GS PAPER I NEWS
Abhidhamma day
Why in News
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- Union Ministry of Culture, International Buddhist Confederation, in collaboration with Government of Uttar Pradesh is organizing Abhidhamma Day at Kushinagar, (Uttar Pradesh) on the auspicious occasion of Ashwin Purnima.
Key point
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- The Indian Prime Minister will attend the event in the presence of eminent Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, South Korea, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia and ambassadors from various countries.
- The day marks the three-month rainy season of shelter for Buddhist monks and sannyasins—varshavas or vassal shelters, during which the monks and sannyasins stay in the same place in the vihara or monastery and offer prayers to God.
- A Sri Lankan delegation consisting of 123 delegates including a 12-member Sacred Relic Team led by the current Mahanayaka of Vasakaduva Temple is participating in the event with sacred Buddhist relics.
- The delegation included the Anunayakas (Vice-Heads) of all the four nectars (orders) of Buddhism in Sri Lanka – namely Asgiriya, Amarapura, Ramanya, Malavatta, as well as five ministers from the Government of Sri Lanka led by Sri Namal Rajapaksa, the Union Minister of Sri Lanka. are also included.
History
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- The highlight of the event is the exhibition of the sacred Buddha relics being brought from the Vaskaduva Sri Subuddhi Rajvihara Temple, Sri Lanka by the megastar of the temple.
- In the year 1898, archaeologists of the Archaeological Survey of India excavated a large mound in Piprahwa, Siddharthnagar district (Uttar Pradesh) located in the property of British landowner William Claxton Peppe.
- This site is 160 kms from Kushinagar.
- In this excavation he found a large stone box, inside which were some coffins and on one of the coffins these words: ‘Iyangsalilanidhane Buddhasbhagavthesakiansukithibathanam Bhaginiikathansasunadalata’ were inscribed.
- The Most Reverend Sri Subhuti Mahanayake Thero of Vaskaduva Temple in Sri Lanka was helping the archeology team in this work.
- Mr. Peppe translated the text as “This noble act of accumulating the relics of the Buddha was done by the brothers, sisters and children of the Shakyas.
- Thus these relics are accepted as genuine relics (bone fragments, ashes, pieces of Buddha’s jewellery). A part of the Buddha relics recovered from this stupa was sent to the King of Thailand and the other to the King of Burma.
- Mr. W.C. Peppe had handed over another part of these relics to His Highness Sri Subhuti Mahanayake Thero as a token of gratitude.
- Part of the same remains is contained in three small, lotus, encased in a crystal ball. These are fixed on a wooden stand of 30 by 26.5 cm, which is being brought to Kushi Nagar for public display.
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will worship these holy relics and will also visit Mahaparinirvana Temple to offer flowers and sewers on the reclining statue of Gautam Buddha.
- Kushinagar in the state of Uttar Pradesh is an ancient city, which is the final resting place of Gautam Buddha, where Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana after his death.
About the program
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- It has been an important pilgrimage center for Buddhists since ancient times. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Kushinagar International Airport on the same day, a significant milestone for the pilgrimage linking holy sites for Buddhists across the world.
- The Prime Minister will also give sivar dana (monk’s clothing) to the monks from Sri Lanka and other countries attending the event. The meaning of Sivar is “the robe of a monk.”
- The three-month long Varshavas period is observed by monks and ascetics residing in the monastery as shelter during the rainy season. It is time to show gratitude to the Sangh.
- Buddhists bring donations to temples, especially in the form of new clothes for monks and ascetics.
- The gift of Athapirikara (known as Atapirikara in Sri Lanka)—that is, the eight essential items—are only a part of the Prasad. However, Sewar Dana can be given on other occasions as well.
Background:
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- The Prime Minister has donated sivar and sangha on several occasions in India and abroad. The Prime Minister gave cedars and sanghadans to the Mahabodhi Society Sri Lanka Temple in Colombo in 2014 and the holy Mahabodhi Temple at Gaya in 2015 to senior monks from different countries and to senior monks and sannyasins from different countries on the occasion of Vesak Buddha Purnima Day in New Delhi in 2018. Huh.
- Paintings of Ajanta frescoes, Buddhist Sutra calligraphy and Buddhist artefacts excavated from Vadnagar and other sites in Gujarat will also be displayed on the occasion.
- The Prime Minister of Aurangabad Late Shri M.R. Pimpre will also visit an exhibition of recreations of Ajanta cave frescoes over a period of 40 years.
- The exhibition will also include calligraphy of Buddhist sutras by world renowned calligrapher from Sikkim, Mr. Jamyang Dorji.
- These valuable works of art are living testimony to India’s rich and diverse Buddhist art heritage.
- These works of Buddhist art and excavated artifacts from various sites in Gujarat show the various sources of the spread and origin of Buddhism in India, from where this art traveled and traveled from east to west and north.
GS PAPER II
World statistics day
Why in News
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- World Statistics Day is celebrated every year on 20 October.
Key point
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- World Statistics Day is a global collaborative effort, organized under the guidance of the United Nations Statistical Commission.
- This year the theme of 2021 is End Hunger, Achieve Food Security and Improved Nutrition and Promote Sustainable Agriculture.
- Permanent National Statistical Capability is of fundamental importance on this day.
- World Statistics Day is organized every five years under the United Nations Statistical Commission.
- The Global Campaign is coordinated by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic Affairs (UNSD).
- Statistics Day is all about interesting numbers and data that comes from industries and organizations.
- Importance
- World Statistics Day celebrates the process of collecting, analyzing and interpreting massive amounts of data to contribute to the betterment of society.
- Countries come together on this day to cooperate on statistical management and to devote more effort to the process of collecting data.
Statistics Day in India
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- Statistics Day is celebrated in India on 29 June every year.
- It is celebrated in honor of the remarkable contribution of the eminent Indian scientist and statistician PC Mahalanobis in the field of economic planning and statistical development.
- This day is celebrated at the national level.
- Statistics Day is celebrated throughout the country in the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, State Government, Indian Statistical Institute, University/Department etc. through conferences, debates, and quiz programmes, registration competition etc.
History
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- In the year 2010 by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, in view of the importance of statistics in society, 20 October was declared as the World Statistics Day.
- The first World Statistics Day was observed on 20 October 2010.
- National and regional statistical days are already being organized in more than 100 countries of the world.
GS PAPER III
Integrated Air Quality Warning System
Why in News
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- Recently, Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) has been launched on the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav week organized by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Key point
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- The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), an autonomous institute of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has developed a new Decision Support System (DSS) and enhanced the decision-making capability of the existing Air Quality Early Warning System. Dr Jitendra Singh said that this has led to capacity building for air quality management in Delhi-NCR region.
- The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas (CAQM, which was recently constituted by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change with the approval of both the Houses of Parliament) during the meeting held in January 2021 The need was raised and the same was requested from the Institutes of the Ministry (IITM and IMD). Recently, the Commission has reviewed the progress made by IITM and in-principle approved the current version of DSS for Air Quality Management in Delhi-NCR region.
- IITM, Pune has also developed a new website for DSS and the entire system has been made operational recently.
- DSS is an important contributor to Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav on behalf of Ministry of Earth Sciences and IITM and suggestions are invited on this issue.
- The website is designed to provide quantitative information about the following topics:
- Contribution of emissions from Delhi and 19 adjoining districts to the air quality in Delhi,
- Contribution of emissions from 8 different sectors in Delhi
- Contribution from biomass-burning activities in neighboring states to the decline in air quality in Delhi,
- Potential impact of actions taken on forecasting of air quality in Delhi. All this information will help in managing air quality in a timely manner.
- The website also has a feature whereby users can create their own emission reduction scenarios (from 20 different districts including Delhi) to check the likely projected improvement in air quality in Delhi for the next five days.
- This information will clearly highlight the most important emission sources responsible for the deterioration of air quality in Delhi and suggest possible solutions to improve it and can be used by policy makers.
- With a plethora of quantitative data, the Air Quality Warning System integrated with DSS can become a user-friendly tool for air quality management in and around Delhi.
GS PAPER III
Seer Water Supply Scheme Project
Why in News
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- Union Minister Shri Goyal inaugurated 250 mm water supply scheme.
Key point
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- This project will benefit about 10,000 people and it will be completed within three months under Jal Jeevan Mission.
- He appreciated the rapid pace of development works and commended the frontline workers for working towards realizing the Prime Minister’s dream of tap water for all households.
- The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal, as part of the Central Government’s Public Relations Program, concluded a two-day visit to Pahalgam today.
Other programs
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- The Union Minister also inaugurated Tourist Cottage of Pahalgam Development Authority at Golf Course, Pahalgam.
- Shri Goyal also inaugurated the deodar plantation drive of the Forest Department being run under the banner of Green J&K Campaign. A total of one lakh saplings will be planted under the campaign.
- Shri Goyal also visited Rahi Shawl Unit at Akad Park. He interacted with the local artisans and also inspected various handicrafts like Zari, Sojni, Tapestry etc.
- Shri Goyal appreciated the intricate work being done by the artisans. He said that the handicrafts of Kashmir tell a symbolic story and the government is committed to ensure that this story reaches all parts of the world.