PIB Summary- 7th November, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

PM to lay foundation stone of dedicated walkways for ‘Palkhi’

Context: 

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of Palkhi Marg to facilitate the movement of devotees to Pandharpur.

About: 

• Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation for the four-laning of five parts of the Shri Sant Dnyaneshawar Maharaj Palkhi Marg (NH-965) from Dive Ghat to Mohol.
• This also comprises the laning of three sections of the Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg (NH-965G) from Patas to Tondale – Bondale.
• There will be four laned sections with dedicated walkways for two major ‘Palkhi Marg’’
  (i) 221 km of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg from Diveghat to Mohol
  (ii) 130 Km of Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg from Patas to Tondale – Bondale 

Sant Dnyaneshwar

• Sant Dnyaneshwar was a Marathi saint, poet, philosopher, and yogi of the Nath Vaishnava school who lived in the 13th century.
• Dnyaneshwar’s thoughts are based on the non-dualistic Advaita Vedanta philosophy.

Writings of Sant Dnyaneshwar

• Dnyaneshwari is a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita that served as the core of Maharashtra’s Bhakti philosophy. Sant Dnyaneshwar wrote Dnyaneshwari on the orders of his Guru Shri Nivruttinath.
•  He also wrote “Amritanubhava” (immortal experience), based on Upanishad philosophy, and “Haripath,” a hymn praising Hari (Vishnu).

Teachings of Sant Dnyaneshwar 

• Sant Dnyaneshwar emphasised teachings such as discovering spirituality within one’s soul.
• He prevented his followers from depending on texts and preached the belief in a single, formless God.
• He was adamantly opposed to caste boundaries and felt that the only road to God was via Bhakti.

Sant Tukaram

• Sant Tukaram is a 17th-century poet-saint who was a contemporary of Shivaji Maharaj, Eknath and Ramdas. 
• His poetry was dedicated to Vithoba or Vitthala, an incarnation of Vishnu, the Hindu God.
• He is well-known in Marathi for his Abangas (dohas). Abangas are a rich tradition of devotional poetry.
• Sant Tukaran emphasised community-based worship via spiritual melodies known as Kirtans.
• They were also crucial for laying the groundwork for Parmaratha. He promoted the virtues of piety, forgiveness, and inner tranquilly.

Vice President calls for promotion of agro-based industries

Context:

The Vice President addressed the 2nd Annual Convocation of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa in Bihar.

About: 

• Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President, addressed the second Annual Convocation of Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa in Bihar and provided significant inputs.
• The Vice President praised the University for its innovative ‘Sukhet Model,’
  (i) ‘Sukhet Model’ aims to establish a self-sufficient village by establishing a circular economy/bio-economy in the village.

Significant Inputs provided by Vice President

• There is a need to encourage agro-based industries in rural regions in order to provide jobs for rural youth. 
• Agriculture entrepreneurship may greatly improve the Indian economy by producing jobs in places where they are most needed.
• Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) can significantly assist small and marginal farmers with forward (processing, marketing, and export) and backward (input and extension services) food supply chain connections.
• Farmers’ income must be increased through a variety of means, including enhanced resource use efficiency.
• Increased use of technology in food management will be critical for ensuring universal food security.

NTPC celebrates its Raising Day completing 46 years

Context:

The Union Minister for Power, New and Renewable Energy, Shri R K Singh, congratulates NTPC on its Raising Day.

About NTPC:

• National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is India’s largest energy corporation, founded in 1975.
• In May 2010, NTPC was designated as a Maharatna PSU.
• The main aim of NTPC is to expedite India’s electricity development.
• It has moved away from using fossil fuels and into generating power using hydro, nuclear, and renewable energy sources.

VP inaugurates the 6th Dharma Dhamma International Conference at Nalanda University

Context:

The Vice President inaugurated the 6th Dharma Dhamma International Conference on Dharma Dhamma Traditions.

About Dharma-Dhamma Conference 

• Dharma – Dhamma Conference is an endeavour by India Foundation to revive the concept of dharma-dhamma traditions.
• The conference aims to make these traditions relevant in solving problems and developing policies for the state in the twenty-first century.
• In September 2012, the India Foundation’s Centre for Study of Religion and Society (CSRS) hosted the First International Conference on Dharma-Dhamma in Bhopal.

6th Dharma-Dhamma Conference 

• The 6th Dharma-Dhamma Conference was organised at Nalanda University in Bihar.
• Aim:– To bring together religious, political and thought leaders from Dharma-Dhamma traditions to ponder over building a philosophical framework for the emerging new world order.
• Theme of the 6th Dharma-Dhamma Conference:– “Dharma-Dhamma Traditions in building the Post-Covid World Order”.

Significance of the Dhamma-Dhamma Traditions

• For a peaceful existence, the Vice President emphasised the need of adhering to the Dharma-Dhamma traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. 
• The universal ideals of peaceful coexistence, collaboration, mutual care and sharing, nonviolence, friendliness, compassion, peace, truth, honesty, selflessness, and sacrifice have all been emphasised in dharmic ethical exhortations.
• The Dharma-Dhamma traditions can play an important role in moulding both individual lifestyles as well as politics and government.