Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 22 August 2024 | Download PDF

• India is advancing towards its target of achieving 20% ethanol blending with petrol by 2025-26. 

About Ethanol Blending Program:

• Ethanol: A biofuel produced through fermentation of sugars or via petrochemical processes (e.g., ethylene hydration).
• Ethanol Blending: Mixing ethanol derived from agricultural products with petrol to create a blended motor fuel.
• Benefits: Ethanol is rich in oxygen content, leading to more efficient fuel combustion in engines.
• Production of Ethanol in India:
  • Promoting Agency: The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) is the primary agency promoting fuel-grade ethanol distilleries.
  • Raw Materials: Ethanol is produced from sugarcane-based materials (C & B heavy molasses, sugarcane juice, sugar syrup), surplus rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), and maize.
• India’s Biofuel Policy: Policy Amendment: The Central government amended the Biofuel Policy in 2021-22, targeting 20% ethanol and 5% biodiesel blending by 2025.
• Major Contributors: Uttar Pradesh is a significant contributor, with distilleries producing both sugarcane and grain-based ethanol.

• Leonard Hayflick, the biomedical researcher who discovered that normal somatic cells can only divide a certain number of times, recently passed away.

About Hayflick limit:

• Refers to the maximum number of times a cell can divide.
• Named after scientist Leonard Hayflick, who discovered this phenomenon.
• Plays a crucial role in aging and the development of age-related diseases.
• Cell Division Phases:
  • Phase 1: Rapid, healthy cell division.
  • Phase 2: Mitosis slows down.
  • Phase 3: Senescence, where cells stop dividing entirely but remain alive for a time.
• Apoptosis: After cells stop dividing, they undergo a programmed cellular death called apoptosis.
• Telomeres:
  • Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences at the end of chromosomes, protecting them during cell division.
  • With each cell division, telomeres shorten, eventually reaching a critical point where cell division ends.

• A recent study has made a significant breakthrough by discovering vast amounts of liquid water hidden deep within Mars’ rocky outer crust, enhancing our understanding of the Red Planet.

Key points:

• First Discovery: Scientists have found evidence of liquid water on the Martian surface, beyond the previously known presence of water ice at the planet’s poles.
• Study Title: “Liquid water in the Martian mid-crust.”
• Publication: The study was published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
• Research Team: The research was conducted by scientists from the University of California.

• The new Telecommunication Act has sparked debate over the definition of “telecommunication services.”
• Telecom operators and social media companies are in disagreement over whether over-the-top (OTT) platforms like WhatsApp and Google Meet should be included in this definition.

About Telecommunications Act, 2023:

• The Act defines telecom services as the “transmission, emission, or reception of any messages by wire, radio, optical, or other electromagnetic systems.” 
• It broadly defines messages to include “any sign, signal, writing, text, image, sound, video, data stream, intelligence, or information.”
• Objective:
  • Modernize and unify laws for the development, expansion, and operation of telecommunication services and networks.
  • Address spectrum assignment and related matters.
• Replacement of Old Laws: Supersedes the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Indian Wireless Telegraph Act, 1933, due to advancements in telecom technology.
• Digital Implementation: Promotes digital frameworks, including online dispute resolution.
• Guiding Principles:
  • Inclusion (Samavesh)
  • Security (Suraksha)
  • Growth (Vriddhi)
  • Responsiveness (Tvarit)

• A vaccine-derived polio case has been confirmed in a two-year-old child from Tikrikilla, Meghalaya. 
• Health authorities clarified that this is not caused by the wild poliovirus but is related to an infection occurring in individuals with low immunity.

About Vaccine-Derived Polio:

• India’s Polio-Free Status:
  • Declaration: India was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2014.
  • Last Wild Poliovirus Case: The last case of wild poliovirus in India was reported in 2011.
• Understanding Vaccine-Derived Polio (VDPV):
  • Vaccine Composition: The Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) contains a weakened form of the poliovirus to stimulate an immune response.
  • cVDPV Development: In rare cases, in under-immunized populations, the excreted vaccine virus can circulate, undergo genetic changes, and potentially revert to a form capable of causing paralysis. This is known as circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV).
  • Prevention: WHO recommends multiple rounds of high-quality immunization campaigns to stop cVDPV transmission.

• In a move aimed at boosting the state’s biodiesel production, the Odisha government has announced that it will exempt import fee and excise duty on methanol. 
• The exemption is expected to significantly reduce the cost of methanol, a key ingredient in biodiesel production, making it more attractive for investors and manufacturers. 

Methanol:

• Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is the simplest alcohol. 
• It is a colorless, volatile, and flammable liquid with a distinctive odor. 
• Methanol is primarily produced synthetically from carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas.
• Methanol is a clean-burning fuel that can be used in internal combustion engines and fuel cells. It produces fewer greenhouse gasses than gasoline or diesel.

Key properties:

• Formula: CH3OH
• Molecular weight: 32.04 g/mol
• Boiling point: 64.7 °C
• Freezing point: -97.8 °C
• Density: 0.7918 g/mL.

• The Government of Odisha has launched a digital crop survey initiative called “e-Chasa.”

Key points:

• This initiative aims to modernize the traditional crop survey process by utilizing technology. 
• Through e-Chasa, farmers will be able to record their crop data digitally, including details such as crop type, area under cultivation, and estimated yield. 
• This data will be collected using smartphones or tablets, making the process more efficient and accurate.
• The collected data will be used by the government to assess crop production, monitor agricultural trends, and provide better support to farmers.
• Odisha is be the first state to adopt digital survey policy in the field of agriculture and around 48 lakh farmers will benefit due to the app and portal.

• The Odisha government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to prohibit strikes by nurses and paramedics in the state. 
• This move comes in response to the ongoing protests and demands for higher salaries, better working conditions, and job security by healthcare workers.

About:

• ESMA is a law in India that provides for the maintenance of essential services and prohibits strikes and lockouts in certain industries. 
• The act was enacted in 1969 and aims to ensure the continued supply of essential goods and services to the public.

Key provisions of ESMA include:

Definition of essential services: 

• The act defines essential services as those that are necessary for the life, safety, or health of the community.
• This includes services such as electricity, water, transportation, and healthcare.

Prohibition of strikes and lockouts: The act prohibits strikes and lockouts in industries that provide essential services. 

• However, there are certain exceptions to this prohibition, such as when the strike is in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act.

Powers of the government: 

• The government has the power to declare certain industries as essential services and to prohibit strikes and lockouts in these industries.
• The government can also take over the management of essential services if it deems it necessary.
• Penalties: 
• The act provides for penalties for violations of its provisions. 
• These penalties can include fines and imprisonment.

• Skill Development and Technical Education (SDTE) Minister Sampad Chandra Swain inaugurated a series of skill development initiatives for students under the NUA Odisha Scheme.

Key points:

• The department has partnered with IIT-Delhi to launch an upskilling programme focused on future technologies. 
• Under the programme, training and certification will be provided by IIT-Delhi to 4,000 youths in areas including blockchain development, augmented reality, virtual reality, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT).
• The programme will be launched in Kalahandi, Bhawanipatna and Cuttack, with focus on project-based learning approach. 
• Till date, 1,670 candidates from over 130 institutions have registered for the cutting-edge courses.
• Besides, SDTE is collaborating with Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited, GMR and Bird group to offer certification in aviation to students under Nua Odisha.

NUA odisha scheme:

• The Nutana Unnata Abhilasha (NUA) Odisha scheme is a comprehensive initiative launched by the Odisha government to empower its youth with continuous skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling opportunities. 
• With a focus on enhancing their employability and competitiveness in the job market, the scheme offers a wide range of training programs in various sectors.

• IIT Bhubaneswar researchers have developed a solar-powered microwave pyrolysis reactor capable of converting waste materials into valuable resources like biochar and bio-oil. 
• This innovative technology offers a sustainable solution to waste management by extracting valuable products from both segregated and mixed waste, including biomass and plastics. 
• The reactor’s microwave-assisted pyrolysis technique ensures rapid conversion, making it an efficient and environmentally friendly method. 
• The researchers have even secured an Indian patent for their technology, highlighting its potential for commercialization and widespread adoption.

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