02 May 2026

 1. Preah Vihear Temple

Ø News:   Tensions have recently escalated between Thailand and Cambodia over the historic Preah Vihear Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Ø Location and Setting:

o The temple is situated in Preah Vihear Province in northern Cambodia.

o It stands atop a cliff along the Cambodia–Thailand border in the Dangrek Mountain range.

Ø Religious Significance: The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Ø Historical Background:

o It was constructed during the period of the Khmer Empire in the eleventh and twelfth centuries.

o The initial construction was undertaken by King Suryavarman I between 1002 and 1050.

o It was later expanded by Suryavarman II between 1113 and 1150.

o The temple remained in use by the ancient kings of Angkor for more than 800 years.

Ø  Religious Transformation:

o With the decline of Hinduism in the region, the temple gradually evolved into a Buddhist place of worship.

o As a result, it contains certain Buddhist artistic and architectural elements.

Ø   UNESCO Recognition: In July 2008, the Preah Vihear Temple was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

UPSC GS 2

2. Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0 Report

Ø News:   The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0 Report on National Panchayati Raj Day in 2026.

Ø  Introduction:

o The Panchayat Advancement Index was first introduced in 2025.

o Its initial baseline report was published for the financial year 2022–23.

Ø   Launching Authority:

o The index has been developed and implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Ø  Objective of the Index:

o The index is intended to promote evidence-based planning at the grassroots level.

o It supports performance monitoring and incentivisation of Panchayati Raj Institutions.

o It also assists in strengthening Gram Panchayat Development Plans and identifying best practices.

Ø Conceptual Framework:

o The index is based on the framework of Localization of Sustainable Development Goals.

o This framework consolidates the 17 global Sustainable Development Goals into 9 thematic areas relevant for Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Ø Key Aspects:

o The index evaluates Panchayats across nine themes, namely poverty, health, child welfare, water, environment, infrastructure, social justice, good governance, and women’s empowerment.

o Panchayats are grouped into five performance categories based on their scores.

o Achiever category includes those scoring 90 and above.

o Front Runner category includes those scoring between 75 and below 90.

o Performer category includes those scoring between 60 and below 75.

o Aspirant category includes those scoring between 40 and below 60.

o Beginner category includes those scoring below 40.

o The updated version has simplified the evaluation framework compared to the earlier version.

o Indicators have been reduced from 516 to 150.

o Data points have been reduced from 794 to 230.

o Additional improvements include a single integrated data entry form, real-time dashboards, and validation systems to enhance accuracy and usability.

o The exercise covered 33 States and Union Territories.

o West Bengal did not participate in the assessment.

o Delhi and Chandigarh were excluded due to the absence of Gram Panchayats.

o The index recorded a participation rate of 97.30 percent.

o A total of 2,59,867 Panchayats submitted validated data, indicating improvement over the previous version.

Ø Key Findings:

o Front Runner Category: A total of 3,635 Gram Panchayats were placed in the Front Runner category based on composite scores.

o  Largest Category: The Performer category accounted for 1,18,824 Panchayats, representing 45.72 percent of the total.

o Highest Performing State: Tripura emerged as the best-performing state. Nearly 80 percent of its Panchayats achieved Front Runner status.

o  Achiever Category Status: No Panchayat qualified under the Achiever category, which requires very high composite scores.

o  Maximum Participation: Uttar Pradesh recorded full participation. All 57,678 Panchayats in the state submitted their data.

UPSC GS 3

3.PaRRVA

Ø News:   The Securities and Exchange Board of India has made operational the Past Risk and Return Verification Agency to improve transparency in financial performance reporting.

Ø Nature and Purpose:

o PaRRVA is a regulatory mechanism aimed at standardising and verifying performance claims made by financial market intermediaries.

o It seeks to enhance transparency and credibility in the presentation of risk and return metrics.

Ø Implementing Authority:

o The initiative has been operationalised by the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Ø Designated Entities:

o CARE Ratings Limited has been recognised as the official PaRRVA.

o National Stock Exchange of India Limited will act as the PaRRVA Data Centre.

Ø Eligible Users:

o Investment advisers are permitted to use the platform.

o Research analysts can also utilise the system.

o Trading members are included among the eligible participants.

o Investors can access the platform to obtain verified performance data.

Ø Features:

o The system allows regulated entities, including investment advisers, research analysts, and algorithmic trading service providers, to present their verified performance records.

o Investors are provided with standardised and reliable data to support informed financial decision-making.

o Regulated entities are allowed to use PaRRVA-verified performance data in their advertisements.

o This usage must comply with SEBI’s regulatory norms.

o The framework ensures that all risk and return indicators shared with investors are independently verified.

o It also guarantees compliance with SEBI’s guidelines for transparency and accuracy.

4. Barbary Macaque

Ø News:   Scientists have reported that Barbary Macaque populations in Gibraltar are engaging in geophagy, or soil consumption, to offset the harmful effects of junk food provided by tourists.

Ø Classification and Distribution:

o Barbary macaques are one among 25 species of macaques found globally.

o They are the only macaque species that occurs outside Asia.

o They are also the only non-human primates found in both North Africa and Europe.

Ø Natural Range:

o Their native habitat lies in the Atlas Mountains across Algeria and Morocco.

o A small introduced population exists in Gibraltar, where they were brought from Morocco.

Ø Habitat Characteristics:

o They are typically found in high-altitude mountainous regions, rocky cliffs, and deep gorges.

o Their preferred habitat includes cedar forests.

Ø Broader Distribution Context:

o While macaques as a group are distributed across Africa, Asia, and Europe, Barbary macaques themselves are restricted to North Africa and Gibraltar.

Ø Physical and Behavioural Traits:

o These primates are highly adaptable and can survive in a range of environments, including fir forests, mixed oak forests, and rugged cliffs.

o They are primarily active during daytime hours.

Ø Unique Physical Feature:

o Barbary macaques do not have tails.

o Because of this feature, they are sometimes referred to as Barbary apes.

Ø Diet and Feeding:

o They are omnivorous animals, consuming a variety of plant and animal matter.

Ø Social Behaviour:

o The species exhibits alloparental care.

o Both adult males and females collectively take responsibility for caring for all young individuals in the group, not only their own offspring.

Ø Conservation Status: The Barbary macaque is classified as Endangered according to the IUCN Red List.

5.Mission SAKSHAM

Ø News:    The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India has launched a dedicated mission aimed at strengthening Urban Co-operative Banks across the country.

Ø  Definition:

o Mission SAKSHAM stands for Sahakari Bank Kshamta Nirman.

o It is a sector-wide capacity-building and certification framework designed for Urban Co-operative Banks.

Ø Nature of the Initiative:

o It is a mission-mode, nationwide training initiative covering the entire UCB sector.

o Under this initiative, the RBI will organise a large number of structured training programmes.

Ø Objective of the Mission:

o The mission seeks to improve managerial and operational efficiency within Urban Co-operative Banks.

o It focuses on strengthening compliance culture across institutions.

o It also aims to enhance institutional resilience and overall financial stability of the sector.

Ø Participant Coverage: The mission targets approximately 1.40 lakh individuals associated with the Urban Co-operative Banking sector across India.

Ø Target Groups:

o The initiative covers board members and senior management personnel.

o It includes heads of risk management, compliance, and audit functions.

o It also involves employees working in information technology and other critical operational areas.

Ø Delivery Model:

o The training will follow a blended approach combining in-person sessions and digital learning modules.

o Special emphasis is placed on accessibility through regional languages.

Ø Institutional Collaboration:

o The mission has been designed in collaboration with the Umbrella Organisation for Urban Co-operative Banks.

o It also involves State and National Federations associated with the sector.

Ø Core Focus Area: The initiative aims to strengthen compliance mechanisms and improve the financial health of cooperative banking institutions.

Ø Long-term Vision:

o The mission intends to create a sustainable and self-reinforcing ecosystem.

o It is focused on ensuring systemic stability along with the healthy growth and development of the Urban Co-operative Banking sector.

Facts for Prelims

6. India 5th Largest Military Spender Globally

Ø News:    In April 2026, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute confirmed that India ranked as the fifth-largest military spender globally.

Ø Report Details: The findings are presented in the SIPRI annual report 2026 titled “Trends in World Military Expenditure.”

Ø Key Finding – India’s Military Spending:

o India’s total military expenditure reached 92.1 billion US dollars.

o This reflects an increase of 8.9 percent compared to the previous year.

o India secured the position of the fifth-largest military spender in the world.

o It ranks after the United States, China, Russia, and Germany.

o China’s military spending rose by 7.4 percent to reach 336 billion US dollars.

o Pakistan’s expenditure increased by 11 percent, reaching 11.9 billion US dollars.

o Total global military expenditure reached 2,887 billion US dollars.

o The top three spending countries together accounted for 51 percent of this total.

o Europe recorded a 14 percent increase in military spending, reaching 864 billion US dollars.

o This rise was driven by ongoing conflicts and rearmament efforts within NATO countries.

o India’s arms imports declined by 4 percent.

o Despite this decline, India remained the second-largest arms importer globally, holding an 8.2% share.