Contents:
- Buddha Purnima
- Exercise Cyber Suraksha – 2024
Buddha Purnima
Focus: GS I- History
Why in News?
The President of India greets the nation on the eve of Buddha Purnima.
Buddha Purnima: It is a celebration of Buddha’s birthday and, for some Buddhists, marks his enlightenment (when he discovered life’s meaning). Buddha Purnima is also known as Wesak (Vesak) or Buddha Day.
Vesak is celebrated once a year. This year, it falls on Thursday 23rd May.
About Gautama Buddha:
- He was born in Lumbini, near the Indo-Nepal border, as Siddhartha Gautama to a royal family in around 563 BCE.
- His ancestors belonged to the Sakya clan, which governed from Lumbini’s Kapilvastu.
- At the age of 29, Gautama left home and abandoned his affluent lifestyle in favour of asceticism, or intense self-discipline. Gautam gained Bodhi (enlightenment) under a pipal tree in Bodhgaya, Bihar, after 49 days of meditation.
- Buddha preached his first sermon in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, near Varanasi. Dharma Chakra Pravartana is the name given to this occurrence (turning of the wheel of law).
- He died at the age of 80 in 483 BCE at Kushinagara, Uttar Pradesh. The event is known as Mahaparinibban or Mahaparinirvana.
- He is believed to be the eighth of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu (Dashavatar).
Teachings of Buddha:
Buddhism was essentially a congregational religion and the reason for human misery is ignorance- a sort of cosmic ignorance which leads to the delusion of selfhood.
Four Noble Truths of Buddha:
- World is full of suffering;
- Desire causes suffering;
- When we get rid of Desire, suffering will be removed;
- Eightfold path will help to win over desire.
Eightfold Path consists of
- Right view,
- Right resolve,
- Right speech,
- Right conduct,
- Right livelihood,
- Right effort,
- Right mindfulness and
- Right concentration.
Condition of Human in their life depends upon their own deeds. Hence, he advocates law of Karma.
He laid great emphasis on the code of practical ethics and the principle of social equality.
Exercise Cyber Suraksha – 2024
Focus: GS III- Security Challenges
Why in News?
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan attended ‘Exercise Cyber Suraksha – 2024’, on May 22, 2024. The event underscored the importance of strengthening India’s cyber defence capabilities.
About Exercise Cyber Suraksha – 2024:
- It is a comprehensive cyber defence exercise being conducted by Defence Cyber Agency from 20 – 24 May 2024.
- Aim: To further develop Cyber Defence Capability of all Cyber security organisations and promote synergy amongst all stakeholders.
Significance:
- Enhancing collaboration and integration among participants from various military and prominent national organizations.
- The event reaffirms the commitment of the Indian Armed Forces to safeguarding national security in the increasingly important cyber domain.
Why does India need a cybersecurity strategy?
- As per American cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks’ 2021 report, Maharashtra was the most targeted State in India — facing 42% of all ransomware attacks.
- The report stated that India is among the more economically profitable regions for hacker groups and hence these hackers ask Indian firms to pay a ransom, usually using cryptocurrencies, in order to regain access to the data.
- One in four Indian organisations suffered a ransomware attack in 2021.
- Indian organisations witnessed a 218% increase in ransomware — higher than the global average of 21%.
- Software and services (26%), capital goods (14%) and the public sector (9%) were among the most targeted sectors.
- Increase in such attacks has brought to light the urgent need for strengthening India’s cybersecurity.
