Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 13 June 2024 | Download PDF

• Scientists from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad have made a discovery on Mars.
• They have found three new craters on the planet.

Key points:

• These craters are located in the Tharsis volcanic region (around 21.0 S, 209 W) on Mars.
• The International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature has approved the naming of these three craters, based on the recommendation of the PRL.

About International Astronomical Union (IAU):

• Formation Date: The IAU was founded in 1919.
• Headquarters: Paris, France.
• Objective:
  • To promote and safeguard the science of astronomy through international cooperation.
  • To coordinate, develop, and promote astronomical research.
  • To ensure that astronomical observations and theoretical studies are shared and discussed globally.
• Membership:
  • Comprises over 13,500 individual members from 107 countries.
  • Members are professional astronomers.
• Major Functions:
  • Naming and defining astronomical objects and phenomena.
  • Organizing scientific meetings, such as the General Assembly held every three years.
  • Providing guidelines and recommendations on astronomical standards and practices.

• Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions increased by 40% between 1980 and 2020.
• The largest emitter of N2O is China, followed by India and the US.

Key points:

• The Global Carbon Project, a network of climate scientists, conducted a study.
• The study found that 74 per cent of the nitrous oxide emissions in the past decade were due to agriculture.
• The main sources of these emissions were the use of nitrogen fertilizers and animal manure in agriculture.
• The top 10 emitters are China, India, the US, Brazil, Russia, Pakistan, Australia, Indonesia, Turkey, and Canada.
• N2O is the third most significant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide and methane and is 273 times more potent than CO2 over 100 years.
• To keep the global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius, N2O emissions from human activities must decrease by at least 20% from 2019 levels by 2050.

• Researchers have built a portable optical atomic clock.
• This clock can be used onboard ships.
• According to the researchers, it is the most performant optical clock at sea.

About Atomic Clock:

• An atomic clock is a device that measures time using the vibrations of atoms.
• It specifically uses the oscillations of the electrons in atoms to keep time.
• It is the most accurate time-keeping device available, with a margin of error of just a few billionths of a second per day.
• Atomic clocks are far more precise than conventional clocks because atomic oscillations have a much higher frequency and are much more stable.
• They are used in many applications that require very precise timing, such as GPS systems, telecommunications networks and scientific research.

• There is an ongoing spell of extreme heat in many parts of the country.
• This situation has reopened discussions on the inclusion of heatwaves as one of the notified disasters.
• This inclusion is being considered under the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005.

About Notified disasters:

• The Disaster Management Act, 2005 in India defines a disaster as a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence arising from natural or man-made causes.
• The Act includes 12 categories of notified disasters: Cyclone, Drought, Earthquake, Fire, Flood, Tsunami, Hailstorm, Landslide, Avalanche, Cloudburst, Pest attack, Frost and cold waves.
• These notified disasters are eligible for relief assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
• Heatwaves are not currently included as a notified disaster under the Act, despite being a significant concern in India.
• Criteria for notifying a disaster under the Act:
  • The event must be a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence.
  • It must arise from natural or man-made causes.
  • It must result in substantial loss of life, destruction of property, or damage to the environment.
  • It must also be of such nature which is beyond the coping capacity of the community.

• A boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen.
• The U.N. migration agency, the International Organization of Migration (IOM), reported the incident.

About IOM:

• Establishment: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was established in 1951.
• Headquarters: IOM’s headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Membership: As of now, IOM has 175 member states and 8 observer states.
• Objective: The primary objective of IOM is to promote humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

• Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi of Odisha announced that the state government would introduce an ‘advanced farmers policy’ within 100 days. 

About:

• This announcement was made during his visit to Suando village, the birthplace of Utkal Mani Gopabandhu Das, marking his first visit to the village after assuming office. 
• He emphasized that the promises made in the BJP’s poll manifesto for Odisha are commitments from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ensuring their swift implementation.
• The team assured the villagers that all promises made in the party’s manifesto would be fulfilled, with the forthcoming ‘advanced farmers policy’ aimed at addressing various challenges faced by farmers in Odisha.

• All four gates of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri were opened in the presence of the Council of Ministers. 

Key points:

• • This decision was made during the first Cabinet meeting of the Mohan Majhi-led BJP government on Wednesday. 
  • The gates were opened during the Mangala Alati ritual, fulfilling the BJP’s election promise to make it easier for devotees to enter the temple. The process of opening all four gates began on June 11.
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, the temple’s gates were closed, with only the Singhadwara remaining open afterward. This closure led to long queues of devotees outside the temple daily. 
• Additionally, the Cabinet approved a proposal to constitute a corpus fund of Rs 500 crore for the 12th-century shrine.

Significance of four gates:

• The Shree Jagannath temple, also known as Srimandir, is an east-facing shrine spanning 10.734 acres, enclosed by two rectangular walls: the outer wall called Meghanada Prachira or Bahara Bedha, and the inner enclosure known as Kuruma Prachira or Bhitara Bedha. 
• This architectural marvel was constructed during the reign of Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, the founder of the Ganga dynasty.
• Central to the temple’s design are its four gates, or ‘Dwaras’, each with its own significance. 
• The main entrance, Singha Dwara or the Lion’s Gate, faces east and is believed to bestow ‘mokshya’ or liberation upon those who enter through it. 
• The westward Vyaghra Dwara or the Tiger Gate symbolizes ‘dharma’ or righteousness. 
• To enter through the south-facing Aswa Dwara or the Horse Gate, one must overcome feelings of lust, as this gate represents ‘kama’ or desire. 
• The north-facing Hasti Dwara or the Elephant Gate symbolizes prosperity.

• Surama Padhy, a member of the Ranpur Legislative Assembly, is poised to become the new Speaker of the Odisha Assembly. 

Key points:

• The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Padhy, aged 67, for the Speaker’s position in the 17th Assembly of Odisha following the party’s victory over the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the 2024 elections. 
• Padhy was initially elected to the Odisha Assembly from the Ranpur constituency on a BJP ticket in 2004. 
• She has previously served as the Minister of State with independent charge for the Department of Cooperation in the BJD-BJP coalition government in Odisha for the second term, spanning from 2004 to 2009.

• In a significant development for Odisha’s political landscape, eight first-time MLAs were appointed as ministers in the state’s maiden BJP government.

Key points:

• Among them, Nimapara MLA Pravati Parida made history by becoming the first woman deputy chief minister of the state. Other cabinet ministers included Brajarajnagar MLA Suresh Pujari, Chilika MLA Prithviraj Harichandan, Gopalpur MLA Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, and Morada MLA Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra. Additionally, Sukinda MLA Pradeep Bala Samanta, Polasara MLA Gokulananda Mallik, and Paradip MLA Sampad Chandra Swain took oath as ministers of state (independent charge).

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