Background
The European Union's Finland country page records that Finland has been an EU member since 1 January 1995.
It has been a euro area member since 1 January 1999 and a Schengen member since 25 March 2001.
NATO records that Finland joined the Alliance on 4 April 2023 as its 31st Ally.
Finland's instrument of accession was deposited with the United States at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
The then NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Finland is safer and NATO is stronger with Finland as an Ally.
Finland's foreign minister at the accession was Pekka Haavisto and its president was Sauli Niinistö.
EU member since:
1 January 1995
Euro area member since:
1 January 1999
Schengen member since:
25 March 2001
Joined NATO:
4 April 2023, as the 31st Ally
Why it matters for exams: Finland's EU accession year and its NATO accession as the 31st Ally are among the most asked international-organisation facts about the country.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization — A political and military alliance of North American and European states founded on the North Atlantic Treaty.
Schengen Area Schengen Area — A group of European states that have abolished checks at their common borders.
Background
Helsinki is the capital of Finland.
The European Union's country page describes Finland as a parliamentary republic with a prime minister, who is the head of government, and a president, who is the head of state.
Finland's currency is the euro.
The country sends 15 representatives to the European Parliament.
Petteri Orpo of the National Coalition Party is the Prime Minister, heading the Finnish Government.
The Finnish Government's own page describes the Prime Minister as the one who directs the activities of the Government and coordinates the preparation and consideration of matters within the Government's mandate.
Capital:
Helsinki
Currency:
Euro
Prime Minister:
Petteri Orpo
Seats in European Parliament:
15
Why it matters for exams: Capital, currency, form of government and the names of the head of state and head of government are the most repeated country-profile questions in competitive examinations.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Parliamentary republic Parliamentary republic — A republic in which the government is answerable to the elected parliament and the head of state is separate from the head of government.
National Coalition Party Kansallinen Kokoomus — A Finnish centre-right political party; the Prime Minister belongs to it.
Background
Finland became a NATO member on 4 April 2023, joining as the 31st Ally. It did so by depositing its instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with the United States at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Finland is a member of the European Union. Its capital is Helsinki, its currency is the euro and its official languages are Finnish and Swedish. Its Parliament is the Eduskunta.
Date of accession:
4 April 2023
Member number:
31st Ally
Instrument deposited:
With the United States, at NATO Headquarters in Brussels
Capital and currency:
Helsinki; the euro
Why it matters for exams: Finland's NATO accession date, its member number and its standing facts are a recurring set in general-studies papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization — The collective defence alliance founded by the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949.
Eduskunta Parliament of Finland — Finland's unicameral legislature.
Instrument of accession Instrument of accession — The formal document a state deposits to become a party to a treaty.
1 October 2026
The Finnish Government proposed that Parliament approve the partnership agreement between the European Union and its member states on one side and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States on the other. The agreement, known as the Samoa Agreement, was signed in Samoa in November 2023. It succeeds the Cotonou Agreement, which has expired. The agreement covers democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth, climate issues, human development, peace and security, and migration. Unlike its predecessor, the new agreement does not contain provisions on development financing. The release describes the agreement as a platform for dialogue between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and a legal framework for the operations of the European Investment Bank in all ACP countries.
Agreement:
Samoa Agreement
Signed:
November 2023, in Samoa
Replaces:
The Cotonou Agreement
Why it matters for exams: The Samoa Agreement is the successor to the Cotonou Agreement and is the EU's main framework with the ACP group, a standard international-organisations question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ACP Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States — The grouping that is the EU's counterpart in the Samoa Agreement.
Cotonou Agreement Cotonou Partnership Agreement — The earlier EU-ACP agreement, now expired, which the Samoa Agreement succeeds.
Background
Article 12 of the Constitution of Ireland provides for a President of Ireland (Uachtarán na hÉireann), elected by direct vote of the people. Voting is by secret ballot under proportional representation by the single transferable vote. Under Article 13, the President appoints the Taoiseach, that is, the head of the Government or Prime Minister, on the nomination of Dáil Éireann. The President also appoints other Government members on the Taoiseach's nomination with Dáil approval.
Head of state:
President
Head of Government:
Taoiseach
President elected by:
Direct vote of the people
Voting system:
Single transferable vote
Why it matters for exams: Head of state versus head of government and election methods are standard comparative-polity questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Taoiseach — — The head of the Irish Government or Prime Minister.
Background
Article 15 of the Constitution of Ireland says the National Parliament is called the Oireachtas. It consists of the President and two Houses: a House of Representatives called Dáil Éireann and a Senate called Seanad Éireann. Article 8 makes Irish the first official language, with English recognised as a second official language. Article 4 states that the name of the State is Éire or, in English, Ireland.
Parliament:
Oireachtas
Lower house:
Dáil Éireann
Upper house:
Seanad Éireann
First official language:
Irish
Why it matters for exams: Parliament structure and official languages are standard country-profile questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Oireachtas — — Ireland's National Parliament.
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.
Background
The Kerala Public Service Commission is a body created by the Constitution of India. The Head Office is situated at Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram, the State capital. It advises the Government on civil service matters, publishes recruitment notifications, conducts examinations and prepares ranked lists for appointments. The Commission operates under Article 320 (3) of the Constitution regarding civil service matters.
Head office:
Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram
Constitutional provision cited:
Article 320 (3)
Why it matters for exams: Candidates for Kerala PSC should know the body's constitutional basis and head office.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Ranked list List of candidates ordered by rank — The list of candidates prepared after examinations for appointments.
Background
António José Seguro is the President of the Portuguese Republic. He won the presidential election in a second round on 8 February 2026 and his inauguration took place in the Assembleia da República on 9 March 2026, when the term of his predecessor Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa ended. The Portuguese Government's portal records Prime Minister Luís Montenegro wishing him the greatest success and expecting loyal and productive cooperation between institutions.
Election:
Second round, 8 February 2026
Inauguration:
9 March 2026, Assembleia da República
Predecessor:
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Why it matters for exams: Heads of state change; the current officeholder and who they succeeded are standard questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Assembleia da República Assembly of the Republic — Portugal's national parliament.
Background
The Embassy of India in Lisbon says Vasco da Gama led an expedition to Calicut (Kozhikode) in Kerala in May 1498, the first direct sea route between Europe and India. Operation Vijay liberated Goa on 19 December 1961, ending over 450 years of Portuguese rule. A treaty signed on 31 December 1974 recognised India's sovereignty over Goa, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and came into force on 3 June 1975. The embassy page gives India-Portugal trade in FY 2025-26 as US$ 1,145.53 million and says official figures indicate that 98,616 Indian nationals live in Portugal.
Gama's landfall:
Calicut (Kozhikode), May 1498
Operation Vijay:
19 December 1961
Trade, FY 2025-26:
US$ 1,145.53 million
Indian nationals in Portugal (official figures):
98,616
Why it matters for exams: Gama's landing and the liberation of Goa are favourite history questions, and the 1974 treaty is the legal end of the dispute.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The official government portal lists Luís Montenegro as Prime Minister, with the period in office shown as running from 2025-06-05 to the current date. It describes him as leader of the Social Democrats (PSD) since 28 May 2022. He was born in Porto on February 16, 1973 and holds a law degree from Universidade Católica Portuguesa. The portal is that of the XXV Constitutional Government.
Party:
Social Democrats (PSD)
Government:
XXV Constitutional Government
Born in:
Porto
Why it matters for exams: Head of government is a recurring question; Portugal's PM is distinct from its President.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
PSD Partido Social Democrata — The Social Democrats, the party Montenegro leads.
Background
Portugal is a semi-presidential republic. Its capital is Lisbon, its official language is Portuguese and its currency is the euro. It has been an EU member since 1 January 1986 and sends 21 MEPs to the European Parliament. The EU page puts its area at 92 226 km2 and its population at 10 749 635.
Capital:
Lisbon
Currency:
euro (€)
Government:
semi-presidential republic
MEPs:
21
Why it matters for exams: Capital, currency, language and system of government are the first facts asked about any country.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Semi-presidential republic Semi-presidential republic — A system with both a directly elected president and a prime minister answerable to parliament.
MEP Member of the European Parliament — An elected member of the EU's parliament.
1 October 2026
The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026 takes effect on 1 October 2026.
The Registrar General of India announced the date in a gazette notification on 17 September 2026.
Registration within one year follows the normal process.
For a delay of one to two years, approval is needed from a District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or authorised executive magistrate, along with a prescribed fee.
For a delay of more than two years, an order from a judicial magistrate (first class) is required.
The amendment modifies Section 13(3) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
Effective from:
1 October 2026
Delay of 1-2 years:
DM / SDM / executive magistrate approval
Delay beyond 2 years:
Judicial magistrate (first class) order
Section amended:
Section 13(3), 1969 Act
Why it matters for exams: New laws taking effect, and the officers named in them, are regular polity and governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Registrar General of India RGI — The official who oversees civil registration of births and deaths and the Census.
Gazette notification Official government notice — The formal publication through which a law's commencement date is announced.
1 October 2026
From 1 October 2026, consumers must complete Biometric Aadhaar Authentication (BAA) to book LPG refills at the regulated Retail Selling Price with applicable subsidy.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said 27.43 crore consumers, 89.9 per cent of active domestic LPG consumers, had completed authentication.
BAA can be done during delivery through the OMC mobile application, at distributor showrooms, or through IndianOil ONE, HelloBPCL and HP PAY.
Consumers who do not complete BAA can receive LPG at the applicable market price, without any subsidy, in 5 kg or 10 kg cylinders.
The implicit subsidy for September 2026 is Rs 210 per 14.2 kg cylinder.
Effective from:
1 October 2026
Consumers authenticated:
27.43 crore (89.9 per cent)
September 2026 implicit subsidy:
Rs 210 per 14.2 kg cylinder
Why it matters for exams: Aadhaar-linked subsidy delivery and the role of oil marketing companies are common governance and economy topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
BAA Biometric Aadhaar Authentication — Verification of a consumer's identity using fingerprint or face data against Aadhaar.
OMC Oil Marketing Company — Firms such as IndianOil, BPCL and HPCL that sell LPG to households.
RSP Retail Selling Price — The price at which a refill is sold to the consumer.
30 September 2026
A Division Bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad dismissed a husband's appeal against a Family Court order refusing him a divorce.
He sought divorce on the ground of cruelty under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, saying his wife wanted him to live with her parents in Patna as a gharjamai.
The Court held: "Mere wish of respondent-wife that the appellant-husband should live as Gharjamai will not constitute cruelty."
It upheld the Family Court's finding that he was never compelled to live that way, and held that the wife's visits to her parental home were not a ground for divorce on these facts.
Cruelty, the Court said, must be grave and weighty, more than the ordinary wear and tear of married life.
Bench:
Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad
Law:
Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, Section 13(1)(ia)
Outcome:
Appeal dismissed, divorce refused
Why it matters for exams: Shows how courts read 'cruelty' under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, a frequent law and polity topic.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Gharjamai Gharjamai — A son-in-law who lives with his wife's family.
Cruelty Cruelty (Hindu Marriage Act) — A ground for divorce under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Act.
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
Justice Viju Abraham of the Kerala High Court has held that the compulsory one-year senior residency bond for postgraduate medical graduates of government colleges in Kerala runs from the date the result is published, and not from the date a posting is actually given.
The judgment in George Balu and Ors. v. State of Kerala and Baddevolu Priyanka and Ors. v. State of Kerala, WP(C) Nos. 25441 and 9651 of 2026, is reported as 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 539.
The Court described postgraduate doctors sitting idle at home without a posting, unable to work outside government service, as a 'national waste'.
It recorded that almost eight months had passed after the 23 petitioners completed their bond period.
The State was directed to decide within one month whether to create supernumerary posts for them or to release them from the service obligation.
The petitioners are from the 2022 batch, and the squeeze arose from overlapping 2021 and 2022 admission batches competing for about 600 senior residency vacancies.
Judge:
Justice Viju Abraham
Petitioners:
23
Time given to the State:
one month
Citation:
2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 539
Why it matters for exams: The ruling fixes when a government medical service bond begins to run, a recurring question on service bonds and State obligations.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Senior residency Post-postgraduate residency service — A period of hospital service that postgraduate medical graduates owe the State under a bond.
Supernumerary post A post created above the sanctioned strength — A temporary post added beyond the approved number of posts to accommodate particular persons.
30 September 2026
Heavy rainfall in Nepal's Gandak basin pushed the Gandak to 91.25 metres at Bagaha in West Champaran, above the previous highest flood level of 90.90 metres set on 29 September 2024, the Bihar Water Resources Department said. The river's highest flood discharge of 2026, 5,43,500 cusecs (5.435 lakh), had been recorded at Valmikinagar on 28 September. Embankments were breached in Saran and Gopalganj (Sheetalpur-Banjariya), and a ring embankment of the Tirhut Main Embankment breached in Muzaffarpur. More than 200 villages were affected, and the Chief Minister made an aerial survey of West Champaran to direct relief and rescue operations.
Record level at Bagaha:
91.25 metres
Previous high (29 Sep 2024):
90.90 metres
Peak 2026 discharge at Valmikinagar (28 Sep):
5,43,500 cusecs
Villages affected:
More than 200
Why it matters for exams: Transboundary rivers, barrages and embankments of north Bihar are core disaster-management and geography topics.
UPSC
In plain words
Cusec Cubic feet per second — A unit of river discharge.
Barrage Gated river structure — It regulates the flow of water downstream.
30 September 2026
Justice Harisankar V Menon of the Kerala High Court allowed a married couple to continue IVF treatment in WP(C) No. 28787 of 2026.
The wife, aged 50, had passed the age limit in Section 21(g) of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021.
The court allowed treatment to continue on a notarised undertaking before the Kerala State ART and Surrogacy Board that they will bear all risks, consequences and liabilities.
The court noted a similar order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
LiveLaw reported the decision on 30 September 2026.
Case:
WP(C) No. 28787 of 2026
Provision:
Section 21(g), ART Act, 2021
Judge:
Justice Harisankar V Menon
Why it matters for exams: Judgments interpreting statutes like the ART Act 2021 are favoured in law, polity and Kerala PSC current affairs.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ART Assisted Reproductive Technology — Techniques such as IVF that help conception outside the body.
30 September 2026
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, voiced concern over Malaysia's decision to return 1,476 people to Myanmar, which is in a civil war.
Deportation of Rohingya refugees began on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, according to reports.
Malaysian authorities said the process was voluntary, but UNHCR's Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Edem Wosornu, noted that those returned had been held in immigration detention. She said this raises serious questions about whether the decisions were genuinely free and informed, and that UNHCR had no access to the individuals.
UNHCR recognised Malaysia's sovereign responsibility to manage asylum and migration and urged robust safeguards, such as individual assessments and access to protection procedures.
It said no one should be returned to a country where they may face persecution, torture or other serious threats to their life and freedom.
People returned to Myanmar:
1,476
Agency:
UNHCR
Returns began:
29 Sep 2026
Why it matters for exams: Refugee protection and the Rohingya crisis recur in international relations and UN-system questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees — The UN agency that protects refugees and supports their rights.
Rohingya A mainly Muslim minority from Myanmar — Forced to flee Rakhine state in large numbers in 2017; over a million now live in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.