Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 02 December 2024 | Download PDF

• Trump warns of 100% tariffs on BRICS countries if the dollar is undermined.

Key Points:

• The term ‘BRIC‘ was coined by Jim O’Neill, a Goldman Sachs economist, to describe the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. 
• According to Jim O’Neill, these emerging economies were poised to dominate the global economy by 2050.
• The BRIC nations held their first informal meeting on the sidelines of the G8 Outreach Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.
• South Africa was invited to join the group. This led to the rebranding of the institution from BRIC to BRICS.
• New Development Bank (NDB) was officially launched with an initial capital of $100 billion, to provide development finance.
• BRICS was expanded to BRICS+ with the admission of six new member states– Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates. 
• The expanded BRICS comprises major emerging economies that collectively represent approximately 41% of the world’s population and around 28% of global GDP.

• Despite the absence of the festival rush, net GST revenues have increased by 11.1%.

Key Points:

• The Goods and Services Tax is a form of Indirect Tax levied on most of the goods and services sold in India for domestic consumption.
• It is based on the principle of Value Added Tax (VAT) and is applicable throughout India.
• It is paid by consumers, but it is remitted to the government by the businesses selling the goods and services.
• It has subsumed and replaced various indirect taxes that were previously levied by the central and state governments.
• After the passage of the Constitution (101st Amendment) Act, the following acts were passed by the Parliament to define the legal framework for Goods and Services Tax.
  • Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017
  • Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017
  • Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act, 2017
  • Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017
• Also, each state passed their own State Goods and Services Tax Act.
• These acts, together, provide the legal framework for Goods and Services Tax.

• Over the past two decades, nearly 3,500 projects, including 217 bridges, have been successfully completed in Jammu and Kashmir under the centrally sponsored Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

Key Points:

• • Launched on: 25 December, 2000.
  • Objective: To provide connectivity, by way of an all-weather road to unconnected habitations.
  • Eligibility: Unconnected habitations of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-Eastern States, Himalayan States, Deserts and Tribal Areas as per 2001 census) in the core network for uplifting the socio-economic condition of the rural population.
  • Funding Pattern: The Union Government bears 90% of the project cost in respect of projects sanctioned under the scheme in North-Eastern and Himalayan States, whereas for other states the Union Government bears 60% of the cost.
• PMGSY – Phase I

• • • PMGSY – Phase I was launched in December, 2000 as a 100 % centrally sponsored scheme.
    • Under the scheme, 1,35,436 habitations were targeted for providing road connectivity and 3.68 lakh km. for upgradation of existing rural roads in order to ensure full farm to market connectivity.
• PMGSY – Phase II

• • • The Government of India subsequently launched PMGSY-II in 2013 for upgradation of 50,000 Kms of existing rural road network to improve its overall efficiency.
    • While the ongoing PMGSY – I continued, under PMGSY phase II,the roads already built for village connectivity were to be upgraded to enhance rural infrastructure.
    • The cost was shared between the centre and the states/UTs.
• PMGSY – Phase III

• Under the PMGSY-III Scheme, it is proposed to consolidate 1,25,000 Km road length in the States. The duration of the scheme is 2019-20 to 2024-25.

• India’s efforts have kept the HIV epidemic at low levels, with new infections in 2023 nearly 44% lower than in 2010, and AIDS-related deaths decreasing by 79%, as stated by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on World AIDS Day.

Key Points:

• • AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is a chronic disease that occurs when the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) damages the body’s immune system.
• HIV is a virus that targets and weakens the body’s immune system.

• • If untreated, it can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a life-threatening condition where the immune system fails.
  • People living with AIDS  are vulnerable to opportunistic infections and certain cancers.
• Transmission

• • • Sexually transmitted : through contact with infected body fluids during sexual activity.
    • Blood contact: including through sharing contaminated needles, and illicit injection drug use.
    • Mother to child: during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
• Government Initiatives
• National AIDS Control Programme:

• • • • The National AIDS and STD Control Programme (2021-2026), fully funded by the Indian government, is in its fifth phase.
      • It was launched in 1992 to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and STDs.
• HIV Testing and Antiretroviral Therapy (ART):

• • • • India offers free HIV and syphilis testing to all pregnant women, conducting over 30 million free HIV tests annually.
      • More than 1.7 million people are receiving free ART through public healthcare systems.
• Youth-targeted Initiatives:

• • • Initiatives like Red Ribbon Clubs and awareness campaigns such as the RED RUN Marathon, both of which play a crucial role in spreading awareness and combating HIV/AIDS.

• Cyclone Fengal made landfall near Puducherry on November 30, bringing heavy rainfall and gusty winds to Tamil Nadu’s coastal belt, including Chennai and Puducherry. This is the second cyclone to impact India’s east coast in two months after Cyclone Dana.
• The cyclone made landfall between Mahabalipuram and Karaikal with wind speeds of 70-80 km/hr, gusting to 90 km/hr.

Key Points:

• • A cyclone is a large-scale system of air that rotates around the centre of a low-pressure area. It is usually accompanied by violent storms and bad weather.
  • A cyclone is characterised by inward spiralling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Characteristics of a Tropical Cyclone:

• • • The centre of a cyclone is very calm and clear with very low air pressure. The average speed is 120 kmph.
    • They have closed isobars which leads to greater velocity.
• Isobars are imaginary lines on a weather map that connect locations with equal atmospheric pressure.

• • They develop over oceans and sea only.
  • They move from east to west under the influence of trade winds.
• What does landfall of a cyclone mean?

• • Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone coming onto land after being over water.
  • As per the IMD, a tropical cyclone is said to have made a landfall when the center of the storm – or its eye – moves over the coast.
  • During landfall, the outer bands of the storm may have already reached the coast, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surge.

• Odisha has reported a significant decrease in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases as per recent data.
• Reports show that around 50,000 individuals are living with AIDS. 
•  Ganjam district remains the most affected area with about 20,000 cases.
• Comparatively, Sonapur has the fewest cases, recording approximately 50 cases.

The Odisha state aims to eliminate AIDS by 2030.

Note:

• As per the HIV Estimations 2019, nationally, there was an estimated 23.48 lakh (17.98 lakh – 30.98 lakh) PLHIV in 2019.

• World AIDS Day is observed annually on December 1st.
• It is a global health awareness day dedicated to raising awareness of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), as well as honoring those who have lost their lives to the disease.
• The day also aims to advocate for increased investment in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care.
• It was initiated in 1988 by WHO.

Key Points:

• How is HIV/AIDS spread?
• Unprotected Sex: This is the most common mode of transmission.   
• Blood Transfusion: Sharing contaminated needles or blood products.
• Mother-to-Child Transmission: During pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

Theme:

• The theme for World AIDS Day 2024 is “Equalize.” 
• This theme emphasizes the importance of equal access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care services for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or socioeconomic status.

• The 29th All-India Conference of Directors General of Police (DGPs) and Inspectors General of Police (IGPs) concluded successfully in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• It was held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha from November 29th to December 1st, 2024. 

Key Points:

• Apart from Modi and Shah, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, senior officers of the Intelligence Bureau, DGPs of all states, DG of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), chiefs of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), National Security Guard (NSG) and Special Protection Group (SPG) also attended the conference.

About:

• The All-India Conference of Directors General (DGs) and Inspectors General (IGs) of Police is a high-level annual event where top police officials from across India gather to discuss critical issues related to policing and internal security. 
• This significant event will bring together top police officials from across the country to discuss crucial issues related to national security, law enforcement, and internal security.

• Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling has revealed that the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri – Jan Arogya Yojana will be implemented in Odisha by the end of this fiscal 2024.

Key Points:

• The beneficiaries covered under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana can get healthcare services at hospitals upto Rs 5 lakh
• While as, the state government under Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY), which has replaced previous BJD government’s flagship Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), will provide healthcare services upto Rs 5 lakh to beneficiaries in rural areas and upto Rs 6 lakh in urban areas. 

Ayushman Bharat scheme:

• Ayushman Bharat is a flagship healthcare initiative of the Indian government launched on September 23, 2018 and is aimed at achieving universal health coverage. 
• It consists of two primary components:   

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY): 

• This is the world’s largest health insurance scheme, providing free-of-cost health insurance coverage up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. 
• It covers over 50 crore beneficiaries from economically weaker sections of society.   

Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs): 

• These are primary healthcare centers providing comprehensive health care services, including preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative care.   

Key benefits of Ayushman Bharat:

• Provides financial protection to poor and vulnerable families.   
• Improves access to quality healthcare services.
• Reduces out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare.   
• Promotes preventive healthcare through

• • Context:
• Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana (GJAY) is a comprehensive health insurance scheme in Odisha.

• Named after the renowned freedom fighter and social reformer, Gopabandhu Das, this scheme aims to provide financial protection to the vulnerable sections of society by covering the cost of hospitalization and medical treatment.
• The Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) has been renamed to Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana. 
• This rebranded scheme, along with the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), will offer cashless treatment to patients in approximately 27,000 empanelled hospitals.

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