts.
It is situated in the Kannan Devan Hills of the Western Ghats.
The terrain is made up of high-altitude grasslands and shola forests, with elevations around 2,000 meters.
The park encompasses Anamudi Peak, the highest point in South India at 2,695 meters.
It houses the largest wild population of the endangered Nilgiri tahr.
The mass flowering of Neelakurinji blankets its hillsides in blue once every 12 years.
The park is managed by the Kerala Department of Forests and Wildlife.
Established in:
1978
Area:
Approximately 97 square kilometers
Height of Anamudi:
2,695 meters
Why it matters for exams: Anamudi's height and the Nilgiri tahr habitat are asked in both Kerala PSC and UPSC geography and environment papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Shola Stunted montane evergreen forest found in sheltered valleys amid high-altitude grassland — Shola forest and grassland together form the Eravikulam landscape.
Nilgiri tahr Nilgiritragus hylocrius, a wild goat endemic to the Western Ghats — Eravikulam holds the largest wild population of the species.