UPSC/SSC GENERAL STUDIES - KERELA

Ø  Kerala is the state with the lowest positive population growth rate in India (3.44%) and has a density of 860 people per km². The state has the highest Human Development Index (HDI) (0.790) in the country according to theHuman Development Report 2011.^[3] It also has the highest literacy rate 93.91%, the highest life expectancy (almost 77 years) and the highest sex ratio (as defined by number of women per 1000 men: 1,084 women per 1000 men) among all Indian states. A survey in 2005 by Transparency International ranked it as the least corrupt state in the country.

Ø  Asia's largest and World's third largest Naval Academy-Ezhimala Naval Academy-at Kannur is in Kerala. Idukki arch dam-World's second and Asia's first arch dam is in Kerala.

Ø  Kerala's ecotourism destinations include 12 wildlife sanctuaries and two national parks: Periyar Tiger Reserve, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Eravikulam National Park, and Silent Valley National Park are the most popular among them.

Ø  Kerala is home to a number of performance arts. These include five classical dance forms: Kathakali, Mohiniyattam,Koodiyattom, Thullal and Krishnanattam, originated and developed in the temple theatres during the classical period.

Ø  Onam (Malayalam: ഓണം) is a harvest festival celebrated by the people of Kerala.

Ø  Kerala was a major spice exporter from as early as 3000 BCE.

Ø  The Western Ghats form a wall of mountains interrupted only near Palakkad; hence also known Palghat, where the Palakkad Gap breaks through to provide access to the rest of India

^Ø    Anamudi or Anai Mudi^[ is located in the Indian state Kerala. It is the highest peak in the Western Ghats

Ø  Vembanad (Vembanad Kayal or Vembanad Kol) is the longest lake inIndia, and the largest lake in the state of Kerala. The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is conducted in a portion of the lake. The town of Alappuzha (also known as Allepey), sometimes called the "Venice of the East" for its large network of canals that meander through the town - is sandwiched between the lake and the Arabian sea. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is located on the east coast of the lake. Vembanad Kol Wetland was included in the list of wetlands of international importance, as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands.

Ø  Two of the world's Ramsar Convention listed wetlands—Lake Sasthamkotta and the Vembanad-Kol wetlands—are in Kerala, as well as 1455.4 km² of the vast Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Ø  Kerala's economy depends on emigrants working in foreign countries, mainly in theGulf states countries such as United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia), andremittances annually contribute more than a fifth of GSDP. In 2012, Kerala still received the highest remittances of all states: $11.3 billion, which was nearly 16% of the $71 billion remittances to the whole country.

Ø  Kerala produces 97% of the national output of black pepper and accounts for 85% of the area under natural rubber in the country.