Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 04 March 2024 | Download PDF

• Customs authorities at Nhava Sheva port recently intercepted a dual-use shipment on a vessel destined for Karachi, expressing suspicions regarding its potential utilization in Pakistan’s nuclear initiatives.

About Nhava Sheva Port:

• Jawaharlal Nehru Port, also known as JNPT and Nhava Sheva Port, is the second largest container port in India after Mundra Port. 
• Operated by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust Authority (JNPTA), it is located on the eastern shores of the Arabian Sea in Navi Mumbai, Raigad district, Maharashtra.

• The endangered hangul, a shy deer species native to Kashmir, is showing signs of recovery with a healthy mating season indicating a potential increase in numbers. 
• The official figure suggested there are 19.2 males per 100 females “which is much lower than the ideal ratio of 40-50 males per 100 females”.

Key points:

• Hangul population declined sharply since 1947 but showed a steady increase from 183 in 2015 to 261 in 2021.
• Conservation efforts include securing habitats, regulating traffic on highways, and identifying threats.
• A captive-breeding facility has been set up to further protect the species.

About:

Hangul, a subspecies of the Central Asian red deer, is primarily found in the dense riverine forests of the Valley and mountains of Jammu and Kashmir as well as northern Himachal Pradesh.

• Habitat: Dense riverine forests of the Valley and mountains of Jammu and Kashmir and northern Himachal Pradesh.
• Threats: Rising pollution, poaching, habitat fragmentation due to land use, and climate change.
• Impact of Human Activities: Studies indicate that human activities are major factors contributing to the decline in the Hangul population.
• Conservation Status: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Hangul as Critically Endangered in the Red Data Book.
• Legal Protection: The animal is listed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Potential in India:

• In 2019, India’s semiconductor consumption hit US$21 billion, showing a growth rate of 15.1%.
• The country is expected to surpass USD 80 billion in semiconductor consumption by 2026 and USD 110 billion by 2030.
• Leading semiconductor manufacturing nations are the USA, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, the Netherlands, and emerging producers like Germany.

The Union Cabinet approved three semiconductor plant proposals to strengthen India’s semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.

Semiconductor Fab with 50,000 wfsm Capacity:

• Location: Dholera, Gujarat
• Investment: Rs. 91,000 crore
• Partnership: Tata Electronics Private Limited (“TEPL”) and Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (PSMC), Taiwan
• Technology Partner: PSMC, known for expertise in logic and memory foundry segments
• Capacity: 50,000 wafer starts per month (WSPM)

Segments:

• High performance compute chips with 28 nm technology
• Power management chips for EVs, telecom, defense, automotive, consumer electronics, display, power electronics, etc.

Semiconductor ATMP Unit in Assam:

• Location: Morigaon, Assam
• Investment: Rs. 27,000 crore
• Company: Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd (“TSAT”)
• Technology: Developing indigenous advanced semiconductor packaging technologies including flip chip and ISIP
• Capacity: 48 million per day
• Segments: Automotive, EVs, consumer electronics, telecom, mobile phones, etc.

Semiconductor ATMP Unit for Specialized Chips:

• Location: Sanand, Gujarat
• Investment: Rs. 7,600 crore
• Partnership: CG Power, Renesas Electronics Corporation (Japan), and Stars Microelectronics (Thailand)
• Technology Partner: Renesas, a leading semiconductor company in specialized chips
• Capacity: 15 million per day
• Segments: Consumer, industrial, automotive, and power applications.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh unveiled the ADITI scheme at DefConnect 2024 to boost innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies.

Key points:

• Scheme Name: Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI)
• Purpose: Develop critical and strategic defence technologies.
• Falls under: iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) framework.
• Period: 2023-24 to 2025-26
• Focus: Innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies from startups
• Grant Amount: Up to Rs 25 crore for research, development, and innovation in defence technology
• Benefits: Nurtures youth innovation and advances country’s technology sector
• Technology Watch Tool: To bridge gap between modern Armed Forces’ needs and defence innovation ecosystem
• Challenges: 17 challenges launched in the first edition for Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and Defence Space Agency to develop latest technologies
• R&D Importance: Need for self-reliance in technology development due to limitations of technology acquisition through offset and FDI
• Government’s Support: Reserved 75% of defence capital acquisition budget for purchases from local companies including MSMEs.

• Shehbaz Sharif, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), has been elected as Pakistan’s Prime Minister for the second time.

Key points:

• He secured 201 votes in the election held at the National Assembly, while his opponent Omar Ayub Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) received only 92 votes.
• In his victory speech, Shehbaz Sharif emphasized his commitment to revive Pakistan’s economy and eradicate terrorism.
• Shehbaz Sharif vowed to maintain cordial relations with neighboring countries based on principles of equality and not to involve Pakistan in any geopolitical “great game.”
• While emphasizing the importance of improving ties with all nations, he also raised the Kashmir issue, urging for solidarity with the Kashmiri and Palestinian causes.

• Union Minister for Steel and Civil Aviation, Sh. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, inaugurated India’s 1st Green Hydrogen Plant in Stainless Steel Sector virtually.
• The plant, located at Jindal Stainless Limited, Hisar, Haryana is a global milestone, being the world’s first off-grid Green Hydrogen plant for the stainless steel industry.
• It is also the world’s first Green Hydrogen plant with rooftop & floating solar.
• The project targets a significant reduction in carbon emissions, contributing to a sustainable future.
• This project is also a state-of-the-art green hydrogen facility with a target to reduce carbon emissions considerably by around 2,700 Metric Tonnes per annum and 54,000 tons of CO2 emissions over next two decades.  
• The government encourages “green growth” and “green jobs” to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2070.

Odisha Regional Specific News

• The renowned silver filigree craft, known as Chandi Tarakasi, hailing from Cuttack city in Odisha, has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• This acknowledgment was conferred upon Cuttack’s filigree work by the Geographical Indications Registry based in Chennai.

Key points:

• The Odisha State Co-Operative Handicrafts Corporation Limited initiated the application process for the GI tag for Cuttack’s filigree work on July 7, 2021.
• This accolade marks the 26th product from Odisha to receive the GI tag.
• The GI tag is expected to enhance the global recognition and demand for Cuttack’s filigree work, consequently leading to improved financial prospects for the artisans involved.

About:

• Cuttack, the ‘Silver City of India’, is famous for its centuries old Chandi Tarakasi, the craft of silver filigree. 
• The craft is believed to have been introduced in Odisha when the Mughals established their rule in India. 
• The process is highly elaborate, using precision, patience and skilled handwork, apart from the ingenuity and creativity of the artisans.
• Also known as “Tarakashi”, this jewelry is made by stretching silver into thin wires, which are interwoven together, are intricately designed and moulded into various pieces of delicate ornaments.

• Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj district is implementing AI towers costing Rs 2.5 crore for early forest fire detection. 
• This move is part of their preventive measures against forest fires.

Key points:

• Five towers with high-resolution cameras will be installed to cover the entire sanctuary, detecting activity within a 15-kilometer range.
• Real-time forest fire data and transmission will be provided through this system.

Similipal Tiger Reserve

• Similipal, which derives its name from ‘Simul’ (Silk Cotton) tree, is a national park and a Tiger Reserve situated in the northern part of Orissa’s Mayurbhanj district. 
• The tiger reserve is spread over 2750 sq km and has some beautiful waterfalls like Joranda and Barehipani. 
• The park is surrounded by high plateaus and hills, the highest peak being the twin peaks of Khairiburu and Meghashini (1515m above mean sea level).
• The park is known for the tiger, elephant and hill mynah. 
• It holds the highest tiger population in the state of Orissa. 
• 55 species of mammals, 304 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles, 21 species of frogs, 38 species of fish and 164 species of butterflies have been recorded from the Park.

President Murmu paid homage to Santha Kabi Bhima Bhoi, emphasizing the universality of his teachings beyond Odisha.

Key points:

• Santha Kabi Bhima Bhoi (1850–1895) was a 19th-century saint, poet, mystic, and social reformer from Odisha, India. 
• He was a follower of Mahima Swami, and his teachings and poetry were deeply influenced by Mahima Dharma, a monotheistic religious movement in Odisha.
• Bhima Bhoi, like his guru Mahima Swami, primarily taught Ekaishwara Brahmavada or the belief in One God, who is indescribable (Aleka), formless (Arupa), shapeless (Nirakara), and pure (Niranjan). 
• His teachings emphasized simple truths of life, such as not lying, stealing, engaging in adultery, or discriminating against others. 
• As a social reformer, Bhima Bhoi was a strong subaltern voice in his time, and his teachings resonated with many people both in and outside of Odisha.
• Bhima Bhoi is remembered for his mystical poetry, which was primarily in the Odia language, and his social reform efforts aimed at uplifting the marginalized sections of society.
• The President advocated for translating Bhima Bhoi’s biography and writings into various languages for global dissemination. 
• Minister Pradhan announced the inclusion of Mahima Dharma and Bhima Bhoi’s works in school and higher education curricula to spread his ideology.

• • The Odisha government has raised the monthly pensions of construction workers in the state.
  • Workers registered with the Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board will benefit from this increase.
  • The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) announced the hike today.
• Workers aged 60 and above will now receive Rs 1,000 per month, up from Rs 500 previously.
• Those aged 80 and above will receive Rs 1,200 per month, increased from Rs 700 earlier.

• The increased pensions will be paid retrospectively from February this year, according to the CMO.

• National Safety Day in India, observed annually on March 4th, aims to promote safety and health at work, prevent accidents, and create safe environments. 
• Established by the National Safety Council in 1972, it emphasizes awareness of safety regulations and the role of leadership in prioritizing safety. 
• The theme for 2024, “Safety Leadership for ESG Excellence,” underscores the importance of leadership commitment in ensuring safety across all aspects of business operations.

• United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD) is celebrated every year on March 3. 
• It is a global event dedicated to raising awareness about the diverse and magnificent wildlife on our planet. 
• It highlights the critical role these animals and plants play in maintaining healthy ecosystems and supporting human well-being.

About:

• On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution UN 68/205, decided to proclaim 3 March, the international day of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on the planet raise awareness and benefits fauna and flora in 1973, as World Wildlife Day. 

Theme:

• This year’s theme is, “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation.”

Did you Know?

• The commemoration was proposed by Thailand 

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