Kerala LPST Recruitment 2026: Lower Primary School Teacher (LPST) PSC rank holders in Kerala have been protesting outside the state Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram for 36 days, demanding appointments from the rank list published in May 2025.

The agitation, organised by the All Kerala Lower Primary School Teacher Rank Holders' Association, has entered its sixth week, with candidates urging the state government to begin appointments from the existing rank list without further delay.

The protest has intensified with an indefinite hunger strike. Association secretary Valarmathi S has been on hunger strike for the past 12 days, according to the protesters.

Kerala LPST Rank Holders Seek Immediate Appointments

The candidates are demanding that the government initiate appointments from the existing Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) rank list.

They are also seeking greater transparency in the reporting of teacher vacancies. According to the protesters, schools should promptly report vacant posts to the Kerala PSC so that eligible candidates on the rank list can be considered for appointment.

Among the key demands raised by the rank holders are:

• A teacher-student ratio of 1:25
• Filling head teacher vacancies through PSC recruitment
• Ending direct recruitment by aided school managements
• Filling eligible posts through the PSC
• Protection of teaching posts affected by a reduction in student divisions
• Extension of the current rank list if appointments continue to be delayed

The protesters argue that delays in reporting and filling vacancies are affecting candidates who have already cleared the recruitment examination and secured positions on the PSC rank list.

Candidates Face Anxiety Over Appointment Delay

The prolonged wait has also affected the mental well-being of several candidates who have been waiting for government appointments.

Ashwathy, a Palakkad native who secured a place on the rank list after clearing the PSC examination, said she had hoped to secure a government teaching job after completing her D.El.Ed course.

"I was also able to get a good rank. Then there was a waiting period for the appointment. Our list came in May 2025. Usually, the appointment must take place in one year. So, we were waiting with lots of hope and expectation," she said.

She said the continuing uncertainty has become a source of anxiety, particularly because people frequently ask her when she will receive an appointment.

"I often have thoughts of being left with no appointment and that scares me," she said.

Kerala PSC Recruitment Controversy

The LPST rank holders' agitation comes at a time when the Kerala PSC recruitment system is also facing a separate controversy over alleged irregularities in a recruitment examination.

The Kerala government has ordered an investigation into the allegations. A Special Investigation Team headed by Inspector General S Ajeetha Begum, along with the Crime Branch, is examining the matter.

However, the investigation has not addressed the immediate concern of the LPST rank holders, who are seeking appointments from the existing list.

Protest Continues Outside Kerala Secretariat

The LPST rank holders continue to gather outside the Kerala Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, demanding government intervention.

For candidates who cleared the PSC examination and secured places on the rank list, the issue is not merely about recruitment numbers but about the uncertainty surrounding their careers.

The protesters are therefore urging the government to provide clarity on vacancies, speed up the appointment process and ensure that the existing rank list is not rendered ineffective because of prolonged delays.

With the agitation now continuing for more than a month, the LPST rank holders are waiting for a concrete response from the Kerala government on their demand