Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 15 July 2024 | Download PDF

• Satellite images suggest architectural wealth beneath Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya.

About Mahabodhi Temple Complex:

• Significance: One of the four holy sites related to Lord Buddha’s life, marking the spot of his Enlightenment.
• Location: Bodh Gaya, central Bihar, on the banks of the Niranjana River.
• Historical Importance:
  • First temple built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century B.C.
  • Present temple dates from the 5th or 6th centuries.
  • Surviving example of early brick structures from the late Gupta period.
  • Influential in the development of brick architecture.
• Architecture:
  • Grand temple’s pyramidal shikhara (tower) with layers of niches, arch motifs, and fine engravings.
  • Four smaller identical towers at the corners, topped with umbrella-like domes.
  • Yellow sandstone statue of the Buddha inside the shrine.
• Bodhi Tree:
  • Supposed direct descendant of the original Bodhi Tree where Buddha attained enlightenment.
  • Ashoka’s stone slab marks the exact spot of Buddha’s enlightenment, known as Buddha’s vajrasana (“diamond throne” or “thunder seat”).
• UNESCO World Heritage Site: Recognized in 2002.

• The Government of India, as part of its 100-day agenda, has announced a plan to implement the e-office platform in 133 attached, subordinate offices, and autonomous bodies.

About e-office Platform:

• Initiative Overview:
  • Aimed to streamline operations and enhance efficiency across 133 identified offices.
  • Spearheaded by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.
  • Implementation by: National Informatics Centre (NIC) as the knowledge partner for e-Office implementation.
• Key Components of e-Office:
  • File Management System (eFile): Workflow-based system extending manual file handling to an efficient electronic system.
  • Knowledge Management System (KMS): 
    • Central repository for organizational documents.
    • Allows users to create, manage, and track electronic documents, including version history.
  • Work from Anywhere (WAW) Portal: A virtual office gateway enabling secure access to office functions from anywhere.
  • Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window (SPARROW):
    • Web-based application for processing Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APAR).
    • Enables employees to fill, report, and review APARs within the official hierarchy.

• A NASA crew has emerged from a year-long simulated Mars mission as part of the CHAPEA project, which took place in a 17,000 sq ft habitat at Johnson Space Center.

About CHAPEA project:

• Purpose: Simulate year-long stays on Mars to assess NASA’s food system and physical and behavioral health in humans for future space missions.
• Features:
  • Four private crew quarters
  • Dedicated workstations
  • Dedicated medical station
  • Common lounge areas
  • Galley and food-growing stations
• Mission Environment: Simulates realistic Mars conditions with environmental stressors such as:
  • Resource limitations
  • Isolation
  • Equipment failure
  • Significant workloads
• Activities:
  • Conduct simulated spacewalks.
  • Provide data on physical and behavioral health and performance.

• The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) recently released the World Population Prospects 2024 report.

About World Population Prospects Report 2024:

• India’s Population:
  • Projected to be 1.45 billion in 2024.
  • Expected to peak at 1.69 billion in 2054.
• Global Population Growth:
  • Expected to peak at around 10.3 billion people in the mid-2080s, up from 2 billion in 2024.
  • Projected to decline gradually after peaking, falling to 10.2 billion by the end of the century.
• Fertility Rate:
  • Currently stands at 2.25 live births per woman, down from 3.31 births in 1990.
  • More than half of all countries and areas have fertility rates below the replacement level of 2.1 live births per woman.
• Life Expectancy:
  • Reached 73.3 years globally in 2024, an increase of 8.4 years since 1995.
  • Projected to rise to an average of 77.4 years globally by 2054.

• The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has recently announced the Agri-SURE (Agri fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises) initiative. 

About Agri-SURE initiative:

• Objective: Supports start-ups and agripreneurs in agriculture and allied sectors.
• Funding: 
  • Total: ₹750 crore Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).
  • Contributions:
    • NABARD: ₹250 crore.
    • Ministry of Agriculture: ₹250 crore.
    • Other institutions: ₹250 crore.
• Investment Support:
  • Provides investments through sector-specific, sector-agnostic, and debt AIFs.
  • Direct equity support to agricultural start-ups.
• Target:
  • Support approximately 85 agri start-ups.
  • Investment sizes of up to ₹25 crore each.
• Focus Areas:
  • Promote innovative, technology-driven agricultural initiatives.
  • Enhance farm produce value chain.
  • Create new rural ecosystem linkages and infrastructure.
  • Generate employment.
  • Support Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs).
  • Encourage IT-based solutions and machinery rental services for farmers.
• Management: NABVENTURES, a fully owned subsidiary of NABARD, will act as the fund manager.

• The Odisha government plans to establish a pioneering melanistic tiger safari near the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Baripada, a first-of-its-kind initiative globally.

Key points:

• The project awaits final approval of the detailed project report (DPR) from the technical committees of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Central Zoo Authority (CZA).
• Location and Land Allocation: The safari will span 150 hectares near Manchabandha reserve forest, adjacent to NH-18 in Baripada town, Mayurbhanj district.
• Facilities: Approximately 40 to 50 hectares will be dedicated as a display area, with the remaining land allocated for veterinary care facilities, a rescue center, staff infrastructure, and visitor amenities.

Wildlife Plan:

• Animal Composition: Initially, the safari will host six tigers—four melanistic and two white tigers. Melanistic tigers from Nandankanan Zoo and Ranchi will be part of the initial wildlife introduction.

• Chilika lagoon, the largest brackish water lake in Asia, is set to undergo a transformation with the introduction of emission-free solar and electric-powered boats. 
• This initiative aims to replace traditional diesel-powered boats, addressing concerns over environmental pollution and safeguarding the delicate ecosystem.

Project Implementation:

• The Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) has taken the lead to launch the pilot phase of this initiative. 
• The project includes introducing new solar and electric-powered tourist boats and retrofitting existing boats for solar conversion. 
• Initial plans involve deploying five emission-free boats with a seating capacity of 20 each, with an estimated expenditure of Rs 3 crore. 
• Additionally, around Rs 20 crore will be allocated for retrofitting 28 tourist boats and 100 fishing boats operated by Odisha Tourism Development Corporation and Chilika Development Authority.

Benefits to Ecosystem and Community:

• The introduction of emission-less boats is anticipated to yield several benefits. 
• Besides mitigating the environmental impact caused by diesel-run boats, these eco-friendly alternatives will contribute to the overall health of the Chilika ecosystem. 
• They will also facilitate the enforcement of lower speed limits, thereby reducing the risk of aquatic animal fatalities due to boat propeller accidents.

• The ambitious Rs 8,000 crore coastal highway project in Odisha, is set to be revived.

Key points:

Project Details:

• Length and Division: The 346-km coastal highway will be constructed in two parts, divided into five packages.
• Segments: It includes a 176-km stretch from Rameshwar to Ratanpur and a 170-km stretch from Ratanpur to Digha, aiming to connect seven coastal districts of Odisha under the Bharatmala Pariyojana.
• Alignment Issues: Originally planned through ecologically sensitive areas, the highway’s alignment was revised to avoid contentious zones like Chilika lake and wildlife sanctuaries.

Current Status: NHAI has proposed a new alignment closer to the Bay of Bengal after addressing concerns from stakeholders and environmental authorities.

• The Union Ministry of Coal has recently achieved a milestone by finalizing Coal Mining Development and Production Agreements for three coal mines located in Odisha. 

Key points:

Mines:

• Machhakata (Revised) Coal Mine
• Kudanali Lubri Coal Mine
• Sakhigopal-B Kakurhi Coal Mine

Financial Impact:

• Revenue Generation: These mines are estimated to generate approximately Rs 2,991.20 crores annually through commercial auctions, based on an aggregated Peak Rate Capacity of around 30.00 MTPA.

Strategic Significance:

• This initiative is a crucial step towards enhancing self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) in the coal sector. 
• It not only contributes to economic growth and employment generation but also ensures the nation’s energy security through increased domestic coal production.

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