Prelim Bits 20-05-2019

SIMBEX

• SIMBEX is the annual Maritime Bilateral Exercise between India and Singapore, being held since 1993. 
• Over the years SIMBEX has stood the test of time in demonstrating the nation’s commitment to enhance maritime cooperation between the two navies and bolster bonds of friendship between the two countries. 
• SIMBEX would extend the bridges of friendship through enhanced cultural, economic and maritime interactions with countries of east and south-east asia.

NeVA Project

• National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) is a Mission Mode Project (MMP) comes under the Digital India Programme.
• Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) is the ‘Nodal Ministry’ for its implementation in all the 31 States/UTs with Legislatures.
• The funding for e-Vidhan is provided by the MoPA and technical support by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MietY).
• The funding of NeVA is through Central Sponsored Schemee. 60:40; and 90:10 for North East & hilly States and 100% for UTs.
• The project aims to bring all the legislatures of the country together, in one platform thereby creating a massive data depository without having the complexity of multiple applications.

e-Assembly

• Paperless Assembly or e-Assembly is a concept involving of electronic means to facilitate the work of Assembly.
• It enables automation of entire law-making process, tracking of decisions and documents, sharing of information.
• Through the cloud technology (Meghraj), data deployed can be accessed anywhere at any time.
• Himachal Pradesh is the first Digital Legislature of the country.

Pakke Tiger Reserve

• Pakke Tiger Reserve, also known as Pakhui Tiger Reserve, is a Project Tiger reserve in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India. .
• This Tiger Reserve has won India Biodiversity Award 2016 in the category of 'Conservation of threatened species' for its Hornbill Nest Adoption Program.

Convention on Biological Diversity

• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the international legal instrument for "the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources".
• The CBD has been ratified by 196 nations, since its entry into force, the CBD has been implemented through the vision and leadership displayed by countries, non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations, indigenous peoples and local communities, the scientific community and individuals alike.
• As a party to the CBD, India strives to meet and honor its international obligations and commitments under the convention.

India Bio-Diversity Award

• In 2012, the Government of India, in partnership with UNDP India, initiated the India Biodiversity Awards to recognize and honor outstanding models of biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and governance at the grassroots level.
• India Biodiversity Awards recognizes the work of local communities committed towards biodiversity conservation in the areas of:

1. Conservation of Wild and Domesticated Species 

2. Sustainable Use of Biological Resources

3. Replicable Mechanisms for Access and Benefit Sharing

4. Best Biodiversity Management Committees

Buddha Purnima

• Buddha's Purnima is traditionally celebrated in most of East Asia to commemorate the birth of the Gautama Buddha.
• It is also celebrated in South and Southeast Asia as Vesak which also acknowledges the enlightenment and death of the Buddha.
• According to the Theravada Tripitaka scriptures Buddha was born c. 563/480 BCE in Lumbini in modern-day Nepal, and raised in the Shakya capital of Kapilvastu, in the present day Tilaurakot, Nepal.
• He attained enlightenment (nirvana) underneath a Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya (modern day India).
• He delivered his first sermon at Sarnath, India and at the age of eighty, he died at Kushinagar, India.
• The exact date of Buddha's birthday is based on the Asian lunisolar calendars.

Source: PIB, the Hindu, New Indian Express