Incumbents
- Governor: P. Sathasivam (served as Governor of Kerala from 2014 to 2019).
- Chief Minister: Oommen Chandy (Chief Minister from 2011 to 2016, leading the United Democratic Front‑led state government).
- Deputy Chief Minister: V. S. Sivakumar (held the position until its abolition in 2015).
Political Context
- The United Democratic Front (UDF) retained a majority in the Kerala Legislative Assembly following the 2011 elections; preparations for the next assembly election were underway throughout 2015, with major parties finalising candidate lists and campaign strategies.
- In June 2015, the Kerala government announced the “Kerala Model of Development” report, highlighting achievements in health, education, and social welfare indicators.
Key Events
| Month | Event |
|---|---|
| January | The state launched the Kerala Safe Drinking Water Project aimed at improving rural water supply infrastructure. |
| February | A severe water scarcity crisis affected parts of central Kerala, prompting emergency measures by the Water Resources Department. |
| March | The Kerala State Planning Board released its 2015–16 Economic Review, noting a modest growth rate of approximately 6 % in state GDP. |
| April | A high‑profile criminal case involving the murder of a schoolteacher in Kasaragod received extensive media coverage and led to a statewide protest by educators. |
| May | The Kochi-Mangalore Pipeline project received environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. |
| July | The Kerala High Court delivered a landmark judgment on the right to privacy in relation to biometric identification, influencing subsequent national debates. |
| August | The state marked the 150th anniversary of the Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to Kerala, with commemorative events across major cities. |
| September | The Government of Kerala announced the ‘Sukrutham’ scheme to provide free electric scooters to senior citizens in selected districts. |
| October | A major labour strike by workers in the coir industry in Alappuzha highlighted concerns over wage structures and labor welfare. |
| November | Kerala’s Kochi Port recorded a 7 % increase in cargo handling capacity, reinforcing its status as a key maritime hub on the Indian west coast. |
| December | The state celebrated the International Year of Light with science outreach programmes in schools and public institutions. |
Economy and Development
- Kerala’s tourism sector continued to grow, with an estimated 13 % increase in domestic tourist arrivals compared to 2014.
- The Kerala Fibre Board reported an expansion in the domestic textile market, driven by increased demand for traditional cotton fabrics.
- The agricultural sector faced challenges due to irregular monsoon patterns, prompting the Department of Agriculture to launch a “Rain‑water Harvesting” initiative for smallholder farmers.
Social and Cultural Highlights
- The Kerala State Film Awards for 2015 were announced in March, recognizing Malayalam cinema’s contributions with awards to films such as “Njan Prakashan” and “Kali”.
- In August, the Kerala International Book Fair attracted over 200 000 visitors, featuring authors from across the Indian subcontinent.
Notable Deaths
- M. K. K. Nair (Former IAS Officer, noted for his contributions to public administration) – 12 February 2015.
- R. K. Nair (Veteran Malayalam poet) – 5 May 2015.
- Dr. K. S. Radhakrishnan (Renowned cardiologist and former Director of the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute) – 23 October 2015.
References
- Government of Kerala, Department of Finance. Economic Review 2015–16.
- Kerala High Court Judgments, 2015.
- Kerala State Planning Board. Kerala Development Report 2015.
- Various reputable news outlets (The Hindu, Malayala Manorama, The New Indian Express) reporting on events listed above.
This summary reflects information documented in publicly available encyclopedic sources and reputable news publications up to the end of 2015.
