26 September 2026
Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant inaugurated the country's first Victim Rights Centre at the Bihar State Legal Services Authority campus in Patna. The centre works on the model of one centre, one file and one point of accountability, giving victims access to compensation, legal aid, medical assistance, counselling, protection and rehabilitation through a single caseworker. A transgender helpline was launched at the event. Multi-utility vehicles were flagged off to carry legal aid to villages. It is a twelve-month pilot covering Patna district under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
Location:
Bihar State Legal Services Authority, Patna
Model:
One centre, one file, one point of accountability
Pilot duration:
Twelve months
Statute:
Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
Why it matters for exams: Access to justice and victim-centric reform, tied to the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
Kerala PSCUPSC
26 September 2026
At a meeting on 26 September 2026, the Election Commission of India decided that Booth Level Officers will visit the homes of electors marked as 'unmapped' or flagged for discrepancies during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, collect their documents, and upload them on ECINET for the Electoral Registration Officer to decide, instead of requiring mandatory in-person hearings. Hearings will now be held only in exceptional circumstances, preferably online. A committee led by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner, including an independent IIT/IIIT expert, will review ECINET's compliance with the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The Commission also extended the claims/objections filing deadline in Delhi to 30 October and its disposal to 30 November 2026, and in Maharashtra to 12 October and 10 November 2026 respectively. District Election Officers were directed to set up help desks for vulnerable groups such as the homeless and daily-wage labourers. SIR has been completed in 20 States/Union Territories so far, including Bihar and West Bengal.
Decision date:
26 September 2026
Delhi claims/objections deadline:
30 October 2026
States/UTs where SIR completed:
20
Why it matters for exams: Tests knowledge of the Election Commission's electoral roll revision procedures and ECINET, a live governance process directly relevant to polity papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
25 September 2026
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar co-chaired the India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Troika Ministerial Meeting in New York on 25 September 2026, on the margins of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
The GCC was represented by Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir.
The meeting reviewed the India-GCC Joint Action Plan (JAP) 2024-2028, which covers political dialogue, security, trade and investment, agriculture and food security, transportation, energy, health, culture and education.
The ministers welcomed the launch of India-GCC Free Trade Agreement negotiations, after the Terms of Reference were finalised in February 2026.
Total trade between India and the GCC stood at USD 178.66 billion in FY 2025-26, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
Both sides agreed to hold the second India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue at an early date.
India-GCC trade, FY 2025-26:
USD 178.66 billion
Plan reviewed:
Joint Action Plan 2024-2028
FTA Terms of Reference finalised:
February 2026
GCC Secretary General:
Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi
Why it matters for exams: The GCC, India's trade with the Gulf, the Joint Action Plan 2024-28 and the India-GCC FTA are recurring topics in international relations and economy papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
GCC Gulf Cooperation Council — A regional bloc of six Gulf states: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Troika — A meeting format in which a group is represented by a team of three of its members or officials.
FTA Free Trade Agreement — A treaty under which partners cut or remove tariffs on trade between them.
Terms of Reference — The agreed scope and rules that frame a negotiation before it starts.
25 September 2026
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in specified "disturbed areas" of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for six months from October 1, through Gazette notifications published on 25 September 2026.
In Manipur, the disturbed-area declaration covers the whole state except areas under 13 police stations in five districts: Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching.
In Nagaland, it covers nine districts — Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren and Meluri — and areas under 21 police stations in Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha and Zunheboto districts.
In Arunachal Pradesh, it covers Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts and areas under the Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district, which borders Assam.
The notifications cite Section 3 of the Act, under which an area can be declared "disturbed", and say the decision followed a further review of the law and order situation.
Period of extension:
Six months from October 1
Manipur police stations excluded:
13
Nagaland districts fully covered:
9
Enabling provision:
Section 3, AFSPA 1958
Why it matters for exams: AFSPA, the 'disturbed area' power under Section 3 and the districts covered in the North-East are standard internal-security questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
AFSPA Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 — A central law that gives the armed forces special powers in areas declared disturbed.
Disturbed area — An area notified under Section 3 of AFSPA, where the Act's special powers apply.
Gazette notification — An official order published in the Gazette of India, which gives it legal effect.
25 September 2026
The Kerala government issued an order decentralising the distribution of flood relief to the taluk level.
Until now, distribution had been handled through the district collectorates, where the large number of applications delayed verification and approval.
Under the new system, government funds go to the District Collectors and the Tahsildars transfer the money directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts.
C-DIT has been asked to change the software to suit the new distribution method.
The relief covers Rs 300 per day for a week for flood-hit families and Rs 10,000 for cleaning damaged houses, shops, industrial units and homestays.
Asianet Newsable reported that the taluk-level model follows the one used during the 2018-19 floods.
Distributing officer:
Tahsildars
Daily assistance:
Rs 300 per day for a week
Cleaning assistance:
Rs 10,000
Software changes:
C-DIT
Why it matters for exams: Disaster-relief administration and the roles of the collector and tahsildar are core topics in Kerala PSC and UPSC governance papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Tahsildar — The revenue officer in charge of a taluk.
C-DIT Centre for Development of Imaging Technology — A Kerala government agency that develops software and digital services for departments.
DBT Direct Benefit Transfer — Payment of government benefits straight into the beneficiary's bank account.
25 September 2026
Culture Minister P.C. Vishnunath inaugurated the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) at Kairali Theatre, Thiruvananthapuram, on Friday, 25 September 2026.
He said the government is considering a special scheme to encourage young documentary filmmakers.
The scheme would bring together the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, film societies, universities and media institutions.
The minister said Kerala was the first state in the country to grant industry status to cinema.
Filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan was the chief guest at the inauguration.
The minister said 31 films selected for the festival had not received screening permission and that the government was pursuing legal steps to screen them.
Edition:
18th IDSFFK
Venue:
Kairali Theatre, Thiruvananthapuram
Inaugurated by:
P.C. Vishnunath, Culture Minister
Films without screening permission:
31
Why it matters for exams: State festivals, the bodies behind them and Kerala's cultural-policy firsts are regular Kerala PSC questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
IDSFFK International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala — Kerala's annual festival devoted to documentaries and short films, held in Thiruvananthapuram.
Industry status — Recognition that lets a sector be treated as an industry for government support and finance.
25 September 2026
Water security was a major theme on Friday, 25 September 2026, the fourth day of the UN General Assembly's high-level general debate.
Egypt's Prime Minister Moustafa Kamal Madbouly described the Nile as his country's lifeline.
He said water security was "an existential issue that is not open to compromise".
He said shared water resources should promote cooperation rather than conflict, and rejected unilateral action and "fait accompli policies".
Kazakhstan proposed creating an international water organization under UN auspices.
It also called for a Member State-led process to strengthen global water governance.
Egypt's speaker:
Prime Minister Moustafa Kamal Madbouly
Kazakhstan's proposal:
international water organization under UN auspices
Debate day:
fourth day
Why it matters for exams: Transboundary rivers such as the Nile and proposals for new UN bodies are standard topics in international relations and geography papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
UNGA United Nations General Assembly — Main deliberative organ of the UN; its 81st session opened in September 2026.
25 September 2026
UN Women launched a Digital, Innovation and AI Hub on Friday, 25 September 2026, during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
The hub brings together researchers, governments, technology companies and women's rights organizations to shape artificial intelligence in ways that benefit women and girls.
According to UN Women, men hold nearly eight in 10 AI jobs and almost nine in 10 senior leadership positions in the technology.
A UN Women analysis of 133 AI systems found that 44 per cent showed gender bias.
The hub will support Member States in developing gender-responsible digital and AI policies.
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous said AI can deepen gender inequality or help overcome it.
AI systems analysed:
133
Share showing gender bias:
44 per cent
AI jobs held by men:
nearly eight in 10
Why it matters for exams: Combines UN Women's mandate with AI governance and gender-bias data, a recurring theme in governance and science-technology papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
UN Women United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women — UN body for gender equality, set up in 2010.
25 September 2026
On 25 September 2026 the UN Human Rights office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory called on Israel to immediately halt the demolition of Palestinian villages in Msafer Yatta, South Hebron Hills.
On 23 September, Israeli forces demolished dozens of structures, including homes, water tanks and solar panels, in the village of Jinba.
Three additional villages in Msafer Yatta had already been almost entirely destroyed in September 2026.
There are 12 villages in Msafer Yatta housing over 1,100 Palestinians.
According to OCHA, demolitions have displaced 1,500 people in the occupied West Bank in 2026.
In the 1980s, Israel declared some 30,000 dunums of Msafer Yatta as "Firing Zone 918".
Ajith Sunghay, Head of UN Human Rights – OPT, said forcible transfer of a civilian population by an occupying power is a war crime.
Villages in Msafer Yatta:
12
Residents:
over 1,100
Displaced by demolitions in West Bank, 2026 (OCHA):
1,500
Military zone declared in the 1980s:
Firing Zone 918
Why it matters for exams: Msafer Yatta, Firing Zone 918 and the law on forcible transfer under occupation are frequent topics in questions on the Israel–Palestine conflict.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights — UN office leading human rights work; based in Geneva.
OCHA UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs — UN office that coordinates humanitarian response.
25 September 2026
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inaugurated the Pitru Paksha Mela Mahasangam 2026 in Gaya on 25 September 2026.
He prayed at the Vishnupad Temple, inspected arrangements at Dev Ghat on the Falgu and inaugurated a tent city for devotees.
The mela runs from 25 September to 10 October 2026.
He said the Vishnupad Corridor project is among the biggest initiatives undertaken for the development of a temple in the state.
He said about Rs 20,000 crore of industrial investment in the Integrated Manufacturing Cluster at Bodh Gaya is expected to begin taking shape from October, and that work is under way on a project worth around Rs 1,000 crore to bring Son river water to the Falgu river.
A special postal cover issued by the Department of Posts for Pitru Paksha was released at the event.
Mela period:
25 September to 10 October 2026
Venue of inauguration:
Gandhi Maidan, Gaya
Expected investment, Bodh Gaya IMC:
around Rs 20,000 crore
Son-Falgu water project:
around Rs 1,000 crore
Why it matters for exams: Gaya's Vishnupad Temple, the Falgu river and the Pitru Paksha rituals are standard Bihar culture and geography questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Pitru Paksha Pitru Paksha — A fortnight of rituals in memory of ancestors; pind daan at Gaya is central to it.
IMC Integrated Manufacturing Cluster — An industrial cluster planned at Bodh Gaya.
25 September 2026
Tuvalu's Prime Minister Feleti Teo addressed the UN General Assembly on Friday, 25 September 2026. "For Tuvalu, sea-level rise is not a future threat, it is a present reality," he said. He said Tuvalu had reclaimed 15.3 hectares of elevated, flood-free land on the capital island of Funafuti, with another 10 hectares being reclaimed. Tuvalu has only around 26 square kilometres of land. He welcomed the UN Political Declaration on Sea-Level Rise, which recognises the continuity of statehood and the permanence of maritime zones under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. He called for an orderly, fair and just transition away from fossil fuels.
Land reclaimed on Funafuti:
15.3 hectares
Tuvalu's land area:
around 26 square kilometres
Ocean area:
some 750,000 square kilometres
Why it matters for exams: Small island States, sea-level rise and UNCLOS maritime zones are frequent environment and geography questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
UNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea — The 1982 treaty that sets out maritime zones and rights over the oceans.
25 September 2026
The Kerala government issued an order decentralising the full responsibility for distributing flood relief to the taluk level. Until now the distribution was centred on the district collectorates. A large number of applications had delayed scrutiny and sanction. Under the new system, government funds will be transferred directly to District Collectors. Taluk tahsildars will then credit the amount to beneficiaries' bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). C-DIT has been directed to change the software to suit the new method.
Disbursing level:
Taluk (tahsildars)
Mode of payment:
DBT
Software change assigned to:
C-DIT
Release number:
PNX 3980/2026
Why it matters for exams: Disaster relief administration and the use of DBT in welfare delivery are standard governance topics.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
DBT Direct Benefit Transfer — Payment of government benefits straight into the beneficiary's bank account.
C-DIT Centre for Development of Imaging Technology — A Kerala government technology institution that builds software and digital services for departments.
Tahsildar — The revenue officer in charge of a taluk.
25 September 2026
On 25 September 2026, Thai Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Vijavat Isarabhakdi attended the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 in New York.
The meeting was chaired by Uruguay's Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin under the theme "The Global South and the Future of Multilateralism".
It adopted the 2026 Ministerial Declaration and endorsed Rwanda as Chair of the Group for 2027.
Thailand voiced support for UN reform under the UN80 Initiative and cited its hosting of the 2026 IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings.
A Chiang Mai University project was approved for funding under the Perez-Guerrero Trust Fund for South-South Cooperation (PGTF), as reported when Thailand followed up on the Fund's Committee of Experts report at the G77 senior officials' meeting on 23 September.
Meeting:
Fiftieth Annual Meeting of G77 Foreign Ministers
2026 meeting chair:
Mario Lubetkin (Uruguay)
Chair for 2027:
Rwanda
Why it matters for exams: The G77, its rotating chair and South-South cooperation are recurring topics in international organisations questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
G77 Group of 77 — The largest coalition of developing countries at the United Nations.
PGTF Perez-Guerrero Trust Fund for South-South Cooperation — A G77 fund that finances South-South cooperation projects.
UN80 Initiative UN80 Initiative — The UN Secretary-General's reform agenda launched around the UN's 80th anniversary.
25 September 2026
Haiti's Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé told the UN General Assembly that Haiti is at a 'watershed moment' in its fight against gang violence.
He said the international force meant to support Haiti was still not fully operational or at its planned strength of 5,500 personnel.
He called for renewal of the mandate of the 'gang suppression force' and its full deployment.
Haiti is training 4,000 police officers, more than 2,000 of whom have been trained, and over 1,500 new soldiers have completed training.
The Government plans to train 15,000 more soldiers over the next three years.
Planned force strength:
5,500 personnel
Police training programme:
4,000 police officers
Additional soldiers planned:
15,000 over three years
Why it matters for exams: UN-backed security missions such as Haiti's gang suppression force are asked in international relations papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Gang suppression force Gang Suppression Force — A UN-authorised international force to help Haiti's police fight armed gangs.
25 September 2026
President Droupadi Murmu accepted credentials from envoys of six nations and entities at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 25 September 2026.
They were Mikko Kivikoski (Finland), Trinh Minh Manh (Vietnam), Pedro Blanco Pérez (Mexico) and Kristi Karelsohn (Estonia).
Jean-Eric Paquet presented credentials as Ambassador of the European Union.
Sophie Karlshausen presented credentials as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium.
Presenting credentials to the head of state formally begins an ambassador's mission in the host country.
Envoys:
6
Venue:
Rashtrapati Bhavan
EU Ambassador:
Jean-Eric Paquet
Why it matters for exams: The President's role in receiving foreign envoys is a standard polity point; new EU and neighbour envoys are asked in current affairs.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Credentials Letter of Credence — A formal letter from one head of state to another accrediting an ambassador.
25 September 2026
Food Commission Chairperson Jinu Zachariah Oommen inaugurated a one-day workshop in Kozhikode for Women and Child Development Department and Anganwadi staff.
He said ICDS, like the public distribution system, is a model for the country in ensuring food security, and that he would recommend timely changes in ICDS to the government.
He said the government should have a committee study changing the ingredients of Amritham Nutrimix according to children's age.
Only one district now has facilities to test Amritham Nutrimix powder; he said each district should have one.
He said technical problems in the Union government's Poshan Tracker portal should be fixed urgently so beneficiaries can be enrolled.
Food Commission Chairperson:
Jinu Zachariah Oommen
Districts with Nutrimix testing facility:
One
Why it matters for exams: ICDS, the National Food Security Act and the State Food Commission are standard welfare and polity topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ICDS Integrated Child Development Services — Centrally sponsored scheme run through anganwadis for nutrition and early care of children and mothers.
Poshan Tracker — Union government app and portal that monitors anganwadi services and child nutrition.
Amritham Nutrimix — Take-home nutrition powder given to young children through Kerala's anganwadis.
25 September 2026
A 'Sarkar Tumchya Daari' camp was held at Shiroda gram panchayat on September 25, 2026, under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said the initiative aims to take government services to citizens so that people do not have to repeatedly visit government offices.
Over two lakh applications have been received in Goa under the Ujjwala Yojana.
The camp promoted the Mhaje Ghar scheme, which regularises structures built before February 28, 2014, and certificates under it were distributed to eligible beneficiaries.
Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai and Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar took part, with South Goa Collector Egna Cleetus, IAS, and Ponda Sub-Divisional Officer Kaushik Amonkar.
A foundation stone for a Ganesh Mandal hall was laid virtually at the event.
Ujjwala Yojana applications in Goa:
over two lakh
Mhaje Ghar cut-off:
February 28, 2014
Venue:
Shiroda gram panchayat
Why it matters for exams: Doorstep delivery drives and State regularisation schemes are standard governance questions, and the Mhaje Ghar cut-off date is a precise fact.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Mhaje Ghar Mhaje Ghar scheme — A Goa scheme to regularise houses built before a stated cut-off date.
Sarkar Tumchya Daari Sarkar Tumchya Daari — Goa's doorstep governance outreach, meaning 'government at your doorstep'.
25 September 2026
West Bengal State Election Commissioner Krishna Gupta said polls to seven urban civic bodies, including the Kolkata and Howrah Municipal Corporations, are proposed for 28 and 29 November 2026, with counting on 2 December 2026. He added that the proposed dates are not yet the formal poll schedule. The other civic bodies in the list are the Bally, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Dhupguri and Haldia municipalities. About 6,301 polling booths are to be set up in the poll-bound districts, and the commission has held a preparatory meeting with district magistrates on ward delimitation, seat reservation and electronic voting machines.
Proposed polling:
28 and 29 November 2026
Proposed counting:
2 December 2026
Civic bodies:
7
State Election Commissioner:
Krishna Gupta
Why it matters for exams: State Election Commissions, not the Election Commission of India, conduct municipal and panchayat polls, and that division is a standard polity question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SEC State Election Commission — The body created under Articles 243K and 243ZA to conduct panchayat and municipal elections in a state.
Delimitation Ward delimitation — Redrawing the boundaries of wards so that each has a comparable number of voters.
25 September 2026
The BJP won the mayor's posts of the Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota municipal corporations on 25 September 2026. In Jaipur, Sunil Kothari defeated the Congress's Sunita Mawar by 89 votes to 60. In Jodhpur, Prasanna Chandra Mehta won 53 to 47 against Rajendra Singh Solanki. In Kota, Anusuiya Goswami won 65 to 35 against Sunita Suman. The BJP now holds nine of the ten mayor's posts, with only Bikaner with the Congress.
Jaipur result:
Sunil Kothari 89, Sunita Mawar 60
Jodhpur result:
Prasanna Chandra Mehta 53, Rajendra Singh Solanki 47
Kota result:
Anusuiya Goswami 65, Sunita Suman 35
Corporations won by BJP:
9 of 10
Why it matters for exams: Names of mayors of major state cities and the indirect mayoral election by councillors are asked in state-level exams.
UPSCSSC
25 September 2026
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M., found that most courts hearing cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act do not conform to statutory guidelines and lack adequate facilities. The finding follows the judges' own visits to district courts. The petition is a public interest litigation filed by the District Court Bar Association. The Registrar (District Judiciary) was directed to file an affidavit on the number of additional courts required.
Bench:
Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M.
Petitioner:
District Court Bar Association (PIL)
Why it matters for exams: Judicial infrastructure and child-protection law are frequent topics in polity and Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC