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Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a Mayan city nearly 3,000 years old in northern Guatemala, with pyramids and monuments that point to its significance as an important ceremonial site, the Central American country’s culture ministry said Thursday.

The Mayan civilization arose around 2000 BC, reaching its height between 400 and 900 AD in what is present-day southern Mexico and Guatemala, as well as parts of Belize, El Salvador and Honduras.

The city named “Los Abuelos,” Spanish for “The Grandparents,” once stood some 21 kilometers (13 miles) from the important archaeological site of Uaxactun, in Guatemala’s northern Peten department, the ministry said in a statement.

It is dated to what is known as the “Middle Preclassic” period from about 800 to 500 BC, and is believed to have been “one of the most ancient and important ceremonial centers” of the Mayan civilization in the jungle area of Peten near the Mexican border, it added”The site presents remarkable architectural planning” with pyramids and monuments “sculpted with unique iconography from the region,” said the ministry.

The city takes its name from two human-like sculptures of an “ancestral couple” found at the site.

The figures, dated to between 500 and 300 BC, “could be linked to ancient ritual practices of ancestor worship,” said the ministry.

‘Unique canal system’

The city, which covers an area of about 16 square kilometers (six square miles) was discovered by Guatemalan and Slovak archaeologists in previously little-explored areas of the Uaxactun park.

Nearby, they also found a pyramid standing 33 meters (108 feet) high with murals from the Preclassic period and “a unique canal system,” according to the statement.

“The set of these three sites forms a previously unknown urban triangle… These findings allow us to rethink the understanding of the ceremonial and socio-political organization of pre-Hispanic Peten,” said the ministry.

In April, scientists discovered a 1,000-year-old altar from Mexico’s ancient Teotihuacan culture at Tikal, elsewhere in the Peten department.

That find was interpreted as proof of ties between the two pre-Hispanic cultures, which lived about 1,300 km apart.

Tikal, about 23 km from Uaxcatun, is the main archaeological site in Guatemala and one of its biggest tourist attractions.

Reflecting on his own experience in the 1970s, when the exam allowed only two attempts within the 21-24 age band, Subbarao said the system has now “gone too far” in the other direction. He also cautioned that too many attempts favour those who master exam techniques over those with genuine aptitude. “Any examination that allows as many as six chances is likely to privilege mastery of exam technique over inherent merit,” he wrote.

His second proposal is the introduction of a structured, annual Tier-2 recruitment channel for experienced professionals aged 40-42. Unlike current lateral entries, this route would function as a permanent part of the UPSC system.

“They can pursue other careers and take another shot at the exam mid-career,” he wrote, adding that such candidates would bring valuable external perspectives to governance. “Tier-2 recruits will make up for these lacunae and make the civil service collectively more relevant and useful, and maybe even more caring.”

Dr Subbarao emphasised that his proposals are not aimed at dismantling the existing entry route for younger candidates. “There is a lot to be said for continuing to recruit young people into the IAS. They bring in youthful spirit, raw enthusiasm, and unspoilt enterprise into administration.”

While acknowledging that the civil services examination has evolved significantly over the decades, the former RBI Governor said, “The civil service exam has vastly improved from the time I took it over 50 years ago. But there is still a need to push the envelope.”Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Dr Duvvuri Subbarao has called for major reforms in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE). He recommended significant changes, including an age cap, limits on the number of attempts, and the creation of a new entry channel for professionals in their 40s.

In his opinion piece in The Times of India, Dr Subbarao highlighted what he described as a “colossal waste of human potential” under the current system, where aspirants spend years preparing for a highly competitive exam with limited chances of success.

“For every successful candidate, there are at least 10 others who too have invested years in preparation but have failed to make the grade. They are back at square one. An abysmal waste of productive years?” he wrote.

Dr Subbarao proposed two key reforms. First, he advocated a reduction in both the maximum number of attempts and the upper age limit. Currently, aspirants can take the exam up to six times between the ages of 21 and 32. He suggested this should be limited to three attempts and the age cap reduced to 27.

“Lakhs compete for a thousand-odd positions, making the chance of success extremely small. Yet candidates keep at it till they exhaust all their allowed attempts, even as the odds are stacked against them. This is a colossal waste of human potential. It also pushes many candidates into deep financial and psychological turmoil,” he said.

He warned that the current framework leads aspirants to fall prey to the ‘sunk cost fallacy’. “After all, they are susceptible to the ‘sunk cost fallacy’-‘I’ve invested so much time, money and effort. All that will go waste if I give up now. Maybe I will succeed this time round.’”

According to official sources, complete blackouts will be enforced in identified vulnerable civilian areas across Punjab, except for essential services such as hospitals and emergency response units. Sirens will be sounded to alert residents, and mock response measures will be enacted to test how effectively communities and response agencies react under pressure.

Government officials highlighted that the previous nationwide exercise revealed several operational deficiencies, prompting the need for follow-up drills focussed specifically on high-risk zones.

This initiative underscores the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen civil defence mechanisms amid heightened regional security concerns.

The drills are expected to significantly improve inter-agency coordination, public awareness, and the ability of local systems to respond swiftly and efficiently in the event of any hostile act or natural disaster affecting the border regions.Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Dr Duvvuri Subbarao has called for major reforms in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE). He recommended significant changes, including an age cap, limits on the number of attempts, and the creation of a new entry channel for professionals in their 40s.

In his opinion piece in The Times of India, Dr Subbarao highlighted what he described as a “colossal waste of human potential” under the current system, where aspirants spend years preparing for a highly competitive exam with limited chances of success.

“For every successful candidate, there are at least 10 others who too have invested years in preparation but have failed to make the grade. They are back at square one. An abysmal waste of productive years?” he wrote.

Dr Subbarao proposed two key reforms. First, he advocated a reduction in both the maximum number of attempts and the upper age limit. Currently, aspirants can take the exam up to six times between the ages of 21 and 32. He suggested this should be limited to three attempts and the age cap reduced to 27.

“Lakhs compete for a thousand-odd positions, making the chance of success extremely small. Yet candidates keep at it till they exhaust all their allowed attempts, even as the odds are stacked against them. This is a colossal waste of human potential. It also pushes many candidates into deep financial and psychological turmoil,” he said.

He warned that the current framework leads aspirants to fall prey to the ‘sunk cost fallacy’. “After all, they are susceptible to the ‘sunk cost fallacy’-‘I’ve invested so much time, money and effort. All that will go waste if I give up now. Maybe I will succeed this time round.’”Reflecting on his own experience in the 1970s, when the exam allowed only two attempts within the 21-24 age band, Subbarao said the system has now “gone too far” in the other direction. He also cautioned that too many attempts favour those who master exam techniques over those with genuine aptitude. “Any examination that allows as many as six chances is likely to privilege mastery of exam technique over inherent merit,” he wrote.

His second proposal is the introduction of a structured, annual Tier-2 recruitment channel for experienced professionals aged 40-42. Unlike current lateral entries, this route would function as a permanent part of the UPSC system.

“They can pursue other careers and take another shoshot at the exam mid-career,” he wrote, adding that such candidates would bring valuable external perspectives to governance. “Tier-2 recruits will make up for these lacunae and make the civil service collectively more relevant and useful, and maybe even more caring.”

In a significant move to enhance national security preparedness, civil defense mock drills will be conducted on Saturday, under ‘Operation Shield’ across several states and Union Territories sharing borders with Pakistan.

The exercises are scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. and will be held in Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Chandigarh, focussing on regions closest to the border and most susceptible to cross-border threats.

Initially planned for May 29, the drills were rescheduled due to administrative reasons.

A government press release issued on May 29 confirmed the new date and emphasised the importance of this exercise in bolstering readiness and closing critical gaps identified during a similar nationwide drill conducted earlier this month on May 7.

‘Operation Shield’ is designed to simulate hostile situations, including air raid sirens, blackout protocols, and various emergency response actions to evaluate the preparedness of civil authorities, emergency services, and local populations.

The drills aim to replicate real-time scenarios that may arise from potential external threats, particularly in sensitive districts near the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB).According to official sources, complete blackouts will be enforced in identified vulnerable civilian areas across Punjab, except for essential services such as hospitals and emergency response units. Sirens will be sounded to alert residents, and mock response measures will be enacted to test how effectively communities and response agencies react under pressure.

Government officials highlighted that the previous nationwide exercise revealed several operational deficiencies, prompting the need for follow-up drills focussed specifically on high-risk zones.

This initiative underscores the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen civil defence mechanisms amid heightened regional security concerns.

The drills are expected to significantly improve inter-agency coordination, public awareness, and the ability of local systems to respond swiftly and efficiently in the event of any hostile act or natural disaster affecting the border regions.According to official sources, complete blackouts will be enforced in identified vulnerable civilian areas across Punjab, except for essential services such as hospitals and emergency response units. Sirens will be sounded to alert residents, and mock response measures will be enacted to test how effectively communities and response agencies react under pressure.

Government officials highlighted that the previous nationwide exercise revealed several operational deficiencies, prompting the need for follow-up drills focussed specifically on high-risk zones.

This initiative underscores the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen civil defence mechanisms amid heightened regional security concerns.

The drills are expected to significantly improve inter-agency coordination, public awareness, and the ability of local systems to respond swiftly and efficiently in the event of any hostile act or natural disaster affecting the border regions.According to official sources, complete blackouts will be enforced in identified vulnerable civilian areas across Punjab, except for essential services such as hospitals and emergency response units. Sirens will be sounded to alert residents, and mock response measures will be enacted to test how effectively communities and response agencies react under pressure.

Government officials highlighted that the previous nationwide exercise revealed several operational deficiencies, prompting the need for follow-up drills focussed specifically on high-risk zones.

This initiative underscores the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen civil defence mechanisms amid heightened regional security concerns.

The drills are expected to significantly improve inter-agency coordination, public awareness, and the ability of local systems to respond swiftly and efficiently in the event of any hostile act or natural disaster affecting the border regions.

Giving further details, Additional Chief Secretary, Haryana’s Home Department, Sumita Misra on Friday stated that the exercise aims to test existing emergency mechanisms, improve coordination between the civil administration, defence forces, and local communities and to identify areas that need to be strengthened, thus ensuring swift and effective response during any crisis.

She said that currently there are around 32,000 Civil Defence Volunteers across state who will also contribute in this exercise.

All Deputy Commissioners have been directed to call out Civil Defence Volunteers, NSS, NCC, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Home Guards, of their respective districts in order to brief them regarding their deployment, duties and exercises to be undertaken.

She further stated that, key components include drills responding to aerial threats such as air raids and swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), activation of air raid sirens, and testing of control room communication hotlines established with the Indian Air Force.

Additionally, a controlled blackout of 15 minutes will be observed from 8 pm to 8.15 pm near vital installations, with exception of essential emergency services such as hospitals, fire stations, and police stations.

Misra highlighted that the exercise also aligns with the Incident Response System (IRS), which Haryana officially notified on January 28, 2025, under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, providing a structured framework for effective emergency response.

She directed all Deputy Commissioners, who are also Chairpersons of District Disaster Management Authorities, along with Commissioners and Superintendents of Police, to ensure meticulous planning and execution of the exercise in their jurisdictions.

They have been instructed to submit detailed Action Taken Reports to the Commandant General, Home Guards, and Director, Civil Defence, Haryana, which will be compiled for state-level review and forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs.The Haryana government will conduct a major statewide Civil Defence Exercise, “Operation Shield”, on May 31, across all 22 districts to enhance the state’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities.

Scheduled to begin at 5 pm, this comprehensive drill is being organised under the guidance of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, to simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks, and other wartime scenarios in the light of current national security concerns, an official statement said here on Friday.

The mock exercises are scheduled for May 31 between 5 pm to 9 pm and should not be the cause of alarm for the citizens, officials said.

Earlier, this drill was scheduled for May 29 but was postponed as per the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, it said.

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