Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 01 February 2024 | Download PDF

• • India’s ranking on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for 2023 is 93 out of 180 countries.
  • India’s overall score in 2023 was 39, a minor decrease from 40 in 2022.
• The country’s rank in 2022 was 85.

Corruption Perception Index (CPI):

• The CPI is an annual assessment that evaluates countries based on their perceived levels of public sector corruption.
• Published by Transparency International, a global non-governmental organization combating corruption.

Key Points:

• Scale: Countries are scored on a scale of 0 to 100, where a higher score indicates lower perceived corruption and a cleaner public sector.
• Ranking: Based on their scores, countries are then ranked, with the least corrupt being positioned higher.
• Data Sources: The CPI aggregates data from various sources, including surveys and assessments by organizations and institutions that evaluate corruption levels.
• Expert Opinions: It includes the opinions of experts and business leaders regarding the level of corruption in the public sector.

• Output growth of India’s eight core sectors dropped to a 14-month low of 3.8% in December.
• This is a significant decline compared to the 8.3% pace observed a year earlier and the revised growth of 7.9% in November 2023.

Key Points:

• Electricity generation, with a 20% weightage in the Index of Core Industries (ICI), reached an eight-month low of 0.6% in December.
• Crude oil output contracted for the second consecutive month, shrinking by 1%, marking the sharpest decline since June 2023.
• Coal production grew by 10.6%, the slowest year-on-year uptick in six months, but output was at its highest level since April 2023.
• Cement output rebounded from a 4% contraction in November, expanding by 1.3% in December 

About:

• The Office of Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade releases Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI).
• ICI measures combined and individual performance of production in selected eight core industries viz. Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and Electricity.
• The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

Key Points:

• Maldivian Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen met with Sri Lankan counterpart Nimal Siripala de Silva in Colombo.
• Minister Ameen shared on ‘X’ platform that Sri Lanka has agreed to assist in medical evacuation, emphasizing the creation of a framework for immediate approval on urgent requirements.
• President Muizzu’s initiative to establish an air ambulance service by March 2024 aims to enhance prompt medical evacuation capabilities, allowing patients to travel even to distant locations like Thailand.

Way forward:

• The Maldives’ collaboration with Sri Lanka for medical evacuation signals a strategic move to diversify partnerships, particularly amid strained relations with India. 
• The initiative aligns with President Muizzu’s broader efforts to enhance emergency medical services, addressing recent challenges and aiming for international collaborations.

The Centre has proposed to replace the existing India Stamp Act, 1899 with the new Indian Stamp Bill, 2023.

Key changes:

• Provisions allow states and the Centre to introduce new instruments for stamp duty.
• The bill suggests withdrawing duty exemption for ships and vessels.
• Increase in the monetary threshold for revenue receipt issuance from Rs 20 to Rs 1,000.
• Inclusion of provisions for digital signatures.
• Redefinition of terms like “executed” and “execution” to mean “signed” and “signature,” including electronic records and signatures as defined by the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000.

• The park undergoes closure from February 1 for the calving season of the Nilgiri Tahr.
• This annual closure is essential for the protection and conservation of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr during their breeding period.

Eravikulam National Park Overview:

• Established in 1978, Eravikulam National Park is the first national park in Kerala.
• Originally created to protect the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, it has evolved into a diverse ecosystem supporting various flora and fauna.
• The park is named after the Neelakurinji flower, known for its enchanting blue bloom occurring every 12 years.

Geography:

• Located in the Kannan Devan Hills, part of the Western Ghats mountain range.
• No major rivers flow within the park, but numerous perennial streams intersect, eventually becoming tributaries of the Periyar and Cauvery rivers.
• Lakkom Waterfalls, an attractive natural feature, is situated within the park’s boundaries.
• Anamudi, South India’s highest peak at 2,695 meters, is a prominent feature of the park.

Odisha Regional Specific News

• • Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) announces Ekamra Utsav, a festival celebrating Odia language and culture.
  • Scheduled from February 3 to February 9, coinciding with the “Biswa Odia Bhasha Sammilani” by the Odisha Government.
• Ekamra Utsav comprises of  three distinct components:
• Sangitara Murchana-featuring captivating performances by acclaimed artists from across the nation and region.

• • Food Festival – “AMA BYANJAN,” offering attendees the opportunity to immerse themselves in the vibrant traditions and flavors of Odisha.
  • The Ekamra Haat – Night Flea Market of Ekamra Utsav.

First edition of Biswa Odia Bhasha Sammilani

• In February 2024, a three-day event named ‘Biswa Odia Bhasa Sammilani’ will be organized in Bhubaneswar.
• The event aims to popularize the Odia language globally and ensure its effective preservation.
• The event aims to promote Odia language not only within the State but also globally.
• Efforts will extend to foreign countries, fostering a broader understanding and appreciation of the language.

• In a noteworthy development, Tata Power and the government of Odisha, through TP Northern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPNODL), have successfully provided power to 42 remote villages in Similipal. 
• This initiative, part of the ‘Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana’ (BGJY), aims to illuminate every home in mountainous and inaccessible regions across Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts.

About:

• Objective: In order to ensure “Electricity to all”, the State Govt. have launched a scheme in the year
• 2007-08 namely, “Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana” to electrify villages/habitation having less than 100
• population those are not covered under RGGVY.
• There are three components of the scheme- Village/ habitation electrification, Kutir Jyoti
• (BPL) connections and Energisation of L.I. Points. 

• Indian Coast Guard Day (ICG Day) celebrated annually on 1st February.
• Significance: Commemorating the contributions of the Indian Coast Guard to national maritime security.
• Objective: Raise awareness about the crucial role of the Coast Guard in safeguarding coastal waters.
• The Indian Coast Guard Day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices and efforts made by the Coast Guard for the nation.

• Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday awarded ‘Mukhyamantri Sikhya Puraskar’ to districts, blocks, students, teachers, alumni committees, gram panchayats, district and block education officers.

About:

• The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Naveen Patnaik launched the Mukhyamantri Shiksha Puraskar on November 16, 2022 for all participants in the public education system, for their outstanding efforts in achieving academic brilliance and holistic development of schools.
• The Mukhyamantri Shiksha Puraskar honours more than 50,000 Students, 1,500 Principals, the School Management Committee, alumni, the Gram Panchayat, and the District Administrators.
• The State Government’s Mo School Abhiyan is identified as the nodal agency to rollout the Mukhyamantri Shiksha Puraskar from the session 2023-24. 
• Mo School is a citizen-government partnership in which the former leads in designing the programme, defining its goals and directing its implementation.

• Odisha government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) of Jaipur.
• The MoU aims to facilitate the supply of artificial limbs to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in the state.
• The MoU outlines a 5-year collaboration between the Odisha government and BMVSS.
• BMVSS, known for Jaipur Foot production with indigenous technology, will extend its services for artificial limbs under the agreement.

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