Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 19 February 2024 | Download PDF

Russia is developing a new anti-satellite weapon, which the US finds concerning. 

About:

• Anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons are designed to disable or destroy satellites already in orbit. 
• This goes against the Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits damaging other parties’ satellites and the harmful contamination of space. 
• Most ASAT weapons are kinetic, meaning they destroy satellites by colliding with them or detonating explosives nearby, creating debris that can remain in orbit for a long time.

Effects:

• The principal threats from a space-based nuclear weapon are EMP(Electromagnetic pulse) and the release of charged particles, which can affect satellites around the point of detonation, including those of strategic allies and countries not involved in a conflict. 
• This can lead to the destruction of satellites and the creation of debris, potentially causing a “collisional cascade” that increases the amount of debris in orbit.

• The Jnanpith Awards, considered India’s highest literary honor, were recently conferred upon Gulzar and Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya. 
• The Jnanpith Award is presented annually since 1965 by Bharatiya Jnanpith, established in 1944, to recognize outstanding contributions to Indian literature.

Gulzar

• Gulzar, also known as Sampooran Singh Kalra, is a renowned Urdu poet, Bollywood director, and writer, recognized for his contributions to Urdu literature and Hindi cinema. 
• He has received numerous awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Padma Bhushan, and National Film Awards. 
• He won an Oscar and Grammy for the song “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire and has introduced a new genre in poetry called ‘Triveni’.

Jagadguru Rambhadracharya 

• • He is a Sanskrit scholar, Hindu spiritual leader, educator, and writer, known for founding and leading Tulsi Peeth in Madhya Pradesh. 
  • He has written over 240 books, including four epics, and is a polyglot speaking 22 languages. 
  • He received the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.
• He was born in 1950 in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Award Details:

• The award carries a cash prize of ₹11 lakh, a statue of Vagdevi, and a citation. 
• This is the second time it has been awarded for Sanskrit and the fifth time for Urdu.

• The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) fully funded the satellite INSAT-3DS, which was successfully launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, using the GSLV-F14 launch vehicle.

Aim and objectives:

• INSAT-3DS aims to enhance India’s meteorological services, complementing the existing INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR satellites. 
• It will improve monitoring of the Earth’s surface, atmosphere, oceans, and environment, enhancing data collection, dissemination, and satellite-aided search and rescue services. 
• This initiative will advance weather, climate, and ocean-related observations and services in India, contributing to disaster mitigation and preparedness.

Specification:

• Based on ISRO’s I-2k bus platform, INSAT-3DS has a lift-off mass of 2,275 kilograms. 
• It is equipped with state-of-the-art payloads, including an imager payload with a six-channel optical radiometer for Earth imaging, a 19-channel sounder payload for atmospheric information, and communication payloads such as a data relay transponder and a satellite-aided search and rescue transponder. 
• Indian industries have played a significant role in the development of INSAT-3DS.

• • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has initiated a special program named “Young Scientist Programme” or “YUva VIgyani KAryakram” (YUVIKA) tailored for school children.
  • The primary aim of this endeavor is to provide fundamental knowledge in Space Science, Technology, and Applications to young learners, exposing them to the latest advancements in these fields. 
  • ISRO has designed this program with the motto of “Catch them young,” acknowledging that the youth are pivotal for the future of space exploration and technology in our nation.
  • YUVIKA also endeavors to inspire more students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
• Since its inception in 2019, YUVIKA has been successfully conducted in 2019, 2022, and 2023, attracting increasing participation each year. 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his 394th birth anniversary who was born on 19th Feb in 1630. 

About:

• Shivaji Bhonsale I, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji, was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle Maratha clan. 
• He established the Maratha Empire by carving out a region from the declining Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur. 
• In 1674, he was formally crowned as the Chhatrapati of his realm at Raigad Fort.
• He established the Council of Eight Ministers, or Ashta Pradhan Mandal, which included positions like the Peshwa (Prime Minister) for general administration, the Amatya for finance, and the Summant or Dabir for foreign affairs. 

Recent contributions by GoI:

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra.
• The Maharashtra government has designated February 19 as a holiday to commemorate Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birth, known as Shivaji Jayanti.

• The Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) has floated a tender for the construction of Sri Jagannath International Airport in Puri.
• The project is estimated to cost Rs 2,203 crore and is to be developed in public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
• The project is expected to be completed in three years.
• The online tender process is scheduled to commence on February 21, with the opening of technical bids set for April 21.
• The airport is to be built on a patch of land measuring around 1,164 Acres near Sipasarubali locality in Puri.
• After completion, the airport will help increase tourist footfall in Puri significantly.

• In a recent development, the state government has hiked the contingent expenditure of Krushak Sathis. 
• The annual contingent expenditure has been increased to Rs 18,000 from the existing Rs 12,000. 
• This change, which is retrospectively effective from October 2023, is set to benefit 13,600 Krushak Sathis in Odisha.
• This initiative is part of the state’s efforts to empower farmers and enhance agricultural productivity. 

About:

• Krushak Sathis are a significant part of the agricultural framework in Odisha. 
• The state government appointed two farmers as Krushak Sathis in each gram panchayat in Odisha in the 2007-08 fiscal.
• Their primary role is to create awareness regarding various issues related to agriculture among the farmers. They also provide necessary advice to the farmers.

• The Krushak Sathis play a crucial role in this endeavor by bridging the gap between the government’s farmer-centric policies and the farmers themselves.

• Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone for Welspun Group’s integrated textiles manufacturing facility and warehousing complex at Choudwar in Odisha’s Cuttack district.

About:

• The integrated complex is being established with an investment of over Rs 3,000 crore.
• Welspun Group is one of the largest integrated textiles manufacturing companies in India with facilities in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Telangana.
• The company will procure cotton from the farmers in the western and southern districts of Kalahandi, Balangir, Rayagada and Gajapati for its textiles unit.
• The investment by Welspun Group is set to reignite industrial growth and development in the region as well as directly support the growth of cotton growers across the state.

In a recent Health conclave held,State Health Minister Niranjan Pujari stated that BSKY of the Odisha Government is better than the Central Government’s Ayushman Bharat scheme.

About:

• Launch: The Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana was launched on 15th August, 2018.
• Aim: The scheme aims to provide Universal Health coverage, with special emphasis on the health protection of economically vulnerable families.

Components: The scheme has two components:

• Free health services for all (irrespective of income, status or residence) in all State Government health care facilities starting from Sub center level to Government Medical College and Hospitals and all Government Blood Bank level1.
• Additional facility of free healthcare beyond Government Medical College hospitals for over 70 lakh families, through annual health coverage of Rs. 5 lakh per annum (Rs. 10 lakh for women members) per family per annum in private empanelled hospitals within and outside the State & all Government Hospitals and premier health institutes outside the State.
• Services: The services that are provided under Universal Health care upto MCH level are: Free drugs, Free Diagnostic (Pathology, Radiology, Biochemistry, Ultrasunology, Histopathology charges), Free Cancer Chemotherapy, Free Dialysis charges, Free OT charges, Free ICU charges, Free IPD accommodation, etc

• Pranati Nayak, a gymnast from Odisha AM/NS India HPC, won the bronze medal in women’s vault at the FIH Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus World Cup held in Cairo.

About:

• The 2024 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup is a series of competitions officially organized and promoted by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
• The Cairo tournament is the first of the four-leg Apparatus World Cup 2024 series, which will serve as qualifying events for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
• The remaining three legs of the series will be held in Cottbus, Germany (February 22 to 25), Baku, Azerbaijan (March 7 to 10), and Doha, Qatar (April 17 to 20).

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