Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 10 September 2024 | Download PDF

• The spacecraft made its closest approach to Mercury, sending back detailed images of the planet’s cratered surface, particularly its south pole.

Overview:

• BepiColombo: A joint mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), launched in 2018.
• Purpose: To study Mercury, the least explored rocky planet in the solar system, by orbiting and examining its surface, geology, and magnetic field.

Insights:

• Key Craters Captured: Craters like Vivaldi and Stoddart were observed, helping scientists analyze Mercury’s geological features and potential ancient volcanic activity.

• Researchers have identified a new species within the Curcuma genus, commonly known as turmeric, during a field trip in Nagaland. 
• This discovery occurred in Ungma village, Mokokchung district. The new species has been named Curcuma ungmensis.

Key points:

• Belongs to the Zingiberaceae family and the Curcuma genus.
• Physical Description:The plant grows to a height of 65-90 cm and features prominent yellow flowers.
• Rhizome Characteristics:The species is a rhizomatous herb with a branched, deeply buried rhizome.
• Flowering Season:Flowers during the rainy season, from August to October, with blooms that last a single day.

Potential Uses and Conservation:

Garden Potential:

• Curcuma ungmensis could be used as an ornamental plant for ground cover and as a cut flower due to its attractive inflorescence.

• Valley fever, a fungal disease endemic to the western United States, is experiencing a significant rise in cases across California.

Key points:

• Valley fever is caused by inhaling spores from the Coccidioides fungus found in the soil. 
• It often presents with flu-like symptoms but can lead to severe complications if untreated.

Impact of Drought:

• Drought conditions may affect seasonal patterns, with less severe peaks during droughts. 
• Peaks intensify when rains return, possibly due to the persistence of heat-resistant spores.

• Since its launch in 2021, the Sugamya Bharat app, created to aid people with disabilities and the elderly, has received over 1,400 accessibility complaints.

About:

• The Sugamya Bharat App is a crowdsourcing mobile application launched by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in India. 
• The app aims to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities (PwDs) and the elderly by allowing users to report accessibility-related issues in public infrastructure, transportation, and information and communication technology (ICT) environments.

Objectives:

The primary objectives of the Sugamya Bharat App include:

• Sensitization and Awareness: To raise awareness about accessibility issues and promote inclusivity in the built environment and public services.
• Reporting Mechanism: To provide a platform for individuals to report accessibility concerns, enabling the government to address these issues effectively.
• Empowerment: To empower PwDs and the general public to participate in improving accessibility by reporting problems that require redressal.

• The second AIIMS in Odisha is set to be established in Sambalpur.
• This significant development aims to enhance healthcare infrastructure and provide advanced medical facilities to the people of the region.

AIIMS:

• AIIMS is a group of autonomous government public medical universities in India. 
• Established in 1956, AIIMS New Delhi is the flagship institute. 
• Known for its excellent medical education, research, and patient care, AIIMS has expanded to include multiple branches across the country.   

Note:

•  The 1st AIIMS in Odisha is in Bhubaneswar.
• It was established in 2012.

• The annual census of monsoon birds has commenced in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park.
• Four teams of ornithologists and park wildlife personnel are conducting the headcount.
• This census is a crucial initiative to monitor the population dynamics of various bird species during the monsoon season. 
• The park’s diverse habitats, including mangroves, freshwater wetlands, and grasslands, provide a rich environment for a wide range of birdlife.
• The data collected through this census will help researchers understand the impact of monsoon on bird populations and inform conservation efforts.

Note:

• Bhitarkanika National Park, located in Kendrapara district, Odisha, is a unique ecosystem known for its dense mangrove forests and rich biodiversity. 
• It’s home to a variety of wildlife, including the endangered saltwater crocodile, which is one of the park’s most iconic inhabitants. Other notable species include kingfishers, water monitor lizards, and various reptiles and amphibians.

• The state of Odisha has declared a health alert after the country reported its first suspected case of Monkeypox. 

Key Points:

• According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe.
• Symptoms often include fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and a rash that can appear on any part of the body. 
• The rash typically starts as small, flat, red spots that may progress to blisters and scabs.

• Odisha has launched the CM-Kisan Yojana with the aim to benefit around 46 lakh farmers of the state, including the landless. 
• Under the flagship programme, whose launch marked the Nuakhai festival, the government will spend Rs 925 crore.

Key Points:

• The eligible farmers will receive Rs 4,000 in two phases through direct benefit transfer. 
• While the first installment of Rs 2,000 was disbursed on Nuakhai, the remaining Rs 2,000 will be given on Akshaya Tritiya.
• The landless farmers will get Rs 12,500 every year in three installments under this Yojana.
• Of the 46 lakhs beneficiaries who received the assistance on the day, 82,666 were from Sambalpur.

About:

• CM Kisan Yojana is a financial assistance scheme introduced by the Odisha government to support small, marginal, and landless farmers. 
• The scheme aims to provide a steady income flow to these vulnerable sections of the farming community.   

Key features:

• Financial Support: Eligible farmers receive a total of ₹4,000 in two installments.   
• Eligibility: Farmers who are not covered under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme are eligible.   
• Target Audience: Small, marginal, and landless farmers.   
• Benefits: The scheme provides a much-needed financial boost to farmers, helping them meet their expenses and improve their

• Krushi Vidya Nidhi Yojana is a scholarship scheme launched by the Odisha government to support the higher education of children of beneficiaries of the CM Kisan Yojana. 
• Under this scheme, a scholarship of Rs 2,00,000 is provided to each student for their higher technical education. 
• This initiative aims to empower the next generation of farmers and agricultural professionals by providing them with the necessary financial assistance for their academic pursuits.

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