Foundation beginner LGS 2026 Kerala GK Quick Revision Last Grade Servants
200 most-asked Kerala General Knowledge facts for Last Grade Servants exam 2026. Districts, rivers, firsts, Chief Ministers, art forms, festivals, national parks — all in quick-revision tables.
Published: 21 Apr 2026 Relevant for: Last Grade Servants, LGS
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Quick-revision fact tables for the Kerala PSC Last Grade Servants (LGS) exam on April 26, 2026 . Memorise these — 15-20 marks come directly from Kerala GK every year.
Kerala at a Glance
Fact Answer Formation of Kerala 1 November 1956 Capital Thiruvananthapuram Number of districts 14 Largest district (area) Idukki Smallest district (area) Alappuzha Most populous district Malappuram Least populous district Wayanad Largest city Thiruvananthapuram State animal Indian Elephant State bird Great Hornbill (Vezhambal) State flower Kanikonna (Golden Shower) State tree Coconut Palm State fish Karimeen (Pearl Spot) State fruit Jackfruit (Chakka) State butterfly Buddha Mayoori (Malabar Banded Peacock) Literacy rate (2011 Census) 93.91% (highest in India) Official language Malayalam High Court Kochi (Ernakulam) Area 38,863 sq km Coastline length 580 km
14 Districts — North to South
No. District Headquarters Key Fact 1 Kasaragod Kasaragod Northernmost district 2 Kannur Kannur Land of Looms and Lores 3 Wayanad Kalpetta Least populated district 4 Kozhikode Kozhikode City of Spices 5 Malappuram Malappuram Most populated district 6 Palakkad Palakkad Gateway of Kerala (Palakkad Gap) 7 Thrissur Thrissur Cultural Capital of Kerala 8 Ernakulam Kochi Commercial Capital 9 Idukki Painavu Largest district by area 10 Kottayam Kottayam First fully literate district 11 Alappuzha Alappuzha Smallest district; Venice of the East 12 Pathanamthitta Pathanamthitta Headquarters of Pilgrim Tourism 13 Kollam Kollam Cashew Capital of the World 14 Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram State Capital; Southernmost district
Rivers of Kerala
River Length (km) Origin District Periyar 244 Sivagiri Hills Longest river of Kerala Bharathapuzha 209 Anamalai Hills Second longest; Nila River Pamba 176 Pulachimalai Sabarimala on its banks Chaliyar 169 Ilambaleri Hills Flows through Malappuram, Kozhikode Kabani 172 Wayanad Hills Tributary of Kaveri Muvattupuzha 121 Idukki Three tributaries merge Meenachil 78 Wagamon Flows through Kottayam Chandragiri 105 Karnataka Northernmost river of Kerala Neyyar 56 Agasthyamalai Southernmost major river
Important Fact Answer Total rivers in Kerala 44 (41 west-flowing, 3 east-flowing) East-flowing rivers Kabani, Bhavani, Pambar Longest river Periyar (244 km) Shortest major river Neyyar
Chief Ministers of Kerala
No. Name Party Period 1 E.M.S. Namboodiripad CPI 1957-1959 2 Pattom Thanu Pillai PSP 1960-1962 3 R. Sankar Congress 1962-1964 4 E.M.S. Namboodiripad CPI(M) 1967-1969 5 C. Achutha Menon CPI 1969-1977 6 K. Karunakaran Congress 1977 (Mar-Apr) 7 A.K. Antony Congress 1977-1978 8 C.H. Mohammed Koya Muslim League 1979-1980 9 E.K. Nayanar CPI(M) 1980-1981 10 K. Karunakaran Congress 1981-1987 11 E.K. Nayanar CPI(M) 1987-1991 12 K. Karunakaran Congress 1991-1995 13 A.K. Antony Congress 1995-1996 14 E.K. Nayanar CPI(M) 1996-2001 15 A.K. Antony Congress 2001-2004 16 Oommen Chandy Congress 2004-2006 17 V.S. Achuthanandan CPI(M) 2006-2011 18 Oommen Chandy Congress 2011-2016 19 Pinarayi Vijayan CPI(M) 2016-2021 20 Pinarayi Vijayan CPI(M) 2021-present
Key CM Facts Answer First CM E.M.S. Namboodiripad First woman CM None yet Longest serving CM Pinarayi Vijayan (2016-present, longest continuous tenure) Youngest CM A.K. Antony
Firsts in Kerala
First Name/Detail First state in India to achieve 100% literacy Kerala (declared 1991, Ernakulam first district 1990) First fully literate district in India Ernakulam (1990) First newspaper in Malayalam Rajyasamacharam (1847, Herman Gundert) First Malayalam novel Kundalatha (Appu Nedungadi, 1887) First Malayalam movie Vigathakumaran (1928, J.C. Daniel) First talkie in Malayalam Balan (1938) First Chief Minister E.M.S. Namboodiripad First Governor Burgula Ramakrishna Rao First Speaker Sankunni Menon First Jnanpith winner from Kerala G. Sankara Kurup (1965) First municipality in Kerala Fort Kochi (1664) First railway line in Kerala Shoranur-Beypore (1861) First printing press in Kerala Kottayam (CMS Press, 1821) First dam in Kerala Mullaperiyar Dam (1895) First university in Kerala University of Kerala (1937) First IT Park Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram (1990) First Cyber Park Kozhikode First woman DGP in India R. Sreelekha (Kerala)
Governors of Kerala
Key Facts Answer First Governor Burgula Ramakrishna Rao Current Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar (since 2024) Appointed by President of India Role Constitutional head of state
Art Form Type Key Facts Kathakali Classical Dance-Drama Male performers; elaborate costumes; stories from Ramayana/Mahabharata Mohiniyattam Classical Dance Female solo dance; Lasya style; white and gold costume Koodiyattam Sanskrit Drama UNESCO Intangible Heritage (2001); oldest surviving theatre Theyyam Ritual Dance North Kerala (Kannur, Kasaragod); worship of heroes/gods Ottamthullal Dance with Satire Created by Kunjan Nambiar; common man’s art form Thiruvathirakali Group Dance Women; performed during Thiruvathira festival Margamkali Folk Dance Syrian Christians; performed at weddings Oppana Folk Dance Malabar Muslims; wedding dance Kalaripayattu Martial Art Oldest martial art; originated in Kerala Chavittunatakam Drama Latin Christians; stamping dance drama Padayani Ritual Art Pathanamthitta; temple festival Pulikali Folk Art Thrissur; tiger dance during Onam Kolkali Folk Dance Stick dance; Malabar region
Festivals of Kerala
Festival Month Key Fact Onam Aug-Sep (Chingam) State festival; Mahabali legend; Pookalam Vishu April (Medam 1) Malayalam New Year; Vishukkani Thrissur Pooram April-May Vadakkunnathan Temple; fireworks; umbrella display Aranmula Boat Race Aug-Sep Snake boat race; Palliyodam Nehru Trophy Boat Race Aug (2nd Saturday) Punnamada Lake, Alappuzha Attukal Pongala Feb-Mar Largest gathering of women (Guinness Record) Theyyam season Oct-May North Kerala ritual performances Makaravilakku January Sabarimala; Makara Jyothi
National Parks and Wildlife
National Park District Key Species Eravikulam NP Idukki Nilgiri Tahr (endangered) Silent Valley NP Palakkad Lion-tailed Macaque Periyar NP (Tiger Reserve) Idukki Tigers, elephants Anamudi Shola NP Idukki Highest peak Anamudi nearby Mathikettan Shola NP Idukki Rare flora Pambadum Shola NP Idukki Smallest NP in Kerala
Wildlife Sanctuary District Wayanad WLS Wayanad Chinnar WLS Idukki Parambikulam Tiger Reserve Palakkad Peechi-Vazhani WLS Thrissur Neyyar WLS Thiruvananthapuram Shendurney WLS Kollam Aralam WLS Kannur Idukki WLS Idukki
Dams and Backwaters
Dam District River Mullaperiyar Dam Idukki Periyar Idukki Arch Dam Idukki Periyar (tallest arch dam in Asia) Malampuzha Dam Palakkad Malampuzha River Banasura Sagar Dam Wayanad Kabani (largest earth dam in India) Peringalkuthu Dam Thrissur Chalakudy River Neyyar Dam Thiruvananthapuram Neyyar River
Backwater/Lake District Vembanad Lake Kottayam/Alappuzha (largest lake in Kerala) Ashtamudi Lake Kollam (Gateway of backwaters) Sasthamcotta Lake Kollam (largest freshwater lake) Pookode Lake Wayanad Mananchira Lake Kozhikode
Jnanpith Award Winners from Kerala
Year Winner Known For 1965 G. Sankara Kurup First Jnanpith winner from Kerala; poet (“Odakkuzhal”) 1980 S.K. Pottekkatt Novelist and travel writer 1984 Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai Novelist (“Chemmeen”, “Kayar”) 1995 M.T. Vasudevan Nair Novelist and screenwriter (“Randamoozham”) 2007 O.N.V. Kurup Poet and lyricist
Important Personalities from Kerala
Person Known For Sree Narayana Guru Social reformer; “One caste, one religion, one God” Ayyankali Dalit rights leader; first Dalit to drive bullock cart on public road Chattampi Swamikal Social reformer; contemporary of Sree Narayana Guru V.T. Bhattathiripad Anti-Namboothiri social reformer Kumaranasan Poet; “Veena Poovu” Vallathol Narayana Menon Poet; revived Kathakali; Kerala Kalamandalam founder Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer Poet; part of “Triumvirate of poets” Dr. Palpu Social reformer; Ezhava Memorial Vakkom Moulavi Muslim reformer; started Al-Islam newspaper Thycaud Ayya Spiritual teacher of Sree Narayana Guru Herman Gundert German missionary; first Malayalam dictionary and grammar Ezhuthachan (Thunchaththu) Father of Malayalam language
Kerala Symbols and Miscellaneous
Item Answer Highest peak Anamudi (2,695 m) Longest National Highway in Kerala NH-66 (formerly NH-17) Major port Kochi (only major port) Minor ports Vizhinjam, Beypore, Azhikkal International airports Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Kannur First Greenfield airport Kochi (CIAL) Spice Garden of India Idukki Land of Elephants Wayanad Backwater capital Alappuzha Only major port in Kerala Kochi (Cochin Port) KSRTC headquarters Thiruvananthapuram Kerala State Planning Board Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seats from Kerala 20 Rajya Sabha seats from Kerala 9 Assembly seats 140 Languages spoken Malayalam (official), English, Tamil, Kannada, Tulu
Quick Numbers to Memorise
Fact Number Districts 14 Taluks 77 Revenue divisions 21 Lok Sabha constituencies 20 Assembly constituencies 140 Rivers 44 National Parks 6 Wildlife Sanctuaries 17 Backwater length ~1,500 km Coastline 580 km Highest point 2,695 m (Anamudi) Literacy (2011) 93.91%
Tip: In LGS exams, 3-5 questions are directly from Kerala geography and district facts. Memorise the district table and river table thoroughly.
Quick-revision fact tables for the Kerala PSC Last Grade Servants (LGS) exam on April 26, 2026 . Memorise these — 15-20 marks come directly from Kerala GK every year.
Kerala at a Glance
Fact Answer Formation of Kerala 1 November 1956 Capital Thiruvananthapuram Number of districts 14 Largest district (area) Idukki Smallest district (area) Alappuzha Most populous district Malappuram Least populous district Wayanad Largest city Thiruvananthapuram State animal Indian Elephant State bird Great Hornbill (Vezhambal) State flower Kanikonna (Golden Shower) State tree Coconut Palm State fish Karimeen (Pearl Spot) State fruit Jackfruit (Chakka) State butterfly Buddha Mayoori (Malabar Banded Peacock) Literacy rate (2011 Census) 93.91% (highest in India) Official language Malayalam High Court Kochi (Ernakulam) Area 38,863 sq km Coastline length 580 km
14 Districts — North to South
No. District Headquarters Key Fact 1 Kasaragod Kasaragod Northernmost district 2 Kannur Kannur Land of Looms and Lores 3 Wayanad Kalpetta Least populated district 4 Kozhikode Kozhikode City of Spices 5 Malappuram Malappuram Most populated district 6 Palakkad Palakkad Gateway of Kerala (Palakkad Gap) 7 Thrissur Thrissur Cultural Capital of Kerala 8 Ernakulam Kochi Commercial Capital 9 Idukki Painavu Largest district by area 10 Kottayam Kottayam First fully literate district 11 Alappuzha Alappuzha Smallest district; Venice of the East 12 Pathanamthitta Pathanamthitta Headquarters of Pilgrim Tourism 13 Kollam Kollam Cashew Capital of the World 14 Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram State Capital; Southernmost district
Rivers of Kerala
River Length (km) Origin District Periyar 244 Sivagiri Hills Longest river of Kerala Bharathapuzha 209 Anamalai Hills Second longest; Nila River Pamba 176 Pulachimalai Sabarimala on its banks Chaliyar 169 Ilambaleri Hills Flows through Malappuram, Kozhikode Kabani 172 Wayanad Hills Tributary of Kaveri Muvattupuzha 121 Idukki Three tributaries merge Meenachil 78 Wagamon Flows through Kottayam Chandragiri 105 Karnataka Northernmost river of Kerala Neyyar 56 Agasthyamalai Southernmost major river
Important Fact Answer Total rivers in Kerala 44 (41 west-flowing, 3 east-flowing) East-flowing rivers Kabani, Bhavani, Pambar Longest river Periyar (244 km) Shortest major river Neyyar
Chief Ministers of Kerala
No. Name Party Period 1 E.M.S. Namboodiripad CPI 1957-1959 2 Pattom Thanu Pillai PSP 1960-1962 3 R. Sankar Congress 1962-1964 4 E.M.S. Namboodiripad CPI(M) 1967-1969 5 C. Achutha Menon CPI 1969-1977 6 K. Karunakaran Congress 1977 (Mar-Apr) 7 A.K. Antony Congress 1977-1978 8 C.H. Mohammed Koya Muslim League 1979-1980 9 E.K. Nayanar CPI(M) 1980-1981 10 K. Karunakaran Congress 1981-1987 11 E.K. Nayanar CPI(M) 1987-1991 12 K. Karunakaran Congress 1991-1995 13 A.K. Antony Congress 1995-1996 14 E.K. Nayanar CPI(M) 1996-2001 15 A.K. Antony Congress 2001-2004 16 Oommen Chandy Congress 2004-2006 17 V.S. Achuthanandan CPI(M) 2006-2011 18 Oommen Chandy Congress 2011-2016 19 Pinarayi Vijayan CPI(M) 2016-2021 20 Pinarayi Vijayan CPI(M) 2021-present
Key CM Facts Answer First CM E.M.S. Namboodiripad First woman CM None yet Longest serving CM Pinarayi Vijayan (2016-present, longest continuous tenure) Youngest CM A.K. Antony
Firsts in Kerala
First Name/Detail First state in India to achieve 100% literacy Kerala (declared 1991, Ernakulam first district 1990) First fully literate district in India Ernakulam (1990) First newspaper in Malayalam Rajyasamacharam (1847, Herman Gundert) First Malayalam novel Kundalatha (Appu Nedungadi, 1887) First Malayalam movie Vigathakumaran (1928, J.C. Daniel) First talkie in Malayalam Balan (1938) First Chief Minister E.M.S. Namboodiripad First Governor Burgula Ramakrishna Rao First Speaker Sankunni Menon First Jnanpith winner from Kerala G. Sankara Kurup (1965) First municipality in Kerala Fort Kochi (1664) First railway line in Kerala Shoranur-Beypore (1861) First printing press in Kerala Kottayam (CMS Press, 1821) First dam in Kerala Mullaperiyar Dam (1895) First university in Kerala University of Kerala (1937) First IT Park Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram (1990) First Cyber Park Kozhikode First woman DGP in India R. Sreelekha (Kerala)
Governors of Kerala
Key Facts Answer First Governor Burgula Ramakrishna Rao Current Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar (since 2024) Appointed by President of India Role Constitutional head of state
Art Form Type Key Facts Kathakali Classical Dance-Drama Male performers; elaborate costumes; stories from Ramayana/Mahabharata Mohiniyattam Classical Dance Female solo dance; Lasya style; white and gold costume Koodiyattam Sanskrit Drama UNESCO Intangible Heritage (2001); oldest surviving theatre Theyyam Ritual Dance North Kerala (Kannur, Kasaragod); worship of heroes/gods Ottamthullal Dance with Satire Created by Kunjan Nambiar; common man’s art form Thiruvathirakali Group Dance Women; performed during Thiruvathira festival Margamkali Folk Dance Syrian Christians; performed at weddings Oppana Folk Dance Malabar Muslims; wedding dance Kalaripayattu Martial Art Oldest martial art; originated in Kerala Chavittunatakam Drama Latin Christians; stamping dance drama Padayani Ritual Art Pathanamthitta; temple festival Pulikali Folk Art Thrissur; tiger dance during Onam Kolkali Folk Dance Stick dance; Malabar region
Festivals of Kerala
Festival Month Key Fact Onam Aug-Sep (Chingam) State festival; Mahabali legend; Pookalam Vishu April (Medam 1) Malayalam New Year; Vishukkani Thrissur Pooram April-May Vadakkunnathan Temple; fireworks; umbrella display Aranmula Boat Race Aug-Sep Snake boat race; Palliyodam Nehru Trophy Boat Race Aug (2nd Saturday) Punnamada Lake, Alappuzha Attukal Pongala Feb-Mar Largest gathering of women (Guinness Record) Theyyam season Oct-May North Kerala ritual performances Makaravilakku January Sabarimala; Makara Jyothi
National Parks and Wildlife
National Park District Key Species Eravikulam NP Idukki Nilgiri Tahr (endangered) Silent Valley NP Palakkad Lion-tailed Macaque Periyar NP (Tiger Reserve) Idukki Tigers, elephants Anamudi Shola NP Idukki Highest peak Anamudi nearby Mathikettan Shola NP Idukki Rare flora Pambadum Shola NP Idukki Smallest NP in Kerala
Wildlife Sanctuary District Wayanad WLS Wayanad Chinnar WLS Idukki Parambikulam Tiger Reserve Palakkad Peechi-Vazhani WLS Thrissur Neyyar WLS Thiruvananthapuram Shendurney WLS Kollam Aralam WLS Kannur Idukki WLS Idukki
Dams and Backwaters
Dam District River Mullaperiyar Dam Idukki Periyar Idukki Arch Dam Idukki Periyar (tallest arch dam in Asia) Malampuzha Dam Palakkad Malampuzha River Banasura Sagar Dam Wayanad Kabani (largest earth dam in India) Peringalkuthu Dam Thrissur Chalakudy River Neyyar Dam Thiruvananthapuram Neyyar River
Backwater/Lake District Vembanad Lake Kottayam/Alappuzha (largest lake in Kerala) Ashtamudi Lake Kollam (Gateway of backwaters) Sasthamcotta Lake Kollam (largest freshwater lake) Pookode Lake Wayanad Mananchira Lake Kozhikode
Jnanpith Award Winners from Kerala
Year Winner Known For 1965 G. Sankara Kurup First Jnanpith winner from Kerala; poet (“Odakkuzhal”) 1980 S.K. Pottekkatt Novelist and travel writer 1984 Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai Novelist (“Chemmeen”, “Kayar”) 1995 M.T. Vasudevan Nair Novelist and screenwriter (“Randamoozham”) 2007 O.N.V. Kurup Poet and lyricist
Important Personalities from Kerala
Person Known For Sree Narayana Guru Social reformer; “One caste, one religion, one God” Ayyankali Dalit rights leader; first Dalit to drive bullock cart on public road Chattampi Swamikal Social reformer; contemporary of Sree Narayana Guru V.T. Bhattathiripad Anti-Namboothiri social reformer Kumaranasan Poet; “Veena Poovu” Vallathol Narayana Menon Poet; revived Kathakali; Kerala Kalamandalam founder Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer Poet; part of “Triumvirate of poets” Dr. Palpu Social reformer; Ezhava Memorial Vakkom Moulavi Muslim reformer; started Al-Islam newspaper Thycaud Ayya Spiritual teacher of Sree Narayana Guru Herman Gundert German missionary; first Malayalam dictionary and grammar Ezhuthachan (Thunchaththu) Father of Malayalam language
Kerala Symbols and Miscellaneous
Item Answer Highest peak Anamudi (2,695 m) Longest National Highway in Kerala NH-66 (formerly NH-17) Major port Kochi (only major port) Minor ports Vizhinjam, Beypore, Azhikkal International airports Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Kannur First Greenfield airport Kochi (CIAL) Spice Garden of India Idukki Land of Elephants Wayanad Backwater capital Alappuzha Only major port in Kerala Kochi (Cochin Port) KSRTC headquarters Thiruvananthapuram Kerala State Planning Board Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seats from Kerala 20 Rajya Sabha seats from Kerala 9 Assembly seats 140 Languages spoken Malayalam (official), English, Tamil, Kannada, Tulu
Quick Numbers to Memorise
Fact Number Districts 14 Taluks 77 Revenue divisions 21 Lok Sabha constituencies 20 Assembly constituencies 140 Rivers 44 National Parks 6 Wildlife Sanctuaries 17 Backwater length ~1,500 km Coastline 580 km Highest point 2,695 m (Anamudi) Literacy (2011) 93.91%
Tip: In LGS exams, 3-5 questions are directly from Kerala geography and district facts. Memorise the district table and river table thoroughly.
