Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 01 March 2024 | Download PDF

• India’s leopard population has increased to 13,874, with Madhya Pradesh leading the count at 3,907.
• Only three other States reported over 1,000 animals each — Maharashtra (1,985), Karnataka (1,879) and Tamil Nadu (1,070)

Key points:

• The Shivalik hills and the Gangetic plains recorded 3.4% yearly decline, while Central India and the Eastern Ghats, the Western Ghats and the hills of the northeast, and the Brahmaputra flood plains recorded growth of 1.5%, 1%, and 1.3% per annum respectively
• The decline in Uttarakhand’s big cat population by 22% is likely due to poaching and man-animal conflicts. 
• Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and West Bengal collectively saw a 150% rise to 349 animals.
• The survey focused on about 70% of the animals’ expected habitat, including tiger reserves and protected forest areas.

• The Union Cabinet approved ₹75,021-crore package for the ‘PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana’ (PM Free Electricity scheme) aimed at promoting rooftop solar (RTS) installations in India.

Key points:

• Under the scheme, households can receive a subsidy of up to Rs 78,000 per household, along with 300 units of free power. 
• The scheme, known as PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, offers a central financial assistance (CFA) of 60% of the system cost for 2 kW systems and 40% of the additional system cost for systems between 2 kW and 3 kW capacity, with the CFA capped at 3 kW.
• This initiative is expected to help households save on electricity bills and generate additional income by selling surplus power to DISCOMs.
• The scheme, running from 2023-24 to 2026-27, aims to achieve a target of one crore households. 
• Additionally, subsidies will be provided to resident welfare associations (RWAs) and group housing societies for solar-powered lighting. 
• Out of the targeted 45 GW solar capacity, 30 GW will be allocated for domestic housing requirements. 
• By 2025, rooftop solar panels will be installed in all government buildings.

• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has named a newly discovered sea slug, Melanochlamys droupadi, after President Droupadi Murmu.

Key points:

• This head-shield sea slug, characterized by a ruby red spot, was identified by researchers.
• Melanochlamys droupadi, a species found exclusively along the West Bengal and Odisha coasts, features a short, blunt, cylindrical body with a smooth dorsal surface, including two dorsal shields named the anterior cephalic and posterior shield.
• Melanochlamys droupadi is a small invertebrate, reaching a maximum length of 7 mm, with a brownish-black color and a ruby red spot at the hind end. 
• It is hermaphroditic and typically crawls in the intertidal zone, leaving crawl marks on sandy beaches. 
• The species reproduces between November and January.
• Although species of the Melanochlamys genus are primarily found in temperate regions of the Indo-Pacific Oceanic realm, three species, including Melanochlamys droupadi, are distributed in tropical regions. 
• According to the researchers, live Melanochlamys droupadi animals secrete transparent mucus to form a sheath that prevents sand grains from entering the parapodial space. 
• They crawl beneath smooth sand, creating a moving capsule where the body is rarely visible.

During the 37th African Union Summit, African leaders underscored the imperative for overhauling the global financial framework to more effectively address the unique challenges faced by African nations, particularly in relation to climate change and advancement.

Key points:

Launch of ‘Africa Club’:

• The establishment of the ‘Africa Club’, comprising African-owned and managed multilateral financial institutions, aimed at realigning financial operations with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063 of the AU.
• The objective includes introducing innovative financial tools and fostering collaboration to cater to the specific requirements of African countries.

Establishment of African Union Financial Institutions:

• Leaders reiterated the necessity for creating an African Monetary Union by instituting three AU financial entities: the African Central Bank, the African Monetary Fund, and the African Investment Bank.
• Despite historical challenges, there was a proposal to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a Pan-African Stock Exchange.

African Leaders’ Call for Financial System Reforms:

• Leaders outlined key priorities for rectifying structural imbalances in the global financial setup, including resolving the debt crisis, augmenting grants and concessional funding to Africa, redirecting Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from the IMF to African financial institutions, and enhancing African representation in global decision-making forums.
• A commitment was made to pursue an ambitious green growth agenda for Africa.

Presidential Dialogue on Reforming Africa’s Global Financial Architecture:

• Heads of state deliberated on strategies to meet Africa’s financial requisites, stressing the need to triple concessional resources from the IMF and World Bank to African development banks.
• They advocated for rerouting IMF SDRs to multilateral development banks for climate action financing and for including middle-income countries in the G20 Common Framework for debt restructuring.

Proposals by the President of Ghana:

• Ghana’s President suggested that 30% of all African reserves held in non-African banks be allocated to African multilateral financial institutions.
• Additionally, he proposed designating these institutions as ‘AU agencies’ to signify unified endorsement from all AU member states.

• India has commenced the second phase of its auction for critical minerals valued at ₹30 trillion rupees (approximately $362 billion), according to Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi. 
• This auction includes 18 blocks located in eight states and involves minerals such as cobalt, nickel, and graphite.

About:

• Critical minerals are minerals deemed vital for both economic growth and national security. 
• A mineral earns this label when the likelihood of a supply shortfall and its potential impact on the economy is comparatively greater than for other raw materials. 
• This risk assessment ideally considers factors such as import reliance, recyclability, and substitutability of the mineral in question.

• Researchers in Goa have achieved a significant breakthrough by producing gold nanoparticles from a wild mushroom species known as Termitomyces, which is popularly consumed in the coastal state. 
• The mushrooms, locally called ‘roen olmi’ and growing on termite hills, have been cultured in a pure three-dimensional pelletised form for this purpose.

About:

• Roen Olmi is a mushroom species that falls under the Termitomyces genus. 
• In Goa, it’s commonly referred to as ‘roen olmi’ and is a favored edible wild mushroom, particularly relished during the monsoon season.

Habitat and Proliferation

• Roen Olmi mushrooms thrive on termite mounds and are dependent on termites for their growth, lacking an independent existence. 
• They are native to the Western Ghats, where the dense forest canopy and high humidity create a perfect environment for their proliferation.

Ecological Impact

• Roen Olmi contributes significantly to forest and grassland ecosystems by transforming half of the dead plant matter into nutrient-dense soil. 
• It serves as a potent bio degrading fungus.

Nutritional and Health Benefits

• Termitomyces species, including Roen Olmi, are edible and are valued for their unique texture, taste, nutritional composition, and medicinal benefits. 
• They exhibit antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. 
• Their ethno-medicinal significance is acknowledged in various indigenous communities across Asia and Africa.

• The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) recently accomplished two triumphant flight tests of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile at Odisha.
• The tests were executed against high-speed unmanned aerial targets under varying interception scenarios. 
• In all the test flights, the missiles intercepted and obliterated the targets, fulfilling the mission objectives.

About VSHORADS

• VSHORADS is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) that has been indigenously designed and developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in association with other DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners.

Technological Features

• The VSHORADAS missile incorporates several innovative technologies, including a miniaturised Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics. 
• These technologies have been successfully validated during the tests. 
• The missile, propelled by a dual thrust solid motor, is designed to neutralise low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges. 
• The missile’s design, including the launcher, has been highly optimised for easy portability.

• Zero Discrimination Day, observed annually on March 1st, is a global initiative to promote equality and combat discrimination in all its forms. 
• UNAIDS had launched its Zero Discrimination Campaign on ‘World AIDS Day’ in December 2013. 
• The day was first celebrated on March 1, 2014
• The day emphasizes everyone’s right to live a dignified and fulfilling life free from prejudice and bias.
• This year marks the 10th anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day

Theme: 

• The Theme of Zero Discrimination Day 2024  is “To protect everyone’s health, protect everyone’s rights.” 
• It emphasizes upon building association with human rights and public health and achieving the goal of eliminating AIDS by 2030.

• The state Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has approved proposals to amend the recruitment rules for health staff, including pharmacists, nurses, multipurpose health workers, and radiographers.

Key points:

• The state Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has approved proposals to amend the recruitment rules for health staff, including pharmacists, nurses, multipurpose health workers, and radiographers.
• The Cabinet has approved the Odisha Radiographer Service (Methods of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Amendment Rules, 2024, resulting in an increase in the cadre strength of radiographers to 1,160 from the previous 695.
• The Odisha Laboratory Technician Service (Methods of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Amendment Rules, 2024, has received Cabinet approval. This decision will raise the cadre strength of Laboratory Technicians to 2,581 from the existing 2,235.
• The cadre strength of pharmacists in the state has been enhanced to 5,009 from the existing 3,490, following the approval of the Odisha Pharmacist Service (Methods of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Amendment Rules, 2024.
• As per the Cabinet decision, the strength of the nursing service cadre in the state will be raised to 28,684 from the existing 28,285. The Cabinet also approved the amendment of rules for the recruitment of nursing officers in the state.

• According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the monthly compensation for Anganwadi workers has been raised from Rs 7,500 to Rs 10,000. 
• Similarly, Mini-Anganwadi workers will now receive Rs 7,250 instead of the previous Rs 5,375, while Anganwadi assistants’ compensation has been increased from Rs 3,750 to Rs 5,000.

Key points:

• This adjustment in compensation, effective from October 1, 2023, will benefit around 1.48 lakh Anganwadi workers.
• Moreover, the government has introduced incentives under the Exit Policy, offering Rs 1 lakh to Anganwadi workers, Rs 75,000 to Mini-Anganwadi workers, and Rs 50,000 to Anganwadi assistants upon retirement.
• Additionally, there is provision for compensation in case of accidents, with Anganwadi workers and their assistants eligible for Rs 2 lakh in case of accidental death or permanent disability, and Rs 1 lakh for partial disability caused by mishaps.

In a significant move towards financial inclusion, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched 2000 CSP Plus outlets (Customer Service Points)under ‘Ama Bank’ to extend banking services to all unbanked panchayats in Odisha.

Key points:

• About 65% of total gram panchayats lack a physical bank branch, leading to difficulties in accessing banking services and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for most people in rural Odisha. 
• To address this, the Government of Odisha, in collaboration with six public sector banks, launched the ambitious and people-centric scheme ‘Ama Bank’.
• The scheme aims to provide banking services through CSP Plus banking outlets to every unbanked GP and is being implemented in phases to cover all unbanked GPs within the current financial year 2023-24. 
• This initiative ensures that the rural population in Odisha no longer needs to travel long distances to avail benefits under different schemes, particularly KALIA, MAMTA, and old age Pension, or to apply for a small business loan. 
• This is truly inclusive and empowering for the people of the state.

• World Civil Defence Day is an annual event observed on March 1st to raise awareness about the importance of civil defence and emergency preparedness.
• This day highlights the crucial role of civil defence organizations in protecting communities from natural disasters, conflicts, and other emergencies. 
• It also encourages individuals to be prepared for various crises.
• It was established by the International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO) in December 6, 1990

Theme:

• The theme of World Civil Defense Day 2024 is “Honor Heroes and Promote Safety Skills.”

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