Kerala Cabinet Bars Religious Names for Future Govt Educational Institutions

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Cabinet has decided that no government-owned educational institution established in the future will be given a religious name. The Cabinet also resolved to expand free coaching facilities for competitive examinations conducted by agencies such as the Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC), Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), along with entrance examinations for various professional courses.

New sub-centres will be set up in the hilly regions of Kannur and Idukki, where a large number of migrant farmers reside, the eastern parts of Kottayam district, coastal areas of Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram, home to sizeable fishing communities.

The Converted Christian Corporation will open a new office in Kannur district. The Cabinet also decided to restore e-grant scholarships for students admitted on merit under community quota seats.

Following the increase in welfare pensions from Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,000, government grants to orphanages and boarding schools have been proportionately raised from Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,375. An order will be issued clarifying that caste-based stipends and lump-sum grants listed under the OEC category are not to be treated as scholarships.

Other Key Cabinet Decisions

Health Sector

Twenty-nine supernumerary Head Nurse posts will be created at Government Medical College Kannur as a vanishing category until retirement, ensuring promotion opportunities for eligible nurses.

Education

Three HSST (Junior) and three HSST posts currently on daily wages at Don Bosco Speech & Hearing Higher Secondary School, Kannur, will be regularised from the 2026–27 academic year. The management has been permitted to make permanent appointments.

The Higher Secondary section of Cherkala Marthoma School for Deaf has been granted aided status from 2026–27, considering it is the only higher secondary school for deaf in Kasaragod district. Permission has been granted to create three HSST (Junior) and three HSST posts and make permanent appointments.

Administration

Sixty-eight new posts will be created in the Kerala State Audit Department to operationalise 12 new concurrent audit offices.

A new Animal Husbandry Training Centre has been established at Nileswaram, with staff redeployed from Kasaragod RAHC.

Employees of Bekal Resorts Development Corporation Limited will receive the benefits of the 11th salary revision.

Appointments

Ranjit Raja R. has been appointed Managing Director of the State Farming Corporation of Kerala Limited.

Sunil Devassi has been appointed Managing Director of the Kerala State Oil Palm Development Corporation.

Noushad P. M. has been appointed Managing Director of Oil Palm India Limited.

Beena Lalitha will be appointed Managing Director of Kerala Land Development Corporation Limited.

The Cabinet decided to recommend to the Governor the appointment of I. Shihabudheen as a member of the Kerala Public Service Commission.

Agriculture Relief

A one-time settlement of Rs 5 crore has been sanctioned to compensate cardamom farmers in Idukki district for crop losses, relaxing the guidelines of the Idukki Package. The funds will be released immediately to the Agriculture Department.

Infrastructure

The Cabinet approved a tender worth Rs 2.46 crore for the urgent construction of a protection wall between Jussa Road and Lana Road in Shanghumukham, under the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation area.