19th October 2026

Explanation - Brihadeeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It is also known as Periya Kovil, RajaRajeswara Temple and Rajarajesvaram. It is one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Dravidian architecture during the Chola period. It was built by emperor Raja Raja Chola I and completed in 1010 AD. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Great Living Chola Temples”, with the other two being the Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavatesvara temple. Architecture — The temple stands amidst fortified walls that were probably added in the 16th century. ‘The vimanam (temple tower) is 216 ft (66 m) high and is the tallest in the world. The Kumbam (the apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is carved out of a single rock and weighs around 80 tons. The temple complex spans over 40 acres and is decorated with masses of sculptures and inscriptions that spotlight the era's devotion and craftsmanship. There is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock measuring about 16 ft (4.9 m) long and 13 ft (4.0 m) high at the entrance. The entire temple structure is made out of granite.

Explanation — Established in 1953, it functions as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture and plays a crucial role in recognising and promoting the diverse performing arts across India. The Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship is considered the highest national recognition bestowed upon artists and scholars in the fields of music, dance, and drama. Additionally, the Akademi maintains a unique archive comprising audio and video recordings, photographs, and films, serving as a valuable resource for research and documentation of the performing arts heritage.

Explanation - NSG was formed in the year 1984. Post-2008 Mumbai terror attacks, NIA came into existence with the enactment of the National Investigation Agency Act 2008.

Explanation - The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is an inter-governmental forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. It is a forum based on the recognition that there is close link between peace, security and stability in Asia and in the rest of the world. The key idea of the Conference is based on the priority of the indivisibility of security, joint initiative and mutually beneficial interaction of small and large states. The idea of convening the CICA was first proposed by Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev on 5 October 1992, at the 47th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Explanation - Recently, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a government resolution for establishing the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB).

FSIB is established in place of the Banks Board Bureau (BBB), to select the chiefs of public sector banks (PSBs) and insurance companies. The ACC also approved the appointment of Bhanu Pratap Sharma (former Chairman BBB), as initial Chairperson of FSlB for a 2-year term. The Delhi High Court had struck down the BBB's power to select directors of public sector (PSU) general insurance companies in 2021. The government started implementing the verdict by cancelling all appointments of then-serving BBB-selected directors. After the verdict, the selection of top officials of PSU insurance companies was put on hold.

The new framework was proposed by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance.