Background
NATO was created by 12 countries from Europe and North America on 4 April 1949. Since then, 20 more countries have joined through 10 rounds of enlargement, and NATO has 32 member countries, called Allies, that take decisions by consensus. Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty sets out how countries can join: membership is open to any European State in a position to further the principles of the Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area. Any decision to invite a country is taken by the North Atlantic Council, NATO's principal political decision-making body.
Founding countries:
12
Member countries:
32
Accession rule:
Article 10
Why it matters for exams: NATO's founding strength, accession rule and decision body are standard defence-alliance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
North Atlantic Council NATO's principal political decision-making body — Decides on inviting new members by consensus.
Background
Representatives of 50 countries gathered at the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, California, from 25 April to 26 June 1945. They drafted and signed the UN Charter, which created the United Nations. The UN officially began on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and a majority of the other signatories.
Conference venue:
San Francisco, California
Countries at the conference:
50
UN officially began:
24 October 1945
Why it matters for exams: The UN's founding conference and the ratification rule are recurring history-of-organisations questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
UN Charter Charter of the United Nations — The founding treaty of the United Nations.
Background
The General Assembly is the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations. It comprises all 193 Members of the United Nations, and each Member State has one vote. Decisions on important questions, such as recommendations on peace and security, the election of Security Council and Economic and Social Council members, and budgetary questions, need a two-thirds majority of Member States; other questions need a simple majority. The Assembly elects the non-permanent members of the Security Council, and the majority of resolutions are adopted without a vote, by consensus.
Members:
193
Votes per Member State:
One
Majority for important questions:
Two-thirds
Why it matters for exams: Voting rules and powers of the General Assembly are core UN-structure questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Two-thirds majority Two-thirds of Member States — Needed for important questions in the Assembly.
Background
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Its goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO has 194 members, made up of 193 countries and the European Union, and works in over 130 countries worldwide.
Members:
194
Countries among them:
193
Countries of operation:
over 130
Why it matters for exams: Specialized-agency membership details, including the EU as a member organisation, are asked in PSC and UPSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization — UN specialized agency leading efforts against hunger.
Background
Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), foodgrain is distributed in Kerala mainly through the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) categories.
An AAY family gets 35 kg of foodgrain a month, and a PHH member gets 5 kg a month at subsidised rates.
About 13,858 fair price shops operate across the State.
The Government of Kerala State Profile page carries these figures.
Fair price shops:
about 13,858
AAY entitlement:
35 kg per family per month
PHH entitlement:
5 kg per person per month
Why it matters for exams: PDS categories and entitlements are asked in both Kerala PSC and UPSC welfare questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
AAY Antyodaya Anna Yojana — The NFSA category for the poorest households.
Background
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations based in Geneva. It is the only tripartite UN agency: since 1919 it has brought together governments, employers and workers of 187 Member States. It sets labour standards, develops policies and devises programmes promoting decent work. The ILO was created in 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I, on the belief that universal and lasting peace can be accomplished only if it is based on social justice.
Structure:
Tripartite
Member States:
187
Created as part of:
Treaty of Versailles
Why it matters for exams: ILO structure, its Versailles origin and Geneva base are frequent one-liner questions on UN specialized agencies.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Tripartite Three-party structure — Governments, employers and workers have an equal voice.
Background
The Census of India records 4,84,839 Scheduled Tribe persons in Kerala, about 1.45 per cent of the population.
The State has 36 recognised Scheduled Tribe communities, including Paniyan, Kurichyan, Kuruman, Kattunayakan, Adiyan, Irular, Muthuvan, Malayarayan, Ullatan and Kadar.
Wayanad has the largest ST population, followed by Idukki and Palakkad.
The Government of Kerala State Profile page gives these figures.
Scheduled Tribe population:
4,84,839
Share of population:
1.45 per cent
Recognised ST communities:
36
District with most STs:
Wayanad
Why it matters for exams: Tribal demography and district-wise distribution are regular Kerala PSC questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Kerala has 941 grama panchayats, 152 block panchayats, 14 district panchayats, 87 municipalities and 6 municipal corporations, 1,200 local self-government institutions in all.
The Kerala Panchayat Raj Act and the Kerala Municipality Act followed the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments and created the three-tier panchayat system.
The People's Planning Campaign brought citizens into development planning through ward sabhas and grama sabhas.
The Government of Kerala State Profile page carries these figures.
Grama panchayats:
941
Block panchayats:
152
Municipalities:
87
Municipal corporations:
6
Total local bodies:
1,200
Why it matters for exams: Local government structure and the 73rd/74th Amendments are staple Kerala PSC and UPSC polity questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Grama sabha Village assembly of voters — The body of all voters in a panchayat ward area that discusses local plans.
4 October 2026
On 25 August 2026 Argentina's foreign ministry issued a statement on the Strait of Magellan after friction with Chile.
The trigger was a remark by the head of Argentina's Air Force General Staff, after which Chile announced a formal diplomatic protest.
Argentina's statement said both instruments are fully in force and are considered definitive: the 1881 Boundary Treaty, which recognises Chilean sovereignty over the strait, and the 1984 Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
Boundary Treaty:
1881
Treaty of Peace and Friendship:
1984
Argentine statement:
25 August 2026
Why it matters for exams: Straits and boundary treaties between neighbours are a common geography and international-relations pairing; the Strait of Magellan links the Atlantic and Pacific.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Strait of Magellan Estrecho de Magallanes — The channel between mainland South America and Tierra del Fuego linking the Atlantic and Pacific.
4 October 2026
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree setting legislative elections for 28 November 2026.
The last legislative elections in the West Bank and Gaza were held in 2006, so this will be the first such vote in two decades.
Al Jazeera reports that about 1.24 million Palestinians in Gaza will be eligible to vote.
Polling day:
28 November 2026
Last legislative election:
2006
Eligible voters in Gaza:
about 1.24 million
Why it matters for exams: Election timetables and the Palestinian electoral process are useful for West Asia and comparative-politics questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Legislative elections — Elections to choose a country's lawmaking body.
Presidential decree — An order issued by a president that has legal force.
4 October 2026
The Indian Audit and Accounts Department has asked the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation why no action was taken against nominated councillor Anil Masih in connection with the mayoral election of January 30, 2024.
The corporation replied that the decision on action against Masih was pending with the higher authority.
The department has kept its observation pending.
The Supreme Court had set aside the result, declared AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar the validly elected mayor and directed a show-cause notice to Masih under Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Mayoral poll held:
January 30, 2024
Declared mayor by Supreme Court:
Kuldeep Kumar
CrPC section invoked:
Section 340
Why it matters for exams: Connects municipal governance, audit oversight and the Supreme Court's use of its powers in an election dispute.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Section 340 CrPC Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 — The provision for inquiry into offences affecting the administration of justice.
Background
Background: the High Court in Chandigarh refused on January 31, 2024 to stay the outcome of the mayoral polls, before the dispute reached the Supreme Court.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court is a common institution for the states of Punjab and Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
Its building was designed by the famous French architect Le Corbusier.
Jurisdiction:
Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh
Building designed by:
Le Corbusier
Why it matters for exams: A single High Court serving several states and a Union Territory is a common polity question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Background: the same Union Territory whose electoral roll and Administrator feature in today's news.
Chandigarh lies about 265 km north of New Delhi and is bounded by Haryana on the east and by Punjab on all other sides.
It is the capital of the Union Territory itself and of the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana.
The city was designed by the Swiss-born architect Le Corbusier, with construction beginning in the early 1950s.
Its layout comprises over 50 rectangular sectors, and its name comes from the Chandi Mandir, a temple dedicated to the goddess Chandi.
Distance from New Delhi:
about 265 km north
Sectors:
over 50 rectangular sectors
Architect:
Le Corbusier
Why it matters for exams: Shared capitals and planned cities are favourite general-knowledge and polity questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Background: today's Chandigarh news names Gulab Chand Kataria as UT Administrator, as in the anti-drug campaign review.
The President appoints the Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan communique of 2016 appointed the Punjab Governor as Administrator "in addition to his duties as Governor of Punjab".
It followed a 32-year-old system in which the Punjab Governor also controlled the Union Territory as Administrator.
The Centre had briefly planned a separate Administrator, but dropped the idea.
Appointing authority:
The President
Administrator is also:
Governor of Punjab
Earlier system:
32-year-old
Why it matters for exams: Administration of Union Territories through an Administrator appointed by the President is a core polity topic.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Administrator Administrator of a Union Territory — The President's appointee who runs a Union Territory without an elected state-style executive.
4 October 2026
The final electoral roll of the Chandigarh Parliamentary Constituency was published on September 22 after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and lists 4,60,209 electors.
The draft roll had 4,50,282 electors, while the 2024 Lok Sabha roll had 6,59,805 electors, a fall of 30.26 per cent.
Special enrolment camps will be held at all polling stations on October 10 and 11, from 10 am to 3 pm.
The drive targets young and first-time voters, and Booth Level Officers are making house-to-house visits.
Form 6 is for new registration; the Voter Helpline number is 1950.
Final roll:
4,60,209
Draft roll:
4,50,282
2024 Lok Sabha roll:
6,59,805
Fall since 2024:
30.26 per cent
Special camps:
October 10 and 11, 10 am to 3 pm
Why it matters for exams: Electoral roll revision, voter-registration forms and the Election Commission's outreach are standard polity topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SIR Special Intensive Revision — A house-to-house revision of the electoral roll carried out by the Election Commission.
BLO Booth Level Officer — The official who verifies electors at a polling-station level.
Background
Background to Chile's neighbour relations, a standing fact on Chile's borders: the International Court of Justice judgment of 1 October 2018 in Bolivia v. Chile.
The Court concluded that none of the bases put forward established an obligation for Chile to negotiate Bolivia's sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean.
The Court added that its finding should not prevent the parties from continuing dialogue.
It said meaningful negotiations were possible if there was willingness on the part of the parties, on Bolivia's landlocked situation, which it called a matter of mutual interest.
Judgment:
1 October 2018
Case:
Bolivia v. Chile
Why it matters for exams: ICJ judgments between neighbouring states, and the idea of a landlocked country, are recurring international-law and geography questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ICJ International Court of Justice — The principal judicial organ of the United Nations, based at The Hague.
Landlocked Landlocked state — A country with no coastline of its own.
4 October 2026
The Kerala government has put implementation of the PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme on hold, Onmanorama reported on 4 October 2026. A four-member Cabinet subcommittee headed by Education Minister N Shamsudeen is examining the scheme. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the previous LDF government. Education Minister Shamsudeen has said the state cannot withdraw from it, and the government aims to implement it with conditions safeguarding the state's interests. The Muslim League leadership, meeting at Vazhayur on 3 October, advised against a hasty decision.
Cabinet subcommittee:
Four members, headed by Education Minister N Shamsudeen
MoU signed by:
Previous LDF government
Why it matters for exams: Centrally sponsored education schemes and Centre-state MoUs are recurring UPSC and Kerala PSC topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
PM SHRI Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India — A centrally sponsored scheme to develop selected schools as model institutions under the National Education Policy.
MoU Memorandum of Understanding — A written agreement recording the terms two parties have agreed.
Background
Background to the India-Chile CEPA talks in the news: the Indian Embassy in Santiago's brief records the standing facts of the relationship.
India and Chile celebrated 60 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2009.
Chile is the 5th largest trading partner of India in the LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) region.
Bilateral trade increased from USD 3.84 bn in 2024 to USD 5.38 bn in 2025.
Around 4000 Overseas Indians (1850 NRIs and 2150 PIOs) live in Chile.
Bilateral trade:
USD 5.38 bn in 2025
Chile's rank among India's LAC trading partners:
5th
Overseas Indians:
around 4000
Why it matters for exams: India's relations with Latin American countries and diaspora numbers are staple international-relations questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
LAC Latin America and the Caribbean — The region of Latin America and the Caribbean.
PIO Person of Indian Origin — A foreign national of Indian descent.
4 October 2026
On 1 October 2026 a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar, disposed of WP(C) 25645/2021, filed by devotee S J R Kumar against the Travancore Devaswom Board. The petition concerned jaggery bearing a Halal label that was procured for Aravana and Unniyappam. The court directed the Board to exercise due care and caution in future and to incorporate appropriate conditions in its e-tender documents so that materials meet quality standards and temple customs. It observed that the Board ought to have taken greater care to ensure the jaggery supplied did not bear markings that could raise apprehension of conflict with temple customs. The supplier, Vardhan Agro Processing Limited, said the certification was for Middle Eastern export. Food Safety Laboratory reports found the jaggery satisfactory, and the court did not hold it unfit.
Case:
WP(C) 25645/2021
Bench:
Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar
Offerings:
Aravana and Unniyappam
Why it matters for exams: Temple administration, the Devaswom Boards and e-tendering rules recur in Kerala PSC polity and current-affairs papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Travancore Devaswom Board Travancore Devaswom Board — The statutory body that manages Sabarimala and many other temples in southern Kerala.
Writ petition WP(C) — A civil petition to a High Court seeking enforcement of a legal right.
4 October 2026
José Antonio Kast was sworn in as Chile's president on 11 March 2026 at the National Congress in Valparaíso.
He succeeded Gabriel Boric, a left-wing president who took office in 2022.
The term is four years.
PBS described the change as the nation's most pronounced shift to the right since the return of democracy in 1990.
Sworn in:
11 March 2026
Venue:
National Congress, Valparaíso
Predecessor:
Gabriel Boric
Why it matters for exams: The head of state of the focus country is a staple question; Chile's president is both head of state and head of government.
Kerala PSCUPSC