Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 12 July 2024 | Download PDF

• India hosts BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers amid the raging Myanmar crisis.

About BIMSTEC:

• Establishment: BIMSTEC was established on 6 June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
• Member Countries: The member countries of BIMSTEC are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
• Objective: The primary objective of BIMSTEC is to promote regional cooperation and create an enabling environment for rapid economic development through identification and implementation of specific projects in the areas of mutual interest.
• Sectors of Cooperation: BIMSTEC focuses on 14 sectors, including 
  • Trade and investment, 
  • Technology, 
  • Energy, 
  • Transportation, 
  • Tourism, 
  • Fisheries, 
  • Agriculture, 
  • Public health, 
  • Poverty alleviation, 
  • Counter-terrorism and transnational crime, 
  • Environment and disaster management,
  • People-to-people contact, 
  • Cultural cooperation, and 
  • Climate change.
• Secretariat: The BIMSTEC Secretariat is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established in 2014.
• Key Initiatives:
  • BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement: Aimed at boosting trade and investment among member countries.
  • BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection: Focuses on enhancing energy cooperation and electricity grid connectivity.
  • BIMSTEC Coastal Shipping Agreement: To facilitate coastal shipping and boost maritime trade.

• The Central Government has recently decided to modify the criteria for granting classical language status.

About Classical Language Status:

• Criteria for Declaration of Classical Language:
  • Antiquity: High antiquity in early texts/recorded history over 1,500-2,000 years.
  • Literature: A body of ancient literature or texts considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers.
  • Originality: The literary tradition should be original and not borrowed from another speech community.
  • Distinctiveness:
    • The language and literature should be distinct from its modern format.
    • There may be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.
• Benefits of Classical Language Status:
  • Awards: Two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in the classical languages.
  • Centers of Excellence: A centre of excellence for studies in the classical language is set up.
  • Academic Support: The University Grants Commission is requested to create a certain number of Professional Chairs in Central universities for the languages that get the classical tag.
• Classical Languages in India:
  • Tamil: Declared in 2004.
  • Sanskrit: Declared in 2005.
  • Telugu: Declared in 2008.
  • Kannada: Declared in 2008.
  • Malayalam: Declared in 2013.
  • Odia: Declared in 2014.

• World Population Day aims to raise awareness about global population issues and their societal impact.

About World Population Day:

• Date of Observation: Celebrated annually on July 11.
• Purpose: To raise awareness about global population issues, including the impacts of overpopulation and the importance of family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health, and human rights.
• History:
  • Established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989.
  • Inspired by the interest generated by “Five Billion Day” on July 11, 1987, when the world’s population reached approximately five billion.
• 2024 Theme: Leave no one behind; count everyone.
• World population reached 8 billion on November 15, 2022 according to the United Nations.

• Raksha Rajya Mantri recently launched the “GRSE Accelerated Innovation Nurturing Scheme (GAINS 2024)” by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata.

About Scheme:

• Objective: To find solutions to shipyard-related problems and promote technology development through startups.
• Focus: Encourages MSMEs and Start-Ups to develop innovative solutions for technological advancement.
• Impact on Defence: Aims to enhance the strength of armed forces and maritime security with technological advancements.
• National Scheme: Targets MSMEs and Start-Ups for developing innovative solutions for GRSE’s technological needs.
• Industry Focus: Leverages MSMEs and Start-Ups to address challenges in the ship design and construction industry.
• Alignment with Policies: Supports the ‘Make in India‘ and ‘Start-up India‘ policies of the Government of India.
• Goal: Achieve Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in the shipbuilding sector.

• Nominations for the National Gopal Ratna Award for 2024 will open on July 15th.

About National Gopal Ratna Award for 2024:

• Awarded Under: Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM)
• Since 2021: Conferred annually by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
• Objective: To encourage milk-producing farmers, dairy cooperative societies/MPC/FPOs, and Artificial Insemination Technicians (AITs).
• Award Categories:
  • Best Dairy Farmer rearing Indigenous cattle/buffalo breeds.
  • Best Dairy Cooperative Society (DCS)/Milk Producer Company (MPC)/Dairy Farmer Producer Organization (FPO).
  • Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT).
• Special Award: Introduced for North Eastern Region (NER) States to encourage and boost dairy development activities in the NER.

• As of the latest reports from the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC), Odisha has seen a significant increase in dengue cases.
• Similarly, the state leads nationally in malaria cases, with 12,363 cases reported in the first five months of the year.

National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC):

• The National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) administers an umbrella programme, namely, National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP) for prevention and control of vector borne diseases namely Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue, Chikungunya, Kala-azar and Lymphatic Filariasis.
• Health being a state matter, the responsibility of implementation of Programme strategies and monitoring in accordance with Programme guidelines lies with them and the development of infrastructure has to be done by the state. 
• Every state has a state vector borne diseases control component under the Directorate of Health Services with stipulated technical components. 
• There is a system of coordination between the state and centre for effective implementation and monitoring of programmes.

• The state government of Odisha has appointed Arabinda Kumar Padhee as the new chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), replacing Veer Vikram Yadav. 

Key points:

• This decision, notified by the Law department, cites the powers conferred under the Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1954. 
• Arabinda Padhee, currently serving as the principal secretary in the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment department, will now take on the additional role of overseeing the administration of the temple in Puri.
• Arabinda Kumar Padhee, an IAS officer from the 1996 batch, brings significant experience to this role, having previously served as the chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple. 
• His appointment follows widespread public outcry triggered by an incident where the idol of Lord Balabhadra fell on a makeshift ladder (‘charamala’) during a procession at the Gundicha temple. 
• This mishap, occurring during a traditional ‘pahandi’ ceremony on July 9, resulted in injuries to several servitors, prompting legal action with a complaint filed against Yadav at the Capital police station in Bhubaneswar.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the Indian diaspora in Moscow, highlighted Odisha’s recent electoral achievements by wearing a traditional ‘Sambalpuri Bandha’ Uttariya. 

Key points:

• He emphasized the significance of Odisha’s electoral success, noting that after six decades, a government has been elected for the third consecutive term in India. 
• Modi underscored Odisha’s transformative role in this success, symbolized by his choice to wear an Odia scarf during his address.

Cultural Gestures on Global Platforms:

• Modi’s gesture of chanting “Jai Jagannath” during his address also celebrated the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra, showcasing Odisha’s cultural richness to the international community. 
• This is part of Modi’s consistent efforts to highlight Indian cultural symbols and achievements on global platforms. 
• Previously, he had worn similar Uttariyas while paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. 
• Additionally, he prominently displayed a replica of the Konark Wheel of the Sun Temple as a backdrop during the G20 summit, further promoting Indian heritage on the world stage.

• Centurion University of Technology and Management (CUTM), based in Odisha, received the Outstanding Skill University Award at the World Education Summit held in New Delhi. 
• The summit, inaugurated by former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam in 2011, attracts notable educationists and representatives from schools and colleges worldwide.

Academic Achievements:

• Recently, Centurion University achieved the 18th rank in India in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings, recognizing its effective promotion of Sustainable Development Goals. 
• Additionally, the university has been included in the Eligible List by the University Grants Commission for fostering academic collaborations with foreign universities.

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