Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 24 February 2024 | Download PDF

Prime Minister Modi spoke at the 647th Birth Anniversary of Sant Guru Ravidas in Varanasi, where he unveiled a new statue of Sant Ravidas and inaugurated various development projects.

About:

Guru Ravidasji, also known as Ravidas, Rohidas, and Ruhidas, was a North Indian mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti movement during the 15th to 16th century CE. 

He is venerated in the regions of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana.

Here are some key points about Guru Ravidas Ji:

• • He was born in 1377 CE, in a small village called Seer Govardhanpur in Uttar Pradesh.
  • Despite being born in a poor family, Guru Ravidas dedicated his life to preaching about human rights and equality.
  • He was a saint, poet, philosopher, and his teachings are celebrated.
  • His devotional songs and verses made a lasting impact upon the Bhakti movement.
• Some of his poems are a part of Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

• Mystic poet and an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna, Meera Bai also acknowledged Guru Ravidas as her spiritual mentor.
• His birthday is celebrated as Ravidas Jayanti.

• The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, participated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between MoPSW and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong to establish India’s first ‘Gati Shakti Research Chair’ on February 23, 2024.

Key points:

• The Chair will lead high-quality academic research on multimodal logistics with a focus on the North-East.
• Aim: to strengthen links between multimodal logistics research and capacity-building activities with key stakeholders such as the logistics industry, government bodies, and local authorities, supporting the PM Gati Shakti Masterplan for East and North-East Region’s logistical capacity.

Other Initiatives:

• Arth Ganga and Mahabahu Brahmaputra are ambitious projects initiated by the Indian government to foster holistic socio-economic development along the River Ganga and River Brahmaputra.
• The Arth Ganga project aims to revamp the inland waterways, contributing to the all-round development of Northeast India.
• Mahabahu Brahmaputra is another significant initiative with similar objectives, focusing on the Brahmaputra river.
• These projects are part of a broader strategy to optimize regional logistical capabilities, aligning with the National Logistic Mission. 
• They are instrumental in fostering socio-economic development along these key river networks.

• NTPC Renewable Energy Limited’s inaugural solar project in Chhattargarh, Rajasthan, has commenced commercial operations, boasting a capacity of 70 MW as of February 21, 2024.
• This development brings the total installed capacity of the NTPC Group to 73,958 MW.

Key points:

• Currently, NTPC-REL is actively pursuing 17 projects, collectively exceeding 6,000 MW in capacity. 
• Consequently, the NTPC Group’s total operational renewable energy capacity has reached 3,448 MW. 
• The Chhattargarh Solar project is slated to reach its full capacity of 150 MW by March 2024, a project secured under SECI-Tranche:III, benefiting the state of Rajasthan.
• The solar plant is projected to produce 370 million units of energy annually, catering to 60,000 households. 
• It is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 3 lakhs tons per year and conserve 1,000 MMTPA of water, equivalent to the needs of over 5,000 households annually.

ISRO announced that the Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) payload aboard Aditya-L1 has successfully identified the impact of coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

PAPA:

• PAPA, equipped with advanced sensors, is specifically designed for in-situ measurements of solar wind electrons and ions in the low energy range. 
• It comprises two sensors: the Solar Wind Electron Energy Probe (SWEEP) and the Solar Wind Ion Composition Analyser (SWICAR), capable of measuring electrons and ions in specified energy ranges and mass spectrums. 
• These sensors are also adept at determining the direction of solar wind particle arrival.
• Operational since December 12, 2023, PAPA continues to make continuous observations, demonstrating its effectiveness in monitoring space weather conditions and analyzing solar phenomena.

Coronal mass ejections

• Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s atmosphere — the corona. 
• Solar flares are bursts of electromagnetic radiation that travel at the speed of light, reaching Earth in just over 8 minutes .
• CMEs travel at a more leisurely pace, relatively speaking. 
• CMEs can reach Earth and collide with Earth’s magnetosphere, where they can cause geomagnetic storms, aurorae, and in rare cases damage to electrical power grids. 
• The largest recorded geomagnetic perturbation, presumably from a CME, was the solar storm of 1859, also known as the Carrington Event.

• Union Tribal Affairs Minister Shri Arjun Munda recently visited the Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara at Medaram in Telangana, the country’s largest tribal festival.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has allocated Rs. 2.30 Crores for the Medaram Jatara 2024 to promote tribal culture and heritage.

About:

• Considering the footfall of the festival and its auspicious significance, the Jatara was declared a State Festival in 1996. 
• Tribal festival is the second-largest fair of India, after the Kumbh Mela, celebrated by the Koya tribe for four days. 
• Sammakka Saralamma Jatara, also known as Medaram Jatara, is a festival celebrated in the state of Telangana, India, to honor the Hindu Tribal goddesses. 
• The festival commemorates the fight of a mother and daughter, Sammakka and Saralamma, with the reigning rulers against an unjust law. 
• The rituals related to the Goddesses are entirely conducted by the Koya Tribe priests, in accordance with Koya customs and traditions.
• The Jatara begins at Medaram in Tadvai Mandal in Mulugu district. 
• It is held every two years and lasts for four days. 
• People offer Bellam (jaggery), locally called as Bangaram.
• Now, a large number of non-Koya people visit Medaram, and the Koya people comprise only 2% of the total worshippers.

Odisha Regional Specific News

• Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated 48 indoor stadiums and 12 hockey training centers across Odisha, as part of sports infrastructure projects totaling Rs 660 crore.

Key points:

• The projects, launched under the 5T initiative, aim to transform the sports sector from grassroots to elite levels. 
• The multipurpose indoor stadiums will facilitate various sports like badminton, table tennis, yoga, chess, and weightlifting, promoting sports development and a healthy lifestyle. 
• The Cuttack Table Tennis Academy, with its premium-quality tables, gymnasium, weightlifting room, and spaces for chess, yoga, and zumba, will significantly boost table tennis in the state. 
• Similarly, the Rourkela Gymnastics Academy, equipped with international-standard equipment and facilities for various sports, including weightlifting, table tennis, yoga, and gym, will enhance the gymnastics ecosystem. 
• The hockey training centers, with synthetic turfs, aim to strengthen hockey in rural and tribal areas by providing professional coaching under expert guidance. 
• Additionally, foundation stones were laid for 11 sports infrastructure projects, including multipurpose indoor stadiums, an indoor swimming pool, a football training center, and basketball courts, to further promote sports and wellness.

Read about the Odisha’s 5T initiative

About:

Career: 

• Pramod Bhagat is an Indian professional Para-badminton player who is currently ranked world number 2 in para-badminton men’s singles SL3.
• He has represented India at various international events and has won numerous medals, including a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Men’s singles SL3.

Achievements: 

• Pramod Bhagat is a 5-times BWF World Champion.
• His victories include the World Championships (Men’s singles) held in England in 2015, Switzerland in 2019, and Tokyo in 2022. 
• He has also won gold at the Asian Para Games (Men’s singles) held in Indonesia in 2018.

Awards: Pramod Bhagat has been honored with several awards for his contributions to sports. These include the Arjuna Award in 2019, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021, and the Padma Shri (Sports) in 2022.

A complex for manufacturing titanium metal, aerospace components, and integrated advanced specialty steel and automotive components will be established in Odisha.

Key points:

• Kalyani Steel has signed an MoU with the Odisha Government for this project, which will be located at Gajamara in Dhenkanal district. 
• With an investment of Rs 11,750 Crore, the project is expected to create over 10,000 jobs. 
• The Odisha Government’s incentive package highlights its commitment to industrial growth and innovation, aiming to boost the state’s position in key manufacturing sectors and enhance India’s global manufacturing capabilities. 

• The state government has set a target for the completion of the Ekamra development project by January 1, 2025. 
• The project is being closely monitored by the 5T and Nabin Odisha chairman VK Pandian.

Key points:

• The Ekamra Project, also known as the Ekamra Kshetra Amenities and Monuments Revival Action plan, is a development initiative launched by the Odisha Government in 2019. 
• The project focuses on the revitalization of the Ekamra Kshetra, an area in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, known for its ancient sandstone temples, heritage ponds, and water tanks.
• The project includes various elements such as the construction of parking lots, a vending zone, and a new building for the Lingaraj police station. 
• It also involves the creation of an alternative road connecting Koti Tirtheswar temple to Bindu Sagar tank. 
• The project aims to enhance the experience of pilgrims with beautiful gardens and designer stonework along the Parikrama of the temple.

• The Central Excise Day commemorates the establishment of the Central Excise and Salt Act of 1944, which laid the foundation for India’s indirect tax system. 
• It celebrates the contributions of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in mobilizing revenue for the nation’s development.
• This act was a combination of 11 acts regarding excise duties, and it was passed to make changes in the law related to salt and central duties.

About:

• On 24 February 1944, the Central Excise and Salt Act was passed, and Central Excise Day is celebrated to commemorate this legislation.
•  In 1966, the act was renamed The Central Excise Act 1944, and Schedules 1 and 2 of the act were related to the values and rates of the duties

Do you Know?

• The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBIC) is responsible for administering indirect taxes in India.

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