30 September 2026
A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice MM Sundresh heard the long-pending 2015 firecracker petition on 30 September 2026. The Court said it would neither accept a total ban nor allow bursting through the whole day. It proposed fixed time windows for approved firecrackers during Diwali, balancing religious sentiments against the health of children, the elderly and the ill. The Court was open to permitting joint firecrackers (ladis) under conditions. At the request of the Additional Solicitor General, it allowed time until 15 October 2026 for the results of outdoor testing of barium in green firecrackers. Delhi-NCR rules were left to be heard with the overlapping MC Mehta case.
Bench:
Justice MM Sundresh
Time allowed for barium test results:
15 October 2026
Petition filed:
2015
Why it matters for exams: Links Article 21 and environmental jurisprudence with Article 25 religious sentiments, a recurring polity and environment theme.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Green firecrackers Low-emission firecrackers — Crackers formulated to emit less particulate matter than conventional ones.
Barium Barium compounds in crackers — A chemical used for green colour in fireworks and a focus of the emission testing.
30 September 2026
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas dismissed WP(C) 22580 of 2026, Unaiz Kadumbottil v. Union of India, filed by an Indian citizen and his Pakistani wife. She had sought a tourist visa to attend her husband's brother's wedding and a long-term visa. The court held that granting a visa is a sovereign function and that no foreign national, even the spouse of an Indian citizen, has a vested right to demand permission to enter the country. It noted that an order of 25 April 2025 under Section 3 of the Foreigners Act, 1946 suspended visa services for Pakistani nationals; the order revoked visas issued to Pakistani nationals, except medical, long-term, diplomatic and official visas, with effect from 27 April 2025. It also held that Article 14 can be claimed only within the territory of India, while a person is inside the country, and so not by the petitioner wife, who is outside it.
Case:
WP(C) 22580 of 2026
Judge:
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas
Pakistani visas revoked with effect from:
27 April 2025
Why it matters for exams: Links Article 14, Article 21 and the Foreigners Act to the Union's power over immigration.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Foreigners Act, 1946 Foreigners Act, 1946 — The 1946 law under which the Centre regulated the entry and stay of foreigners; replaced from 1 September 2025 by the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
Sovereign function Sovereign function of the State — A function, such as immigration control, that belongs exclusively to the State.
Writ petition Writ petition (WP(C)) — A petition to the High Court under Article 226 to enforce a right.
30 September 2026
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. heard public interest litigations on the composition of the Kerala State Waqf Board, led by WP(PIL) 135/2026. The Kerala government told the court on 30 September that the process to constitute the Board has been initiated and would be completed within two weeks. The Advocate General's recorded submission was that the process has already been initiated and an affidavit shall be filed after a fortnight; Onmanorama reports he also said the process had been completed at government level and was awaiting Cabinet consideration and approval. The petitions challenge the non-inclusion of non-Muslim members under the Waqf Act as amended in 2025. One petition also challenges the uploading of Munambam land details to the Centre's UMEED portal. The matter is posted after four weeks.
Case:
WP(PIL) 135/2026
Time stated for completing the process:
Two weeks
Next posting:
After four weeks
Why it matters for exams: Waqf law, Munambam land and the High Court's PIL jurisdiction are live polity topics for Kerala PSC and UPSC.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
PIL Public Interest Litigation — A petition filed in court for a public cause rather than a private grievance.
UMEED portal Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development portal — The Centre's online portal on which waqf properties are registered.
Advocate General Advocate General of the State — The State's chief law officer who represents the Government in the High Court.
30 September 2026
The Kerala government is to launch the Kerala Road Safety Mission, on the lines of the Kerala Literacy Mission, to cut road accidents with the larger goal of eliminating fatalities.
A high-level committee has been formed with the Chief Minister as chairman, the Transport Minister as vice-chairman and seven other ministers as members; Transport Minister C.P. John said the initiative is on the lines of the Literacy Mission.
The Home, Public Works, Health, General Education, Higher Education and Social Justice departments will be involved.
The Transport Department has sought legal advice on a proposal to tighten bail conditions for drunk driving and introduce measures such as vehicle seizure.
The mission's activities will be extended to panchayat level.
Vice-chairman of the committee:
Transport Minister C.P. John
Model for the mission:
Kerala Literacy Mission
Level of extension:
Panchayat
Why it matters for exams: A new mission headed by the Chief Minister and the Transport Minister's role are the type of administrative facts Kerala PSC asks about.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Bailable offence An offence for which bail is a matter of right — Drunk driving is bailable at present, so a person charged can claim bail as of right; the proposal is to tighten the conditions.
30 September 2026
Kerala expects to end night-time power restrictions from 1 October after a month in which restrictions were imposed on 24 of 30 days.
Peak-hour shortage reached 611 MW on 29 September.
Short-term open access (STOA) availability rises from 200 MW in September to 600 MW from October, an addition of at least 400 MW.
The Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government has agreed to supply peak-time power in October according to Kerala's requirement; the price is not yet fixed, and a KSEB official said it might be slightly over Rs 10 per unit.
Payback power returned to other states, just under 4 million units a day in September, virtually comes to a stop in October.
STOA contracts from October:
600 MW (from 200 MW in September)
Peak-hour shortage on 29 September:
611 MW
Days with restrictions in September:
24 of 30
Why it matters for exams: A state-level power purchase and supply issue is a live Kerala governance topic, and terms like STOA and payback power appear in economy and administration questions.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
STOA Short-term open access — A way for a state to buy power for short periods from another supplier over the grid.
KSEB Kerala State Electricity Board — The state utility that generates, buys and distributes electricity in Kerala.
Payback power Power returned under a swap arrangement — Electricity a state returns later to another state that supplied it earlier under a swap.
30 September 2026
The Kerala Cabinet meeting on 30 September 2026 decided to appoint M.K. Muneer, a senior Muslim League leader and former minister, as Chairman of the State Administrative Reforms Commission.
The post carries cabinet rank.
Muneer, a former MLA from Koduvally, did not contest the recent Assembly elections.
The commission was chaired by V.S. Achuthanandan during the first Pinarayi Vijayan government and the post was not in place in the second Pinarayi Vijayan government.
Appointee:
M.K. Muneer
Post:
Chairman, State Administrative Reforms Commission
Rank:
Cabinet rank
Decided on:
30 September 2026
Why it matters for exams: Appointments to statutory and advisory bodies, and the Administrative Reforms Commission's role, are staple Kerala PSC polity questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The UN Member States list records Greece's date of admission as 25-10-1945. India's date of admission is 30-10-1945. Greece therefore joined the United Nations five days before India, in the same month.
Greece admitted to UN:
25 October 1945
India admitted to UN:
30 October 1945
Why it matters for exams: UN admission dates of countries, including India, are asked in international-organisation questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Greece's EU accession date is 1 January 1981. It adopted the euro on 1 January 2001 and joined Schengen on 1 January 2000. The capital is Athens and the official language is Greek. Greece is a parliamentary republic in which the prime minister, as head of government, holds the most political power. It sends 21 members to the European Parliament and covers 131,694 km².
Capital:
Athens
Currency:
Euro (since 1 January 2001)
Official language:
Greek
EU accession:
1 January 1981
MEPs:
21
Why it matters for exams: Capital, currency, language and EU accession year are standard country-profile questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
Background
Greece joined NATO on 18 February 1952, alongside Türkiye. NATO says extending security to south-eastern Europe was strategically important at the time. Membership helped curb communist influence in a country recovering from civil war. Greece was part of the early Cold War effort to reinforce NATO's southern flank.
Joined NATO:
18 February 1952
Joined alongside:
Türkiye
Why it matters for exams: Accession years of countries to NATO and the EU are staple international-organisation questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Soreng district was created on 13 December 2021 vide notification number 26/L&PAD/2021, simultaneously with Pakyong. It was formed from the division of the erstwhile West district. It lies in the south-west corner of Sikkim. It shares its southern border with West Bengal and its western international border with Nepal. Its area is 293.22 sq km and its population is 64760 (2011 census). The erstwhile West district has now been divided into two districts, Gyalshing and Soreng.
Created:
13 December 2021
Area:
293.22 sq km
Population (2011 census):
64760
Why it matters for exams: Sikkim's newer districts and administrative geography are direct-recall questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority held State Disaster Risk Reduction Day 2026 at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok, on the theme 'Prepared Children, Resilient Future'. The chief guest recalled the Sikkim earthquake of 18 September 2011 as a lasting reminder of the State's vulnerability. He said the 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood further highlighted the changing and complex nature of risks in the Himalayan region. Under the Friday Safety Five programme, schools, ICDS centres and Anganwadi centres give five minutes every Friday to mock drills, hazard identification and evacuation practice. A longitudinal study, 'From Multi-Hazard Risk to Resilience', was launched with Amrita University, IIT Roorkee and Sikkim University.
Recalled:
Earthquake of 18 September 2011
Friday Safety Five:
5 minutes every Friday
Venue:
Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok
Why it matters for exams: Disaster management authorities, drills and Himalayan hazards (earthquake, GLOF) are staple topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
30 September 2026
The District Level Narcotics Coordination and Enforcement Committee (NCORD) met in the District Collector's chamber at Namchi on 29 September 2026. District Collector Anupa Tamling stressed placing children and young people at the centre of preventive efforts. The Health and Family Welfare Department was advised to continue monitoring de-addiction and rehabilitation facilities. The committee reviewed action against illicit cannabis cultivation and disposal through the Drug Disposal Committee. ASP Namchi Bikash Tiwari briefed the committee on the proposed inclusion of e-Sakshya for systematic evidence documentation.
Meeting place:
District Collector's chamber, Namchi
District Collector:
Anupa Tamling
System proposed:
e-Sakshya
Why it matters for exams: District-level coordination bodies and anti-narcotics machinery are asked under governance and internal security.
Kerala PSCUPSC
30 September 2026
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang inaugurated Sikkim's first Udyami Bharosa Sammelan 2026 at Manan Kendra on 28 September 2026. The Commerce and Industries Department organised it. The Chief Minister promoted the 'One Family, One Entrepreneur' vision. MoUs were signed with IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, Amazon and Flipkart. Cheques were given to 80 beneficiaries under the Mukhya Mantri Udyamshilta Yojana. The Temi Tea Catalogue and the Government Fruit Preservation Factory were launched.
Organiser:
Commerce and Industries Department
Venue:
Manan Kendra
Beneficiaries given cheques:
80
Vision promoted:
One Family, One Entrepreneur
Why it matters for exams: State schemes, entrepreneurship policy and departmental mandates are common in state-level and general-awareness papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
30 September 2026
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on 30 September 2026, citing a media report, that the Union government has approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on proceedings in the Calcutta High Court on petitions challenging the Great Nicobar Island Project.
According to Ramesh, the Calcutta High Court had upheld the right of a petitioner to file her challenge, which the Centre had questioned.
The project includes a proposed transhipment port at Galathea Bay; Ramesh says its cost has been revised upward from Rs 72,000 crore to Rs 92,000 crore.
The Congress argues that the port could cause large-scale ecological damage, including destruction of coral colonies, and one of the petitions concerns violations of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Five petitions are pending in the Calcutta High Court; the final hearing in the Forest Rights Act petition is fixed for 25-26 November 2026, Ramesh said.
He said 5 October 2026 is the likely date on which the Supreme Court will hear the Centre's plea.
Port site:
Galathea Bay
Project cost:
Rs 92,000 crore (figure cited by Congress)
Final hearing, Calcutta High Court:
25-26 November 2026
Why it matters for exams: The Great Nicobar project links strategic infrastructure, the Forest Rights Act 2006 and coastal ecology, all favourites in GS and environment papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
30 September 2026
A curative petition, reported on 30 September 2026, seeks recall of the 23 September split verdict on the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
The petitioner is Dr Jaya Thakur, through advocate Varun Thakur.
The 23 September bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma differed on referring the challenge to a larger bench; Justice Datta rejected the Centre's request and Justice Sharma agreed with it.
Both judges recommended that the Chief Justice of India consider constituting a Constitution Bench.
The petition argues that Justice Sharma should have recused himself because his son Siddharth Sharma has been standing counsel for the Election Commission of India before the Madhya Pradesh High Court since July 2024.
Split verdict date:
23 September 2026
Law challenged:
CEC and Other ECs Act, 2023
Petitioner:
Dr Jaya Thakur
Why it matters for exams: Election Commission appointments, curative petitions and Constitution Bench referrals are core polity topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The African Union was officially launched in July 2002 in Durban, South Africa. It succeeded the Organisation of African Unity, which operated from 1963 to 1999. The OAU was founded in May 1963 when 32 independent African states met in Addis Ababa. The AU has 55 member states, covering all countries of the African continent, and its headquarters is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Its long-term framework is Agenda 2063, with 15 flagship projects.
Member states:
55
Headquarters:
Addis Ababa
Why it matters for exams: The AU's origin, headquarters and Agenda 2063 are standard international-organisation questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
30 September 2026
On 29 September 2026 a Supreme Court bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe took up implementation of Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education Act.
The provision requires private unaided schools to admit 25 per cent of their students from economically weaker and disadvantaged groups.
The Court asked the NCPCR Chairperson and Director to appear at the next hearing.
The bench asked, "How can they act so indifferent? Who heads the NCPCR?"
The Court said the NCPCR must move beyond collecting data and ensure that Section 12 is put into practice.
The case is Dinesh Biwaji Ashtikar v. State of Maharashtra.
RTE quota in private unaided schools:
25 per cent
Provision:
Section 12(1)(c), RTE Act
Bench:
Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe
Why it matters for exams: The RTE Act's 25 per cent quota and the role of the NCPCR are frequent polity and education questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The North Atlantic Treaty was signed on 4 April 1949 by 12 founding countries. NATO now has 32 members, the latest being Finland (4 April 2023) and Sweden (7 March 2024). Article 5 says an armed attack against one member is an attack against all. Article 10 lets any European State that can further the treaty's principles join. The headquarters is in Brussels. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Ukraine are listed as aspiring members.
Members:
32
Founding members:
12
Headquarters:
Brussels
Why it matters for exams: NATO's structure, membership and Article 5 are perennial questions on international organisations.
Kerala PSCUPSC
30 September 2026
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav handed over India's first PRAMAAN certificates under the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS).
The recipients are the Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation, for 33,000 hectares, and Shri Govind Mohapatra, a bamboo farmer linked to the Odisha Bamboo Development Agency.
PRAMAAN stands for Programme for Recognition and Accreditation of sustainable Management practices for Agroforestry And Natural forestry resources.
The scheme was launched in December 2023 and is operated by the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal.
Accreditation is by the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies under the Quality Council of India.
Certification rests on the National Working Plan Code 2023 and independent third-party audits.
Scheme launched:
December 2023
APFDC certified area:
33,000 hectares
Operating agency:
IIFM, Bhopal
Why it matters for exams: New environment certification schemes, their operating agencies and accreditation bodies are common in environment and governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
30 September 2026
The Union Cabinet approved an Intelligent Traffic Management System for Delhi with an outlay of ₹1,789.52 crore on 30 September 2026.
It covers 42 identified traffic corridors, with 1,092 adaptive traffic control system locations and 1,029 enforcement locations.
Implementation is in three phases over 24 months, followed by five years of operation and maintenance.
Delhi Police is the implementing agency, with a master system integrator selected through competitive bidding.
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is the project management consultant.
The system offers AI-based signals, real-time congestion detection, automated enforcement and priority corridors for emergency vehicles.
Outlay:
₹1,789.52 crore
Traffic corridors:
42
Adaptive control locations:
1,092
Implementation period:
24 months
Why it matters for exams: Cabinet-approved urban governance projects, their outlays and implementing agencies are recurring questions in polity and current-affairs papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC