Prelims Current Affairs includes Preah Vihear Temple, Panchayat Advancement Index (Pai) 2.0 Report, E-Praapti Portal, Sebi Parrva System Goes Live From May 4, 2026, Gaganyaan Programme Expands With Civilian Astronaut Selection Plan, India To Host 4th India-Africa Forum Summit, Goa To Host Saff Women’s Championship 2026, Women And Men In India 2025 Report, 800-Year-Old Bajnath Shiva Temple Faces Neglect, Asi Urged For Repairs, Kullu’s Three-Day Pipal Jatar Festival Begins, Spring Queen Pageant Dropped

CULTURE & HERITAGE

1. PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE

Current Context: Thailand and Cambodia are currently fighting over the centuries-old Preah Vihear Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.

ABOUT PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE

• Location:Preah Vihear Province, northern Cambodia, situated atop a cliff on Cambodia-Thailand border in Dangrek Mountain range
• Dedicated to:Lord Shiva
• Built during:Khmer Empire (11th and 12th centuries)
• Built by:King Suryavarman I (1002-50) and expanded by Suryavarman II (1113-50)
• Architecture:Outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture; composed of sanctuaries linked by pavements and staircases over 800-metre-long axis; features more than five successive gopuras
• UNESCO World Heritage Site:Designated in July 2008
• International Court of Justice Ruling (1960):Affirmed Cambodia’s ownership of the temple

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

2. PANCHAYAT ADVANCEMENT INDEX (PAI) 2.0 REPORT

Current Context: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Report for 2023-24 on National Panchayati Raj Day.

ABOUT PAI 2.0

• Type:India’s first comprehensive, data-driven framework to monitor, assess, and incentivize performance of over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats
• Evaluates:150 indicators and 230 data points across nine thematic areas (Localization of Sustainable Development Goals – LSDGs)
• Performance Categories:

• Key Findings:
  • National Participation:30% (2,59,867 Panchayats across 33 States/UTs) – up from 80.79% in version 1.0
  • Front Runner (Grade A):3,635 Gram Panchayats
  • Performer (Grade B):1,18,824 GPs (45.72% – largest segment)
  • Highest Performing State:Tripura (nearly 80% of its onboarded Panchayats in Front Runner grade)
  • Zero Achievers (A+):Nationally, zero GPs achieved Grade A+ (requires composite score of 90+)
  • Maximum Participation:Uttar Pradesh (all 57,678 GPs participated)
  • Non-Participants:West Bengal (only major state that did not on-board); Delhi and Chandigarh excluded (lack Gram Panchayats)

 POLITY & GOVERNANCE

3.      E-PRAAPTI PORTAL

Current Context: The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to launch E-PRAAPTI (EPF Aadhaar-Based Access Portal for Tracking Inoperative Accounts).

ABOUT E-PRAAPTI PORTAL

• Full Form:EPF Aadhaar-Based Access Portal for Tracking Inoperative Accounts
• Organization:Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)
• Purpose:Facilitate identification, tracking, UAN linking, and activation of old EPF accounts
• When PF Account Becomes Inactive:No new contributions for 36 consecutive months after leaving job, or PF record of old company not linked to active UAN
• UAN:12-digit unique number issued by EPFO to each employee (started in 2014)

ECONOMY

4. SEBI PARRVA SYSTEM GOES LIVE FROM MAY 4, 2026

Current Context: SEBI has operationalized the Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA), which will become fully functional from May 4, 2026.

ABOUT PARRVA

• PaRRVA Agency:CARE Ratings Limited
• PaRRVA Data Centre (PDC):National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE)
• Users:Investment advisers, research analysts, algorithmic trading service providers
• Purpose:Verify and standardize past performance claims; provide authenticated performance data

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

5. GAGANYAAN PROGRAMME EXPANDS WITH CIVILIAN ASTRONAUT SELECTION PLAN

Current Context: India expands its Gaganyaan programme as ISRO plans to include civilians in the next astronaut selection.

ABOUT THE EXPANSION

• First Batch (2020):Limited to Indian Air Force test pilots
• Second Batch (Proposed):Expected to include around 10 candidates – mix of military pilots and civilian experts from STEM fields
• First Astronaut Training:Underwent intensive training under Roscosmos (Russia) – zero-gravity simulations, survival training, spacecraft systems training
• ISRO Committee Formed:To design framework for 2nd batch (includes ISRO officials and members of current astronaut corps)
• Long-Term Vision:Gaganyaan mission → Indian space station → Manned Moon mission by 2040

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

6. INDIA TO HOST 4TH INDIA-AFRICA FORUM SUMMIT

Current Context: India will host the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV) in New Delhi, marking its return after a 10-year gap.

ABOUT THE SUMMIT

• Event:4th India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV)
• Venue:New Delhi
• Organized by:Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with African Union
• Significance:Renewed engagement with Africa after 10-year gap

SPORTS

7. GOA TO HOST SAFF WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP 2026

Current Context: Goa will host the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 for the first time, scheduled from May 25 to June 7, 2026.

ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP

• Dates:May 25 – June 7, 2026
• Venue:PJN Stadium, Fatorda
• Participating Nations (6):India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan
• Historic Note:First SAFF tournament in Goa since Men’s Championship in 1999

REPORT

8. WOMEN AND MEN IN INDIA 2025 REPORT

Current Context: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 27th edition of its report, ‘Women and Men in India 2025’, in Bhubaneswar.

ABOUT THE REPORT

• Edition:27th
• Institutionalized:1995
• Released by:Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
• Venue:Bhubaneswar
• Key Highlights:

• Persistent Gaps:
• Literacy gap: 14.4 percentage points between men and women
• Cervical cancer screening: Only 1.7% of women have undergone testing

HIMACHAL NEWS

9. 800-YEAR-OLD BAJNATH SHIVA TEMPLE FACES NEGLECT, ASI URGED FOR REPAIRS

Current Context: The historic Shiva Temple at Baijnath in Kangra district, one of the most famous shrines of Himachal Pradesh, is in poor condition due to lack of proper repairs and maintenance.

ABOUT THE TEMPLE

• Deity:Lord Shiva as Vaidyanath (Lord of Physicians)
• Built in:1204 AD (more than 800 years old)
• Built by:Merchant brothers Ahuka and Manyuka
• Controlled by:Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
• Architectural Features:
  • Sanctum (adyum): 8 sq ft inside, 18 sq ft outside – houses the sacred Shivling
  • Towering conical spire
  • Mandapa (pillared hall) with low pyramid-shaped roof
  • Four massive stone pillars hold up the roof, porch rests on four sturdy columns
• Legend: Ravana, king of Lanka, once worshipped Lord Shiva at Baijnath

HIMACHAL NEWS

10. KULLU’S THREE-DAY PIPAL JATAR FESTIVAL BEGINS, SPRING QUEEN PAGEANT DROPPED

Current Context: The three-day spring festival, locally known as Pipal Jatar, commenced with traditional religious ceremonies at Dhalpur in Kullu.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

• Location:Dhalpur, Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh
• Opened with:Rituals welcoming Gouhri Devta (deity stays in temporary camp temple at exhibition ground)
• Spring Queen Pageant:Cancelled due to absence of governing body and model code of conduct for municipal elections
• Cultural Programmes:Held at open-air Kala Kendra auditorium
• Performers:Thakur Dass Rathi, Kushal Verma, Gopal Sharma (known for hit ‘Ujhi ra Khapra’), Ramesh
• Trade Fair: Running until May 15, vendors from within and outside state offering clothing, utensils, footwear, handloom products, local delicacies
• History:Dating back to 15th century, known as ‘Rai ri Jaach’ (Fair of the King), historically more than 16 local deities participated; rulers of Kullu used occasion to hear public grievances

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