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

• In a major diplomatic breakthrough, India and China have agreed to resume patrolling at key friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. 
• This agreement follows years of military standoffs since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which had left both nations in a deadlock.

Key Points:

• • The LAC is the demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory.
  • It is divided into three sectors: the eastern sector which spans Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the middle sector in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and the western sector in Ladakh.
  • In May 2020, Indian and Chinese troops clashed at various points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
  • These points included: Pangong Tso, Galwan Nalah and Demchok in Ladakh and at Naku La (a mountain pass at an altitude of over 5000 meters) in Sikkim.
• Key highlights of the recent patrolling agreement:

• • Rekindling hope : The pact has rekindled hopes of early restoration of diplomatic and bilateral political ties.
  • Depsang Plains is significant : The Depsang Plains is 30 km southeast of the strategically important Daulat Beg Oldie post near the Karakoram Pass in the north.

• The Union Ministry of Culture plans to “revive and relaunch” the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) and is considering the establishment of an autonomous body to assist in the preservation of ancient texts in India.

Key Points:

• The National Mission for Manuscripts was established in 2003, by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India. 
• The key objectives of the National Mission for Manuscripts are documentation, conservation, digitization, and online dissemination of the manuscript heritage of India. 
• To achieve this mandate, the mission has established more than 100 Manuscripts Resource Centres and Manuscripts Conservation Centres all over India.
• India possesses an estimated ten million manuscripts, probably the largest collection in the world. 
• These cover a variety of themes, textures and aesthetics, scripts, languages, calligraphies, illuminations, and illustrations.

Do you know?

• A manuscript is a handwritten composition on paper, bark, cloth, metal, palm leaf, or any other material dating back at least seventy-five years that has significant scientific, historical, or aesthetic value. 
• They are found in hundreds of different languages and scripts. 

• The 21st Livestock Census Operation, a landmark initiative led by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, is set to be launched by the Union Minister.

Key Points:

• • Launch Date: October 25, 2024
  • Ministry Involved: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying
  • Frequency: Conducted every five years since 1919; the last census took place in 2019.
  • Census Period: Scheduled from October 2024 to February 2025.
• Scope:

• • • Covers 15 livestock species, including cattle, buffalo, yak, sheep, and goats.
    • Includes poultry species such as fowl, ducks, turkeys, and quail.
    • Gather data on 219 indigenous breeds across 16 species.
• New Features:

• • • The first census to independently capture data on livestock holdings by pastoralists.
    • Will provide insights into the gender of individuals primarily involved in livestock rearing.
• Technology:

• • • Employs mobile technology for accurate and efficient data collection and transmission.
• Field Officials:

• • • Approximately 100,000 veterinarians and para-veterinarians will carry out the door-to-door survey.
• Importance:

• • Provides essential data for policy-making and supports the growth and development of the livestock sector.

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) have signed an agreement to design and conduct experiments that will be integrated into the upcoming Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), India’s planned indigenous space station.

Key Points:

• • BAS is India’s planned space station for scientific research which will orbit around 400 – 450 km above the Earth’s surface 
  • It will have five modules and will be built in phases. 
  • Targets: The first module (the Base Module) will be launched in 2028 and BAS will be operationalized by 2035. 
  • Current Status: BAS is currently in conceptualization phase, under which overall architecture, number and types of modules, docking ports etc. are being studied.
• Significance of BAS:

• • Spaceflight and human habitation
  • Earth observation
  • Microgravity research
  • International Prestige

• Around  8.48 million workers registered under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) had their names removed from the program.

Key Points:

• MGNREGA is the abbreviation for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005.
• It is a law passed by the Indian government in 2005 that guarantees the “right to work” to rural citizens of India. 
• Under this, the government assures a minimum of 100 days of unskilled manual work to an adult member of an eligible rural household. 
• The main objective of the MGNREGA is to provide employment to rural citizens and improve their economic conditions.
• Eligibility Criteria: For receiving the benefits of the MGNREGA Scheme, the following eligibility criteria are to be met by the applicant:
  • Citizen of India
  • 18 years of age at the time of application
  • Rural Household
  • Willing to do unskilled work
• Unemployment Allowance: If work is not assigned within 15 days, the applicant is entitled to receive an unemployment allowance. This allowance is 1/4 of the minimum wage for the first 30 days and a half for the following period. 

• India’s coking coal imports reached a six-year high in the first half of 2024-25.

Key Points:

• • Coking coal (or metallurgical coal) is a bituminous coal with a suitable quality that allows the production of metallurgical coke, or simply named coke. 
  • Coking coal has a higher carbon content than steam coal, as well as a lower level of sulfur, phosphorus and alkalis (World Coal Institute 2009). 
  • Coke is the main product of the high-temperature carbonisation of coking coal. 
  • By-products of coke production such as tar, benzole, ammonia sulfate and sulfur are used for the manufacture of chemicals, as well as coke oven gas used for heat and power generation.
• Coking Coal Mission:

• • The Coal Ministry launched Mission Coking Coal to address the growing domestic demand for coking coal as projected in the National Steel Policy 2017.
  • The mission envisions significantly reducing coking coal imports through a transformative measure under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative. 
  • These measures encompass exploration, enhanced production, technological adoption, private sector involvement in coking coal blocks, the establishment of new washeries, increased research and development activities, and quality enhancement.

• The Odisha cabinet has approved minor amendments to the guidelines of the Subhadra Yojana to expedite the process of beneficiary selection in a more transparent manner.
• The amendments include accepting deviations from the exclusion criteria listed in the scheme guidelines for applicants present in the National Food Security Act (NFSA) /State Food Security Scheme (SFSS) database. 
• This decision was taken based on the list of eligible beneficiaries submitted by OCAC after delinking the Subhadra portal from the Aadhaar e-KYC module from September 8 to 13, 2024 for verification through other databases like NFSA and PM-Kisan.

Refer to Addapedia notes for detailed info on Subhadra Yojana.

• Odisha Yatri is a ride-hailing platform developed by the Odisha government to provide a more affordable and convenient alternative to private operators like Ola and Uber. 
• Odisha Yatri aims to create a sustainable and inclusive mobility ecosystem, accommodating special needs like disability-friendly vehicles and pet-friendly trips.

Key Points:

• The app operates on a zero-commission model, meaning drivers get to keep 100% of their earnings, while passengers benefit from competitive pricing and a seamless booking experience. 
• The service provided through a mobile app will offer non-AC and AC minicab, sedan and XL cab services, and extend inter-city rides, rentals, and scheduled services in phases. 
• It will be powered by the open network for digital commerce (ONDC).

• The Odisha state government has recently roped in the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) and Karmayogi Bharat for upgrading work skills and competence of its employees.

Key Points:

• The collaboration will enhance the capacity building framework for government employees by focusing on several critical areas.
• As per the tripartite agreement, all state government departments and employees will be onboarded onto the iGOT platform and a competency passbook will be developed for them.

IGOT:

• The iGOT is an online training platform launched under Mission Karmayogi to enhance the skills of civil servants. 
• It will support in conducting activities, competence exercises and identifying and publishing learning resources on the iGOT platform besides assisting the state in identifying content developers and fostering dynamic collaboration between state and central governments.

• Mission Karmayogi is a transformative initiative launched by the Government of India to create a competent and future-ready civil service.
• It aims to enhance the capacity and skills of government officials through a comprehensive online learning platform called iGOT Karmayogi.  
• The program emphasizes continuous learning and provides a platform for civil servants to access a wide range of courses and resources.
• It aims to transform the way civil servants are trained and developed, making them more effective and efficient in serving the nation.   

• No judge from the Orissa High Court has been elevated to the Supreme Court for over 12 years. 
• This has raised concerns about regional representation and the selection process for Supreme Court judges.

Key Points:

• Eight judges from Orissa high court have been appointed as judges to the Supreme Court since 1950, while three of them went on to become Chief Justice of India.
• Justice Dipak Misra was last appointed as an SC judge more than 12 years ago.
• He was the last judge to be elevated from Orissa high court to SC.

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