Kerala PSC Current Affairs — 24 May 2026

Today’s digest covers a mix of Kerala-specific developments, national legal and political updates, and international affairs. Key topics include the scrapping of Kerala’s SilverLine project, Supreme Court rulings on UAPA bail, and ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel.

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Kerala News

1. Kerala scraps SilverLine semi-high-speed rail project

• The SilverLine project, a proposed 532 km semi-high-speed rail corridor from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram, was scrapped due to land acquisition protests and financial concerns.
• The project aimed to reduce travel time to under 4 hours but faced opposition over land acquisition processes and environmental impact.
• Protests erupted over the compulsory land acquisition process, with farmers and residents opposing the takeover of their lands.

PSC relevance: Kerala Economy, Transport Infrastructure

2. KSRTC driver suspended for defamatory post against Chief Minister

• A KSRTC driver from the Nedumkandam unit in Idukki was suspended for a defamatory social media post against Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.
• The suspension followed departmental disciplinary action initiated by the transport corporation.

PSC relevance: Kerala Administration, Disciplinary Actions

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National News

3. Supreme Court rulings on bail under UAPA

• The Supreme Court highlighted disagreements in recent rulings on bail under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
• Bail is difficult under Section 43D(5) of UAPA due to stringent conditions requiring prima facie evidence of innocence.
• In K.A. Najeeb case, the Court emphasized Article 21 (right to life and liberty) in UAPA bail jurisprudence, addressing prolonged incarceration.

PSC relevance: Indian Polity, Judiciary, Fundamental Rights

4. Rajasthan introduces austerity measures for fuel conservation

• Rajasthan implemented austerity measures to conserve fuel amid the West Asia conflict, including cutting non-essential vehicles in convoys for dignitaries.
• The measures aim to reduce fuel consumption and ensure efficient resource utilization during the crisis.

PSC relevance: Indian Economy, Energy Conservation

5. BCCI resists RTI scrutiny over public authority status

• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) resisted RTI scrutiny, arguing it does not qualify as a public authority under the RTI Act.
• The Central Information Commission (CIC) order stated BCCI performs public functions but is not directly funded by the government, leading to implications for transparency.

PSC relevance: Indian Polity, RTI Act, Public Authorities

6. ₹350 crore investment to generate 2,300 jobs in Bihar

• Bihar approved industrial projects worth ₹350 crore, expected to generate 2,300 employment opportunities.
• Industries Minister Shreyasi Singh stated the projects will boost Bihar’s industrial and technological development.

PSC relevance: Indian Economy, Industrial Development

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International News

7. China plans year-long space mission ahead of 2030 moon landing

• China will send astronaut Li Jiaying, a former Hong Kong police inspector, on a year-long space mission as part of its 2030 moon landing goal.
• This marks the first time a Hong Kong astronaut will participate in a Chinese space mission.

PSC relevance: Science & Technology, Space Exploration

8. Iran-Israel tensions persist amid Trump’s negotiation claims

• Former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed a largely negotiated agreement with Iran, including the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged a trend towards rapprochement but stated no agreement has been reached on key issues.

PSC relevance: International Relations, West Asia Politics

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10 MCQs

Q1. What was the primary reason for scrapping Kerala’s SilverLine project?

Options: A. Financial insolvency B. Land acquisition protests C. Technical feasibility issues D. Environmental clearance delays

Answer: B

Explanation: Kerala scrapped the SilverLine project due to land acquisition protests and financial concerns.

Q2. Which section of UAPA makes bail difficult for accused individuals?

Options: A. Section 43D(5) B. Section 43D(4) C. Section 43D(6) D. Section 43D(3)

Answer: A

Explanation: Bail is difficult under Section 43D(5) of the UAPA due to stringent conditions.

Q3. Which article did the Supreme Court emphasize in the K.A. Najeeb case regarding UAPA bail?

Options: A. Article 14 B. Article 19 C. Article 21 D. Article 22

Answer: C

Explanation: The Court emphasized Article 21 (right to life and liberty) in UAPA bail jurisprudence.

Q4. What measures did Rajasthan introduce for fuel conservation?

Options: A. Increased public transport fares B. Reduced non-essential vehicle use in convoys C. Banned private vehicle usage D. Imposed fuel rationing

Answer: B

Explanation: Rajasthan cut non-essential vehicles in convoys for dignitaries to conserve fuel.

Q5. Why does the BCCI resist RTI scrutiny?

Options: A. It is a private entity B. It is not funded by the government C. It operates internationally D. It is exempt by law

Answer: B

Explanation: The BCCI argues it does not qualify as a public authority under the RTI Act as it is not directly funded by the government.

Q6. How much investment was approved for Bihar’s industrial projects?

Options: A. ₹250 crore B. ₹350 crore C. ₹450 crore D. ₹500 crore

Answer: B

Explanation: Bihar approved industrial projects worth ₹350 crore.

Q7. Which astronaut will participate in China’s year-long space mission?

Options: A. Zhang Wei B. Li Jiaying C. Wang Yaping D. Chen Dong

Answer: B

Explanation: Astronaut Li Jiaying, a former Hong Kong police inspector, will participate in the mission.

Q8. What did Trump claim about the Iran agreement?

Options: A. It includes economic sanctions B. It includes opening the Strait of Hormuz C. It resolves all disputes D. It is fully ratified

Answer: B

Explanation: Trump claimed the agreement includes the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Q9. What did Iran’s Foreign Ministry say about the U.S. agreement?

Options: A. It was accepted B. It was rejected C. It acknowledged rapprochement but no final agreement D. It was under review

Answer: C

Explanation: Iran acknowledged a trend towards rapprochement but stated no agreement has been reached on key issues.

Q10. Which country is currently experiencing an Ebola outbreak?

Options: A. Nigeria B. Democratic Republic of Congo C. South Africa D. Kenya

Answer: B

Explanation: The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus.

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Quick Recap

#	Topic	One-line
1	SilverLine Scrap	Kerala scrapped the SilverLine project due to land acquisition protests and financial concerns.
2	UAPA Bail	Supreme Court highlighted disagreements in UAPA bail rulings, emphasizing Article 21 in prolonged incarceration cases.
3	Rajasthan Austerity	Rajasthan introduced fuel conservation measures, cutting non-essential vehicles in convoys.
4	BCCI RTI	BCCI resisted RTI scrutiny, arguing it is not a public authority due to lack of direct government funding.
5	Bihar Investment	Bihar approved ₹350 crore industrial projects to generate 2,300 jobs.
6	China Space Mission	China plans a year-long space mission with astronaut Li Jiaying ahead of its 2030 moon landing goal.
7	Iran-Israel Tensions	Trump claimed a negotiated agreement with Iran, but Iran acknowledged only a trend towards rapprochement.
8	Ebola Outbreak	Democratic Republic of Congo faces an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus.

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Sources: The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB. Compiled via RSS feeds and verified at time of publication.