Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 27 December 2023 | Download PDF

• Inspired by the structure of polar bear fur, researchers present a knittable aerogel fibre. 
• The fibers are washable, dyeable, durable, and well-suited to be used in advanced textiles. 
• This allowed the researchers to test them in a sweater that demonstrated impressive thermal insulation, among other features. 
• Aerogels are an ideal material for thermal insulation. 
• Encapsulated aerogel fiber has excellent thermal insulation while also being mechanically robust.

• Genetic analyses of an Antarctic octopus show that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) collapsed during the Last Interglacial about 1,29,000 to 1,16,000 years ago when temperatures were only about 1 degree C warmer than preindustrial levels. 
• The findings suggest that WAIS collapse and resultant sea-level rise could be caused by even the minimal temperature rises. 
• Total WAIS collapse would have devastating global ramifications — it could raise the global sea level by roughly 3 to 5 meters.

• The Maldives Cabinet decided against renewing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India for cooperation in hydrography. 
• The agreement, which was signed in 2019, is due to expire in 2024

About hydrography

• It is the science of studying oceans, seas, and other water bodies, by compiling and analysing data, maps, and charts. 
• Branching off from applied sciences, it looks at measuring and describing the physical attributes of water bodies and predicting how they might change over time. 
• While it is said to be undertaken primarily for safety of navigation, it also supports other activities, such as economic development, security and defence, scientific research, and environmental protection. 
• Hydrographical measurements include tidal, current and wave information.

India’s expertise

• India has been an active member of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) since 1955. 
• The Indian Naval Hydrographic Department (INHD) was established in 1874 in Kolkata. 
• It is the nodal agency for hydrographic surveys and has a fleet of indigenously built modern survey ships. India partners with many countries in the Indian Ocean Region and African and East Asian countries such as Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Maldives, Mozambique, Vietnam, Myanmar, Kenya, and Sri Lanka. 
• Personnel from 39 countries have trained at the National Institute of Hydrography, functioning under the INHD.

• Chavittu Natakam is a colourful and vigorous theatre form
• It is considered to be a folk art form noted for its attractive make-up of characters, their elaborate costumes, detailed gesture, and well-defined body movements. 
• It is believed that the art form flourished at Kodungalloor in Kerala with the spread of Christianity.
• The Portuguese are supposed to have introduced this art form in Kerala. 
• Chinna Thampi Pilla and Vedanayakan Pilla are considered to be the originators of this art form.

• Dark Energy is a hypothetical form of energy that exerts a negative, repulsive pressure, behaving like the opposite of gravity.
• It is causing the rate of expansion of our universe to accelerate over time, rather than to slow down. 
• That’s contrary to what one might expect from a universe that began in a Big Bang.

India and Russia signed some “very important” agreements related to the construction of the future power-generating units of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

Key points

• The Kudankulam nuclear power plant, India’s largest, is being built in Tamil Nadu with the technical assistance of Russia. 
• The construction began in March 2002. 
• Since February 2016, the first power unit of the Kudankulam NPP has been steadily operating at its design capacity of 1,000 MW. 
• The plant is expected to start operating at full capacity in 2027.

Similipal National Park was reopened for visitors after remaining closed for around a month.

About

• Located in northern part of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district
• Similipal derives its name from ‘Simul’ (Silk Cotton) tree
• It is a national park and a Tiger Reserve
• 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).
• At least twelve rivers cut across the plain area, all of which drain into the Bay of Bengal –  Burhabalanga, Palpala Bandan, Salandi, Kahairi and Deo.
• Prominent tribes – Kolha, Santhala, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gondas, Khadia, Mankadia and Sahara.
• The vegetation is a mix of deciduous with some semi-evergreen forests
• Sal is the dominant tree species

Seven elephant calves that were rescued after being separated from their herds will undergo Kumki training in Chandaka Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

About

• Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary is a wildlife reserve located in the south fringe of cuttack in the Indian state of Odisha. 
• It is nestled on Khurdha uplands of the Eastern Ghats biotic region
• Chandaka forest is spread over 175.79 square kilometres of rolling table land and small sprawling hillocks of Khurdha and Cuttack districts. 
• It was designated as an elephant reserve in December 1982.

• The Odisha government has asked the banks to expedite the loans to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to meet the target in financial year 2023-24.
• Mission Shakti department had set a target to provide Rs 15,000 crore loan in the financial year.

Key points

• The banks have sanctioned loans amounting to Rs 5,763 crore to 45,046 SHGs by September, achieving 38.43% of the target.
•  While the average loan disbursement to SHGs was Rs 3.81 lakh, the department has planned to increase the amount to Rs 4 lakh
• Ganjam district topped in the state in achieving 59.47% of loan target, followed by Deogarh with 52.7% and Mayurbhanj 51.53%.

• Odisha government has extended the duration of the activities under its “Nua O” programme till January 15, 2024.
• Nutana unnata abhilasha (nua) Odisha is an attempt to take skill training to the grassroots with an aim to tap the latent potential of every district, fostering a robust and diverse workforce. 
• It will also help bridge the skill gap by utilising new-age technologies in traditional sectors like handicraft, handloom and agriculture.

• More than 70 startups and 15 investors were added to the Odisha Startup Carnival
• It began in Bhubaneswar.
•  It was organised by AIC-Nalanda Institute of Technology Foundation (AID-NITF) in association with the Atal Innovation Mission of the Central government, Venture Capital Fund Fluid Ventures, Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited (UCCIL) to strengthen the startup ecosystem of the state.

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