Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs |21 June 2024 | Download PDF

• The Prime Minister of India is leading the celebrations of the 10th International Day of Yoga at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar.

About International Yoga Day 2024:

• Date Observed: June 21
• Theme for 2024: Yoga for Self and Society
• Theme for 2023: Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — One Earth One Family
• UN Resolution:
  • Passed on December 11, 2014, during the 69th session of the General Assembly.
  • Proclaimed June 21 as International Day of Yoga.
• First Yoga Day Celebrations:
  • Held in 2015 at Raj Path in New Delhi.
  • Attended by Prime Minister Modi and other dignitaries.
  • Achieved two Guinness World Records:
    • Largest yoga session with 35,985 participants.
    • Largest number of participating nationalities (84).
• Yoga:
  • An ancient physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in India.
  • The word ‘yoga’ derived from Sanskrit, meaning to join or unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.

• Railways conducts trial run on world’s highest arch rail bridge in J&K.

About Chenab Bridge:

• Location: The Chenab Bridge is situated in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, India.
• River Spanned: It spans the Chenab River.
• Significance: It is the world’s highest railway bridge, standing at a height of 359 meters (1,178 feet) above the river bed.
• Design: The bridge follows an arch design, which provides strength and stability, especially important for its high-altitude location.
• Purpose: The Chenab Bridge is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project, aimed at improving connectivity to the Kashmir Valley.

• World Refugee Day is annually celebrated globally on June 20th.

About World Refugee Day:

• Dedication: To the millions forced to escape their homes due to war, persecution, or natural catastrophes.
• Theme 2024: For a World Where Refugees Are Welcomed
• History:
  • First Celebration: June 20, 2001
  • Commemoration: 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees
  • Earlier Recognition: Known as Africa Refugee Day
  • Official Declaration: In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared it an International Day for Refugees.

• A remarkable ancient site on the tiny Greek island of Delos is “doomed to disappear” within decades due to rising sea levels and geological processes.

About Delos Island:

• Location: Delos is a small island situated in the Aegean Sea, part of the Cyclades archipelago in Greece.
• Historical Significance: It is considered the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, according to Greek mythology.
• UNESCO World Heritage Site: The island was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990 due to its extensive archaeological remains and its significance in ancient Greek history.

• The recently released Sustainable Development Report 2024 states that the world is significantly off track on most of the sustainable development targets agreed upon in 2015.

About Sustainable Development Report 2024:

• Publisher: The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and Bertelsmann Stiftung.
• Purpose: To assess and rank the progress of countries towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Coverage: Includes data from 193 UN member states.
• Key Indicators: The report evaluates progress on 17 SDGs using indicators such as poverty reduction, education, health, and environmental sustainability.
• Top Performers: Finland, Sweden, and Denmark 
• The Sustainable Development Report (SDR) introduces new FABLE (Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land, and Energy) pathways to promote sustainable food and land systems.

• The Odisha government has proposed to construct multi-purpose community centres across the state and urban residential programmes in and around Bhubaneswar for tribal people. 

Key points:

• Minister of ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare, Nityananda Gond suggested making the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jati Abhyuday Yojna (PM-AJAY) more people-centric, organizing district-level meetings, and conducting awareness programmes at the panchayat level. 

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jati Abhyuday Yojna:

• Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana (PM- AJAY) is a merged scheme of 03 Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan ( SCA to SCSP) and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana(BJRCY) and has been implemented since 2021-22.
• Aim: to reduce poverty of the SC communities by generation of additional employment opportunities through Skill development, income generating schemes and other initiatives and to improve socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuringadequate infrastructure and requisite services in the SC dominated villages.

• In a significant move, the Odisha government has announced the extension of its sponsorship for Indian hockey by an additional three years, now covering until 2036.

Key points:

• The decision to extend Odisha’s sponsorship by another three years was made to celebrate the State’s 100th year of formation and in consideration of the potential of Gujarat hosting the 2036 Olympics.
• Odisha’s contribution to the rise of hockey has been crucial, and this sponsorship extension could be transformative for the State in the sports sector.
• This extension marks the second renewal of the sponsorship. 
• The initial phase, which started in 2018, concluded in 2023. 
• In April, the previous government decided to extend the sponsorship for both senior and junior Men’s and Women’s Indian Hockey Teams for another decade, from 2023 to 2033. 

• Following the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) forming the government in Odisha, there have been speculations regarding the continuation of the KALIA scheme, which was launched by the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) regime to support farmers.

About:

• The Odisha government introduced the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme with the aim of reducing poverty and fostering agricultural prosperity. 
• This initiative provides a range of benefits for farmers’ welfare, targeting various categories of farmers and agricultural laborers.

Scheme Beneficiaries:

• The KALIA scheme is designed to support cultivators, small farmers, and landless agricultural laborers. 
• It offers financial assistance to encourage agricultural activities and related practices.
• Approximately 92% of cultivators in Odisha are expected to benefit from the scheme, with benefits being disbursed through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

Benefits of the KALIA Scheme

Assistance for Cultivation:

• Financial support of Rs. 25,000 over five seasons.
• Funds for fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, labor, and other investments.
• Started from Rabi season 2018-19.

Assistance for Livelihood:

• Rs. 12,500 for landless agricultural households.
• Supports mini-layer units, goat rearing, duckery units, mushroom cultivation, fishery kits, and beekeeping.
• Benefits SC and ST populations of Odisha.

Assistance for Vulnerable Agricultural Households:

• Rs. 10,000 annually for vulnerable cultivators and landless agricultural laborers.
• Ensures sustenance for these families.

Life Insurance for Cultivators and Landless Agricultural Laborers:

• Rs. 2 lakh life insurance cover at Rs. 330 per annum premium for ages 18-50.
• Odisha government covers Rs. 165 of the premium.
• Rs. 2 lakh personal accident cover at Rs. 12 per annum premium.
• Government covers Rs. 6 for ages 18-50 and full Rs. 12 for ages 51-70.

Interest-Free Crop Loan:

• Up to Rs. 50,000 at 0% interest.
• For vulnerable landless laborers, sharecroppers, cultivators, and agricultural families.
• Identified by Gram Panchayats to promote agricultural growth.

• The Odisha government will present another vote-on-account before introducing the full budget for 2024-25. 
• This announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister K V Singhdeo.

Vote-On-Account Budget:

• Vote on Account: Advance grant for Central government’s short-term expenses until new financial year.
• Purpose: Allows outgoing government to withdraw funds for expenditures and schemes until new government forms.
• Interim Budget vs. Vote on Account: Interim budget includes revenue and expenditure details, while vote on account covers only government’s expenditures.
• Components of Interim Budget: Current economy status, plan and non-plan expenditures, receipts, tax rate changes, and estimates for current and next financial year.
• Components of Vote on Account: Essential expenditures like salaries, ongoing projects, and other government expenses.
• Validity Period: Interim budget valid for whole year, vote on account for two to four months.

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