- Adi Shankaracharya: The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister recently unveiled a 108-feet statue of Adi Shankaracharya, an 8th-century Vedic scholar and teacher, in Omkareshwar.
Adi Shankaracharya, or Shankara, as he was known, was an ancient Indian philosopher and theologian who lived in the early 8th century CE. He was born in Kalady, a village in present-day Kerala.
Philosophical Contributions: He is best known for his role in the development and propagation of Advaita Vedanta, a non-dualistic school of Hindu philosophy.His most important work is his efforts to synthesize the six sub-sects, known as ‘Shanmata.’ ‘Shanmata’, which literally translates to ‘six religions,’ is the worship of six supreme deities.
Shankaracharya explained the existence of one Supreme Being (Brahman) and that the six supreme deities are part of one divine power.He also founded ‘Dashanami Sampradaya,’ which talks about leading a monastic life.He established four prominent monastic centers in India, each associated with one of the cardinal directions: Sringeri in the south, Dwarka in the west, Puri in the east, and Badrinath in the north.His review of ‘Brahma Sutra’ is known as ‘Brahmasutrabhasya’, and it is the oldest surviving commentary on ‘Brahma Sutra’.
He wrote 23 books on the principles contained in the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, including Viveka Chudamani, AtmaBodha, Vakya Vritti, Upadesa Sahasri, etc.72 devotional hymns and meditational hymns like Soundarya Lahari, Nirvana Shatakam, Maneesha Panchakam.
- National Medical Commission (NMC): NMC is a statutory body established under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019.The NMC replaced the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI), which was established in 1934.NMC regulates medical education and medical professionals. The Commission grants recognition of medical qualifications, gives accreditation to medical schools, grants registration to medical practitioners, monitors medical practice and assesses the medical infrastructure in India. Headquarters: New Delhi
It consists of 33 members, including Chairman (medical professionals only), 10 ex-officio members and 22 part-ime members.
Medical Advisory Council: It provides the platform through which the states or UTs can put forth their views and concerns before the NMC and advises the NMC on measures to determine and maintain minimum standards of medical education.
- Asia Pacific Forum: It was founded in 1996.It has created a strong and united platform that brings together National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) from all corners of the Asia Pacific. It addresses some of the most serious human rights challenges in Asia Pacific region.
It has 17 full members and eight associate members.India has been a full time member since 1996.To be admitted as a full member, a National Human Rights Institution must fully comply with the minimum international standards set out in the Paris Principles.
National Human Rights Institutions that partially comply with the Paris Principles are granted associate membership.Decisions about the admission of new members to the APF are made by the Forum Council.A fundamental goal of the APF is to promote the establishment of independent NHRIs in the Asia Pacific region and to support our members to do their work as effectively as possible.
