Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 05 October 2024 | Download PDF

• Nine captive-bred pygmy hogs released in Assam national park.
• It was the fifth such exercise by the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP) since 2020.

About Pygmy hog:

• Species: Smallest and rarest wild pig in the world.
• Unique Behavior: One of the few mammals that build its own nest with a ‘roof’.
• Indicator Species: Reflects the health of its primary habitat, tall and wet grasslands.
• Habitat:
  • Prefers undisturbed patches of grassland.
  • Dominated by early succession riverine communities.
  • Comprises dense tall grass, herbs, shrubs, and young trees.
  • Current Population: Viable population in the wild is in Manas Tiger Reserve, Assam.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Critically Endangered.
  • The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.

• The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme, announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her Budget speech on July 23, was launched on October 3.

About PM Internship Scheme:

• It will enhance youth employability in India by offering them hands-on exposure to real-world business environments.
• The scheme represents a transformative opportunity to bridge the skills gap and drive sustainable growth in India.
• Aim: The scheme aims to provide internship opportunities to one crore youth over five years, in the top 500 companies.
• The pilot project will be implemented through an online portal managed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
• A monthly stipend of ₹4,500 will be provided to the interns from the central government via DBT (Direct Benefit transfer), with an additional ₹500 offset provided by the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
• They will also be provided a one-time grant of Rs 6,000 upon joining and insurance coverage under PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and PM Suraksha Bima Yojana.

• European Union proposes extension of deadline to implement deforestation regulation.

About European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR):

• Purpose:
  • Limit the EU market’s impact on global deforestation, forest degradation, and biodiversity loss.
  • Promote deforestation-free supply chains.
  • Reduce the EU’s contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
  • Protect human rights and the rights of indigenous people.
• Targeted Commodities:
  • Cattle (including beef)
  • Cocoa
  • Wood
  • Coffee
  • Oil Palm
  • Rubber
  • Soya
  • Relevant products derived from these commodities (e.g., leather, chocolate, paper).

• India becomes affiliate member of International Medical Device Regulators Forum.

About International Medical Device Regulators Forum:

• Establishment: Founded in 2011.
• Purpose: Speed up the adoption of international medical device regulatory harmonization and convergence.
• Members: 
  • National regulatory authorities of the U.S., Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Russia, China, South Korea, Singapore.
  • World Health Organization (WHO).

• Cabinet approves India to Join International Energy Efficiency Hub by signing the Letter of Intent.

About International Energy Efficiency Hub:

• Global Platform: Dedicated to fostering collaboration and promoting energy efficiency worldwide.
• Establishment: Founded in 2020 as the successor to the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC), with India as a member.
• Purpose: Brings together governments, international organizations, and private sector entities to share knowledge, best practices, and innovative solutions.
• Implementing Agency: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is the designated implementing agency for India.
• Role of BEE: Facilitates India’s participation in the Hub’s activities and ensures alignment with national energy efficiency goals.

• Anchalik Jana Seva Anusthan (AJSA) India, a non-governmental organization based in Odisha, has been awarded the Bridgestone Mobility Social Impact Award 2024 in the “Increase Access to Resources” category. 
• The award comes with a cash prize of Rs 1.5 million.

About:

• The Bridgestone Social Impact Award is a prestigious recognition given to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to improving the lives of people through innovative mobility solutions. 
• This award aligns with Bridgestone’s commitment to advancing safe and sustainable mobility for all

• A breathtaking video of a rare melanistic tiger, captured in Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha.
• Melanistic tigers are a testament to the diversity of life and the importance of preserving their habitats. 

About:

• Melanistic tigers, often referred to as “black tigers,” are a unique and extremely rare variant of the Bengal tiger. 
• Their distinctive appearance is due to an excess of melanin, a pigment that determines skin, hair, and eye color. 
• This excess melanin causes the tiger’s stripes to become darker and more prominent, often appearing almost black.

Refer to Addapedia notes for detailed info on Similipal Tiger Reserve.

• • The Odisha government has introduced rules to provide a 10% quota to retired Agniveers in uniform services.
  • In these regulations, “Retired Agniveers” means a person who has completed four years of service in the armed forces under the Agniveers Recruitment Scheme of the Government of India.
• A  “Retired Soldier” means a person as defined in the Retired Soldiers (Employment in State Civil Service and Posts) Regulations, 1985. 
• “Uniform Service” means the police, Forest, Forestry, Fire Services or any other service as may be declared by the government from time to time.
• A 10% Horizontal reservation shall be reserved for retired Agniveers in uniform service of all ‘C’ and ‘D’ category posts of the state filled by direct recruitment. 
• Yhis reservation shall be subject to an additional 10% reservation in addition to the reservation applicable to retired servicemen.

About:

• The Agniveer scheme is a new recruitment plan for the Indian Armed Forces. 
• The primary goal of this scheme is to introduce a new model of recruitment, offering short-term service contracts to a large number of young people.

Key features of the Agniveer scheme:

• Short-term service: Agniveers serve for a period of four years.   
• Retention: 25% of Agniveers will be retained for an additional 15 years, forming the permanent cadre of the Armed Forces.   
• Skill development: During their service, Agniveers will acquire various skills and training that can be beneficial for their future careers.   
• Severance package: After completing their four-year tenure, Agniveers will receive a severance package, including a lump sum amount and a skill development certificate

• Odisha has cut down out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on health by almost half in less than a decade. 
• It has achieved a notable decrease from 71.5% in 2015-16 to 37.1% in 2021-22.
• The OOPE in the state is now among the lowest in the country, as per the National Health Accounts (NHA) estimate released by the central government.
• The drop is attributed to the universal health assurance scheme for more than one crore families and a four-fold increase in the government expenditure on healthcare

Key Points:

• OOPE refers to the direct costs incurred by an individual for healthcare services that are not covered by insurance. 

These expenses can include:

• Co-payments: Fixed amounts paid at the time of service.
• Deductibles: A minimum amount paid before insurance coverage kicks in.
• Co-insurance: A percentage of the cost that the individual pays.
• Prescription drugs: Costs not covered by insurance or covered only partially.
• Over-the-counter medications: Medications purchased without a prescription.
• Medical supplies and equipment: Items like bandages, crutches, or hearing aids.

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