Background
Aizawl is the largest city as well as the capital of the state of Mizoram in India. It is situated on a ridge 1132 metres, or 3715 ft, above sea level. The city lies north of the Tropic of Cancer in the northern part of Mizoram, with the Tlawng river valley to its west and the Tuirial river valley to its east. Summer temperatures range from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius and winter temperatures from 11 to 21 degrees Celsius.
Altitude:
1132 metres (3715 ft) above sea level
Summer temperature:
20-30 degrees Celsius
Winter temperature:
11-21 degrees Celsius
Why it matters for exams: State capitals, their altitudes and the Indian States crossed by the Tropic of Cancer are standard objective questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
Lawngtlai was declared a district on 18th September, 1998, having previously been under Chhimtuipui District. The district is cut off by Lunglei District and Siaha District into two parts, the eastern part lying on the eastern side of the Chhimtuipui River, the biggest river in the state, and has three sub-divisions, Sangau, Chawngte and Lawngtlai (Sadar). Its literacy rate of 66.41 per cent is the lowest in the state. Phawngpui, at a height of 2,157 m above mean sea level, is the tallest mountain in the State and lies about 165 km from Lawngtlai Town. Phawngpui National Park covers approximately 50 sq. kms and Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary spans approximately 110 sq. km. About 60 per cent of residents depend on agriculture and allied sectors, the service sector accounts for 37.90 per cent and the secondary sector for 2.4 per cent.
Height of Phawngpui:
2,157 m above mean sea level
Phawngpui National Park area:
approximately 50 sq. kms
Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary area:
approximately 110 sq. km
Literacy rate:
66.41 per cent, lowest in the state
Why it matters for exams: Highest peaks of Indian States and the national parks of Mizoram are standard geography and environment questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Mamit district was etched out from the erstwhile Aizawl District under Mizoram Government Notification No. A.600Ill2ll95-GAD dated 11.3.98 and started functioning on 24th April, 1998, with its headquarters at Mamit. Covering 3025.75 km sq, it is the fourth largest district in Mizoram. Its total population is 86,364, of whom 14,899 or 17.25 per cent live in urban areas and 95.0 per cent are Scheduled Tribes. Its sex ratio of 927 is the lowest among the eight districts and its literacy rate of 84.9 per cent is the second lowest in the state. It is bounded by Hailakandi district of Assam in the north, North Tripura district and Bangladesh in the west, Lunglei district in the south and Kolasib and Aizawl districts in the east. The major rivers are Tlawng, Tut, Teirei, Langkaih and Khawthlangtuipui.
Area:
3025.75 km sq
Total population:
86,364
Sex ratio:
927, lowest among eight districts
Literacy rate:
84.9 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Districts touching two international or inter-State neighbours, and district-level sex ratio and literacy extremes, are frequent objective questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Kolasib district was created in the year 1998 by carving out of the then Aizawl District, through Government Notification No. A.60011/21/95-GAD dated 29.07.1998. The district covers an area of 1,382 Sq. Kms. It lies between 92 degrees 30 minutes and 92 degrees 45 minutes east longitude and 24 degrees and 24 degrees 15 minutes north latitude. It is bordered by Hailakandi and Cachar Districts of Assam in the north, Aizawl District in the south and east and Mamit District in the west. The north-south extension of the district is 81.6 km and the east-west extension is 56 km. It has two rural development blocks, N. Thingdawl and Tlangnuam (part), and three sub-divisions with headquarters at Vairengte, Kawnpui and Kolasib.
Year created:
1998
Area:
1,382 Sq. Kms
Notification:
No. A.60011/21/95-GAD dated 29.07.1998
Why it matters for exams: Inter-State boundaries in the Northeast, especially the Assam-Mizoram frontier, are a recurring current-affairs and map topic.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Serchhip district came into being on 15th September, 1998. Its total geographical area is 1421 sq.km and the district administration describes it as the smallest district in the state, the 8th among the then eight districts of Mizoram. Its headquarters is Serchhip. It is the only district in Mizoram which was elevated directly from rural development block status to full fledged district; the other newly created districts of Mamit, Kolasib, Champhai and Lawngtlai had been functioning as independent administrative sub-divisions. The district has three sub-divisions, namely Serchhip Sadar, North Vanlaiphai and Thenzawl, two rural development blocks, Serchhip and East Lungdar, and 42 villages. It is bounded by Champhai district in the east, Aizawl in the north and north west and Lunglei district in the south. Its north-south extent is 41 km and its east-west extent is 40 km.
Date of establishment:
15th September, 1998
Total geographical area:
1421 sq.km
Villages:
42
Why it matters for exams: Smallest and largest administrative units of a State are a standard one-mark question type.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Champhai district was established on 12th December, 1997, and the first Deputy Commissioner's office began functioning on 22nd April 1998. The district covers 3,185.83 sq km in the north east corner of Mizoram and its headquarters, Champhai Town, is 194 km from Aizawl. It is bounded by Manipur in the north and by Myanmar in the east and south. According to the 2011 Census its population is 127,660. The district has three sub-divisions, Champhai, Ngopa and Khawzawl, and four blocks, Champhai, Khawzawl, Ngopa and Khawbung. The Champhai valley is described as the rice bowl of Mizoram. Rihdil Lake is only about 50 kms away from the town of Champhai.
Date established:
12th December, 1997
Area:
3,185.83 sq km
Population, 2011 Census:
127,660
Distance from Aizawl:
194 km
Why it matters for exams: India-Myanmar border districts and the Rihdil lake are frequently asked in Northeast geography questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Lunglei district occupies more or less the central part of Mizoram and has a total area of 3,552.61 sq.km. It is divided into three rural development blocks: Lunglei with 1,117.06 sq.km, Lungsen with 1,046.29 sq.km and Bunghmun with 1,389.26 sq.km. The district headquarters, Lunglei Town, lies in the south-central part of Mizoram, is the second largest settlement of Mizoram and stands at an altitude of 1222 metres. The district lies between 22 degrees 30 minutes N and 23 degrees 18 minutes N latitude. It is bounded by Siaha on the south-east, Lawngtlai on the south-west, Serchhip on the north-east, Mamit on the north-west and Hnahthial on the east, and shares an international border with Bangladesh on the west. It has two sub-divisions, Lunglei and Tlabung.
Total area:
3,552.61 sq.km
Altitude of Lunglei Town:
1222 metres
Rural development blocks:
3 - Lunglei, Lungsen, Bunghmun
Why it matters for exams: Mizoram's international borders and district geography are standard map-based questions in State and Union examinations.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister approved the proposal for alteration of the name of the State of ‘Kerala’ as ‘Keralam’ on 24 February 2026. The approval alone does not alter the name: Parliament must pass the Bill.
After the Cabinet's approval, the President of India will refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the State Legislative Assembly of Kerala for expressing its views under the proviso to article 3 of the Constitution of India.
The Legislative Assembly of Kerala had passed a resolution on 24.06.2024 to alter the name of the State of “Kerala” to “Keralam”, noting that states were formed on the basis of language on the 1st day of November, 1956, and that Kerala Piravi Day is also on the 1st day of November.
Article 3 provides that Parliament may by law alter the name of any State; no such Bill may be introduced except on the recommendation of the President, and the Bill must first be referred by the President to the legislature of that state for its views.
The Government of Kerala had requested the Government of India to amend the First Schedule to the Constitution, in which the name of the state is recorded as ‘Kerala’.
The Department of Legal Affairs and the Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice concurred with the proposal.
Constitutional provision:
Article 3
Bill:
Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026
Assembly resolution date:
24.06.2024
Schedule to be amended:
First Schedule to the Constitution
States formed on language basis:
1st day of November, 1956
Why it matters for exams: This is the standard worked example of Article 3 in action, and both the 24.06.2024 Assembly resolution and the First Schedule are examinable details.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Kottayam district administration's demography page gives the district's area as 2208 Sq Km and its population as 19,74,551.
The district's literacy rate is given as 97.21%.
It has 2 revenue divisions, 5 taluks and 11 block panchayats.
There are 6 municipalities, 71 gram panchayats and 100 villages in the district.
The district has 9 constituencies.
Area:
2208 Sq Km
Population:
19,74,551
Literacy Rate:
97.21%
Taluks:
5
Constituencies:
9
Why it matters for exams: Kottayam's literacy figure and its count of taluks, panchayats and constituencies are commonly asked district facts.
Kerala PSC
Background
The Thrissur district administration's demography page gives the district's area as 3032 Sq Km and its population as 31,10,327.
The district has 2 revenue divisions, 7 taluks and 16 blocks.
It has 1 corporation and 7 municipalities.
There are 86 panchayats and 255 villages in the district.
Area:
3032 Sq Km
Population:
31,10,327
Taluks:
7
Panchayats:
86
Villages:
255
Why it matters for exams: District-level area, taluk and local body counts are standard Kerala PSC general knowledge questions.
Kerala PSC
28 September 2026
The Supreme Court bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan granted Bihar eight weeks to remove unauthorised structures from the Ganga flood plains in Patna. The stretch lies between Nauzar Ghat and Nurpur Ghat. The state had reported only partial compliance, citing recent flooding from Nepal. The bench said this was granted for one last time, failing which the chief secretary would be summoned. Those claiming the land must submit title deeds and building authorisation, or their representations will not be considered. The bench heard the matter and passed the order on 28 September 2026, when the state's Advocate General reported partial compliance with the 21 July direction (which had given six weeks); the order was reported by PTI on 2 October 2026.
Time allowed:
Eight weeks
Stretch:
Nauzar Ghat to Nurpur Ghat, Patna
Why it matters for exams: Floodplain protection, NGT appeals and contempt powers are linked topics for environment law and polity.
UPSC
In plain words
Floodplain Land adjoining a river that is inundated in floods — It is ecologically fragile and holds floodwater.
28 September 2026
Justice Harisankar V Menon of the Kerala High Court held that Section 100 of the Patents Act, 1970 covers the Government's use of a patented invention to make a medicine and sell it on a non-commercial basis to needy patients.
The Court read the phrase "purposes of Government" to include vending and non-commercial sale, and the State's duty to improve public health under Article 47 of the Constitution.
The judgment came in a suo motu case continued after the petitioner, a retired bank employee with metastatic breast cancer who had approached the Court on 2 June 2022 seeking affordable Ribociclib, died.
The Court did not direct the Centre to invoke Section 100 for Ribociclib; it said invoking the provision is a policy decision.
It asked the Central Government to collect data to decide whether a medicine is affordable and to consider intervention where prices are exorbitant.
Provision:
Section 100, Patents Act, 1970
Bench:
Justice Harisankar V Menon
Drug in the case:
Ribociclib
Why it matters for exams: The ruling links patent law, Article 47 (public health as a Directive Principle) and access to medicines; it is useful for law, polity and health topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Suo motu On its own motion — A case a court continues or starts on its own, without a fresh petitioner.
Article 47 Duty of the State to raise nutrition and public health — A Directive Principle of State Policy in the Constitution of India.
28 September 2026
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah brought a resolution in the J&K Assembly's autumn session on September 25; it was put to a vote and passed on September 28.
It calls upon the Government of India for the immediate and urgent restoration of full Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
It is in addition to the Assembly's resolutions of June 26, 2000 (greater autonomy, as before August 9, 1953) and November 6, 2024 (special status).
Sixty-one of 90 members from the NC, Congress, CPI(M), PDP, JKPC, AAP and AIP supported it; the BJP stayed away from the vote.
Resolution passed:
September 28
Members in support:
61 of 90
Earlier autonomy resolution:
June 26, 2000
Earlier special status resolution:
November 6, 2024
Why it matters for exams: Statehood, the 2019 downgrade to a Union Territory and the Assembly's earlier resolutions are core polity topics for UPSC and PSC.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Statehood — The status of a full State, which Jammu and Kashmir lost when it became a Union Territory in 2019.
28 September 2026
A Supreme Court bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan passed a set of directions to recover unpaid traffic fines in the road-safety case S. Rajaseekaran v. Union of India.
The Court recorded total recoverable e-challan dues of Rs 49,194.05 crore, of which Rs 26,175.05 crore had been recovered, leaving about Rs 23,000 crore outstanding.
Where an e-challan is found unpaid during a random inspection, authorities are to take steps to impound the vehicle itself.
States are to freeze online services for such vehicles, including fitness and pollution-under-control certificates, registration renewals and transfers of ownership, until the fines are paid.
Driving licence renewal is to be suspended for repeat violators and defaulting vehicles are to be blacklisted on the Parivahan portal.
The directions rest on Section 136A of the Motor Vehicles Act and Rule 167A of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, read with the Standard Operating Procedure of 28 October 2025.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is to run a public online dashboard, updated monthly, showing state-wise and corridor-wise progress on electronic enforcement.
Case:
S. Rajaseekaran v. Union of India
Total recoverable dues:
Rs 49,194.05 crore
Recovered:
Rs 26,175.05 crore
Statutory basis:
Section 136A, Motor Vehicles Act; Rule 167A, Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989
Dashboard:
Monthly public dashboard by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Why it matters for exams: The case name, the two statutory provisions and the recovery figures make this one of the most askable judicial orders of the week.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
E-challan Electronic challan — A traffic penalty notice generated electronically, usually from camera evidence, and served digitally.
PUC Pollution Under Control certificate — A certificate confirming that a vehicle's emissions are within the permitted limits.
Parivahan Parivahan portal — The Union transport ministry's national portal for vehicle registration and driving-licence services.
Section 136A Section 136A, Motor Vehicles Act — The provision allowing electronic monitoring and enforcement of road safety rules.
28 September 2026
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala inaugurated 'Toofan Thaddesham', the second phase of Kerala's anti-drug drive Operation Toofan, at Vengara in Malappuram district on 28 September 2026.
The phase is built on 1,034 Toofan Jagratha Samithis covering 941 grama panchayats, 87 municipalities and 6 corporations, with ward-level janasabhas in every ward.
The Home Minister described the drive as a people's movement run in association with the local self-government institutions.
Kerala Police, Kudumbashree members, ASHA workers, Haritha Karma Sena and local volunteers are to coordinate awareness and monitoring, and WhatsApp numbers have been provided for the public to report drug sales.
The first phase of Operation Toofan began on 2 June 2026; the Home Minister said 11,677 cases were registered and 12,584 arrests made in 117 days.
Local Self Government Minister K M Shaji and Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty took part, and Local Self Government Department Principal Director Divya S Iyer administered the pledge.
Toofan Jagratha Samithis:
1,034
Local bodies covered:
941 grama panchayats, 87 municipalities, 6 corporations
First phase start:
2 June 2026
Why it matters for exams: The numbers of grama panchayats, municipalities and corporations in Kerala, carried here as campaign coverage, are themselves a standing PSC fact.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Janasabha Janasabha — A ward-level assembly of residents convened by a local body.
Haritha Karma Sena Haritha Karma Sena — The women's enterprise groups that collect non-biodegradable waste door to door in Kerala.
28 September 2026
On 28 September 2026 the Portuguese Government began meetings with representatives of the parliamentary groups on the State Budget for 2027. Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, Minister of State and Finance, and Carlos Abreu Amorim, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, are to present and discuss the general lines of the budget. CHEGA and PS were received on 28 September; PSD and CDS-PP, LIVRE, PCP and the sole deputies of BE, PAN and JPP on 29 September; and IL on 30 September. The meetings come before the formal budget proposal goes to the Assembleia da República.
Minister of State and Finance:
Joaquim Miranda Sarmento
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs:
Carlos Abreu Amorim
Meetings held:
28 to 30 September 2026
Why it matters for exams: How a parliamentary democracy prepares and consults on its annual budget, and the names of its parliament and ministers, are typical polity questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Assembleia da República Assembly of the Republic — Portugal's parliament, which votes on the State Budget.
Orçamento do Estado State Budget — The annual budget law of the Portuguese state.
28 September 2026
Madras High Court Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan dismissed an election petition filed by DMK candidate KR Periakaruppan against the one-vote victory of TVK's R Seenivasa Sethupathi in Tiruppattur. The petitioner had argued that postal ballots meant for the constituency were sent to another constituency and rejected. The court found that material facts necessary for an election petition had not been pleaded. It held that the claims about a misdirected postal ballot, counting discrepancies and non-re-verification of postal ballots did not by themselves establish an irregularity that materially affected the result. The order was passed on 28 September 2026.
Court:
Madras High Court
Judge:
Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan
Margin:
One vote
Why it matters for exams: Election disputes, the Representation of the People Act and the role of High Courts are staple polity topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Election petition Petition challenging a result — A petition to a High Court challenging the election of a returned candidate.
Returning Officer Officer who conducts the poll in a constituency — The official who runs the election and declares the result in a constituency.
28 September 2026
The General Debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly ended with a call to turn words into action. General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman closed it. In all, 194 speakers took the floor, including 113 Heads of State and Government, one crown prince, 11 Vice Presidents, seven Deputy Prime Ministers and 48 Ministers. UN News drew six takeaways: peace as a defence of the UN Charter and international law, development running out of time with the SDGs largely off-track, inequality in global economic institutions, human rights enforcement, the rise of artificial intelligence in diplomacy (128 delegations discussed it, against five four years earlier) and the difficulty of rebuilding trust.
Session:
81st
Speakers:
194
Heads of State and Government:
113
Delegations discussing AI:
128
Why it matters for exams: UN bodies, their office-holders and session numbers are standard questions in UPSC and Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
General Debate Annual high-level debate of the General Assembly — Member states set out their positions each September at the opening of a new session.
SDGs Sustainable Development Goals — The 17 global goals adopted by the UN for 2030.
28 September 2026
The 30th meeting of the Full Commission of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) was held on 28.09.2026 under Chairperson Shri Rajesh Verma.
It approved modifications to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Schedule for the National Capital Region.
The revised schedule has 25 actions in Stage-I, 8 in Stage-II, 10 in Stage-III and 5 in Stage-IV, a total of 48 actions.
Restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel LMVs are extended to Sonipat, besides Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.
The exemption for BS-IV and below goods vehicles carrying essential commodities is removed in Stages III and IV.
Commission meeting:
30th Full Commission meeting, 28.09.2026
CAQM Chairperson:
Shri Rajesh Verma
Total GRAP actions:
48 (25 + 8 + 10 + 5)
District added:
Sonipat
Why it matters for exams: GRAP and CAQM feature repeatedly in environment and governance sections of UPSC and PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
28 September 2026
The Supreme Court said on 28 September 2026 that all wards in Punjab where a fact-finding commission found that violence took place during the municipal elections must go for re-election.
The Bench comprised Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana.
The fact-finding commission was headed by Justice Nirmaljit Kaur, a former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The matter arose in Seema Sharma v State of Punjab, SLP(C) No. 3894 of 2025, and connected cases.
Candidates had told the Court they were obstructed from filing nomination papers during the municipal polls.
Case:
Seema Sharma v State of Punjab, SLP(C) No. 3894/2025
Commission head:
Justice Nirmaljit Kaur
Why it matters for exams: Judicial oversight of local body elections links the 74th Amendment to State Election Commissions.
Kerala PSCUPSC