Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 08 November 2024 | Download PDF

• The PM Vidyalaxmi scheme, approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to financially support meritorious students in pursuing higher education by eliminating financial barriers.

Key Features

Eligibility:

• Students admitted to top 860 NIRF-ranked institutions (22 lakh students annually).
• Covers both government and private HEIs.

Loan Accessibility:

• Collateral-free, guarantor-free loans available for tuition and course-related expenses.
• Digital, transparent, student-friendly application system.

Financial Support:

• Credit Guarantee: 75% credit guarantee by the government on loans up to ₹7.5 lakhs.
• Interest Subvention:

• 3% interest subvention on loans up to ₹10 lakhs for students with family income up to ₹8 lakhs (moratorium period).
• Annual support for 1 lakh students, with preference for those in government institutions and technical/professional courses.

Administration:

• Unified Digital Portal: “PM-Vidyalaxmi” portal for easy loan and interest subvention applications.
• Payment System: Interest subvention via e-vouchers and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) wallets.

Budget and Impact:

• Funding: ₹3,600 Crore allocated for 2024-25 to 2030-31.
• Beneficiaries: 7 lakh new students expected to benefit within the period.

Integration with Existing Schemes.

• Additional Support:
  • Complements Central Sector Interest Subsidy (CSIS) and Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans (CGFSEL).
  • Holistic support for students with PM Vidyalaxmi and PM-USP combined, focusing on higher education access for all deserving students.

• Archaeologists have uncovered a fortified town dating back 4,000 years in northwest Saudi Arabia, revealing critical insights into the transition from nomadic to urban lifestyles in ancient societies.

Key Highlights of the Discovery

Location and Importance:

• The ancient town, called Al-Natah, is located within Khaybar’s walled oasis, a fertile region in Saudi Arabia surrounded by desert.
• This discovery provides a unique perspective on the development of social complexity and organized urban life in the Arabian Peninsula.

Discovery Details:

• Led by French archaeologist Guillaume Charloux, the excavation revealed a 14.5-kilometer wall surrounding the settlement.
• Findings, published in the journal PLOS One, suggest Al-Natah was a residential and organizational hub, showcasing early architectural planning.

Archaeological Findings

Age and Structure

• Dated to approximately 2400 BCE during the early Bronze Age, Al-Natah appears to have supported a population of about 500 people.
• The town featured a standard layout with nucleated dwellings connected by small streets, highlighting organized urban planning.
• The settlement covered 2.6 hectares and likely included distinct zones for residential living, decision-making, and burial (necropolis).

Architectural Significance:

• The fortified walls around the oasis settlement emphasize the need for protection and showcase an early form of urban fortification.
• The town’s organization reflects a structured lifestyle, differentiating it from the nomadic cultures that dominated nearby regions.

Social and Economic Context

Slow Urbanization and Social Complexity

• Unlike rapid urbanization in Mesopotamia and Egypt, Al-Natah exemplifies “slow urbanism” — a gradual shift from nomadic to settled lifestyles in Northwest Arabia.
• Researchers believe this process facilitated interactions between pastoral nomads and urban settlers, fostering economic and social exchanges.

Integration with Trade Networks:

• Al-Natah and other walled oases in Northwestern Arabia likely served as nodes in long-distance trade networks, integrating the region economically with the broader Middle Eastern world.
• The town’s modest urbanization reflects an indigenous pattern of growth and social organization, unique to the Arabian Peninsula.

• KarmayogiSaptah, a week-long initiative under the Mission Karmayogi, aims to ignite a culture of lifelong learning among Indian public servants. 
• It focuses on capacity building and skill development, empowering civil servants to become future-ready and aligned with national objectives.   

Key aspects of KarmayogiSaptah include:

• National Learning Week (NLW): A dedicated week for continuous learning and skill development.   
• Karmayogi Bharat Portal: An online platform for accessing a wide range of learning resources and courses.   
• Focus on attitude, skills, and knowledge: A holistic approach to capacity building, emphasizing the importance of not just technical skills but also the right mindset and values

Refer to Addapedia notes for detailed info on Mission Karmayogi.

• NTPC, India’s largest integrated power utility, recently celebrated its 50th Raising Day. 
• This milestone marks five decades of remarkable growth, innovation, and significant contributions to India’s power sector.
• During the celebrations, NTPC launched Hydrogen-fuel buses, a significant step towards cleaner and greener technologies. 
• Additionally, the company announced the successful synthesis of CO2 captured from flue gas with hydrogen, which was then converted into methanol at NTPC’s Vindhyachal plant.
• NTPC also aims to install 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032, solidifying its position as a leader in India’s power sector.

About:

• NTPC, or National Thermal Power Corporation, is a major Indian public sector undertaking that plays a pivotal role in India’s power sector. 
• It is primarily engaged in thermal power generation, but has also diversified into hydro, nuclear, and renewable energy sources

• The Supreme Court of India issued a landmark ruling on the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). 
• The court overruled a 1967 verdict that denied AMU its minority status due to its status as a central university. 

About:

• Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is a prestigious central university located in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.
• Founded in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan as the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, it was later transformed into a university in 1920. 
• AMU is a renowned institution for its diverse academic programs, rich history, and significant contributions to Indian education. 
• It offers a wide range of courses in fields like engineering, medicine, law, arts, science, and humanities. 

• • National STEM Day, celebrated annually on November 8th, aims to inspire and encourage children to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 
  • It highlights the importance of STEM fields in driving innovation and economic growth.   
• National STEM Day was first celebrated in 2015

Key aspects of National STEM Day include:

• Promoting STEM Education: Encouraging schools and organizations to organize STEM-related activities, workshops, and competitions to spark interest in these fields.   
• Inspiring Future Scientists and Engineers: Showcasing the exciting and diverse career opportunities available in STEM, and highlighting the positive impact STEM professionals have on society.   
• Fostering Problem-Solving Skills: Emphasizing the importance of critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration in STEM fields.   
• Addressing Global Challenges: Recognizing the role of STEM in addressing pressing global issues like climate change, healthcare, and technological advancements

• Odisha Deputy CM has announced the state government’s plan to extend backyard poultry farming to all 30 districts of Odisha. 
• This initiative aims to empower rural women by providing them with a sustainable source of income and livelihood. 
• The model, which has already been successfully implemented in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts, involves training women farmers in scientific poultry farming techniques and providing them with the necessary resources, such as chicks, feed, and veterinary care.

• The CM of Odisha has announced plans to establish ‘Gram Nyayalayas’ in each block of the state. 
• These local courts will handle minor civil and criminal cases, providing easy access to justice for people in rural areas. The initiative aims to reduce the burden on regular courts and bring the judicial system closer to the people, ensuring that they can get justice at their doorsteps.

About:

• The Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008, was enacted to establish these village-level courts to provide quick and affordable justice at the grassroots level.
• They are designed to handle petty civil and criminal cases at the village level, reducing the need for people to travel long distances to district courts.   
• Article 39A of the Constitution mandates the state to ensure that the legal system promotes justice and provides free legal aid to ensure equal opportunities for all citizens.

• The revered Tara Tarini Temple in Ganjam district of Odisha will undergo a purification bath ritual, Mahasnana, on November 8. 
• This ritual is being performed after thieves desecrated the shrine and stole valuable ornaments worth lakhs. 
• The Mahasnana ritual will involve priests and devotees collecting 108 pitchers of water from the Rushikulya River and carrying them up 999 steps to the temple to bathe the presiding deity. 

About:

• The Tara Tarini Temple is a significant Hindu temple located in Odisha. 
• It is dedicated to the goddesses Tara and Tarini, considered forms of Adi Shakti (primordial energy). 
• The temple is one of the four major Shakti Pithas, places where the body parts of Sati Devi fell after her self-immolation.
• It is believed that Sati’s breasts fell at this spot. 

• Odisha is gearing up to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda by organizing nearly 7,000 Gram Sabhas across 27 districts. 
• These gatherings aim to engage with the tribal communities and honor the legacy of Birsa Munda, a revered figure in the struggle for tribal rights and self-determination

About:

• • Birsa Munda was a prominent Indian tribal leader and freedom fighter who belonged to the Munda tribe. 
  • He spearheaded a tribal religious millenarian movement that arose in the Bengal Presidency (now Jharkhand) in the late 19th century, during the British Raj. 
  • This movement is known as the “Ulgulan” or “The Great Tumult.
• Birsa Munda was born on November 15, 1875, in Ulihatu, Ranchi district, Bengal Presidency.

• He advocated for the restoration of traditional Munda customs and beliefs, and encouraged the tribal people to resist the colonial powers.

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