Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 02 February 2024 | Download PDF

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the formation of a high-power committee.
• Committee’s focus: Address challenges arising from “fast population growth and demographic changes.”

Key Points:

Mandate of the Committee

• Committee tasked with making comprehensive recommendations aligned with the goal of Viksit Bharat (developed India).

Lack of Reliable Data

• The committee’s announcement follows the indefinite postponement of the Census, leading to a lack of reliable data on population growth.
• Despite limited statistics, security concerns in border areas are being highlighted based on perceived demographic changes.

• ₹86,000 crore allocated for MGNREGS in the financial year 2024-25.
• Represents a ₹26,000 crore increase compared to the 2023-24 Budget estimates.
• Despite the increase, the net gain for the rural employment scheme may be zero or negative.

Insufficient Allocation:

• To meet the employment needs, activists argue that ₹3 lakh crore is essential.
• The allocated budget of ₹86,000 crore is significantly short, considering outstanding dues and additional work requirements.
• Raises concerns about jeopardizing the guaranteed right to work under MGNREGS and constitutes a violation of this fundamental entitlement.

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s interim Budget speech announces a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore.
• The funds will be available at minimal or nil interest rates.
• Aimed at encouraging private sector investment in research and development in sunrise sectors.

National Research Foundation Bill

• DST allocates ₹2,000 crore in 2024-25 towards the National Research Foundation.

About:

• The bill aims to establish the National Research Foundation (NRF) to seed, grow, and promote Research and Development (R&D) across India’s educational and research institutions.
• The bill aims to establish the National Research Foundation (NRF) to seed, grow, and promote Research and Development (R&D) across India’s educational and research institutions.

National Quantum Mission

• The National Quantum Mission, a much talked about scheme of the DST, has for the first time been provisioned ₹2,819 crore.

About:

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) on 19th April 2023.
• The Mission objectives include developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years in various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology.

• World Wetlands Day is observed annually on February 2 to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands and their conservation.
• This day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, an international treaty aimed at conserving and sustainably using wetlands around the world. 
• India is also the part of Ramsar Convention and is one of the most active players in the group.
• Recently, the number of wetlands in India grew from 75 to 80.

Theme:

The theme for World Wetlands Day changes each year to focus on different aspects of wetland conservation and management. Likewise, the theme of World Wetlands Day 2024 is ‘Wetlands and human wellbeing’.

• ₹2.55 lakh crore allocated for 2024-25, reflecting a 5.8% increase from the previous year’s ₹2.41 lakh crore.

Economic Corridor Programs

• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Centre will implement three major economic corridor programmes — energy, mineral, and cement corridor, also being referred to as Energy Economic Corridor; port connectivity corridor aka Rail Sagar; and high-traffic density corridors, aka Amrit Chaturbhuj.

Key Points:

• The National High-Speed Rail Corridor’s bullet train project receives a substantial increase in allocation, rising from ₹19,592 crore to ₹25,000 crore.
• Budget allocation for investment in public sector units and joint ventures decreased from ₹34,353 crore in 2023-24 to ₹31,107 crore in 2024-25.
• Overhauling 40,000 coaches over the next five years for an improved passenger experience, costing ₹15,200 crore.

Odisha Regional Specific News

• Odisha receives a substantial fund allocation of Rs 10,536 Crore in the Union Interim Budget 2024-25.
• The funds are designated under the proposed financial plans of ‘Viksit Bharat’ to support various railway projects in the state.

Key points:

• Odisha is actively engaged in the construction of approximately 473 kilometers of railway lines daily.
• The increased funds are expected to accelerate the pace of development projects in the state.

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlights the pivotal role of the eastern region (Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal) in achieving ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India).

Key points:

• The setting up of three new major railway economic corridors would benefit this region.The corridors include an energy, mineral and cement corridor, a port connectivity corridor and a high traffic density corridor.
• The corridors would be linked to multi-modal connectivity.

• There is a significant increase in migratory bird numbers in Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary, based on the latest bird census report from Similipal National Park (SNP).

Key points:

• As per the report, a total of 26,242 winged guests were counted during the census.
• During the census 13,342 migratory birds were found in seven ranges under Baripada Forest division.

About:

• Simlipal National Park is a national park and a tiger reserve in the Mayurbhanj district in the Indian state of Odisha. 
• It is part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve popularly known as Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, which includes three protected areas – Similipal Tiger Reserve (2750.00 km2), Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary (191.06 km2) and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary (272.75 km2)).
• Simlipal National Park derives its name from the abundance of semul (red silk cotton trees) that bloom here.

• PM Modi to launch power projects worth Rs 28,978 crore in Odisha February 3.

Key points:

• Modi is scheduled to dedicate the Darlipali Super Thermal Power Station (2×800 MW) and NSPCL Rourkela PP Expansion Project (1×250 MW) and lay the foundation stone of NTPC’s Talcher Thermal Power Project, (2×660 MW) during the visit.

• The ongoing excavation at Barabati fort complex in Cuttack has unravelled several architectural remains of a temple (Kalingan style of architecture), a palace, shreds of Chinese pottery and many more antiquities.

Key points:

• Aim: Trace maritime trade link between Odisha and South East Asian countries, focusing on material culture before the 12th-13th century.

Findings and Artifacts

• Shreds of Chinese porcelain pottery from the 14th century Ming dynasty.
• Pottery features paintings of Chinese pagodas, flowers, and trees in rich blue color.
• Temple fragments, including a large sculpted piece, a sandstone sculpture of a lion, and an elephant panel.
• Remains of a floor and pathway spanning the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries.

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