Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 29 August 2024 | Download PDF

• Finance minister said that nearly 3 crore new accounts will be opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) during the current financial year. 

About PMJDY:

• PMJDY is a financial inclusion program initiated by the Government of India. 
• Objective: 
  • PMJDY aims to expand affordable access to financial services for Indian citizens. 
  • These services include bank accounts, remittances, credit, insurance, and pensions.
• Eligibility: Indian citizens, including minors aged 10 and older (who can open an account with a guardian), are eligible to participate.
• The plan also envisages channeling all Government benefits (from Centre / State / Local Body) to the beneficiaries accounts and pushing the Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) scheme of the Union Government.
• Benefits under PMJDY:
  • Savings bank accounts for unbanked people.
  • No requirement to maintain any minimum balance.
  • Rupay Debit card is provided.
  • Accident Insurance Cover of Rs.1 lakh.
  • An overdraft (OD) facility up to Rs. 10,000 to eligible account holders is available.
  • PMJDY accounts are eligible for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Bank (MUDRA) scheme.

• 85 butterfly species spotted at Arunachal Pradesh’s Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: Lower Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh
• Rivers: Pange, Sipu, Karing, and Subansiri flow through the sanctuary
• Flora:
  • Subtropical and alpine forests with silver fir trees, ferns, orchids, bamboo, and rhododendrons
  • Unique bamboo species, Pleioblastus simone, found only in Talley Valley
• Fauna: Elephants, barking deer, giant squirrels, porcupines, leopards, clouded leopards, and wild boars inhabit the sanctuary.

• Railways plans to go nuclear as part of its green drive.

About Nuclear Powered Trains:

• Indian Railways is exploring nuclear power through captive units.
• The goal is to increase reliance on non-fossil fuel sources.
• Initial focus: circuits served by the Nabinagar Thermal Power Plant.
• How Nuclear-Powered Trains Work:
  • Heat from a nuclear reaction produces steam.
  • Steam drives turbines.
  • One turbine powers the train, while another generates electricity for auxiliary systems (lighting, air conditioning).
• Historical Context: Interest in nuclear-powered trains dates back to the 1950s, particularly in the USSR.

• The Prime Minister paid homage to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand on the National Sports Day.

About National Sports Day:

• National Sports Day: Celebrated annually on August 29, established in 2012 by the Indian government to recognize sports excellence.
• Tribute to Major Dhyan Chand: The date was selected to honor Major Dhyan Chand, known as the ‘Wizard of Hockey‘, who was born on August 29, 1905, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
• Major Dhyan Chand’s Career: Led India to win three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932, and 1936.
• Theme for 2024: The theme has not been announced yet; the 2023 theme was “Sports are an enabler to an inclusive and fit society.”

• Biologist Johannes Fritz and the Waldrappteam have successfully increased the Central European northern bald ibis population from zero to nearly 300 since 2002.

About Northern bald ibis:

• Scientific Name: Geronticus eremita
• Conservation Status: Endangered (formerly Critically Endangered)
• Historical Range:
  • Once native to Central Europe until the 17th century.
  • Also found in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
  • Extinction in Europe: Extinct in Central Europe by the 17th century due to excessive hunting.
• Habitat: Prefer open areas with short grass like meadows, pastures, and sports fields; not scavengers despite their vulture-like bald head.
• Breeding Habits:
  • Nest on steep rock faces with protective nooks.
  • Lay up to four greenish eggs; incubation begins with the first egg, leading to staggered hatching.

• A significant step towards self-sufficiency in edible oils has been taken in Bhainsa village, Balangir district, Odisha.
• A grand oil palm plantation drive has been launched under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). 
• Sangita Kumari Singhdeo, Member of Parliament from Balangir inaugurated the event.
• This initiative aims to boost the production of edible oils within the country, reducing dependence on imports.

National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP):

• The NMEO-OP is a government-backed program designed to promote oil palm cultivation in suitable regions of India. 
• By encouraging farmers to adopt oil palm cultivation, the mission seeks to enhance the country’s agricultural productivity and reduce the import bill for edible oils.
• The target fixed for Oil palm area expansion by 2025-26 under NMEO-Oil palm is given below:
  • To increase area of oil palm to 10 lakh hectares from 3.5 lakh ha during 2019-20 by 2025-26 (additional 6.50 lakh ha) of which it is targeted 3.22 lakh hectares for general state and 3.28 lakh ha in North Eastern states with targeted FFBs production of 66.00 lakh tonnes.

• Odisha CMhas expressed gratitude to  PM Modi for approving two new railway projects for the state, worth a total of Rs 4,286 crore.
• The projects include:

1. 138 km Bargarh Road-Nuapara railway line

• It will be implemented at a cost of Rs 2,926 crore.

1.  37 km long Sardega-Bhalumunda new double line.

• It was allocated Rs 1,360 crore.
• The new projects are expected to create 72 lakh man-days, generating ample employment opportunities for local residents.

Note: There was a significant increase in railway budget allocation to Odisha, from an average of Rs 838 crore between 2009 and 2014 to Rs 10,586 crore in 2024-25, a 12.5-fold increase.

• Odisha has been awarded the Best State Award for its innovative initiatives and effective implementation of road safety measures. 
• The award was presented by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, during the sixth edition of FICCI’s Road Safety Conclave held in New Delhi
• This recognition by the central government highlights Odisha’s commitment to reducing road accidents and ensuring the safety of its citizens.

• The “UK-India Strategic Trade Workshop: Strengthening Millets Value Chains (State, National, and Global)” was a significant event held in Bhubaneswar, aimed at boosting the millet industry. 
• Organized by the University of York in collaboration with the Odisha Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, the workshop brought together experts, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to discuss strategies for enhancing the value chains of millets. 
• The event focused on exploring opportunities for increased trade, investment, and technological advancements in the millet sector, both within India and globally.

Note:

• Shree Anna is a term coined by the Indian government to refer to millets, a group of nutrient-dense, drought-resistant grains. 
• These ancient grains, such as sorghum, millet, ragi, and foxtail millet, have been cultivated in India for centuries.

• Springer Nature launched its Research Integrity in Science and Education (RISE) initiative at the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) in Bhubaneswar recently. 
• It was organised in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Ministry of Education and SOA.
• This initiative aims to promote research integrity and ethical practices within the research community. 
• This event will be followed by RISE road shows comprising workshops, knowledge sessions and learning courses for researchers across India as part of Springer Nature’s India Research Tour 2024 next month.

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