30 September 2026
King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Zahra Mansouri, 50, as prime minister of Morocco on 29 September 2026. She is the first woman to hold the post in Morocco and the second in the Arab world after Tunisia's Najla Bouden. She belongs to the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which won 97 of the 395 seats in the legislative elections held the previous week, short of the 198 needed for a majority. Mansouri was previously urban planning minister and mayor of Marrakesh. Her first task is to build a governing coalition.
Seats won by PAM:
97 of 395
Majority mark:
198
Why it matters for exams: First woman prime minister of Morocco: a standard pointer for world politics and women in leadership.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Inter State Council is constituted under Clause 2 of the Inter State Council Order, 1990.
The Prime Minister is its Chairman.
Its members include the Chief Ministers of all States.
Chief Ministers of Union Territories with a Legislative Assembly and Administrators of Union Territories without one are also members.
Union Ministers are also members, and the Council also has permanent invitees.
A Standing Committee of the Council is chaired by the Union Home Minister.
Chairman:
The Prime Minister
Constituted under:
Clause 2 of the Inter State Council Order, 1990
Standing Committee chaired by:
Union Home Minister
Why it matters for exams: The composition of the Inter State Council and its Standing Committee is a recurring polity question.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Supreme Court has original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction.
Its exclusive original jurisdiction covers disputes between the Government of India and one or more States, or between two or more States, where a legal right is involved.
Article 32 gives it an extensive original jurisdiction for enforcement of Fundamental Rights.
Under Article 32 it may issue directions, orders or writs, including habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari.
Under Article 143 the President may refer matters to it for its advisory opinion.
Jurisdictions:
Original, appellate and advisory
Enforcement of Fundamental Rights:
Article 32
Advisory jurisdiction:
Article 143
Writs:
Habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, certiorari
Why it matters for exams: Article 32, exclusive original jurisdiction and the Article 143 reference are frequently asked judiciary facts.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
30 September 2026
In the popular vote of 27 September 2026, about 70% of voters rejected the neutrality initiative.
A majority in all 26 cantons voted against it, so not one canton backed the plan.
The initiative, launched by the pro-sovereignty group Pro Schweiz (Pro Switzerland) and backed by the Swiss People's Party, would have defined neutrality as 'perpetual and armed'.
It would have barred Switzerland from joining or cooperating with military alliances, except when under attack or facing imminent attack, and from joining sanctions not imposed by the United Nations.
The Swiss government, parliament and nearly all major parties opposed the proposal.
Voters against:
about 70%
Cantons in favour:
0 of 26
Why it matters for exams: Swiss neutrality and its direct-democracy votes are standard topics when examiners ask about Switzerland and Europe.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
ASEAN was founded on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, through the ASEAN Declaration, also called the Bangkok Declaration.
The founding members were Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Brunei Darussalam joined in 1984, Viet Nam in 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999.
Timor-Leste joined on 26 October 2025, making eleven member states.
The ASEAN Secretariat is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Founded:
8 August 1967, Bangkok
Member states:
11
Secretariat:
Jakarta, Indonesia
Why it matters for exams: ASEAN's founding date, founding members, membership and headquarters are frequently asked in general-knowledge papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
Guy Parmelin assumed the office of President of the Swiss Confederation on 1 January 2026.
He succeeded Karin Keller-Sutter and heads the Federal Council for the current year.
He says he intends to promote collegiality and dialogue.
President of the Confederation:
Guy Parmelin
Predecessor:
Karin Keller-Sutter
Why it matters for exams: The Swiss Presidency heads the Federal Council, and its current holder is a recurring question.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The United Nations list of Member States records Switzerland's date of admission as 10 September 2002.
Switzerland is therefore one of the UN's more recent members.
Timor-Leste was admitted in the same year, on 27 September 2002.
Date of admission to the UN:
10 September 2002
Why it matters for exams: The year Switzerland joined the UN is a classic fact question, often paired with its non-membership of the EU and NATO.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
30 September 2026
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has hosted the draft Petroleum (Amendment) Bill, 2026 on its website on 30th September, 2026.
An explanatory note giving a brief overview of the amendments accompanies it.
The exercise is described as pre-legislative consultation.
Stakeholders and the public may send comments to the Under Secretary (Distribution) on or before 30th October 2026.
Inputs received will be duly examined.
Draft:
Petroleum (Amendment) Bill, 2026
Hosted on:
30 September 2026
Comments due:
30 October 2026
Ministry:
Petroleum and Natural Gas
Why it matters for exams: Pre-legislative consultation is a recurring polity and governance topic.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Pathankot district administration records that Pathankot was officially declared a district on 27 July 2011 by the Government of Punjab.
Before that it was a tehsil of Gurdaspur district.
Pathankot stands where Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir converge.
The Chakki river flows near the city.
The district lies between 32 degrees 16 minutes 40 seconds and 32 degrees 21 minutes 21 seconds north latitude.
Its longitude range is 75 degrees 31 minutes 15 seconds to 75 degrees 46 minutes 56 seconds east.
Declared a district:
27 July, 2011
Parent district:
Gurdaspur
River:
Chakki
Why it matters for exams: A tri-junction district with a precise creation date is easy to ask and easy to get wrong.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Tarn Taran district administration records the founding of the town in 1596 by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh Guru, with the establishment of the Shri Tarn Taran Sahib temple.
The district covers 2,449 sq. km.
It is bounded by Amritsar district in the north, Kapurthala district in the east, Pakistan in the west and Firozpur district in the south.
It has three tehsils, Tarn Taran, Patti and Khadur Sahib, along with five sub-tehsils and eight development blocks.
The 2001 Census put the district population at 939,057, of which 88.02 per cent was rural.
Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Gurdwara Guru Ka Khuh are among its documented historic shrines.
Founded:
1596
Founder:
Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Area:
2,449 sq. km
Rural population:
88.02%
Why it matters for exams: A border district with a Guru-period founding date links Punjab geography and Sikh history in one item.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Malerkotla district administration records that the district was carved out of Sangrur as the 23rd district of Punjab on 2 June 2021.
Its headquarters is Malerkotla city, and it has three subdivisions: Malerkotla, Amargarh and Ahmedgarh.
The district recorded 429,754 residents in the 2011 Census, with a density of 837 persons per square kilometre.
It is one of five districts in the Patiala Division and is bounded by Ludhiana, Barnala, Patiala and Sangrur.
The district takes its name from a former princely state that merged into the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) after independence.
PEPSU was later integrated with Punjab, and the area remained a tehsil of Sangrur district until 2021.
Formed:
2 June 2021
Rank among districts:
23rd district of Punjab
Population (2011):
429,754
Density:
837 persons per square kilometer
Why it matters for exams: Newest-district questions and the PEPSU link are both frequent in State and general studies papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Rupnagar district administration records that the district was carved out on 1 November 1966 at the reorganisation of the State.
Rupnagar town was formerly known as Ropar, and the name is traced to a Raja called Rokeshar who is said to have named it after his son Rup Sen in the 11th century.
The district page records that the first civilized folk to settle here were the Harappans, who reached the upper Satluj towards the close of the third millennium BC.
The Satluj passes 2 to 5 km from the towns of Nangal, Rupnagar and Anandpur Sahib.
Anandpur Sahib is one of the district's administrative divisions.
In 2006 the Kharar and Majri blocks of Rupnagar were transferred to the new district of S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali).
District formed:
1 November 1966
Former name:
Ropar
River:
Satluj
Blocks transferred in 2006:
Kharar and Majri
Why it matters for exams: Ties the 1 November 1966 reorganisation, the Sutlej and Anandpur Sahib to one verifiable district record.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
29 September 2026
The Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights held a stakeholder convergence meeting at the Secretariat, Porvorim, on September 29, 2026.
Chairperson Shashikant K. Punaji chaired the meeting.
It was attended by representatives of the North Goa, South Goa and Kushavati district administrations, the police, the judiciary, the health department, District Child Protection Units, Child Welfare Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards, Special Juvenile Police Units, Child Helpline and the Victim Assistance Unit.
Discussion covered coordination between stakeholders, timely referral and response, information sharing, rehabilitation and support services under the Juvenile Justice, POCSO and Goa Children's Acts.
The chairperson said child protection is a shared responsibility and stressed addressing institutional gaps through clearly defined responsibilities.
The next such meeting is scheduled for January 6, 2027.
Body:
Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights
Venue:
Secretariat, Porvorim
Next meeting:
January 6, 2027
Why it matters for exams: State child rights commissions, the POCSO Act and Juvenile Justice machinery are repeated topics, and Goa has its own Children's Act.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
POCSO Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act — The central law dealing with sexual offences against children.
GSCPCR Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights — The State level statutory commission for children's rights in Goa.
29 September 2026
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar, disposed of a petition by a devotee, S J R Kumar, against the Travancore Devaswom Board.
The petition concerned jaggery for Sabarimala prasadam supplied by Vardhan Agro Processing Limited, some packets of which carried halal markings.
The court said the Board ought to have taken greater care to ensure that the jaggery supplied did not bear symbols, markings or declarations that could conflict with the temple's practices.
The Board was directed to exercise due care and caution in future and to include appropriate conditions in its e-tender documents.
The petition was disposed of on the Board's undertaking, with laboratory tests having found the jaggery satisfactory.
Bench:
Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar
Supplier:
Vardhan Agro Processing Limited
Direction:
Conditions in e-tender documents
Why it matters for exams: Questions on temple administration bodies such as the Travancore Devaswom Board and on court directions about public procurement are common in Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Prasadam Offering distributed to devotees — Food offered at a temple and shared with devotees.
e-tender Electronic tender — Procurement in which bids are invited and submitted online.
29 September 2026
The Delhi election authority has said that claims and objections in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls may be filed till 30 October.
The notice phase and the disposal of claims and objections will continue till 30 November.
The final electoral roll for Delhi will be published on 4 December.
The draft roll published on 31 August carried 97 lakh electors.
Notices for discrepancies were issued to 33.13 lakh voters, and 4,01,670 hearings had been held by the end of September.
Officials have said that no name will be deleted from the draft roll without following due process, and that booth-level officers are collecting documents from voters' homes.
Last date for claims and objections:
30 October
Final roll publication:
4 December
Electors in the draft roll:
97 lakh
Hearings held:
4,01,670
Why it matters for exams: SIR deadlines and the roll-revision stages are standard polity questions on the Election Commission's powers under the Representation of the People Act.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
SIR Special Intensive Revision — A house-to-house revision of the electoral roll in which electors may have to furnish documents afresh.
29 September 2026
The Austrian Federal Chancellery announced on 29 September 2026 that the European Commission had approved Austria's fifth and final payment request under the EU recovery plan.
The final instalment is 306 million euros, and Austria has drawn 100 per cent of the funds available to it.
The Austrian recovery plan is worth about 4 billion euros in all.
Austria fulfilled 166 required milestones and submitted 5,893 documents to the European Commission for verification.
Projects financed under the plan include 155 primary care units, broadband for 80,000 households, 400,000 digital devices for schools, 150 community nurses and 521 emission-free buses.
The plan also funded training for 94,000 persons and the digitisation of 600,000 cultural objects.
Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer said all milestones had been met and the available funds fully used, and State Secretary for Finance Barbara Eibinger-Miedl said the approval of the fifth and last payment request concluded Austria's EU recovery plan.
Final instalment:
306 million euros
Share of available funds drawn:
100 per cent
Milestones fulfilled:
166
Documents submitted for verification:
5,893
Why it matters for exams: NextGenerationEU style recovery funding and the milestone-linked disbursement model are standard questions on European economic governance.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Bundeskanzleramt Federal Chancellery — The office of Austria's Federal Chancellor, the head of government.
Milestone Milestone — A reform or target a country must complete before the European Union releases the next instalment.
29 September 2026
Rivers were flowing above the danger mark at several points in Uttar Pradesh: the Ramganga at Shahjahanpur, the Ghaghra at Barabanki, Ayodhya and Turtipar in Ballia, the Kuwano at Gonda, and the Gandak in Kushinagar.
An embankment on the Narayani in the Tamkuhi Raj area of Kushinagar gave way over a stretch of around 25 metres under water pressure.
Nearly two dozen villages in the district were left facing the threat of flooding after the breach.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force were deployed for rescue work.
The weather office forecast further thundershowers and rainfall in the region.
The Chief Minister inspected a flood relief camp in Kushinagar and distributed relief material on 29 September.
Length of the breach:
around 25 metres
Villages facing flood threat:
nearly two dozen
River and district:
Narayani, Kushinagar (Tamkuhi Raj area)
Why it matters for exams: The Ghaghra, Gandak, Ramganga and Kuwano are tributaries of the Ganga system that examiners ask about, and NDRF-SDRF deployment is a standard disaster-management point.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NDRF National Disaster Response Force — The central specialised force raised under the Disaster Management Act for rescue and relief work.
29 September 2026
A Bench of Justice Shekhar B Saraf and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary dismissed a batch of connected petitions filed by hookah bar operators and restaurants.
The court held that Rule 4(3) of the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules, 2008, as amended in 2017, prohibits any service being provided in a designated smoking area, which bars the serving of hookah.
The rules are framed under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, generally called COTPA.
The petitioners had argued their right to trade under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.
The Bench said the right of a non-smoker to breathe clean air in a public place is a fundamental right that cannot be abridged by commercial interest, reading it with Article 21.
The effect of the ruling is that hookah bars cannot operate anywhere in Uttar Pradesh.
Rule applied:
Rule 4(3), Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules, 2008 (as amended in 2017)
Parent Act:
Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003
Outcome:
All connected petitions dismissed
Why it matters for exams: COTPA and the 2008 smoking rules appear in health and polity questions, and the judgment is a clear example of a fundamental right being read against a trade right.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
COTPA Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 — The central law regulating tobacco advertising, sale and smoking in public places in India.
29 September 2026
A Division Bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K.V. Jayakumar, hearing a suo motu case, appointed former judge Justice V.G. Arun as observer for the 2026-27 melsanthi selection at the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple and the Malikappuram Temple. The Travancore Devaswom Board received 78 applications, 48 for Sabarimala and 30 for Malikappuram. Five Sabarimala and three Malikappuram applicants have been shortlisted for interview on 5 October at the Board headquarters. Marks must be entered in ball point pen and countersigned by the observer, and the proceedings must be video recorded. The Board must submit the mark lists, shortlist and proceedings recording in a sealed cover by 15 October, and the draw of lots may proceed only after the court reviews them.
Applications received:
78 (48 Sabarimala, 30 Malikappuram)
Interview:
5 October 2026
Sealed-cover deadline:
15 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: A recurring Kerala PSC topic: High Court supervision of the Travancore Devaswom Board's melsanthi selection.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Melsanthi Chief priest — The head priest of a temple, chosen for a one-year term at Sabarimala by a draw of lots.
Suo motu On its own motion — A case a court starts by itself without a petition from a party.
TDB Travancore Devaswom Board — The statutory body that administers Sabarimala and many other temples in southern Kerala.
29 September 2026
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, secured the deportation of Red Notice subject Sandeep Mistry from the UAE to India.
He is wanted in the Nirav Modi PNB Bank Fraud case.
A Red Notice was published in July 2026 through INTERPOL channels; he was arrested by UAE authorities and deported.
He arrived in Mumbai at 2355 Hrs on 28.09.2026 and was sent to jail custody.
More than 175 wanted criminals have been brought back to India through INTERPOL channels in the last few years.
Fugitive:
Sandeep Mistry (Nirav Modi PNB fraud case)
Deported from:
UAE
Red Notice published:
July 2026
Returned via INTERPOL channels:
More than 175
Why it matters for exams: India-UAE cooperation, INTERPOL Red Notices and CBI's nodal role are common in UPSC and PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank