Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 07 August 2024 | Download PDF

National and International News

• A recent report by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) emphasizes that investing in nutrition within the agri-food sector can reduce gender inequalities, boost productivity, and enhance business resilience.

About GAIN:

• Foundation Launch: Swiss-based foundation launched at the United Nations in 2002.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Offices: Located in countries with high levels of malnutrition.
• Mission: Makes healthier food choices more affordable, available, and desirable.
• Purpose: Improve nutrition outcomes by enhancing the consumption of nutritious and safe food for all, especially the vulnerable.
• Maternal and Infant Health: Supports breastfeeding and specialized products for infants over six months and young children.
• Agricultural Value Chains: Partners with local businesses to improve food quality along agricultural value chains.

• Researchers have isolated and described India’s first indigenous methanotroph cultures, Methylocucumis oryzae, from rice fields and wetlands, primarily in Western India.

About Methylocucumis oryzae:

• Natural Habitat: Abundant in wetlands and rice fields.
• Shape and Name: Oval and elongated shape, resembling a cucumber, hence called ‘methane-eating cucumbers‘.
• Methanotroph: Important component in methane consumption.
• Temperature Sensitivity: Strictly mesophilic, cannot grow above 37ºC, unlike most other methanotrophs.
• Agricultural Benefit: Promotes rice plant growth by inducing early flowering and increasing grain yield.

• A fortnight-long exhibition, “VIRAASAT,” dedicated to celebrating the 10th National Handloom Day, recently began at Handloom Haat in Janpath.

About VIRAASAT:

• Organizer: National Handloom Development Corporation Ltd (NHDC) under the Ministry of Textiles.
• Purpose: Continuation of celebrations around National Handloom Day.
• Focus:
  • Glorious tradition of Handloom and Handicrafts.
  • Provides market connections to handloom weavers and artisans.

About National Handloom Day:

• Historical Context: Swadeshi Movement – Launched on 7th August 1905, encouraged indigenous industries and handloom weavers.
• Inception: First National Handloom Day held on 7th August 2015 in Chennai.
• Annual Commemoration: The Government of India commemorates 7th August every year as National Handloom Day since 2015.
• Objective: Recognize the efforts and skills of the weaver community engaged in the handloom sector.

• Recent research reveals that mobile apps frequently employ deceptive design tactics, known as dark patterns, to manipulate users into taking unintended actions.

About Dark Patterns:

• Dark patterns are deceptive and manipulative user interface (UI) design techniques.
• Employed by websites, apps, and other digital platforms to trick or manipulate users.
• Aim to influence user behavior in a way that benefits the implementing company.
• Origin: Term coined in 2010 by Harry Brignull, a user experience specialist.
• Types of Dark Patterns:
  • Friend spam
  • Forced continuity
  • Disguised ads
  • Confirm shaming
  • Bait and switch
  • Hidden costs
  • Roach motel
  • Privacy zuckering
  • Misdirection
  • Price comparison prevention
  • Trick questions
  • Sneak into basket
• Example: Using fear, shame, ridicule, or guilt to nudge the user to act in a certain way.
• Regulations: In November 2023, the Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, released guidelines for 13 dark patterns.
• Guidelines state that using any of these dark patterns amounts to a misleading advertisement, an unfair trade practice, or a violation of consumer rights.

• Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in the star cluster M67, located in the constellation Cancer.
• They found a vampire star that rejuvenates by sucking up material from a companion star.

About Vampire Stars:

• Blue Straggler Stars (BSS):
  • Easily identified in star clusters.
  • Appear younger than neighboring stars, defying simple stellar evolution models.
• Mystery and Theories:
  • Their youthful appearance has puzzled astronomers.
  • Theories suggest they might consume material from companion stars.
• Symbiotic Binaries (Vampire Stars):
  • Typically found in pairs.
  • The smaller star (sucking star) consumes material from the larger star (victim).
  • As the sucking star consumes more material, it eventually becomes larger than its victim and turns into a blue star (blue straggler).

• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) is undertaking a crucial initiative to study and conserve horseshoe crabs in Odisha.   

Key Points:

• Tagging for Tracking: To understand the migratory patterns of these ancient creatures, ZSI is attaching metallic flipper tags to horseshoe crabs. This innovative method will help researchers monitor their movement across vast oceanic distances.   
• Conservation Efforts: The study aims to gather valuable data on horseshoe crab populations, their habitats, and threats they face. This information will be instrumental in developing effective conservation strategies.   
• Odisha’s Significance: Odisha’s coastline, particularly areas like Balaramgari, Chandipur, and Hukitola, is known for its significant horseshoe crab population. 
• Protecting these creatures is essential as their blood contains a vital compound used in medical research

Horseshoe Crabs:

• Horseshoe crabs are often referred to as “living fossils” due to their ancient lineage. 
• They belong to the class Merostomata and have existed for over 450 million years, predating dinosaurs.

IUCN Status: Vulnerable 

 Zoological Survey of India

• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) is India’s premier organization dedicated to studying and documenting the country’s diverse animal life. 
• Established in 1916, it has played a crucial role in exploring, researching, and conserving India’s fauna.   

• The Juang tribals of Odisha’s Jajpur district have become the fifth Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in the country to receive habitat rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. 
• This landmark decision grants the Juangs legal recognition and access to their ancestral land and resources, ensuring the protection and conservation of their natural and cultural heritage.   

List of PVG’s to receive habitat rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. 

• Bharia Tribe (MP): 1st PVTG to get habitat right.
• Kamar Tribe (Chhattisgarh)
• Baiga Tribe (Chhattisgarh)
• Paudi Bhuyan (Odisha)
• Juang Tribe ( Odisha)

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

• PVTGs are a sub-group of Scheduled Tribes in India, identified as being even more vulnerable and marginalized. 
• They are characterized by:
• Small population: Often numbering in the thousands or even hundreds.
• Geographical isolation: Living in remote, inaccessible areas.
• Primitive technology: Relying on traditional, often unsustainable means of subsistence.
• Lack of written language: Oral traditions are predominant.
• Slow rate of change: Resistant to adopting modern practices and lifestyles

Benefits of Habitat Rights under Forest Act 2006

• The Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 provides significant benefits to forest-dwelling communities by recognizing their habitat rights. Some key advantages include:   
• Security of Tenure: It grants legal recognition to the traditional homes and lands of forest dwellers, providing a sense of security and ownership.   
• Livelihood Enhancement: By securing their habitat, it protects and promotes traditional livelihoods that depend on forest resources.   
• Conservation: It encourages sustainable forest management by empowering local communities to protect and conserve their natural environment.   
• Social Justice: It addresses historical injustices by recognizing the rights of marginalized forest-dwelling communities.   
• Empowerment: It provides a platform for these communities to participate in decision-making processes related to forest management.

Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006

• The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 is a landmark legislation in India that aims to recognize and protect the rights of forest-dwelling tribal and other traditional forest dwellers. 
• It seeks to correct historical injustices inflicted on these communities due to colonial-era forest laws.   

Key provisions of the FRA:

• Individual rights: Forest dwellers have the right to own and cultivate land up to a maximum of 4 hectares.   
• Community rights: Communities have rights over common forest resources like water bodies, grazing grounds, and non-timber forest products.   
• Gram Sabha empowerment: The Gram Sabha (village assembly) plays a crucial role in identifying beneficiaries and verifying claims.
• Forest management: Local communities are involved in forest management and conservation

• NITI Aayog has pledged its support to the state of Odisha in crafting two comprehensive vision documents. 
• These documents will outline Odisha’s developmental trajectory towards becoming a Viksit Odisha (Developed Odisha) by the year 2036 and a leading economic powerhouse in India by 2047.

Key points:

• Ambitious targets: Odisha aims to achieve a $500 billion economy by 2036 and a $1.5 trillion economy by 2047.
• NITI Aayog’s role: Providing expert guidance and support in developing the vision documents.
• Timeframe: A steering committee will be established to finalize the roadmap within three months.
• Focus areas: The vision documents will likely encompass various sectors such as agriculture, industry, infrastructure, education, and healthcare.

NITI Aayog

• NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) is the premier policy think tank of the Government of India. 
• It replaced the Planning Commission in 2015.   

Key functions:

• Policy formulation: Develops policies for economic growth and development.   
• Cooperative federalism: Fosters collaboration between the central and state governments.   
• Think tank: Provides expert advice on various issues.   
• Monitoring and evaluation: Tracks progress of government programs.   

Core objectives:

• To foster cooperative federalism.   
• To involve state governments in the economic policy-making process.   
• To create a strong state that will help create a dynamic and strong nation.   

• The Odisha government has introduced spending caps for departments not under the Cash Management System (CMS).   
• Aim is to control expenditure after passing a second vote-on-account in the same financial year, a first for the state.   

Limits:

• Administrative expenditure and transfers: Rs. 15 crore
• Programme expenditure (including state, central, and centrally sponsored schemes): Rs. 30 crore   

Impact: 

• This move aims to regulate spending and ensure financial prudence during a period of budgetary constraints

Cash Management System (CMS):

• CMS is a comprehensive suite of financial services offered by banks to help businesses efficiently manage their cash flow. 
• It involves a range of tools and solutions designed to optimize the collection, disbursement, and investment of funds.   

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