Kerala Politics & Governance

Kerala panel to draft proposed law on private hospital costs

1 October 2026

Kerala has formed a four-member committee, chaired by the Health Department’s Principal Secretary, to prepare a draft bill on private hospital treatment costs. It will examine charges for medicines, diagnostic tests, room rent and procedures, and consult hospitals and other stakeholders before making recommendations. The proposed legislation aims to improve affordability, transparency, treatment quality, patient safety and access to services.

Key Facts

• The proposed safeguards include disclosing estimated costs before treatment and itemising charges on bills.

₹4.25 crore approved for Sabarimala-season road safety in Pathanamthitta

1 October 2026

Administrative approval was granted for ₹4.25 crore in road-safety works across 16 projects in Pathanamthitta district ahead of the Sabarimala pilgrimage season. The projects include traffic-safety measures, crash barriers and safety provisions at accident-prone locations. Statewide, approval covers 60 Public Works Department projects totalling ₹13.1992 crore.

Key Facts

• The KRSA is Kerala’s statutory road-safety body, coordinating and implementing state programmes.

Kerala inaugurates dedicated department for senior citizens

1 October 2026

Kerala inaugurated a dedicated government department for senior citizens, described as operational on 1 October. Its stated purpose is to improve older people’s care and quality of life by coordinating health, care, legal and emergency services. Announced measures include a 24-hour helpline, district-level senior-citizen cells, caregiver training and proposed legislation for stronger legal protection.

Key Facts

• The department plans district-level senior-citizen cells and a state vulnerability register to help identify older people needing support.

High Court orders urgent checks on Sabarimala water-supply pump houses

1 October 2026

The Kerala High Court directed the state to urgently inspect the safety and structural condition of water-supply pump houses serving Sabarimala and to carry out necessary repairs and strengthening. The measures are intended to keep drinking-water supply functioning during the 2026–27 pilgrimage season. The order followed a report on booster stations at Neelimala and Appachimedu.

Key Facts

• The Kerala Water Authority is an autonomous state body responsible for developing and regulating water supply and wastewater services.

Kerala High Court orders safeguards for Sabarimala chief-priest selection

1 October 2026

The Kerala High Court appointed former judge V. G. Arunan as observer for the selection of the 2026–27 Sabarimala and Malikappuram chief priests. It ordered video-recording of interviews, marks to be entered in ballpoint pen and signed by the observer, and interview records and shortlists to be submitted by 15 October; the final draw is subject to the court’s review of reports.

Key Facts

• The Travancore Devaswom Board is an autonomous statutory body that manages temples including Sabarimala.

Kerala Human Rights Commission directs public-toilet accessibility improvements

1 October 2026

The Kerala State Human Rights Commission directed the Chief Secretary to ensure European-style toilet seats with grab bars in public toilets and repairs to facilities that are not working. It also called for accessibility needs to be considered when new public toilets are built, including those under local bodies, and requested an action-taken report within three months.

Key Facts

• Kerala’s State Human Rights Commission can investigate human-rights violations concerning matters in the State and Concurrent Lists.

Kerala upgrades final eight single-teacher centres to lower-primary schools

2 October 2026

Kerala held the state-level inauguration of the upgrade of its final eight single-teacher learning centres to government lower-primary schools at Melmuri in Malappuram. The centres are in Malappuram, Kasaragod, Idukki and Kannur; the Education Department said classrooms, head-teacher rooms and required teaching posts would be provided.

Key Facts

• Kerala’s Multi Grade Learning Centres were established to provide primary education to children in remote tribal, coastal and plantation areas.

Kerala renames IT Department to include AI and future technologies

3 October 2026

Kerala renamed its Electronics and Information Technology Department as the Department of Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Future Technologies. The government order followed a Cabinet decision on 30 September; the General Administration Department was assigned the required rule amendments.

Ultrasound services halted at Wayanad Government Medical College

3 October 2026

Ultrasound scanning stopped at Wayanad Government Medical College in Mananthavady after one radiologist was transferred and another went on leave. The hospital usually handled about 50 scans a day, including examinations for pregnant women and patients from tribal communities; officials said insured ...