BIMSTEC, Buddhism - GS questions based on daily current affairs

ANSWER: Only 2 and 3

Explanation:
Jataka Stories are non-canonical literature. They are birth stories.

ANSWER: Kushan Empire

Explanation:
No explanation is available for this question!

ANSWER: National Disaster Response Force

Explanation:
The First ‘BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017’ (BIMSTEC DMEx-2017) will be conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as the lead agency from October 10-13, 2017 in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

This Exercise will be a platform for sharing Best Practices on all aspects of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), strengthening regional response and coordination for Disaster Management among the BIMSTEC member countries.

Delegates from all seven nations of the ‘Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation’ (BIMSTEC) grouping, - namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, representatives from Embassies/High Commissions of BIMSTEC nations in Delhi, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and Senior Officers from the Nodal Ministries are participating in the event.

At the 17th BIMSTEC Senior Officials Meeting held in Kathmandu, Nepal on February 7, 2017, it was decided that India would organize the first annual Disaster Management Exercise for the region.

BIMSTEC DMEx-2017

• The main focus of the BIMSTEC DMEx-2017 will be on testing the region’s preparedness and resilience towards effective activation of inter-Governmental interaction/dialogue/agreements for immediate deployment of regional resources for disaster response.
• It will help create synergy and synchronize efforts to institutionalize regional cooperation among the member countries.
• The exercise will help strengthen the effective utilization of the Search & Rescue Teams for Disaster Relief & Emergency Response, including Emergency Rapid Assessment Teams and Management of mass casualties especially in situations involving breakdown of infrastructure and communication.
• At the end of the four-day Exercise, a publication will be brought out on the outcomes and recommendations of the Joint/Common Exercise and include Agreement among BIMSTEC Nations on regional cooperation for Disaster Management and Emergency Response.
• This would be presented to the BIMSTEC Leaders at the Summit to be hosted by Nepal in October/November, 2017.
• The BIMSTEC DMEx-2017 is being conducted in two phases in Delhi and NCR. The main exercise will comprise of Table Top Exercise (TTX), Field Training Exercise (FTX) and After Action Review (AAR) which is scheduled for October 10-13, 2017.

• India has been at the forefront of DRR efforts by hosting the South Asian Annual Disaster Management Exercise (SAADMEx).
• It also hosted Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR).
  India has also offered its expertise and capabilities in DRR such as the South Asia satellite, GSAT-9, and the Tsunami Early Warning Centre to other countries.
• Disaster Management was one of the important Agenda items the BIMSTEC leaders deliberated upon during the Goa BRICS Summit in October last year where BIMSTEC leaders were the Special Invitees.
• The BIMSTEC region is home to around 1.5 billion people, constituting around 22% of the global population with a combined GDP of US $2.7 trillion economy.
• Majority of the BIMSTEC countries are situated in the South Asian Region (SAR), prone to natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes, avalanches and drought.

ANSWER: BIMSTEC

Explanation:
India will host the first meeting of national security advisers (NSAs) of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) countries to coordinate action against terrorism, extremism and radicalisation.

It was offered by India at the BIMSTEC senior officials meeting held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

India’s offer comes as concerns about the growth of radicalisation of ethnic Rohingyas of Myanmar by Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in recent months.

This issue was part of the conversation between Indian leadership and NSA Ajit Doval and the Myanmar NSA U Thaung Tun, who visited India recently.

BIMSTEC: Know More

• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an international organisation involving a group of countries.
• These are in South Asia and South East Asia.
• These are: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal.
• BIMSTEC was initially founded in 1997

ANSWER: Atisa

Explanation:

• Atisa, a Buddhist teacher from Bengal lived in Tibet for more than ten years starting in 1038, preaching and translating scriptures.
• The pagoda for him in Bangladesh includes a pedestal, a tower and spire, will stand as tall as a three-storey building.
• He was one of the major figures in the spread of 11th-century Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism in Asia and inspired Buddhist thought from Tibet to Sumatra.
• Atisa's chief deciple Dromtön was the founder of the Kadam School.
• Atisa is also considered to be a key figure in the establishment of the Sarma schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

ANSWER: Telanagana

Explanation:
- Mahachaitya Stupa is also known as the Amravati stupa.
- The stupa was discovered by a British archaeologist, Colonel Colin Mackenzie in 1797.
- The stupa was earlier a simple structure with limestone crossbars and simple carvings, but when renovated by the Satavahana rulers, became a highly marked architectural monument.

ANSWER: Buddhism

Explanation:
Theravada is a branch of Buddhism

It uses the teaching of the Pali Canon, a collection of the oldest recorded Buddhist texts, as its doctrinal core

But also includes a rich diversity of traditions and practices that have developed over its long history of interactions with various cultures and communities.

ANSWER: Hinayan

Explanation:
As Buddhism travelled to new regions such as Sri Lanka, other texts such as the Dipavamsa (literally, the chronicle of the island) and Mahavamsa (the great chronicle) were written, containing regional histories of Buddhism.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
Originally 9 stupas were built. Eight of them over his relics and ashes. The 9th over the vessel in which the relics and ashes were originally deposited.

ANSWER: Triratnas

Explanation:
Chatras are 3 and represent triratnas of Buddhism – Buddha (enlightened), Dhamma (Doctrine) and Sangha (Order). They are umbrella shaped.