Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 09 May 2024 | Download PDF

• FWD-200B, India’s first indigenous bomber UAV aircraft, was unveiled by Flying Wedge Defence, a pioneer in India’s defence and aerospace technology sector.

About FWD-200B:

• The cost of the indigenous FWD-200B is significantly lower (Rs 25 crores) compared to the US Predator (Rs 250 crores), demonstrating India’s commitment to self-reliance and cost-effective defence solutions.
• The FWD-200B has a payload capacity of 100 kgs and is classified as a MALE Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (medium-altitude, long-endurance). 
• It consists of optical surveillance payloads and is integrated with missile-like weapons for precision air strikes.
• The FWD-200B has a max speed of 200 kts/370 kmph and an endurance capacity of 12-20 hours.

• Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, a Russian national, has recently been indicted by the USA.
• Khoroshev is allegedly involved with the LockBit ransomware.

About LockBit Ransomware:

• LockBit Ransomware is a malicious tool designed to block user access to computer systems, demanding a ransom payment for access restoration.
• It was formerly known as “ABCD” ransomware, but has evolved into a unique threat within the extortion tools landscape.
• It belongs to a subclass of ransomware known as a ‘crypto virus’, which forms its ransom requests around financial payment in exchange for decryption.
• The software primarily targets enterprises and government organizations rather than individuals, functioning as ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS).

• Political parties are making Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) calls.
• These calls are being received by voters on a daily basis recently.

About IVRS:

• It is an automated telephone system technology that allows callers to interact with a computer system via voice or menu inputs.
• This system enables callers to receive or provide information, or make requests without the need for a live agent.
• The system is powered by either pre-recorded messaging or text-to-speech technology.
• It uses a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) interface for interaction.

• In 2023, India surpassed Japan to become the world’s third-largest solar power generator. 
• This achievement highlights India’s significant commitment to renewable energy growth. 

Key points:

• Solar energy contributed 5.5% globally, with India’s production increasing significantly since 2015.
• India experienced the world’s fourth-largest surge in solar generation in 2023, adding 18 Terawatt hours (TWh) to its capacity.
• This surge was placed behind China (+156 TWh), followed by the United States (+33 TWh), and Brazil (+22 TWh).
• These top four countries accounted for 75 percent of global solar growth that year.
• India’s share of solar generation surged from 0.5 percent in 2015 to 5.8 percent in 2023.
• According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) “Net Zero Emissions” scenario, solar energy’s contribution is projected to rise to 22 percent of global electricity generation by 2030.

• The Finance Minister has denied reports that the Income Tax (I-T) Department is planning to introduce changes in the capital gains tax structure.

About Capital Gains Tax:

• • Capital gains are profits accumulated from the sale of any capital asset.
• Examples of capital assets include land, buildings, house property, vehicles, patents, trademarks, leasehold rights, machinery, and jewellery.

• Capital assets also include rights in or in relation to an Indian company, including management, control, or any other legal rights.
• Capital gains can be either short-term or long-term, depending on the duration of asset holding.
• Since profits are categorised as ‘income’, they are liable for taxation, known as Capital Gains Tax (CGT).
• CGT is levied when an asset is transferred between owners and applies to both individuals and businesses.

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over nine projects to IIT-Bhubaneswar from the electronics and communication systems (ECS) cluster.

Key points:

• IIT-Bhubaneswar will work on these projects, focusing on electronics warfare, AI-driven surveillance, power systems, and radar systems.
• The collaboration between IIT-Bhubaneswar and DRDO aims to meet the emerging research and development needs of defence applications, fostering ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat.’
• Seven more projects from ECS are in the process of being sanctioned, with a funding of Rs 18 crore.
• This collaboration enhances the sustainability of defence research programmes and contributes to nation-building.
• The collaboration signifies DRDO’s shift from technology chasers to technology enablers and trendsetters.
• DRDO emphasizes the importance of working systematically with proper review and risk management systems to complete projects on time and deliver unique solutions.
• IIT-Bhubaneswar sees this collaboration as a move towards knowledge application, wealth generation through start-ups, entrepreneurship, and producing quality teachers.
• DRDO is keen on collaborating with academia and industry to advance projects to the application level, aiming to develop cutting-edge defence technologies to international standards.

• Election Commission of India (ECI) grants permission to Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for signing contract agreements and starting work on 23 road projects in 8 states, including 3 national highway (NH) projects in Odisha.

Key points:

• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari sanctioned funds for two projects on March 12, 2024.
• Rs 374.17 crore allocated for a 3.5 km-long six-lane flyover at Ainthapali junction and a two-lane road over bridge (limited height subway) on NH-53 in Sambalpur district.
• Flyover and ROB on NH-53 requested by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to alleviate traffic congestion at Ainthapali chowk.
• LoAs for the projects issued before announcement of election dates and commencement of the model code of conduct.
• Construction of balance work of eight elephant underpasses (EUPs), one vehicular underpass (VUP), one light vehicular underpass (LVUP), one pedestrian underpass (PUP), one foot over bridge (FOB), and a side approach of Jharpokharia flyover in Baharagora-Singhara section of NH-49 also approved by ECI.
• NHAI seeks permission from ECI for signing contract agreements with successful bidders and starting works as MCC is in force.
• ECI permits signing of contract agreements and commencement of works for mentioned projects, with the condition of no undue publicity.

• Two children in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district have been found to be infected with Rubella virus.

About:

• Rubella, commonly known as German Measles, is a viral infection primarily affecting children and young adults. 
• It is caused by the rubella virus, characterized by a single-stranded RNA structure enveloped in a viral coat.
• This infection, while generally mild and contagious, poses severe risks to pregnant women. 
• Rubella contracted during pregnancy can lead to Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), a condition marked by irreversible birth defects and, in extreme cases, fetal death.
• Though sharing some symptoms with measles, such as a red rash, rubella is caused by a distinct virus. It is less infectious and typically less severe than measles.

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh criticized the BJD government in Odisha for not implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the state during a public meeting in Kalahandi district.

Key points:

• • Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Mission
  • Ayushman Bharat is National Health Protection Scheme, which will cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) providing coverage upto 5 lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. 
• Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Mission will subsume the on-going centrally sponsored schemes – Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and the Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS).

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