Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 20 December 2024 | Download PDF

• Four years after the Centre implemented a 5% sub-quota for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in admissions to Eklavya Model Residential Schools for tribal students nationwide, government data reveals that the quota is not being met. 
• Currently, only 3.4% of students in these schools belong to these communities.

Key Points:

• • EMRS started in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to ST children in remote areas to enable them to access the best opportunities in education and to bring them at par with the general population.
  • EMRS are established in the States/UTs from the grants received under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India.
• Features:

• • • EMRS are co-educational residential schools from Class VI to XII.
    • Eklavya schools will be on par with Navodaya Vidyalayas and will have special facilities for preserving local art and culture besides providing training in sports and skill development.
    • Each school has a capacity of 480 students with equal number of seats for boys and girls.
• Non-ST students can be admitted in these schools on seats up to 10% of the total seats.

• • CBSE curriculum is followed in these schools, and education is completely free.
  • The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous organization, has been set up under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to establish and manage EMRS across the country. 

What is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)?

• • PVTGs are more vulnerable among the tribal groups.
  • In this context, in 1975, the Government of India declared 52 tribal groups as PVTGs on the recommendation of the Dhebar Commission.
  • Currently, there are 75 PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes.
  • The PVTGs are spread over 18 states and one Union Territory (UT), in the country (2011 census).
• Odisha has the highest number (more than 2.5 lakh) of PVTGs.

• India and France signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of the new National Museum.

Key Points:

• • India and France have been strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific for a long time. They established diplomatic relations in 1947 and upgraded their partnership to the strategic level in 1998. 
• Partnership for Security and Sovereignty:

• • Defense: Continued collaboration on fighter jets and submarines, with 36 Rafale jets delivered and the completion of the P75 Scorpene submarine program.
  • Space: Strengthened partnership between ISRO and CNES on reusable launchers, Earth observation satellites, maritime surveillance, and satellite collision protection.
  • Civil Nuclear Energy: Progress on the 6-EPR power plant in Jaitapur and cooperation on small modular reactors.
  • Indo-Pacific: Joint actions and a development fund for sustainable projects in the region.
  • Counter-terrorism: Enhanced collaboration between France’s GIGN and India’s NSG.
  • Critical Technology: Partnerships in supercomputing, AI, cloud computing, and quantum computing.
  • Civil Aviation: New agreements to expand air routes and support India’s aviation growth.

• The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $42 million loan agreement to enhance coastal protection and strengthen community resilience in Maharashtra.

Key Points:

• • It is a multilateral development bank established on 19th December 1966.
  • It is the principal international development finance institution for the Asia-Pacific region.
  • It envisions a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty in the region.
• Functions:

• • • It provides assistance to its developing member countries, the private sector, and public-private partnerships through grants, loans, technical assistance, and equity investments to promote social and economic development.
    • ADB maximizes the development impact of its assistance by facilitating policy dialogues, providing advisory services, and mobilizing financial resources through cofinancing operations that tap official, commercial, and export credit sources.
  • Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.
• Control:

• • • ADB is run by a board of governors, which represents the member countries of the ADB. 
    • The ADB was modelled closely on the World Bank and has a similar weighted voting system where votes are distributed in proportion to members’ capital subscriptions.
    • As of 2022, ADB’s five largest shareholders are Japan and the United States (each with 15.6% of total shares), the People’s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).
• Source of Funding:

• • It raises capital regularly through the international bond markets.
  • The ADB also relies on member contributions, retained earnings from lending, and the repayment of loans for the funding of the organization.

• All 17,130 police stations across the country are now connected through the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), a centralized online platform for filing first information reports (FIRs), chargesheets, and investigation reports.

Key Points:

• • The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) is a centralized online platform conceptualized under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • Launched in 2009 with a budget of ₹2,000 crore, it is part of India’s National e-Governance Plan.
  • It aims to establish a comprehensive and integrated system to enhance the efficiency and transparency of police operations at the police station level.
  • Classified as a Mission Mode Project (MMP), the system provides law enforcement with tools for investigation, data analytics, policymaking, and delivering citizen-centric services.
• Key Features of CCTNS

• • Nationwide integration: It connects all 17,130 police stations across 28 states and 8 Union Territories. Recently achieved 100% deployment, including in remote areas like Manipur, Nagaland, and Lakshadweep.
  • Comprehensive crime database: Stores records of accused persons, habitual offenders, proclaimed offenders, and crime-related data such as missing persons and stolen vehicles.
  • Analytical tools: Generates crime statistics and detailed reports for analysis at the police station level.
  • Citizen services: Enables tracking of complaints, verification requests, and case updates, making police processes more accessible.
  • Enhanced scope: Integrated with the Integrated Criminal Justice System (ICJS), connecting police data with courts, prisons, prosecution, forensics, and fingerprint databases.

• Climate change is shifting the tree line landscape in the central Himalayas, where Himalayan birch trees (Betula utilis) are being replaced by fir trees (Abies spectabilis).

Key Points:

• About Fir Trees (Abies spectabilis):
  • • It is a slow-growing evergreen conifer commonly found in mountainous regions.
• Features:

• • • • Needle-like leaves and conical shape.
      • Adapted to colder climates with moderate moisture.
      • Retains foliage year-round, contributing to high water-use efficiency.
• Found in:

• • • • Mid to high altitudes of the Himalayas (2,500–3,700 meters).
      • Prefers cooler and less moisture-stressed environments.
• About Himalayan Birch (Betula utilis):

• • • It is a deciduous broadleaved tree species native to the Himalayan region
• Features:

• • • • Known for peeling bark and bright green leaves.
      • Requires abundant water and cooler climates for survival.
      • Sheds leaves in winter, contributing to nutrient cycling.
• Found in:

• • Upper altitudes of the Himalayas (2,900–4,500 meters).
  • Thrives in wetter, snow-fed environments.

• Two Members of Parliament from Odisha, Bhartruhari Mahtab (Cuttack) and Sambit Patra (Puri), have been appointed to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative. 

Key Points:

• The JPC, comprising a total of 31 members, is tasked with reviewing proposed constitutional amendments to facilitate simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. 
• This committee will conduct consultations and is expected to submit its report within 90 days, potentially influencing India’s electoral framework significantly.

About:

• The “One Nation, One Election” initiative is a proposed constitutional amendment in India that aims to synchronize the elections for the Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) and the state assemblies. 
• The goal is to reduce the frequent disruptions caused by back-to-back elections and streamline the electoral process.

• The Odisha-based NGO “So Am I” has been honored with the “Nexus of Good Award” for its significant contributions to combating hunger in the state.

Key Points:

• The NGO “So Am I” was founded in 2019.
• This organization operates a food bank that collects excess food from events and restaurants to distribute it among the needy. 
• This organization under the Hunger-Free Odisha Initiative has served more than 20 lakh meals during the last five years.
• In the coming year, ‘So Am I’ Foundation plans to open a cloth bank, train boys and girls in new skills to help them earn a living. 
• It also solicits volunteers who can be a part of ‘So Am I Yuva’ team.

About:

• The Nexus of Good award recognizes the impactful efforts of NGOs and individuals across various sectors, including education, health, and sanitation. 
• Established by former IAS officer Anil Swarup, this initiative aims to identify, appreciate, and replicate positive societal contributions

Refer to Addapedia notes for detailed info on Hunger-Free Odisha Initiative.

• Arun Kumar Sahu, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from Odisha, has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Bulgaria. 

Key Points:

• He is a 1996-batch officer.
• Heis currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. 
• His appointment reflects India’s diplomatic efforts to strengthen ties with Bulgaria and is expected to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries.

• Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik has announced that the survey for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in rural Odisha will be completed within two months.
• The initiative aims to identify eligible beneficiaries and ensure that no deserving individual is overlooked.

About:.

• PMAY is a flagship housing scheme launched by the Indian government to provide affordable housing to all citizens by 2022. 
• The scheme aims to address the housing shortage in both urban and rural areas.   

Key features of PMAY:

• Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS): Offers interest subsidies to eligible beneficiaries for home loans.   
• Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP): Promotes public-private partnerships for affordable housing development.   
• In-situ Redevelopment: Provides for redevelopment of slums and urban renewal.   
• Beneficiaries: Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Low-Income Group (LIG), and Middle-Income Group (MIG) families.

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