Kerala Politics & Governance

Union Budget proposes rare-earth corridor including Kerala

1 February 2026

The Union Budget proposed a rare-earth corridor covering Kerala, Odisha and Tamil Nadu to support mining, processing, research and industrial production. The initiative is intended to promote domestic production of rare-earth materials and products used in sectors including electric vehicles, electronics and defence.

Kerala’s coastal mineral deposits offer potential for the initiative, while mining in densely populated coastal areas has raised concerns about shoreline erosion and effects on fishing communities.

Key Facts

• Rare-earth oxides and permanent magnets serve electric vehicles, defence and electronics; the corridor aims to develop these products domestically.
• India currently relies on imports from China for rare-earth permanent magnets, making domestic production central to the initiative’s significance.

Union Budget announces Coconut Promotion Scheme

1 February 2026

The Union Budget announced a Coconut Promotion Scheme to encourage coconut production and help Indian coconuts and coconut products reach global markets. The announcement is relevant to Kerala, a major coconut-producing state, but gives no specific state-level benefits or implementation details.

Key Facts

• The Coconut Promotion Scheme aims to take Indian coconuts and coconut products to global markets.

NCDC issues seasonal warning on amoebic meningoencephalitis in Kerala

1 February 2026

The National Centre for Disease Control issued Kerala a seasonal warning about possible increases in amoebic meningoencephalitis cases as warmer weather approaches. It advised people entering water bodies to prevent water from entering the nose, including by using nose plugs where appropriate.

The warning cited 170 cases and 42 deaths in Kerala during 2025.

Key Facts

• The National Centre for Disease Control operates under the Directorate General of Health Services in the Union health ministry.
• The amoeba can reach the brain when contaminated water enters the nose, supporting advice to prevent nasal water exposure.

Kerala announces 2026 SSLC examination schedule

1 February 2026

Kerala announced the 2026 SSLC examination schedule, with written examinations scheduled from 5 to 30 March. The IT examination was set for 2–13 February, followed by model examinations from 16 to 20 February.

Results were scheduled for 8 May, after tabulation from 7 to 25 April and a board meeting on 7 May.

Court suspends Antony Raju’s sentence, but conviction remains

2 February 2026

The Thiruvananthapuram District Sessions Court suspended the three-year sentence imposed on Antony Raju in the court-evidence tampering case while his appeal is pending. The magistrate court’s conviction remained in force, so his disqualification as a legislator continued; further arguments were scheduled for 6 February.

Key Facts

• Representation of the People Act, 1951 governs elections and membership qualifications; Section 8 provides for disqualification following conviction for specified offences.

Railway Minister cites Kerala allocation and project updates

2 February 2026

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Kerala had received ₹3,795 crore in the Railway Budget. He said land-acquisition steps for the Angamali–Sabarimala line were due to begin and that steps had started for the proposed 35-km Guruvayur–Thirunavaya line; ₹1,975 crore had been allocated for land acquisition.

Medical-college doctors boycott outpatient care and teaching

2 February 2026

Government medical-college doctors in Kerala began an indefinite boycott of outpatient services and teaching, seeking action on pay arrears, staffing, promotions and workplace conditions. Emergency departments, labour rooms, intensive-care units and post-mortem services were exempted; the doctors’ organisation also announced further phases of action.

ED questions former Devaswom Board officer in Sabarimala investigation

3 February 2026

The Enforcement Directorate questioned Murari Babu, a former administrative officer of the Devaswom Board, in a money-laundering investigation into alleged financial irregularities linked to gold-plating work at Sabarimala. The agency is examining whether the alleged proceeds were generated and where they may have been invested. Babu denied involvement, saying he had implemented decisions taken by the Board.

Key Facts

• The Enforcement Directorate enforces the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Foreign Exchange Management Act.

Kerala advances proposed RRTS first phase

3 February 2026

Kerala’s Transport Department issued an order concerning the proposed Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), with approval reported for its first phase from Thiruvananthapuram to Thrissur. Construction of the 284-kilometre phase is planned to begin in 2027 and finish in 2033. The proposed 583-kilometre system to Kasaragod has an estimated total cost of ₹1,92,780 crore.

Key Facts

• The ...