The 50th anniversary of establishment of Vishwa Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda) at Rajgir in Bihar was observed recently.
A pagoda is a type of stupa which provides equality for worship and gathering at one place for common cause.
It is one of the peace pagodas established around the world by Japanese Buddhist Monk NichidatsuFujii.
It is made of white marble and is the tallest peace Pagoda in the world standing tall at 400 meters.
It houses four statues of Lord Buddha on the four side-corners of the stupa depicting the 4 phases of life of Lord Buddha - birth, enlightenment, Teaching and Death.
LG of New UT
The State of Jammu and Kashmir ceased to exist in line with “The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019”.
The two Union Territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh came into existence following the August 5th decision of Parliament to bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir.
R K Mathur was sworn-in as the first LieutenantGovernor of UT of Ladakh and administered oath by Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
The powers a Governor has in the state they administer is equivalent to that of the President.
They can appoint Chief Ministers, Ministers, the State Election Commissioner and judges of the District Courts.
A Lieutenant Governor also has the same powersto ensure checks and balances for the state government and its functioning.
Union Territories - Andaman and Nicobar, Delhi and Puducherry, Ladakh have Lieutenant Governors.
In the case of Delhi, since portfolios like land, police and public order fall under the domain of the Centre, Lt. Governor holds more powers than a Governor.
Hygiea
Space scientists have discovered a new celestial body Hygiea using Very Large Telescope in Chile.
It might be the smallest such planet to exist in our solar system, sized at 430 kilometres (267 miles) in diameter.
According to the criteria which defines celestial bodies as dwarf planets instead of asteroids, is that it needs to have sufficient mass for the gravity to pull it into a shape of a sphere.
Lymphatic Filariasis
National Symposium on the theme ‘United to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis’ was organised recently by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Call to Action to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by 2021 was signed.
Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a painful and profoundly disfiguring disease.
It is caused by three species of thread-like nematode(roundworms) of the family Filariodidea.Wuchereriabancrofti is responsible for 90% of the cases.
Infection occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes.
It is one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases.
It impairs the lymphatic system and can lead to the abnormal enlargement of body parts, causing pain, severe disability and social stigma.
It can be eliminated by stopping the spread of infection through preventive chemotherapy with safe medicine combinations repeated annually.
Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) was organised by the WHO in 2000.
National Pension Scheme
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has now permitted Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) to enrol in National Pension Scheme (NPS) at par with Non-Resident Indians.
Now, any Indian citizen, resident or non-resident and OCIs are eligible to join NPS till the age of 65 years.
NPS was initially notified for central government employees joining service on or after 1st Jan 2004, adopted by State Governments.
It was extended to all citizens of Indian on voluntary basis from 2009 and to corporates in 2011 and to Non-Resident Indians in 2015.
PFRDA is the statutory Authority established by an enactment of the Parliament, to regulate, promote and ensure orderly growth of the National Pension System (NPS) and pension schemes.
