Kerala Cabinet Approves Major Policy Changes Including PSC Age Limit Hike and Disaster Insurance
The Kerala state cabinet, in a significant meeting held on Tuesday, announced a series of far-reaching decisions aimed at enhancing public welfare and administrative efficiency. The most notable change involves a substantial increase in the upper age limit for applying to Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) examinations, providing greater opportunities for job seekers across the state.
Enhanced Age Limit for PSC Examinations
In a move that will benefit thousands of aspirants, the cabinet decided to raise the maximum age for applying to PSC exams by four years. For the general category, the age limit has been increased from 36 to 40 years. This relaxation will also apply proportionally to other categories that are eligible for age concessions, effectively extending their upper age limits by an additional four years as well. This decision is expected to open doors for many individuals who were previously excluded due to age restrictions.
Comprehensive Group Insurance Scheme for Houses
The cabinet granted in-principle approval for a comprehensive group insurance scheme designed to provide robust financial protection to houses damaged by natural disasters. This innovative scheme will be implemented through the state insurance department, based on recommendations from a committee led by Planning Board member Ravi Raman and subsequent studies under the Rebuild Kerala Initiative.
The scheme will adopt a sophisticated climate-risk insurance framework that combines both parametric and indemnity models. Under the parametric insurance component, the state will receive immediate compensation if disaster indicators such as rainfall levels, flood measurements, or wind speeds exceed pre-determined thresholds in specified areas. This approach eliminates the need for individual damage assessments, ensuring swift payouts that can be used for relief and rehabilitation according to established standard operating procedures.
The policy period for this insurance scheme will span five years, with an estimated annual premium ranging between Rs 15 to 40 crore, depending on the specific coverage parameters. The indemnity insurance component will specifically cover 32.3 lakh Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, with compensation paid directly to house owners following thorough surveys and government verification processes that include geo-tagging technology.
Coverage per house under this scheme will extend up to Rs 10 lakh, encompassing not only structural damage to the house itself but also losses to household articles and provisions for rental assistance during rehabilitation periods. The premium for this coverage has been fixed at Rs 250 per house, amounting to an annual expenditure of Rs 80.75 crore.
The total annual expenditure for this comprehensive insurance program is estimated at approximately Rs 120.75 crore. This cost will be shared equally between the state's consolidated fund and the chief minister's distress relief fund. A detailed implementation framework will be developed in consultation with relevant departments and agencies to ensure smooth execution.
Approval of J.B. Koshy Commission Report
The cabinet approved in principle the report of the Justice J.B. Koshy Commission and decided to officially publish its findings. Additionally, the cabinet took decisions on 32 further recommendations from the commission. One significant decision involved the removal of what was deemed an unscientific condition restricting eligibility for Latin Catholic community certificates.
Previously, these certificates were only available to those who joined the faith before 1947 and their descendants. The cabinet determined that using 1947 as a criterion was arbitrary and unscientific, and therefore decided to eliminate this restriction entirely. Moving forward, certificates issued by concerned bishops will be treated as supporting documents, while caste or community certificates may be issued based on local inquiries conducted by village officers and subsequent verification by revenue authorities.
Naming Policy for Government Educational Institutions
In a notable policy shift, the cabinet decided that no future government-owned educational institutions will be given names based on religious affiliations. This decision reflects a commitment to maintaining secular principles in public education.
Furthermore, the cabinet approved the establishment of sub-centres offering free coaching for competitive examinations in specific regions of the state. These centres will provide preparation support for examinations conducted by agencies including the Kerala PSC, Union PSC, Railway Recruitment Board, and Banking Service Commission, as well as entrance examinations for various academic courses.
These coaching centres will be strategically located in migrant farmer-dominated hilly regions of Kannur, Idukki, and eastern Kottayam, as well as in coastal regions of Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram with significant fisherfolk populations. This initiative aims to provide educational support to communities that may face geographical or economic barriers to accessing such resources.
Additionally, the cabinet decided to open an office of the Converted Christians Corporation in Kannur district and to restore e-grant scholarships to students admitted on merit in community quota seats, ensuring continued support for educational advancement across diverse communities in Kerala.
