Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Kerala PSC Current Affairs Brief — 11 August 2026
The day brings a mix of Kerala‑specific governance updates and significant national developments ranging from labour statistics to judicial reforms. Aspirants should note the policy shifts and legal actions that could feature in upcoming examinations.
Kerala News
1. Microfinance scam SIT files final reports in 17 cases
- The Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted final reports on 17 of the 124 microfinance cases probed in Kerala.
- Out of the 124 cases examined, the SIT found no irregularities in 30 cases, as stated by its head S. Sasidharan before the Kerala High Court on Monday.
PSC relevance: Banking & Financial Inclusion, Governance
2. Kerala to push organic farming aggressively
- Kerala’s Agriculture Minister announced a major push for organic farming after pesticide residues were detected in 58 of 1,262 food items tested in state labs.
- The testing revealed that excessive pesticide residues were present in 58 items, prompting the government to prioritize organic cultivation methods.
PSC relevance: Agriculture, Environment, Food Safety
3. Collector launches second phase of Dream anti‑drug programme
- The Collector inaugurated the second phase of the Dream anti‑drug initiative, to be implemented across ten districts of Kerala until 2029.
- The programme is led by the Don Bosco Veedu Society and BREADS, aiming to curb drug abuse among youth.
PSC relevance: Social Welfare, Public Health, Drug Abuse Prevention
National News
4. Delhi High Court seeks The Caravan’s stand in defamation case
- The Delhi High Court ordered The Caravan to file its response in a defamation suit filed by Nikhil Gadkari and his company Cian Agro Industries.
- The case seeks removal of articles linking the plaintiff to the sale of beef or bovine meat products.
PSC relevance: Media Law, Defamation, Judicial Process
5. BJP, BJD contest over employment generation in Odisha
- The BJP and BJD are in a dispute over employment creation in Odisha, where investment proposals worth approximately ₹21 lakh crore are projected to generate 20 lakh jobs.
- Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi highlighted the scale of the investment and employment potential.
PSC relevance: Industrial Policy, Employment, State Development
6. PLFS reports marginal rise in unemployment for April‑June 2026
- The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) showed the rural unemployment rate rose to 4.8% in the April‑June quarter, up from 4.3% in the preceding quarter.
- The urban unemployment rate edged up to 6.7% from 6.6% over the same period.
PSC relevance: Labour Statistics, Economy
7. Lok Sabha passes Tribunals Reforms Bill amid din
- The Lok Sabha cleared the Tribunals Reforms Bill without debate, aiming to establish a panel for overseeing appointments to national tribunals.
- The Law Minister asserted that the bill will bring uniformity and greater transparency to the selection process for tribunal members.
PSC relevance: Judicial Reforms, Constitutional Law
8. BJP urges Congress to withdraw support from Jharkhand govt
- Jharkhand BJP leaders demanded that the Congress withdraw its support to Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s government, accusing the administration of heavy‑handed police action.
- Rahul Gandhi criticized the police action, describing it as a “final nail in the coffin” for the JMM‑Congress coalition.
PSC relevance: Political Alliances, State Politics, Law & Order
9. Jharkhand protesters march to Assembly, clashes injure five
- Students and job aspirants staged a sit‑in at the Jharkhand Assembly demanding cancellation of the JSSC‑CGL exam and a CBI probe into alleged irregularities.
- Police reports indicated that five persons were injured during clashes, while the former JPSC Chairman was arrested.
PSC relevance: Public Order, Examination Reforms, Governance
10. Panel visits Jammu to examine border‑area demographic shifts
- A government committee arrived in Jammu to study demographic changes near the Pakistan border, planning meetings with civil society members in Kathua and Samba districts.
- The panel intends to spend the next two days visiting settlements along the border to gather data.
PSC relevance: Border Management, Demography, Security Studies
10 MCQs
Q1. How many microfinance cases did the SIT file final reports for?
Options: A. 10 B. 17 C. 30 D. 124
Answer: B
Explanation: The bullet states the SIT submitted final reports on 17 of the 124 microfinance cases.
Q2. In how many of the probed microfinance cases did the SIT find no irregularities?
Options: A. 17 B. 30 C. 124 D. 0
Answer: B
Explanation: The bullet mentions the SIT found no irregularities in 30 of the 124 cases.
Q3. How many food items were found with excessive pesticide residues prompting the organic farming push?
Options: A. 58 B. 1262 C. 100 D. 250
Answer: A
Explanation: The bullet notes that excessive pesticide residues were detected in 58 of the 1,262 food items.
Q4. Which two organisations are leading the Dream anti‑drug initiative’s second phase?
Options: A. UNICEF and WHO B. Don Bosco Veedu Society and BREADS C. NPA and CBI D. Kerala Police and Health Dept
Answer: B
Explanation: The bullet specifies the initiative is led by the Don Bosco Veedu Society and BREADS.
Q5. What is the total investment proposal amount discussed for Odisha employment generation?
Options: A. ₹10 lakh crore B. ₹15 lakh crore C. ₹21 lakh crore D. ₹30 lakh crore
Answer: C
Explanation: The bullet mentions investment proposals worth approximately ₹21 lakh crore.
Q6. How many jobs are projected to be generated from the Odisha investment proposals?
Options: A. 5 lakh B. 10 lakh C. 15 lakh D. 20 lakh
Answer: D
Explanation: The bullet states the proposals are expected to generate 20 lakh jobs.
Q7. What was the rural unemployment rate in the April‑June quarter according to the PLFS?
Options: A. 3.5% B. 4.3% C. 4.8% D. 5.2%
Answer: C
Explanation: The bullet reports the rural unemployment rate rose to 4.8%.
Q8. Which bill did the Lok Sabha pass without debate to improve tribunal appointments?
Options: A. Right to Information Act B. Tribunals Reforms Bill C. Companies Act Amendment D. Data Protection Bill
Answer: B
Explanation: The bullet indicates the Lok Sabha cleared the Tribunals Reforms Bill.
Q9. Which political party demanded Congress withdraw support from Hemant Soren’s government?
Options: A. BJP B. AAP C. CPI(M) D. TMC
Answer: A
Explanation: The bullet notes that Jharkhand BJP leaders demanded Congress withdraw support.
Q10. Which two districts in Jammu will the panel meet civil society members to study border demographics?
Options: A. Jammu and Srinagar B. Kathua and Samba C. Leh and Kargil D. Poonch and Rajouri
Answer: B
Explanation: The bullet states the panel will meet members in Kathua and Samba districts.
Quick Recap
| # | Topic | One-line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microfinance SIT Reports | SIT filed final reports on 17 cases, finding no irregularities in 30. |
| 2 | Organic Farming Push | Kerala detected pesticide residues in 58 of 1,262 items, prompting organic farming emphasis. |
| 3 | Dream Anti‑Drug Phase II | Second phase launched across ten districts, led by Don Bosco Veedu Society and BREADS. |
| 4 | Delhi HC Defamation Case | The Caravan ordered to respond to defamation suit by Nikhil Gadkari. |
| 5 | Odisha Employment Drive | ₹21 lakh crore investments projected to create 20 lakh jobs. |
| 6 | PLFS Unemployment Data | Rural unemployment rose to 4.8%; urban to 6.7% in April‑June quarter. |
| 7 | Tribunals Reforms Bill | Lok Sabha passed bill to set up panel for tribunal appointments. |
| 8 | Jharkhand Political Protest | BJP urged Congress to withdraw support from Hemant Soren’s government. |
| 9 | Jharkhand Assembly Clash | Protesters demanded exam cancellation; five injured, former JPSC chief arrested. |
| 10 | Jammu Border Demography Panel | Committee to study demographic changes in Kathua and Samba districts near Pakistan border. |
Sources: The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB. Compiled via RSS feeds and verified at time of publication.
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