19 September 2026
The Delhi government has approved the notification of about 1,000 acres in the Southern Ridge as reserved forest.
The notification is issued under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
With this, the total notified Ridge area in Delhi rises to about 13,000 acres.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the decision, which is intended to give statutory protection to the Ridge and strengthen the capital's green cover.
Ecological restoration under the Ridge Working Plan is to accompany the notification, with an emphasis on native species and the management of invasive species.
The Delhi Ridge Management Board, constituted in 2026, oversees conservation and restoration of the Ridge.
Area notified:
about 1,000 acres
Total notified Ridge area:
about 13,000 acres
Legal provision:
Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927
Why it matters for exams: Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and the difference between reserved and protected forests are standard environment questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Reserved forest Reserved forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 — Forest land notified by the state in which all activities are prohibited unless specifically permitted.
19 September 2026
NATO held its Military Committee Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 18-19 September 2026.
Thirty-two Allied Chiefs of Defence attended, together with the two Strategic Commanders, General Alexus G. Grynkewich and Admiral Pierre Vandier.
The conference was chaired by Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, and hosted by General Michael Wiggers Hyldgaard, Chief of Defence of Denmark.
The Chiefs of Defence reviewed the implementation of the decisions taken at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Allied readiness in multi-domain operations and support for Ukraine.
General Carsten Breuer, Chief of Defence of Germany, was elected the next Chair of the NATO Military Committee, taking office in summer 2027 for a three-year term.
The Military Committee is NATO's senior military authority and advises the Alliance's political leadership.
Venue:
Copenhagen, Denmark
Dates:
18-19 September 2026
Allied Chiefs of Defence attending:
32
Chair of the Military Committee:
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone
Next Chair elected:
General Carsten Breuer, from summer 2027
Why it matters for exams: Denmark hosting NATO's senior military forum, the attendance figure of 32 Allies and the name of the incoming Chair are the kind of precise facts asked in international-relations and defence questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SACEUR Supreme Allied Commander Europe — NATO's top operational commander in Europe, one of the Alliance's two Strategic Commanders.
SACT Supreme Allied Commander Transformation — The NATO commander responsible for adapting the Alliance's forces and capabilities.
18 September 2026
A bench headed by Justice Ananda Sen directed the Ranchi district administration to pause its anti-encroachment drive in the Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) area until 31 December.
The Court barred the Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Superintendent of Police from taking coercive action against the settlers until that date.
The settlers were directed to remove the structures themselves within the period.
The Court noted the coming festive season and said administrative action should be deferred.
The land along HEC Bypass Road belongs to HEC and the Railways; the drive had begun the previous Tuesday and was suspended after the order.
Bench headed by:
Justice Ananda Sen
Pause until:
31 December
Land owners:
HEC and the Railways
Why it matters for exams: Shows the High Court's writ power under Article 226 being used to balance eviction with notice and time for residents.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
HEC Heavy Engineering Corporation — A public sector engineering company based in Ranchi.
18 September 2026
The Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) and the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) have signed an MoU in Puducherry.
It provides cashless healthcare services to ESIC beneficiaries and their dependents at JIPMER.
The agreement covers outpatient and inpatient care, diagnostic services, emergency treatment, surgeries and specialised medical procedures.
Emergency treatment can be availed without prior referral, subject to beneficiary verification and subsequent communication with ESIC.
The MoU also provides for online referrals through the ESIC system.
It will initially remain valid for two years and may be extended by another year on mutually agreed terms.
Parties:
JIPMER and ESIC
Initial validity:
Two years
Possible extension:
One more year
Emergency care:
Without prior referral
Why it matters for exams: Health-insurance tie-ups between ESIC and institutions such as JIPMER are a recurring theme in social-security and health-policy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
JIPMER Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research — The medical institute at Puducherry that is party to the MoU.
ESIC Employees' State Insurance Corporation — The body whose beneficiaries and their dependents get cashless care under the MoU.
16 September 2026
The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License 5Z on 16 September 2026.
It further delays the effectiveness of the authorization in GL 5 until 5 November 2026.
GL 5 concerns the PdVSA 2020 8.5 percent bond.
Until 5 November 2026 there is no authorization in effect licensing holders of that bond against subsection 1(a)(iii) of E.O. 13835.
PdVSA is Venezuela's state oil company.
License issued:
General License 5Z, 16 September 2026 / ജനറൽ ലൈസൻസ് 5Z, 2026 സെപ്റ്റംബർ 16
Authorization delayed until:
5 November 2026 / 2026 നവംബർ 5
Bond:
PdVSA 2020 8.5 percent
Why it matters for exams: US sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector shape its economy and are a frequent International Relations and economy topic.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
OFAC Office of Foreign Assets Control — The US Treasury office that administers and enforces economic sanctions.
PdVSA Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. — Venezuela's state-owned oil company.
16 September 2026
This item follows up the 2026-27 State Budget. The Government of Kerala announced round-table conferences titled 'Reimagining Kerala', to be held in Thiruvananthapuram on 16-18 September 2026. They aim to shape a unified action plan for the major budget announcements. In all, 73 projects linked to more than 40 departments are to be coordinated. Sectors to be discussed include ports and maritime development, aviation, energy, healthcare, space, artificial intelligence, disaster management and tourism. Feasibility studies, master plans and detailed project reports (DPR) can follow.
Projects coordinated:
73
Departments:
More than 40
Why it matters for exams: Budget implementation machinery and the term DPR are common in Kerala PSC and UPSC governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DPR Detailed Project Report — A full technical and financial plan prepared before a project is approved.
16 September 2026
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved raising the EPFO wage ceiling from Rs.15,000 to Rs.25,000 per month. The earlier ceiling of Rs.15,000 dates from September 2014. Over 51 lakh additional employees are expected to come under mandatory EPFO coverage. The annual Government outgo is estimated at about Rs.11,339 crore against existing budgetary support of about Rs.10,250 crore, and the estimated expenditure over five years is about Rs.56,696 crore. EPFO has around 7.98 crore contributing members across about 7.68 lakh establishments, and the EPS provides pensions to around 82 lakh pensioners.
New wage ceiling:
Rs.25,000 per month
Earlier ceiling:
Rs.15,000 per month (September 2014)
Additional employees covered:
Over 51 lakh
Five-year expenditure:
Rs.56,696 crore
Why it matters for exams: Social security coverage, the EPF and EPS schemes and Cabinet decisions on labour policy are staple exam topics.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
14 September 2026
The Delhi government is running a month-long campaign called Seva Sankalp Abhiyan from 17 September to 17 October.
During the campaign the government will inaugurate completed projects and lay foundation stones for new ones worth ₹13,800 crore.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the campaign, which marks Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 25 years in public service.
Special outreach camps are planned across all 70 assembly constituencies of Delhi so that residents can be reached directly.
Campaign period:
17 September to 17 October
Value of projects:
₹13,800 crore
Assembly constituencies covered:
70
Why it matters for exams: Named state campaigns with their outlays and durations are routinely asked, and the figure 70 is Delhi's assembly strength.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
1 September 2026
King Haakon VIII of Norway took the oath of allegiance before the Storting on Tuesday 1 September 2026.
Article 9 of the Norwegian Constitution requires a new King to take this oath when he accedes to the throne.
The King said: I promise and swear that I will govern the Kingdom of Norway in accordance with its Constitution and Laws; so help me God, the Almighty and Omniscient.
President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani presided over the ceremony in the Storting Chamber.
Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra accompanied the King, and Queen Sonja and Prince Sverre Magnus also attended.
Date of oath:
1 September 2026
Constitutional provision:
Article 9
Presided by:
President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani
Why it matters for exams: A change of head of state in a constitutional monarchy is high-value current affairs and illustrates how a monarch is bound by a constitution.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
31 August 2026
The Kerala Public Service Commission published an extraordinary gazette dated 31 August 2026 carrying notifications from Category No. 130/2026 to Category No. 150/2026.
The last date for submitting applications against this gazette is 7 October 2026.
The posts notified include Beat Forest Officer in the Forest and Wildlife Department, Fire and Rescue Officer (Trainee) in Fire and Rescue Services, and Assistant Prison Officer in Prisons and Correctional Services.
Other posts include Police Constable (Band, Bugler and Drummer) in the Police Band Unit, Conservation Officer in the State Archives Department and Lecturer in Arabic under Kerala General Education for DIETs.
Public sector and corporation posts in the list include Plumber in the Kerala Water Authority, Compounder Gr.IV in Malabar Cements Ltd., Junior Assistant Part-II in the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited and Assistant Project Engineer in the Kerala Land Development Corporation Limited.
Gazette date:
31/08/2026
Categories:
CAT.NO 130/2026 to 150/2026
Last date:
07-10-2026
Why it matters for exams: Category numbers and closing dates of Kerala PSC gazettes are directly examinable and immediately useful to aspirants.
Kerala PSC