Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 01 November 2023 | Download PDF

Prime Minister hailed telecom operators’ progress in spreading 5G coverage in urban centres, saying that over 80% of India’s urban population now had access to the high-speed technology.

Key points

• Within a year of 5G launch, about 4 lakh 5G base stations have been built in India
• India is exporting about ₹2 lakh crore in electronics manufacturing
• India is not only rapidly expanding 5G in India, but are also moving towards becoming a leader in the field of 6G.

• The number of active workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has dipped by 7.5%, according to a data analysis for the period April to September 2023 by LibTech India, a consortium of academics and activists. 
• The workforce has reduced from 15.49 crore in the previous financial year to 14.33 crore, as per data available till October 6, 2023.

In Mahagaon village in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, two women allegedly killed five family members by lacing their food with poison in the form of thallium.

About thallium

• It is a chemical element with the atomic number 81, was discovered by Sir William Crookes in 1861.
• It is a soft, heavy, inelastic metal.
• Thallium is tasteless and odourless and has been used by murderers as a difficult-to-detect poison.
• Appearance:A soft, silvery-white metal that tarnishes easily.

Sources:

• It is found in trace amounts in the earth’s crust.
• It is found in several ores. One of these is pyrites, which is used to produce sulfuric acid. Some thallium is obtained from pyrites, but it is mainly obtained as a by-product of copper, zinc and lead refining.

• Thallium’s utilization is restricted due to its toxic nature.
• Thallium sulfate, once a rodent killer, is now banned for household use in many developed nations.
• It finds application in the electronics industry for photoelectric cells.
• Thallium oxide is used to create high-refraction glass and low-melting glass.
• It is also used in the manufacturing of low temperature thermometers,and imitation jewels.

Health Hazards:

• Thallium can damage the nervous system causing headaches, weakness, and irritability. Repeated exposures can cause tremors, hallucinations, coma and death.

• A new mushroom species named Candolleomyces albosquamosus has been discovered in the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) at Palode, Thiruvananthapuram.

Key Details about the New Species:

• Physical Characteristics: The mushroom has a delicate, fragile appearance with a honey-yellow cap.
• Distinctive Feature: It is identified by the presence of white woolly scale-like structures on its cap, leading to the name ‘albosquamosus.’
• Size: The mushroom is small, reaching a height of about 58 mm.

Genus and Taxonomic Information:

• Genus: Belongs to the genus Candolleomyces.
• Previous Understanding: Seven species previously categorized under the genus Psathyrella in India are now recognized as Candolleomyces.
• Global Significance: The discovery is notable because there are only 35 known species in the Candolleomyces genus worldwide.

Significance:

• The discovery adds momentum to the study of fungal diversity in the Western Ghats region, emphasizing its ecological importance and uniqueness in the realm of biodiversity.

A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court is hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the electoral bonds scheme.

Key facts about Electoral Bonds

• Implemented in 2018 to reduce the influence of black money in politics.
• Provided a legal and transparent mechanism for contributions to political parties.
• Donors’ identities remain confidential, reducing the risk of retaliation.

Do you know

There is a criticism regarding Electoral bonds because

• Lack of transparency regarding the source of funds.
• Concerns about potential misuse, including laundering illicit money.
• Reports indicate a significant portion of political funding comes from electoral bonds.

A partial lunar eclipse was seen in Odisha

About Partial lunar eclipse

• In this, an imperfect alignment of Sun, Earth and Moon results in the Moon passing through only part of Earth’s umbra.
• The shadow grows and then recedes without ever entirely covering the Moon.

• It is a major wildlife sanctuary in Odisha which was established in 1984.
• It is spread across the Chota Nagpur Plateau region.
• It is connected with Simlipal Reserve via Nato and Sukhupada Hill ranges.
• Flora: It contains mixed deciduous forest. 
• Fauna: It consists of lot of wild animals like the tigers, elephants, leopards, bison, gaur, giant squirrels and sambar etc.

The Odisha government has directed all authorities engaged in urban services to receive payments through its ‘SUJOG’ online platform

About SUJOG

• H&UDD has launched ‘SUJOG – Sustainable Urban Services in a Jiffy by Odisha Government’ to roll out e-governance services across the ULBs in the state. 
• SUJOG will make urban governance transparent, technology enabled, time-bound through teamwork, thereby leading to transformation in the lives of citizens in all Urban Local Bodies of the state.

Two students of Government ITI, Berhampur were honoured by the Central government 

Key points

• The two students — Anurag Michael of 3D printing department and P Kumari of Electronics department — were honoured at ‘Kaushal Dikshant Samaroh’ organised by the Centre in Delhi.
• They secured the first position by preparing a 23-ft elephant sculpture using 30,000 plastic bottles as part of the programme ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for garbage-free India.

Amrit Dhara Palliative Care Trust in collaboration with different NGOs, organised a Rally to celebrate the World Hospice & Palliative Care Day-2023

About Day

• World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) 2023 will be on the 14th of October. 
• This year’s theme is Compassionate Communities: Together for Palliative Care. 
• WHPCD is an annual unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world.

A new Fast Track Special Court (FTSC) was inaugurated in Odisha’s Rourkela city

Key points

• The FTSC in Rourkela will deal with cases under POCSO Act and Rape cases
• The objective of Fast Track Special Courts is to expedite delivery of justice in cases involving POCSO offences and crime against women

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