Kerala PSC 10th Level key terms

A 19th–20th century reform wave that challenged caste, untouchability and ritual exclusion, spreading through new schools, print, and mass movements such as those led by Sree Narayana Guru and Ayyankali.

Ezhava reformer and monk who taught 'one caste, one religion, one God', built temples open to all, and founded the SNDP Yogam, shaping Kerala's social reform and education movements.

Dalit leader who organised agricultural labourers, defied travel restrictions on public roads, and fought for school entry for Pulaya children, becoming a symbol of Kerala's anti-caste struggle.

A 1924–25 nonviolent agitation in Travancore demanding that all castes be allowed to use the road near Vaikom temple; it drew national leaders and became a landmark in the temple-entry movement.

The 1936 Travancore royal decree opening Hindu temples to all Hindus regardless of caste, a milestone of Kerala reform achieved under pressure from mass movements and political agitation.

The Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, founded in 1903 to promote education, social uplift and the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru among the Ezhava community and other backward groups.

An 1891 petition to the Maharaja of Travancore by educated Malayalis seeking fair representation in government service, an early example of organised political demand in Kerala.

An 1896 petition to the Travancore Maharaja asking that Ezhavas enjoy the same rights as other communities, including entry to government schools and government employment.

Kerala Day, observed on 1 November, marking the formation of the state in 1956 by merging Travancore-Cochin with Malabar and the Kasaragod region, following the States Reorganisation Act.

The campaign for a single Malayalam-speaking state uniting Travancore, Cochin and Malabar; it succeeded in 1956 when Kerala was formed under the States Reorganisation Act.

The northern coastal region of Kerala that was part of the Madras Presidency under British rule, later merged into Kerala in 1956; historically linked to the Malabar District and its port towns.

A traditional martial art of Kerala featuring strikes, kicks, grappling and weapon training, traditionally practised in kalaris (training halls) and considered one of the oldest surviving martial systems.

A classical Kerala dance-drama known for elaborate green make-up, large headgear, expressive hand gestures and percussion accompaniment, performing stories mainly from the epics.

A Sanskrit theatre form of Kerala recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, performed in temple theatres with stylised acting, chanting and mizhavu drum accompaniment.

A classical dance form of Kerala performed by women, marked by graceful swaying movements, white-and-gold costumes and Lasya (gentle) expression, often to Malayalam lyrics.

A ritual dance worship of northern Kerala in which performers embody deities and ancestors through elaborate costume and make-up, performed in kavus (sacred groves) between October and May.

Kerala's harvest festival, celebrated in the Malayalam month of Chingam, associated with the homecoming of King Mahabali and marked by pookkalam, sadya, boat races and Pulikali.

Traditional snake-boat racing in Kerala, most famous at the Nehru Trophy race on Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha, held during the Onam season with long chundan vallam boats.

A network of lagoons, lakes and canals parallel to Kerala's coast, including Vembanad Lake, used for transport, fishing and tourism; the Ashtamudi and Vembanad systems are the largest.

A mountain range running along western India, including Kerala's eastern border; a UNESCO biodiversity hotspot that creates the state's heavy monsoon rainfall and high ranges such as Anamudi.

The highest peak in Kerala and in the Western Ghats, located in Idukki district near Munnar at about 2,695 metres, lying within Eravikulam National Park.

The longest lake in India and the largest in Kerala, lying between Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts; it hosts the Nehru Trophy boat race and the Kumarakom bird sanctuary.

Seasonal reversal of winds bringing heavy rain; India receives the southwest monsoon from June to September and the northeast monsoon from October to December, the latter being vital for Kerala.

Basic rights guaranteed in Part III of the Indian Constitution, including equality, freedom of speech, life and personal liberty, and constitutional remedies, enforceable through courts.

Guidelines in Part IV of the Constitution directing the state towards social and economic welfare; they are not directly enforceable in courts but are fundamental in governance.

A formal order issued by a court; the Constitution empowers high courts and the Supreme Court to issue writs such as habeas corpus, mandamus, certiorari, prohibition and quo warranto.

The opening statement of the Indian Constitution declaring India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic and listing justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as its objectives.

The three-tier system of local self-government in rural India established by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, with gram panchayats, block panchayats and district panchayats.

A system dividing powers between a central government and states, as in India where the Seventh Schedule lists Union, State and Concurrent subjects with residual powers with the Union.

The principle that Parliament cannot amend the Constitution so as to destroy its essential features, established in the Kesavananda Bharati case of 1973 by the Supreme Court.

A mass movement launched by Gandhi in 1920 urging Indians to withdraw cooperation from British institutions; it was suspended in 1922 after the Chauri Chaura violence.

Gandhi's 1930 campaign of breaking unjust laws, beginning with the Dandi Salt March; it spread nationwide and led to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact and Round Table Conferences.

The 1942 mass movement demanding immediate British withdrawal, launched after Gandhi's 'Do or Die' call; the British arrested leaders and suppressed it, but it hastened independence.

The 1919 law allowing detention without trial, which provoked nationwide protests; Gandhi's call for a hartal against it led to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar.

The 1905 division of Bengal by Lord Curzon, which sparked the Swadeshi and Boycott movements and was annulled in 1911 after widespread protest.

Malayalam term for a historical narrative or legend, often used for traditional epic stories; in exam usage, it refers to the genre of historical accounts and puranic tales in Malayalam literature.

A Malayalam folk song genre in which a parrot is imagined as a messenger or narrator; famous examples include 'Irayimman Thampi's' lullabies and the parrot-song tradition in Kerala poetry.

In Malayalam grammar, the joining of two words with sound changes at the boundary; sandhi rules explain compound forms and are tested in language papers through splitting and combining words.

Compound formation in Malayalam where two or more words combine into one; types such as dvandva, tatpurusha and bahuvrihi are identified by analysing the relation between the parts.