Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 13 March 2024 | Download PDF

National and International News

• The Indian Navy led the maritime exercise “Cutlass Express” – 24 with INS Tir at Port Victoria, Seychelles.
• The exercise involved active engagement with participants from 16 friendly foreign countries.

Training Activities:

• The training encompassed theoretical and practical aspects of Maritime Interdiction Operations, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) procedures, and Diving operations.
• During the sea phase, the VBSS team of INS Tir boarded the Seychelles Coast Guard ship LE Vigilant, showcasing boarding operation procedures.
• Joint diving operations were conducted by Indian, US, and Seychelles divers after intensive training.

INS Tir:

• INS Tir (A86) is the first dedicated cadet’s training ship to be built by Mazagon Dock Limited and commissioned as such by the Indian Navy. 
• She is the senior ship of the 1st Training Squadron of the Southern Naval Command. 
• INS Tir was commissioned on 21 February 1986.

INS Tushil, India’s latest naval asset, began its sea trials from Russia’s Baltiysk naval base on March 5.

Key points:

• INS Tushil belongs to the Talwar-class frigates, known for their stealth-guided missile capabilities.
• These frigates are upgraded versions of the Russian Krivak III-class frigates, originally used by the Coast Guard.
• The Indian Navy currently operates six of these ships, with four more under construction, including two at India’s Goa shipyard.
• These ships incorporate “stealth technology” to minimize radar and underwater noise detection.
• They are equipped with Indian and Russian weaponry, including surface-to-surface missiles, sonar systems, surveillance radar, communication suites, anti-submarine warfare systems, surface-to-air missiles, and gun mounts.
• Designed for combat in brown and blue waters, they can engage submarines, warships, and repel air attacks independently or in formations.
• The frigates have a displacement of 3620 tons, a length of 124.8 meters, a top speed of 30 knots, and a cruising range of 4850 miles.

Project 11356M:

• In October 2016, India and Russia signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for four Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates (Project 11356M).
• Russia agreed to deliver two frigates, including INS Tushil and INS Tamala, while India would build the other two domestically.
• The construction of these ships is tailored to meet the Indian Navy’s requirements for comprehensive naval warfare capabilities in air, surface, and sub-surface domains.

• Often referred to as ‘gold bhasma,’ gold nanoparticles are recognized for their therapeutic and beautifying properties in skincare.
• They protect the skin from external infestations, combat aging, improve metabolism, and rejuvenate the body.

Key points:

• Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are tiny particles made of gold atoms, typically ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers in size.
• They possess unique optical, electronic, and catalytic properties due to their small size and shape.

Benefits

• Easily absorbed by the skin, they act as a rejuvenator, potentially benefiting various systems of the human body.
• Integral to various Ayurvedic preparations, they are known for their rejuvenating, immuno-modulating, beautifying, and healing properties.
• They slow down collagen depletion, stimulate cell regeneration, improve metabolism, and tone up muscles.
• They strengthen underlying tissue, bones, and nerves, contributing to a youthful appearance.
• Innovative formulations like sparkling gold face washes enriched with gold nanoparticles and natural ingredients offer potent skincare solutions.

Applications

• Biomedical: Used in imaging, therapy, and diagnostics, serving as contrast agents in X-ray, computed tomography (CT), and photoacoustic imaging, and facilitating photothermal therapy and drug delivery.
• Catalysis: Exhibit remarkable catalytic activity in various chemical transformations.
• Electronics: Used in nanoelectronic devices, conductive inks, and sensors.
• Environmental Remediation: Employed in detecting and removing pollutants from water and soil.

• The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) cleared a Rs 15,000 crore project to design and develop the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s fifth-generation fighter multirole fighter jet.

Agencies Involved

• The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will be the nodal agency for executing the programme and designing the aircraft. 
• It will be manufactured by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Features

• Stealth features
• Low-probability-of-intercept radar
• Agile airframes with super cruise performance
• Advanced avionics features
• Highly integrated computer systems capable of networking with other elements within the battlespace
• Higher utilization time and smaller serviceability or maintenance periods

Other fifth-generation fighters

• Only a few countries have built a fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft. 
• The list of the aircraft currently in service includes the F-22 Raptor and F-35A Lightning II of the US, the Chinese J-20 Mighty Dragon, and the Russian Sukhoi Su-57.

Odisha Regional Specific News

• Mass nesting sites of Olive Ridley sea turtles in Odisha will be off-limits to visitors until the hatchlings emerge.

Key points:

• Mass nesting is expected to commence shortly after the mating season in the deep sea, which typically occurs between November and December.
• Olive Ridley sea turtles are protected under Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Activities such as observation, photography, and crowding at nesting sites are considered ‘hunting’ under Section-9 of the Act.
• Every year, millions of female Olive Ridley turtles visit Gahirmatha, Devi, and Rushikulya river mouths in Odisha for mass nesting. 
• In 2023, approximately 6.37 lakh Olive Ridley sea turtles nested at Rushikulya coast from February 23 to March 2, setting a new record for the beach in Odisha’s Ganjam district.
• Another 503,719 turtles laid eggs on the tranquil beaches of the sanctuary in Kendrapada district, which is the world’s largest rookery of sea turtles.
• The hatchlings emerge from these eggs after 45-60 days, a phenomenon known as ‘arribada’.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the formation of 22 new notified area councils (NACs) in 20 districts of Odisha. Additionally, the Bhanjanagar NAC in Ganjam has been upgraded to a municipality.

List of New NACs:

• Manamunda, Purunakatak, and Baunsuni in Boudh district
• Loisingha and Sindhekela in Bolangir
• Sohela in Bargarh
• Baliapal and Khaira in Balasore
• Dhamra in Bhadrak
• Rasol in Dhenkanal
• Narla and Madanpur Rampur in Kalahandi
• Kujang in Jagatsinghpur
• Bolagarh in Khurda
• Sharankul in Nayagarh
• Sakshigopal and Kakatpur in Puri
• Rengali and Bamanda in Sambalpur
• Subalya, Ulunda, and Rampur in Sonepur district

• Odisha was the first state in India to reserve 33% of government jobs for women in the 1990s.
• Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has announced a significant increase in annual casual leave for women government employees.
• Women employees will now be entitled to 25 days of casual leave annually, up from the previous 15 days of temporary leave.
• The decision was made considering the various responsibilities women have at home and elsewhere.

• Odisha’s Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, has announced a significant increase in the remuneration for mayors and deputy mayors of five municipal corporations in the state.

Key points:

• Mayors will now receive Rs 50,000 per month, up from Rs 8,000, while deputy mayors will see an increase from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 per month.
• The salaries for municipal council chairpersons and vice-chairpersons have been raised from Rs 1,500 to Rs 15,000 and from Rs 1,200 to Rs 10,000 per month, respectively.

• Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has declared a monthly honorarium of Rs 25,000 for Padma awardees from the state. 
• This amount will be granted to them each month starting from April this year. 
• The announcement, is a recognition of their noteworthy contributions to society, as stated by the Chief Minister’s Office.

• National Good Samaritan Day is celebrated on March 13th each year. 
• It’s a day to recognize people who help others in need, without expecting anything in return. 
• The day is named after the parable of the Good Samaritan in the Bible, which tells the story of a traveler who helps a wounded stranger.

Key points:

• Promotes kindness and charity: It encourages people to be more helpful and compassionate towards others.
• Honors selfless acts: Recognizes those who go out of their way to assist strangers.
• Importance of community: Highlights the value of helping one another and building a stronger community.

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