Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 24 May 2024 | Download PDF

• Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare and fatal brain infection caused by the amoeba Naegleria fowleri. 
• This single-celled organism thrives in warm freshwater and soil, and can survive in temperatures up to 115°F (46°C).

Recent Case in Kerala:

• A recent tragic incident in Kerala saw a five-year-old girl succumb to PAM at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode. 
• The suspected source of infection was a local river where the girl, along with four other children, had been swimming. The other children did not develop symptoms.

Infection and Spread:

• Naegleria fowleri enters the body through the nose, typically when individuals are swimming in warm freshwater bodies such as lakes, rivers, and poorly maintained swimming pools. 
• Once inside the body, the amoeba travels to the brain, causing significant tissue destruction and swelling.

Symptoms of PAM:

• The initial symptoms of PAM include headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. 
• As the infection progresses, the patient may experience a stiff neck, confusion, seizures, hallucinations, and eventually fall into a coma. 
• Most patients with PAM die within 1 to 18 days after the onset of symptoms.

Treatment:

• There is no definitive treatment for PAM. 
• Currently, doctors use a combination of drugs, including amphotericin B, azithromycin, fluconazole, rifampin, miltefosine, and dexamethasone, to manage the infection.

• India ranks 39th in the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024.
• This is a significant rise from the 54th position in 2021.

Global Rankings:

• The top countries in the index are the United States, Spain, Japan, France, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Italy, and Switzerland.

Key points:

• This new ranking places India as the highest in South Asia and among other lower-middle-income economies. 
• However, direct comparisons with 2021 are challenging due to changes in index parameters.
• India’s improved ranking can be attributed to its rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, increased investments in tourism infrastructure, and efforts to enhance travel and tourism sustainability and safety. 
• India ranks 18th in price competitiveness, 26th in air transport, and 25th in ground and port infrastructure.
• Additionally, India scores in the top 10 across all resource pillars, with its Natural Resources ranked 6th, and both Cultural and Non-Leisure Resources ranked 9th.
• Despite these achievements, India’s overall Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) score is 2.1% lower than in 2019, primarily due to global inflation and supply chain issues affecting price competition, air transport, and tourist services. 

• In India, the ePlane Company, incubated by the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, plans to launch its e-flying taxis in Bengaluru.
• In India, however, the government has yet to establish clear policies regarding eVTOL flying taxis. 
• Globally, the United Kingdom may witness its first eVTOL flying taxi by 2026. 

About:

• eVTOLs operate on electric power, allowing them to reach speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour. 
• They are capable of taking off, hovering, and landing vertically, similar to helicopters. 
• However, unlike helicopters, eVTOLs do not require high fuel and maintenance costs or elaborate infrastructure like helipads. 
• They can function on any open ground or rooftop, offering great flexibility in their operations.

Applications:

• Daily Commute & Cargo Delivery: Potential to reduce road traffic.
• Military Use: Can be adapted for military applications.
• Close Proximity Flights: Operates closer to the ground compared to traditional aircraft.

• • The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Central Board of Directors has approved a record surplus transfer of Rs 2.11 lakh crore to the government for the financial year 2023-24.
• This transfer is the highest yearly surplus ever transferred by the Indian central bank.

Key points:

• • The surplus transfer is based on the Economic Capital Framework (ECF) adopted by the RBI on August 26, 2019, following recommendations from the Bimal Jalan committee.
  • The increase in surplus is attributed to higher income from the RBI’s forex holdings, among other factors.
• Impact: The higher-than-expected surplus will support the central government’s liquidity and expenditure.

• Contingent Risk Buffer (CRB): The announcement included an increase in the CRB to 6.50% for FY24, as recommended by the committee. The CRB range is maintained between 5.5% and 6.5% of the RBI’s balance sheet.

• Astronomers have recently made a groundbreaking discovery, detecting a new Earth-sized planet named SPECULOOS-3 b.

About:

• Situated a mere 55 light years away, this planet orbits an ultra-cool red dwarf star, marking only the second of its kind found around such a star. 
• The star itself is notably colder, less massive, and a hundred times less luminous than our sun, making it an intriguing celestial body to study.
• SPECULOOS-3 b exhibits some unique characteristics, taking around 17 hours to complete a single orbit around its star. 
• One of the most striking features of this planet is its likely state of tidal locking, similar to the relationship between the moon and Earth.
• This phenomenon suggests that one side of the planet, the “dayside,” always faces the star, leading to endless days and nights on SPECULOOS-3 b.

• 35 baby crocodiles born in Mahanadi, marking the fourth successful natural breeding of gharials in Satkosia gorge.
• PCCF Wildlife Susanta Nanda confirmed the natural breeding, highlighting the significance of this event.

Key points:

• Mahanadi is recognized as the southernmost limit for gharials in India.
• The Gharial Species Recovery programme has played a crucial role in preventing the local extinction of gharials in the region.
• In 2019, around 20 gharials were reintroduced to the river near Tikarpada as part of the recovery programme.
• The first natural breeding was observed in 2021 after a gap of nearly 40 years.
• Subsequent years saw an increase in the number of hatchlings, with 28 in 2021, 30 in 2022, and 35 in 2023.
• The conservation efforts include declaring the nesting site in Satkosia gorge a no fishing zone, banning all fishing activities, and involving the local fishermen community for effective conservation.

• The first cyclone of this pre-monsoon season Remal,is likely to bypass Odisha and head towards Bangladesh.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts minimal impact on Odisha, with rainfall expected in some districts.

Key points:

• Odisha may experience heavy rainfall in Balasore, Bhadrak, and Kendrapara districts on Sunday, and in Balasore, Bhadrak, and Mayurbhanj districts the next day.
• Wind speeds of 40-50 km/h are expected along the north Odisha coast from Saturday evening, with rough sea conditions expected until Monday morning.
• While the system will have minimal impact, it may raise temperatures in Odisha by 2-3 degrees Celsius over the next three days due to moisture pulled from the sea.

• Preetismita Bhoi of Odisha achieved a new World Record at the IWF World Youth Weightlifting Championships in Lima, Peru, while Jyoshna Sabar won the silver medal in the same category. 
• Both athletes trained at the Odisha Weightlifting High Performance Centre at Kalinga Stadium, highlighting the state’s efforts in nurturing weightlifting talent.

About:

• • The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) is a permanent non-profit organization composed of 193 affiliated National Federations worldwide, from all five Continents
  • The IWF was founded in 1905, being one of the oldest International Sport Federations
  • The IWF is the world controlling body for weightlifting and is also recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the sole controlling body for international weightlifting
  • The IWF is a member of Global Association of International Sport Federations (GAISF) and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF)
• Weightlifting was one of the first sports included already in the first Modern Olympic Games 1896.

• 300 students selected for Mukhyamantri Research Fellowship (MRFT) by the state selection board (SSB).
• The fellowship is part of the Mukhyamantri Research Fellowship Programme in Odisha’s public universities.

Mukhyamantri Research Fellowship (MRFT)

• Purpose: Sponsored by the state government of Odisha, MRFT aims to support research endeavors among students and faculty members in public universities across the state.
• Selection Process: Candidates are chosen through the MRFT test conducted by the state selection board (SSB), resembling the pattern of CSIR UGC NET but without negative marking.
• Stipend: Successful students receive a monthly fellowship of Rs 30,000 for four years, accompanied by a contingency fund. Faculty members also benefit from competitive seed research funding grants.

• The Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) of SAIL is targeting a projected Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs 1,008 crore in the fiscal year 2024-25, aiming to boost profitability and reduce costs.

Key points:

• To achieve this, RSP is implementing new strategies, including partnering with two private companies to produce iron ore pellets using unused iron ore fines from its mines. 
• Agreements signed with Shri Mahavir Ferro Alloys Pvt Ltd near Rourkela and MSP Steel & Power Ltd in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh involve the annual supply of 10 lakh tonnes of low-grade iron ore fines from RSP’s Bolani and Barsua Mines to these vendors for beneficiation and conversion into iron ore pellets. 
• In return, RSP will receive 6,50,000 tonnes of iron ore pellets annually for use in its Blast Furnaces (BFs).
• This initiative not only aims to enhance the productivity and techno-economics of RSP’s BFs but also addresses storage and environmental concerns related to the unused iron ore fines and tailings at the mines.
• Additionally, RSP management has outlined strategies focusing on cost efficiency, including the closure of unviable production units, expanding market presence, and improving other techno-economic parameters.

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