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

• The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences has approved the installation of an X-band radar in Kerala’s Wayanad district following recent devastating floods and landslides.

About X-band radar:

• Emits radiation in the X-band (8-12 GHz) of the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Corresponds to wavelengths of approximately 2-4 cm.
• Shorter wavelengths result in higher resolution images.
• Higher frequency radiation experiences faster attenuation.
• Applications:
  • Can monitor particle movements, such as soil, aiding in landslide warnings.
  • Performs high temporal sampling, enabling detection of quick particle movements.
  • Commonly used in studies on cloud development and light precipitation.
  • Detects tiny water particles and snow effectively.

• A 13th-century stone inscription, or Veeragallu, was recently uncovered during the renovation of the ancient Kalleshwar temple.

About Kalleshwar Temple:

• Location: Hindu temple in Bagali town, Davangere district, Karnataka.
• Deity: Dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Historical Significance:
  • Construction spans the rule of two Kannada dynasties:
    • Rashtrakuta Dynasty (mid-10th century).
    • Western Chalukya Empire, during the reign of King Tailapa II (around 987 AD).
• Structure:
  • Comprises a sanctum (garbhagriha), an antechamber (antarala), a gathering hall (sabhamantapa), and a main hall (mukhamantapa).
  • The tower over the antarala is called the sukhanasi.
• Shikara: Features early Cholan architectural style.
• Shivalinga: The temple houses a large Shivalinga believed to be over a thousand years old.
• Cultural Status: Protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

• The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has launched the MAHA-EV Mission, focusing on the advancement of high-impact areas in electric vehicles.

About MAHA- EV:

• Focus: Development of key EV technologies to:
  • Reduce dependency on imports.
  • Promote domestic innovation.
  • Position India as a global leader in the EV sector.
• Program: Part of ANRF’s Advancement in High-Impact Areas (MAHA) program, designed to:
  • Catalyze multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary collaboration.
  • Tackle critical scientific challenges.
• Objective: Accelerate technological advancements in key sectors to:
  • Impact the nation’s future growth.
  • Create global standing in key areas.
• Technology Verticals:
  • Tropical EV Batteries and Battery Cells.
  • Power Electronics, Machines, and Drives (PEMD).
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure.

• According to the recently released ‘EnviStats India-2024’ report, the Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) ranks first among India’s 55 tiger reserves for its leopard population, with an estimated 360 leopards.

About NSTR: 

• Location: 
  • Situated in the Nallamala hill ranges (offshoot of the Eastern Ghats) in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Largest tiger reserve in India, spanning 5937 sq. km.
  • Hosts the largest tiger population in the Eastern Ghats.
  • Named after Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and Srisailam Dam.
  • Consists of Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary (GBM).
  • River Krishna flows through the reserve for around 270 km.
• Vegetation: Tropical dry deciduous forests with bamboo and grass undergrowth.
• Flora: Endemic species: Andrographis nallamalayana, Eriolaena lushingtonii, Crotalaria madurensis Var, Dicliptera beddomei, Premna hamiltonii.
• Fauna:
  • Top predators: Tiger, Leopard, Wolf, Wild Dog, Jackal.
  • Prey species: Sambar, Chital, Chowsingha, Chinkara, Mouse Deer, Wild Boar, Porcupine.
  • River fauna: Muggers, Otters, Turtles.

• India’s first Demonstration Facility for Biopolymers was recently inaugurated in Pune by the Union Minister.

About Biopolymers:

• Manufactured from biological sources like fats, vegetable oils, sugars, resins, and proteins.
• Have more complex structures than synthetic polymers, making them more active in vivo.
• Biodegradable and easily decomposed by bacteria in soil, unlike synthetic polymers which cause pollution through incineration.
• Benefits:
  • Reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and decrease carbon emissions.
  • Bio-degradation releases carbon dioxide that is reabsorbed by crops used in place of the biopolymers.

• The presentation of Odia language and literature in a precise and error-free manner were discussed with Google India by the Odia Language, Literature, and Culture department at a meeting held recently.
• The department discussed ways to ensure the correct representation of Odia on digital platforms, accurately translating information from English to Odia, and standardizing the Odia script font, in collaboration with Google India officials.

Key characteristics of the Odia language:

• Indo-Aryan Language: Odia belongs to the Indo-Aryan language family, which also includes Hindi, Bengali, and Sanskrit.
• Script: Odia is written in its own script, which is similar to the Bengali script.
• Literature: Odia literature is rich and diverse, encompassing various genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and essays.

Note: Odia along with 4 other languages was recently recognised as a classical Language.

• Odisha bagged multiple awards including that of ‘Best State’ in the 5th National Water Awards (NWA) announced by Union minister of Jal Shakti CR Patil.
• Balangir emerged as the best district in the East Zone for its achievements in the field of water conservation in 2023.

About:

• The 5th National Water Awards were announced to recognize outstanding efforts in water conservation and management in India.
• The winners were 
• The awards were given in nine categories, including Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best School/College, Best Institution, Best Industry, Best Civil Society, Best Water User Association, and Best Individual.      

• President Murmu will lay the foundation of three key railway projects among others during her visit to Mayurbhanj district on October 23.
• She will lay the foundation of:

1. Bangiriposi-Gorumahisani
2. Budhamara-Chakulia
3. Badampahar-Keonjhar projects. 

• She will also unveil a statue of Lord Ganesh at Punyeshwar Mahadev temple in Rairangpur, lay the foundation of a tribal research centre, Dandaboss airport and a new building of sub-divisional hospital at Rairangpur.

• The ‘katni chhatni’(price reduction based on grain quality assessment) woes of farmers in Odisha are likely to be over soon as govt has announced the highest support price of Rs 3,100 per quintal of paddy and is all set to take the help of artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure that the farmers are not harassed. 
• These tools employ computer vision and machine learning algorithms to accurately assess the quality of agricultural produce. 
• By analyzing factors like moisture content, grain size, and color, AI can provide objective and transparent quality assessments. 

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