Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 16 November 2024 | Download PDF

• Xi Jinping and Joe Biden participate in the APEC summit prior to their bilateral meeting.

Key Points:

• The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is a regional economic forum and was formed in 1989.
• Aim of the grouping – “leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific and create greater prosperity for the people of the region through regional economic integration”.
• The focus of APEC has been on trade and economic issues and hence, it terms the countries as “economies”.
• It has been operating on the basis of non-binding commitments with decisions taken through commitments and consensus undertaken on a voluntary basis.
• The grouping’s current members are Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Indonesia, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan.
• APEC accounts for nearly 62 per cent of global GDP and nearly half of global trade.

• The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid homage to Bodofa Upendranath Brahma, whose life journey gives strength to several people.

Key Points:

• Upendranath Brahma was an Indian Bodo social activist and the former president of All Bodo Students’ Union.
• He was later elected as the President of All Bodo Students Union in 1986, a position he held for several years. 
• During his tenure as the president, he worked towards the betterment of the Bodo community, advocating for their rights and addressing their issues.
• Bodos are the single largest community among the notified Scheduled Tribes in Assam.
• Bodos living in the hills would be conferred a Scheduled Hill Tribe status.
• Bodo language with Devanagari script would be the associate official language for the entire Assam.

• At the COP29 climate conference in Baku, countries reached a landmark decision to advance a long-delayed agreement to establish a global carbon market under the Paris Agreement.
• While the agreement on carbon markets is seen as a breakthrough, the critical issue of climate finance remains unresolved, with developing nations emphasizing the need for an updated, substantial funding goal.

Key Points:

• • The Conference of Parties (COP) serves as the main governing body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
  • Agreement on Global Carbon Markets at COP29:
• Carbon market overview:

• • • The global carbon market, outlined under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, allows countries to trade carbon credits – certified reductions in carbon emissions.
    • This market aims to provide financial incentives for emission reductions, with prices set by emission caps established by participating nations.
• Article 6 of the Paris Agreement:

• • • It facilitates international collaboration to lower carbon emissions.
    • It offers two pathways for countries and companies to trade carbon offsets, supporting the achievement of emission reduction targets set in their climate action plans, or nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
    • The first option, known as Article 6.2, allows two countries to establish a bilateral carbon trading agreement under their own terms.
    • The second, Article 6.4, seeks to develop a centralized, UN-managed system to enable both countries and companies to offset and trade carbon emissions.
• Progress at COP29:

• • In a landmark decision at the first day of the global climate talks here, COP29 have officially adopted the new operational standards for a mechanism of the Paris Agreement under Article 6, setting the stage for a global carbon market.
  • This adoption of Article 6.4, achieved during the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA), sets the stage for operationalising Article 6, which has faced years of deadlock.

• The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has revealed that city self-governments in 18 states, serving 241 million people, are facing a 42 percent shortfall between their resources and expenditures.

Key Points:

• The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is an independent authority established by the Constitution of India to audit the receipts and expenditures of the Central Government, State Governments, and other bodies that receive funding from the Government.
• The CAG is an All-India body in the sense that it controls the entire financial system of the country at both the Central and the State levels.
• The CAG heads the Indian Audit & Accounts Department and acts as the Guardian of the Public Purse.
• Article 148 to Article 151 of the Constitution of India deal with the provisions related to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
• The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is appointed by the President of India by a warrant under his hand and seal.

• Recently, the Secretary, Department of Science and Technology launched Operation Dronagiri at Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi.

Key Points:

• It is a pilot project under National Geospatial Policy 2022 to demonstrate the potential applications of geospatial technologies and innovations in improving the quality of life of citizens and ease of doing business.
• It is part of the numerous efforts of DST in liberalizing geospatial data, developing geospatial infrastructure, geospatial skill and knowledge as well as standards in implementing the policy.
• In the first phase it will be implemented in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Assam, Andhra Pradesh & Maharashtra.
• It gains a powerful backbone with support from Integrated Geospatial Data Sharing Interface (GDI), that will make spatial data accessible and bring transformation.
• The activities under Operation Dranagiri will be overseen by IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation (IITTNiF).
• The Geospatial Innovation Accelerators (GIAs) at IIT Kanpur, IIT Bombay, IIM Calcutta and IIT Ropar will act as the operational arms of Operation Dronagiri.
• Implementing agency: The entire implementation process will be driven by Geospatial Innovation Cell, Department of Science and Technology.

• The Dongria Kondh tribe, an indigenous population in the state of Odisha, have been forced to consume tamarind seed gruel due to severe food scarcity. 
• The gruel is made of tamarind seeds and the stem (centrepiece) of the ‘Salap’ tree (Caryata urens).
• This is a result of a combination of factors, including climate change, deforestation, and government neglect.

About:

• The Dongria Kondh are a tribal community found in the Niyamgiri Hills of Odisha.
• They are known for their unique culture and close relationship with the forest.

Their Way of Life:

• • Subsistence Farming: The Dongria practice shifting cultivation, also known as slash-and-burn agriculture, to grow crops like millets, maize, and vegetables.
• Language: Kui is the primary language spoken by the Dongria Kondh. 
• It belongs to the Dravidian language family.

• Forest Gleaners: They gather a wide variety of forest products, including fruits, nuts, roots, and medicinal herbs.
• Traditional Crafts: Women weave colorful textiles using natural dyes, while men craft baskets and tools from wood and bamboo.
• Animistic Beliefs: The Dongria worship a pantheon of gods and spirits associated with nature, believing that Niyam Raja, the god of the hills, is their protector.

• Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, has announced that Odisha has immense potential to become a major renewable energy hub. 
• The state has a solar energy potential of 140 GW and significant opportunities in green hydrogen due to its long coastline and robust port infrastructure. 
• The potential for floating solar panels in Odisha will also be explored.

Key Points:

• Two major projects are already in progress in the state. A 6,000 MW solar module manufacturing facility is being set up in Dhenkanal district with an investment of ₹9,000 crore. 
• Another project with a 1,000 MW capacity for manufacturing solar modules and cells is being developed in Khordha, Bhubaneswar, with an investment of ₹730 crore.

• Kartik Purnima, also known as Diwali of Odisha, is a major festival celebrated in the state of Odisha. 
• On this day, people celebrate the festival of lights by lighting diyas and candles in their homes and temples. 
• They also offer prayers to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
• One of the most popular traditions associated with Kartik Purnima is the Boita Bandana ritual. 
• This ritual involves lighting earthen lamps and floating them on the water. 
• It is believed that this ritual brings good luck and prosperity to the family.

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