Kerala PSC Current Affairs Brief — 29 October 2026

Kerala witnesses key legislative and financial developments while the state grapples with an examination integrity case. Across India, significant moves in water‑resource cooperation, environmental clearances, political dynamics and disaster management dominate the news.

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Kerala News

1. Maritime Board (Amendment) Bill passed

• The Maritime Board (Amendment) Bill was passed in the Kerala Assembly, reconstituting the board to create a centralised decision‑making mechanism.
• Opposition members staged a walkout during the passage of the bill, signalling political dissent.

PSC relevance: State Governance – Legislative Process, Public Administration

2. Dhanlaxmi Bank Q2 FY27 profit

• Dhanlaxmi Bank reported a net profit of ₹48.55 crore for the second quarter of FY27, with operating profit rising to ₹69.82 crore.
• The operating profit for the same quarter in FY 2025‑26 was ₹28.19 crore, indicating a substantial increase.

PSC relevance: Indian Economy – Banking sector performance, Financial statements

3. First arrest in Kerala PSC exam scam

• The Crime Branch recorded the first arrest in the Kerala PSC exam scam case, apprehending P. Satheesh from his home in Kozhikode.
• The Kerala PSC chairperson was also questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) as part of the ongoing probe.

PSC relevance: Kerala PSC – Examination integrity, Anti‑corruption measures

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National News

4. Bihar Cabinet approves Flood Plain MOU

• The Bihar Cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Water Resources Department and the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, for a Flood Plain Zone Delineation Study.
• The cabinet also sanctioned ₹12 crore for the Bihar State Games 2026, approved land for a sugar mill and other industries, and gave a nod to an underground road corridor in Patna.

PSC relevance: Indian Economy – Water resources management, Inter‑state cooperation

5. Uttarakhand forest panel rejects HC plan

• A forest panel rejected the Uttarakhand High Court’s relocation plan, citing concerns over forest land and directing the state government to explore non‑forest land options before seeking clearance.
• The panel’s recommendation emphasizes compliance with the Forest Conservation Act and sustainable land‑use planning.

PSC relevance: Environment – Forest conservation, Legal aspects of land use

6. NCP leader challenges spokesperson appointment

• Nationalist Congress Party leader Brijmohan Shrivastav publicly challenged Sunetra Pawar’s decision to appoint a new national chief spokesperson, stating unresolved queries.
• The dispute highlights internal party dynamics and the procedural aspects of appointing senior party officials.

PSC relevance: Indian Polity – Political parties, Leadership appointments

7. Railways to switch off night charging points

• The Railway Board ordered that charging points in trains be turned off during night hours, following a power‑bank explosion incident in the South Eastern Railway zone.
• The safety directive aims to prevent electrical hazards and protect passengers from similar incidents.

PSC relevance: Science & Technology – Railway safety, Electrical safety regulations

8. Bihar MLC polls: Upper‑caste dominance

• In the recent Bihar MLC elections, upper‑caste candidates secured the majority of seats, while the Opposition Congress party failed to win any.
• The results reflect shifting electoral dynamics in the state’s legislative council.

PSC relevance: Indian Polity – Electoral politics, Legislative Council elections

9. Cyclone Arnab impact across eastern India

• Cyclone Arnab caused five deaths in Andhra Pradesh and prompted heavy rainfall forecasts for Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• Proactive governance measures were credited with keeping overall casualties low despite the storm’s severity.

PSC relevance: Environment – Cyclone impacts, Disaster management

10. All 17 Theni jail escapees recaptured

• All 17 escapees from the Theni district jail were apprehended within 40 hours, after an escape triggered by a claimed epileptic seizure incident.
• The swift recapture underscores coordinated efforts by the IGP South Zone and local law‑enforcement agencies.

PSC relevance: Criminal Justice – Prison security, Law enforcement response

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10 MCQs

Q1. What is the primary objective of the Maritime Board (Amendment) Bill passed in Kerala?

Options: A. To reconstitute the board for centralized decision‑making B. To privatize maritime services C. To increase port tariffs D. To merge with the fisheries department

Answer: A

Explanation: The bill provides for reconstitution of the board to establish a centralised decision‑making mechanism.

Q2. Which bank posted a net profit of ₹48.55 crore in Q2 FY27?

Options: A. State Bank of India B. Dhanlaxmi Bank C. Federal Bank D. HDFC Bank

Answer: B

Explanation: Dhanlaxmi Bank records ₹48.55 crore net profit in Q2 of FY27.

Q3. Who was the first person arrested in the Kerala PSC exam scam case?

Options: A. P. Satheesh B. K. Ramesh C. S. Nair D. M. Thomas

Answer: A

Explanation: Crime Branch recorded first arrest … P. Satheesh was apprehended from his home in Kozhikode.

Q4. The Bihar Cabinet’s MOU with NIH, Roorkee is for which study?

Options: A. Flood Plain Zone Delineation Study B. Desertification Study C. Coastal Erosion Study D. Urban Heat Island Study

Answer: A

Explanation: The cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding … for a Flood Plain Zone Delineation Study.

Q5. How much funding was approved for the Bihar State Games 2026?

Options: A. ₹5 crore B. ₹12 crore C. ₹20 crore D. ₹30 crore

Answer: B

Explanation: ₹12 crore approved for “Bihar State Games 2026”.

Q6. The Uttarakhand forest panel advised the state to consider which option before seeking forest clearance?

Options: A. Relocating to a different district B. Using non‑forest land C. Building a dam D. Initiating mining operations

Answer: B

Explanation: The committee directed the State government to explore the possibility of locating the proposed project on suitable non‑forest land before pursuing forest clearance.

Q7. Which NCP leader challenged Sunetra Pawar’s appointment as national chief spokesperson?

Options: A. Brijmohan Shrivastav B. Rahul Gandhi C. Amit Shah D. N. Chandrababu Naidu

Answer: A

Explanation: Brijmohan Shrivastav claimed that the previously raised queries about her appointment were still unresolved.

Q8. What safety action did the Railway Board order for night hours?

Options: A. Turn off charging points in trains B. Reduce train speed C. Close all stations D. Increase staff patrols

Answer: A

Explanation: Railways to turn off charging points in trains during night following a power bank explosion incident.

Q9. In the recent Bihar MLC polls, which community’s candidates dominated the results?

Options: A. Upper caste B. Scheduled Castes C. OBC D. Minority

Answer: A

Explanation: Upper caste candidates dominate election results; the Opposition Congress failed to win any seat.

Q10. How many escapees were recaptured after the Theni district jail break?

Options: A. 10 B. 12 C. 15 D. 17

Answer: D

Explanation: All 17 escapees from Theni district jail were apprehended in less than 40 hours.

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Quick Recap

#	Topic	One-line
1	Maritime Bill	Kerala Assembly passed amendment to centralise Maritime Board decisions.
2	Bank Profit	Dhanlaxmi Bank posted ₹48.55 crore net profit in Q2 FY27.
3	PSC Scam Arrest	Crime Branch arrested P. Satheesh, first arrest in Kerala PSC exam scam.
4	Bihar Flood MOU	Bihar approved MOU for Flood Plain Zone study and ₹12 crore for state games.
5	Uttarakhand Forest	Forest panel rejected HC relocation plan, urging use of non‑forest land.
6	NCP Challenge	Brijmohan Shrivastav challenged Sunetra Pawar’s spokesperson appointment.
7	Railway Safety	Railway Board ordered night‑time shutdown of train charging points.
8	Bihar MLC Results	Upper‑caste candidates won majority; Congress won no seats.
9	Cyclone Arnab	Arnab caused five deaths in Andhra and heavy rain forecasts for eastern states.
10	Theni Jail Escape	All 17 escapees were recaptured within 40 hours after the breakout.

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