Kerala PSC Current Affairs Brief — 21 October 2026

The day’s briefing blends Kerala’s environmental and health initiatives with key national political, energy and education developments. Aspirants should note the policy specifics for exam relevance.

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Kerala News

1. Paddy field conservation urged in Kerala

• Neglecting paddy fields as a socio‑ecological system undermines local biodiversity, the hydrological cycle and micro‑climate, increasing flood risk and food insecurity.
• Experts stress that preserving paddy fields is essential for sustainable agriculture and climate resilience in Kerala.

PSC relevance: Environment and Ecology – Conservation of natural resources

2. Health Department circular on medicine stock lists

• The Health Department circular directs hospitals to provide an updated list of available medicines to doctors in outpatient departments.
• This measure aims to enable doctors to prescribe only medicines that are currently stocked, improving treatment efficiency.

PSC relevance: Public Health Administration – Hospital Management

3. Special express trains between Thiruvananthapuram North and Mangaluru

• South Western Railway will run one express special train each way on 20 and 21 October 2026 between Thiruvananthapuram North and Mangaluru Junction.
• The service is intended to clear extra passenger rush during the festival season.

PSC relevance: Transport – Railways and passenger services

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National News

4. Shiv Sena Dussera rally highlights crimes and farmer distress

• The 60th Shiv Sena (UBT) Dussera rally featured discussions on rising crimes and the plight of farmers across India.
• Eknath Shinde’s faction also warned of political consequences if justice for students after recent paper leaks is not delivered.

PSC relevance: Indian Polity – Political parties and public agitations

5. West Bengal CM orders Left parties to sell books from party offices

• Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari instructed Left parties to sell their books from party offices rather than at Durga Puja pandals.
• His remarks came after some Left leaders condemned attacks on book stalls set up by the parties at the pandals.

PSC relevance: Indian Polity – Election Commission and political conduct

6. India‑US‑UAE trilateral talks on trade, energy and connectivity

• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Rubio urged India to increase purchases of U.S. and Venezuelan oil during his visit to Mumbai.
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hosted the U.S. Secretary of State and the UAE Foreign Minister for trilateral discussions on trade, energy and connectivity.

PSC relevance: International Relations – India’s foreign policy and energy security

7. Bengal CM defends moving stampede‑injured to private hospitals

• The West Bengal Chief Minister stated that injured victims from the recent stampede were shifted to private hospitals to ensure better medical care.
• He emphasized that no deaths occurred among the 25 injured after the immediate transfer.

PSC relevance: Public Health – Emergency medical response

8. Haryana power staff announce 3‑day strike over private discom licence

• Power staff in Haryana called a three‑day strike to protest the grant of a 25‑year licence to private distributor Eleven Power for Gurugram and Nuh.
• The state power minister announced that the government will contest the licence decision before the electricity tribunal.

PSC relevance: Energy Policy – Power sector reforms and labour issues

9. Budget proposes hike in honorarium for guest lecturers

• The Higher Education Minister announced in the state assembly that the honorarium for guest lecturers will increase by ₹5,000, raising it to ₹35,000.
• The hike is part of the budgetary measures aimed at improving the quality of higher education.

PSC relevance: Education – Higher education financing and faculty incentives

10. CPCB to submit annual fly‑ash audit of thermal power plants before NGT

• The Central Pollution Control Board submitted a report to the National Green Tribunal requiring annual fly‑ash audits of thermal power plants.
• The submission follows an NGT order after a petition by the Tamil Nadu Fly Ash Brick and Blocks Manufacturers Association seeking clarity on CPCB’s audit role.

PSC relevance: Environment – Pollution control and regulatory compliance

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10 MCQs

Q1. What ecological functions are compromised when paddy fields are neglected in Kerala?

Options: A. Local biodiversity, hydrological cycle and micro‑climate B. Urban infrastructure development C. Marine fisheries productivity D. Desertification processes

Answer: A

Explanation: The Kerala news bullet states that neglecting paddy fields undermines local biodiversity, the hydrological cycle and micro‑climate.

Q2. According to the Health Department circular, who should receive the updated medicine list?

Options: A. Patients B. Doctors in outpatient departments C. Pharmacy suppliers D. Hospital administrators

Answer: B

Explanation: The circular directs hospitals to provide an updated list of medicines to doctors in outpatient departments.

Q3. On which dates will the special express train between Thiruvananthapuram North and Mangaluru run?

Options: A. 18‑19 Oct 2026 B. 20‑21 Oct 2026 C. 22‑23 Oct 2026 D. 24‑25 Oct 2026

Answer: B

Explanation: South Western Railway will run the special train on 20 and 21 October 2026.

Q4. Which two major issues were highlighted at the 60th Shiv Sena Dussera rally?

Options: A. Rising crimes and farmer plight B. Urban housing and IT sector C. Tourism and sports development D. Education reforms and health care

Answer: A

Explanation: The rally featured discussions on rising crimes and the plight of farmers across India.

Q5. What directive did West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari give to Left parties regarding book sales?

Options: A. Sell only online B. Sell from party offices C. Sell at railway stations D. Stop selling altogether

Answer: B

Explanation: He instructed Left parties to sell their books from party offices rather than at Durga Puja pandals.

Q6. Which countries’ oil did U.S. Secretary of State Antony Rubio encourage India to purchase more of?

Options: A. Saudi Arabia and Iran B. Russia and Kazakhstan C. United States and Venezuela D. Qatar and Oman

Answer: C

Explanation: Rubio urged India to increase purchases of U.S. and Venezuelan oil during his visit to Mumbai.

Q7. How many injured persons were reported after the stampede, according to the West Bengal CM?

Options: A. 10 B. 25 C. 40 D. 60

Answer: B

Explanation: The CM emphasized that no deaths occurred among the 25 injured after the transfer.

Q8. Which private company received a 25‑year power distribution licence that prompted a strike in Haryana?

Options: A. Tata Power B. Eleven Power C. Reliance Energy D. Adani Power

Answer: B

Explanation: The strike was over the grant of a 25‑year licence to private distributor Eleven Power for Gurugram and Nuh.

Q9. By how much was the honorarium for guest lecturers increased in the recent budget?

Options: A. ₹2,000 B. ₹5,000 C. ₹10,000 D. ₹15,000

Answer: B

Explanation: The honorarium will increase by ₹5,000, raising it to ₹35,000.

Q10. Which body is required to conduct annual fly‑ash audits of thermal power plants as per the NGT order?

Options: A. Ministry of Coal B. Central Pollution Control Board C. Indian Renewable Energy Agency D. National Thermal Power Corporation

Answer: B

Explanation: The CPCB submitted a report to the NGT requiring annual fly‑ash audits of thermal power plants.

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Quick Recap

#	Topic	One-line
1	Paddy fields	Neglect harms biodiversity, water cycle and micro‑climate, raising flood and food‑security risks.
2	Medicine stock circular	Hospitals must give doctors an updated list of medicines in OP departments.
3	Special trains	Express specials run 20‑21 Oct 2026 between Thiruvananthapuram North and Mangaluru.
4	Shiv Sena rally	Rally spotlighted rising crimes and farmer distress across India.
5	WB book‑sale order	CM Suvendu Adhikari told Left parties to sell books from party offices.
6	US‑India oil talks	Secretary Rubio urged India to buy more US and Venezuelan oil; trilateral talks held in Mumbai.
7	Stampede care	25 injured shifted to private hospitals; no deaths reported.
8	Haryana power strike	Staff strike over 25‑year licence granted to Eleven Power for Gurugram‑Nuh.
9	Guest lecturer hike	Honorarium raised by ₹5,000 to ₹35,000 in the state budget.
10	Fly‑ash audit	CPCB must conduct annual fly‑ash audits of thermal plants per NGT order.

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