Kerala PSC Current Affairs Brief — 22 September 2026

The day brings a mix of environmental updates from Kerala, key political developments across states, and crucial policy issues affecting the nation. Aspirants should note the implications for governance, law and disaster management.

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Kerala News

1. Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve plant checklist released

• 3,261 flowering plant species have been recorded in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, according to a checklist compiled by the Keralam research team.
• The checklist was prepared by researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute to highlight the Western Ghats’ biodiversity significance.

PSC relevance: Environment and Biodiversity (Science & Tech)

2. Chief Minister attributes Kerala’s secular ideals to Narayana Guru

• Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan stated that the entire credit for the state’s secular and social reformation goes to Sree Narayana Guru.
• The statement emphasizes Guru’s vision as the core of Kerala’s social reforms and communal harmony.

PSC relevance: Cultural Heritage and Social Reform (General Studies)

3. Land cave-in near Mukkali raises infrastructure safety concerns

• A land cave-in occurred around noon on September 22 along the national highway near Mukkali in Kozhikode district while excavation was underway for a protective wall foundation.
• The incident has sparked concerns about safety protocols in ongoing infrastructure projects in Kerala.

PSC relevance: Infrastructure Development and Public Works (General Studies)

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National News

4. Tamil Nadu bus fare revision case before Madras High Court

• The Madras High Court granted the Tamil Nadu government an additional four weeks to finalize the revision of state bus fares.
• The previous fare rate was fixed at ₹0.58 per kilometre in 2018 when diesel price was ₹67.50 per litre, compared with the current diesel price of around ₹100 per litre.

PSC relevance: Transport Economics and Public Policy (Indian Economy)

5. National Commission for Women takes suo motu cognizance of Jamui incident

• The NCW has taken suo motu cognizance of an alleged public molestation and assault incident that occurred in Jamui district of Bihar involving a teenage girl and her male companion.
• The commission’s action underscores the focus on women’s safety and legal redress mechanisms at the national level.

PSC relevance: Women’s Rights and Legal Framework (Polity & Law)

6. BJP wins six of seven mayoral polls in Rajasthan

• The Bharatiya Janata Party secured victories in six of the seven mayoral elections in Rajasthan, winning in Alwar, Udaipur, Pali, Ajmer, Bharatpur, and Bhilwara.
• The Congress Party managed to win only in Bikaner, while alleging electoral irregularities.

PSC relevance: State Politics and Electoral Processes (Polity)

7. Court orders fresh hearing in Sonia Gandhi voter roll entry case

• A Special Judge, Vishal Gogne, ordered a fresh hearing in the case concerning Sonia Gandhi’s entry in the electoral roll, noting procedural lapses in the earlier proceedings.
• The judge observed that the lower magistrate had digressed from the core issue of whether a cognisable offence was disclosed.

PSC relevance: Electoral Law and Judicial Review (Polity & Law)

8. Maharashtra likely to be declared 100% drought by month‑end

• The Cooperation Minister of Maharashtra, Babasaheb Patil, warned that a 100 % drought is expected to be declared by the end of September 2026.
• The state government has announced relief measures including fee waivers for students, electricity bill waivers, and deployment of water tankers.

PSC relevance: Agriculture, Water Resources and Disaster Management (Economy & Environment)

9. J&K House Committee highlights irregularities in Jal Jeevan Mission

• The Jammu & Kashmir House Committee reported irregularities in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, stating that overall objectives remain unachieved despite some progress.
• The committee, chaired by legislator Hasnain Masoodi, called for a detailed probe into the scheme’s execution.

PSC relevance: Water Supply Schemes and Governance (Polity & Environment)

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10 MCQs

Q1. How many flowering plant species were recorded in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve?

Options: A. 2,961 B. 3,261 C. 3,500 D. 4,000

Answer: B

Explanation: Kerala item 1 bullet 1

Q2. Which institute compiled the plant checklist for the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve?

Options: A. Indian Institute of Science B. Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute C. National Botanical Research Institute D. Kerala Forest Department

Answer: B

Explanation: Kerala item 1 bullet 2

Q3. What was the bus fare rate fixed in 2018 for Tamil Nadu state buses?

Options: A. ₹0.45 per km B. ₹0.58 per km C. ₹0.70 per km D. ₹0.85 per km

Answer: B

Explanation: National item 1 bullet 2

Q4. What was the diesel price in 2018 when the Tamil Nadu bus fare was fixed?

Options: A. ₹55.00 per litre B. ₹67.50 per litre C. ₹80.00 per litre D. ₹100.00 per litre

Answer: B

Explanation: National item 1 bullet 2

Q5. In which state did the BJP win six of seven mayoral elections?

Options: A. Gujarat B. Rajasthan C. Madhya Pradesh D. Uttar Pradesh

Answer: B

Explanation: National item 3 bullet 1

Q6. The NCW suo motu cognizance case pertained to an incident in which district?

Options: A. Patna B. Jamui C. Gaya D. Nalanda

Answer: B

Explanation: National item 2 bullet 1

Q7. Which minister warned about a 100% drought in Maharashtra?

Options: A. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis B. Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil C. Agriculture Minister Ashok Chavan D. Health Minister Anil Deshmukh

Answer: B

Explanation: National item 5 bullet 1

Q8. Which committee reported irregularities in the Jal Jeevan Mission?

Options: A. Lok Sabha Committee B. Rajya Sabha Committee C. Jammu & Kashmir House Committee D. National Water Commission

Answer: C

Explanation: National item 6 bullet 1

Q9. Near which town did the land cave-in occur on the national highway in Kerala?

Options: A. Mukkali B. Kozhikode C. Calicut D. Kottayam

Answer: A

Explanation: Kerala item 3 bullet 1

Q10. Which chief minister said Kerala’s secular ideals are due to Sree Narayana Guru?

Options: A. Pinarayi Vijayan B. V.D. Satheesan C. Oommen Chandy D. A.K. Antony

Answer: B

Explanation: Kerala item 2 bullet 1

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Quick Recap

#	Topic	One-line
1	Plant Checklist	Agasthyamalai Reserve hosts 3,261 flowering species.
2	Narayana Guru	CM V.D. Satheesan credits Guru for Kerala’s secular reforms.
3	Land Cave‑in	Cave‑in near Mukkali raises infrastructure safety concerns.
4	TN Bus Fare	Madras HC gives Tamil Nadu four weeks to revise bus fares.
5	NCW Jamui	NCW takes suo motu action on Jamui molestation case.
6	Rajasthan Mayors	BJP wins six of seven mayoral seats in Rajasthan.
7	Sonia Gandhi	Special Judge orders fresh hearing on Sonia Gandhi’s voter roll entry.
8	Maharashtra Drought	100 % drought likely in Maharashtra; relief measures announced.
9	Jal Jeevan Mission	J&K House Committee flags irregularities in Jal Jeevan Mission.
10	MCQs	Ten multiple‑choice questions test key facts from today’s digest.

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