Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 28 August 2024 | Download PDF

• The Union Budget 2024 has increased the loan limit under the MUDRA scheme’s Tarun category to Rs 20 lakh. 

About MUDRA 2.0 loans:

• Launch & Objective:
  • Launch Year: 2015
  • Objective: To “fund the unfunded” by providing affordable credit to micro and small enterprises, integrating them into the formal financial system.
• Loan Details:
  • Loan Amount: Up to ₹10 lakh for non-farm income-generating activities in sectors such as manufacturing, processing, trading, and services.
  • Eligibility: Any Indian citizen with a viable business plan for a non-farm sector requiring credit below ₹10 lakh.
• Loan Categories:
  • Shishu: Loans up to ₹50,000 for new and micro enterprises.
  • Kishore: Loans between ₹50,000 and ₹5 lakh for businesses in the growth phase.
  • Tarun: Loans between ₹5 lakh and ₹10 lakh for business expansion.
• Vision for MUDRA 2.0:
  • Expanded Scope
  • Financial Literacy Programmes
  • Enhanced Credit Guarantee Scheme (ECGS)
  • Robust Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (RMEF)

• The Union Ministry of Education has communicated to all States the definition of ‘literacy’ and what constitutes ‘full literacy’ as part of the renewed focus on adult literacy under the New India Literacy Programme (NILP).

About NILP:

• • Objective: Promote literacy among non-literates aged 15 and above across all States and Union Territories.
  • Target: Onboard 1 crore learners per year aged 15+ across all States and UTs.
  • Components:
• Foundational Literacy and Numeracy

• • Critical Life Skills: Includes financial, digital, legal literacy, healthcare, childcare, education, family welfare, etc.
  • Basic Education: Preparatory (classes 3-5), middle (classes 6-8), and secondary stage (classes 9-12) equivalency.
  • Vocational Skills: Continuous skill development for local employment.
  • Continuing Education: Courses in arts, sciences, technology, culture, sports, and other topics of interest.
• Definition of Literacy: Ability to read, write, compute, and apply critical life skills like digital and financial literacy.
• Full Literacy Goal: Achieving 95% literacy in a State or UT.
• Assessment: Literacy is confirmed after passing the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT).

• India recently achieved a significant milestone in its space journey by launching its first reusable hybrid rocket, RHUMI-1.

About RHUMI-1:

• India’s First Reusable Hybrid Rocket: Developed by Tamil Nadu-based startup Space Zone India in collaboration with Martin Group.
• Innovative Hybrid Propulsion System: Combines the advantages of both liquid and solid fuels, using a hybrid design with solid propellant and liquid oxidizer.
• Safety and Efficiency: The hybrid design reduces the risk of accidental detonation by combining components only during combustion, leading to improved efficiency and reduced operational costs.
• Eco-friendly Technology: Features a CO₂ triggered parachute system for safe recovery of rocket components and is free of fireworks, using no Trinitrotoluene (TNT).

• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has mandated that exotic pets must be registered with state wildlife departments through the PARIVESH 2.0 portal. 

About Exotic Pets:

• Definition of Exotic Species: Animals or plants moved from their natural habitat to a new location, often due to human activities.
• Criteria for Reporting and Registration (Living Animal Species Rules, 2024): Individuals possessing species listed under Schedule IV of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, must report and register them.
• Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022: Mandates the registration of possession, transfer, birth, and death of species listed in the CITES Appendices and Schedule IV of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Concerns with Exotic Species:
  • Non-regulation
  • Pandemic Risk
  • Smuggling Concerns

• Nearly two decades after its introduction, the use of plea bargaining in India remains limited, according to a recent report by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice.

About Plea Bargaining:

• • Definition: A process where a defendant pleads guilty in exchange for a concession from the prosecutor or court, such as a reduced sentence, lesser charge, or dropped charges.
  • Objective: To resolve criminal cases without a trial, saving time, resources, and expenses for both the prosecution and the defendant.
• Plea Bargaining in India:

• • Incorporation: Introduced into the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in 2005.
  • Applicability:
    • Applicable to offences punishable by up to seven years of imprisonment.
    • Excludes cases involving crimes against women, children, or socio-economic offences.
  • Court’s Discretion:
    • The court can accept or reject the plea-bargaining agreement if deemed unjust or unreasonable.
    • If the accused breaches the agreement, the court can set it aside and proceed with the trial.

• The Odisha government is proposing to increase the reservation quota for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in technical education courses. 
• Currently, these communities have a 20% reservation in state government technical colleges, which is lower than their actual population share of 39.98%. 
• The increase aims to ensure equitable representation of SC and ST students in technical fields, promoting social justice and inclusivity.

Refer to Addapedia notes for detailed info on Reservation status under Indian constitution.

• Two teachers from Odisha have been selected for the National Teachers’ Awards 2024.
• The two teachers are- Dwiti Chandra Sahu of Government High School at Billesu (Rayagada) and Santosh Kar of Jaya Durga High School in Narla (Kalahandi). 
• Both the teachers will be awarded at a special ceremony scheduled to be held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on September 5, 2024.

Key Points:

• The National Teachers’ Awards are a prestigious recognition bestowed upon exceptional teachers in India.
• Instituted in 1958, these awards aim to honor teachers who have made significant contributions to the field of education.   

Key features of the Award:

• Recognition of Excellence: The awards are a symbol of the highest recognition for teachers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, innovation, and impact in their teaching profession.
• Cash Prize and Medal: Awardees receive a cash prize and a silver medal as a token of appreciation for their outstanding work.   
• Criteria for Selection: The selection process is rigorous and involves evaluation based on various criteria such as teaching effectiveness, innovative practices, student achievements, and community engagement.   
• Inspiration for Future Teachers: The awards serve as an inspiration for aspiring teachers, motivating them to strive for excellence in their profession.

• The Social Security and Empowerment of PwDs (SSEPD) Department of the Odisha government has taken significant strides towards fostering inclusive growth for students with disabilities.
• The department signed two memorandum of understandings (MoUs) that aim to provide comprehensive support and opportunities for these students.
• The MoUs likely outline specific initiatives such as:
• Accessibility: Ensuring that educational institutions are equipped with necessary facilities and accommodations to meet the needs of PwDs.
• Curriculum Inclusion: Developing inclusive curricula that cater to the diverse learning styles and abilities of students with disabilities.
• Teacher Training: Providing specialized training to teachers to equip them with the skills to effectively teach and support students with disabilities.
• Scholarship Programs: Establishing financial aid programs to help PwDs access quality education.
• Counseling and Support Services: Offering counseling and support services to PwDs and their families to address any challenges they may face.

• Even as lightning strikes claim more than 300 lives in Odisha annually, the state government is yet to prepare a lightning action plan as directed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
• The NDMA in its key policy document issued in 2019 to address lightning hazards had instructed states to prepare state lightning action plans as per the guidelines on prevention and management of thunderstorms and lightning/squall, dust/hailstorm and strong winds.
• However so far, only seven out of 36 states and Union territories have developed the action plans.

National Disaster Management Authority:

• • The NDMA is the apex body in India responsible for coordinating and overseeing disaster management activities.
  • Established under the Disaster Management Act of 2005, it is chaired by the Prime Minister.   
• New Delhi is the headquarters of the NDMA.

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