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

• The government has increased the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy by 5.35%, setting it at ₹2,300 per quintal for the 2024-25 kharif marketing season, effective from June 19.

About MSP:

• MSP is a form of market intervention by the government to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices.
• Objective: To provide a guaranteed price and assured market to the farmers, protecting them from the fluctuations in the market prices.
• Fixation Authority: The MSP is announced by the Government of India at the beginning of the sowing season for certain crops based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
• Coverage: MSP is announced for 23 crops, including cereals (paddy, wheat, barley, jowar, bajra, maize, ragi), pulses (gram, arhar/tur, moong, urad, lentil), oilseeds (groundnut, rapeseed-mustard, soyabean, sesamum, sunflower, safflower, nigerseed), commercial crops (cotton, sugarcane, copra), and others (jute, tobacco).
• Criteria for Determination:
  • Cost of production
  • Changes in input prices
  • Market price trends
  • Demand and supply
  • Inter-crop price parity
  • Terms of trade between agriculture and non-agriculture sectors
  • A minimum of 50% margin over the cost of production
• Implementation: 
  • The MSP is implemented through procurement agencies like the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies. 
  • They buy crops from farmers at the MSP, ensuring they get the announced support price.
• Purpose:
  • To stabilize farmer’s income.
  • To incentivize the farmers to adopt new technologies and modern agricultural practices.
  • To ensure food security by stabilizing supply.

• India is progressing towards developing a gene therapy for sickle cell disease, a prevalent genetic blood disorder among Scheduled Tribes. 
• Director of AIIMS, mentioned that researchers are using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool to develop this therapy.

About Sickle cell disease:

• Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders characterized by abnormal hemoglobin, known as hemoglobin S, which distorts red blood cells into a sickle or crescent shape.
• Types: 
  • The most common type is sickle cell anemia (HbSS). 
  • Other types include hemoglobin SC disease (HbSC), hemoglobin Sβ0 thalassemia, and hemoglobin Sβ+ thalassemia.
• Symptoms: Symptoms of SCD include anemia, episodes of pain (crises), swelling in the hands and feet, frequent infections, delayed growth, and vision problems.

• Ramesh Karthik Naik, a 26-year-old writer from the tribal thanda Nizamabad district, was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar for Telugu for his short story collection “Dhavlo” (Song of Lament, 2021). 

About Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar:

• It was formally inaugurated by the Government of India on 12 March 1954.
• Awarding Body: Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters.
• Purpose: To recognize and promote outstanding literary works by young Indian writers.
• Eligibility: Writers aged 35 or below as of January 1, 2024, writing in any of the 24 recognized Indian languages.
• Categories: Fiction, poetry, drama, criticism, travelogue, autobiography, biography, and literary translation.
• Prize: Cash award of ₹50,000, an engraved copper plaque, and a citation.

• The Prime Minister of India recently awarded certificates to over 30,000 women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) as ‘Krishi Sakhis’ under the Krishi Sakhi Convergence Programme (KSCP).

About KSCP:

• Objective: Transform rural India through the empowerment of rural women as Krishi Sakhi.
• Training and Certification: Krishi Sakhis are trained and certified as Para-extension Workers.
• Alignment: Certification course aligns with the objectives of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ Program.
• Training Areas:
  • Agro-Ecological Practices: Training from land preparation to harvest.
  • Farmer Field Schools: Organizing practical learning sessions for farmers.
  • Seed Banks: Establishment and management of seed banks.
  • Soil Health and Conservation: Techniques for maintaining soil health and moisture.
  • Integrated Farming Systems: Combining various farming practices for sustainability.
  • Livestock Management: Basic management practices for livestock.
  • Bio Inputs: Preparation, use, and establishment of bio-input shops.
  • Communication Skills: Essential skills for effective communication with farmers.

• The Prime Minister of India will inaugurate the new Nalanda University campus near Rajgir’s ancient university ruins.

About Nalanda University:

• Historical Significance:
  • Nalanda University was an ancient center of higher learning in Bihar, India.
  • It was established in the 5th century AD during the Gupta Dynasty.
• Ancient Glory:
  • It was one of the first residential universities in the world, hosting over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers.
  • The university attracted scholars from various regions, including Tibet, China, Korea, and Central Asia.
• Destruction and Decline:
  • Nalanda University was destroyed in the 12th century by Bakhtiyar Khilji.
  • The destruction marked the end of a great era of knowledge and learning.
• Revival Efforts:
  • The Government of India initiated efforts to revive Nalanda University in the early 21st century.
  • The modern Nalanda University was re-established in 2010 by an Act of the Indian Parliament.
• Current Status:
  • The new campus is located in Rajgir, near the ancient site.
  • It is an international university with a focus on post-graduate and doctoral studies.

• The Odisha government has decided to conduct genome sequencing of diphtheria-positive samples amid a special vaccination drive in Rayagada district.
• This step aims to identify the emergence of any new variants and understand the reasons behind the transmission of the disease among vaccinated children.

Key points:

• Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease, and its inclusion in the universal vaccination program had almost eradicated it.

Genome Sequencing:

• Genome sequencing refers to the process of determining the complete DNA sequence of an organism’s genome. 
• It involves reading the genetic code of an organism and understanding the arrangement of the nucleotides (A, T, G, and C) that make up its DNA.

Diphtheria:

• Diphtheria is a serious and potentially fatal bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. 
• It primarily affects the nose, throat, and respiratory tract. 
• The infection can cause a thick, grayish-white coating in the back of the throat, which can lead to difficulty breathing and swallowing.

• On the second day of the prestigious Cannes Lions 2024, India secured additional accolades, winning a Silver and four Bronze Lions. This brought the country’s total count to nine.

Key points:

• Among the standout winners was Early Man Film, recognized for their exceptional work on the “Jindal Steel – The Steel Of India” campaign. Early Man Film won both a Silver and a Bronze Lion in the Film Craft category for their moving portrayal of resilience.
• Ogilvy won a Bronze Lion for their innovative Cadbury 5 Star campaign in the Entertainment Lions category. Additionally, Leo Burnett’s “Turf Finder” for Gatorade and VML India’s “Sing To Remember” for Coca-Cola India each garnered Bronze Lions in their respective categories.

About:

• The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, commonly known as Cannes Lions, is an annual event held in Cannes, France. It is the world’s largest and most prestigious gathering of creative professionals, providing a unique platform for creative thinkers from around the world to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and celebrate the best in creativity across multiple disciplines.
• Cannes Lions 2024 is set to feature a wide range of events, including:
  • Awards: Recognizing and celebrating the best work in advertising, design, technology, entertainment, and other creative industries.

• The International ‘Art of Giving’ Day was celebrated in 25,000 locations globally, including India

Key points:

• This year’s theme was ‘Let’s AOG’.
• The annual event, founded by Achyuta Samanta on May 17, 2013, aims to foster peace, friendship, respect, and happiness worldwide while encouraging acts of kindness wherever needed.
• Although May 17 is typically observed as International Art of Giving Day, this year it was postponed to June 17 due to elections. The celebration emphasizes selflessness, gratitude, appreciation, kindness, compassion, and humility. According to Samanta, the philosophy behind the day is that the greatest joy in life comes from sharing with others without expecting anything in return.

• BJP member Surama Padhy has been elected as the Speaker of the 17th Odisha Legislative Assembly. 

Key points:

• This election makes her the second woman to hold the Speaker’s post in Odisha, following BJD’s Pramila Mallik.
• The 67-year-old leader first won the Assembly seat from the Ranpur Constituency in 2004. She served as the Minister of State with independent charge of the Department of Cooperation in the BJD-BJP coalition government in Odisha from 2004 to 2009.

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