Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 27 June 2024 | Download PDF

• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was appointed as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, a significant position in Parliament. 

About Leader of Opposition (LoP):

• The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha is the head of the largest party not in government and is recognized as the formal leader of the opposition in the lower house of India’s Parliament.
• Eligibility:
  • The leader of the largest opposition party with at least 10% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha.
  • If no party meets this criterion, the position remains vacant.
• Role and Responsibilities:
  • Acts as a key spokesperson for the opposition, providing a counterpoint to government policies and actions.
  • Ensures that the views of the opposition are presented during debates and discussions in the Lok Sabha.
  • Plays a significant role in maintaining checks and balances by scrutinizing government activities.
  • Involved in important parliamentary committees, such as the Public Accounts Committee.
• Powers and Privileges:
  • Equivalent in status and remuneration to a cabinet minister.
  • Participates in high-level selection committees for constitutional posts, including the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Chief Election Commissioner, and members of the Central Information Commission.
• Historical Context:
  • The position was officially recognized through the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.
  • It is designed to provide structured opposition and enhance democratic processes within Parliament.

• The Central Government is planning a new project to ensure that rural households, which received taps under the Jal Jeevan Mission but have not yet accessed water, will soon be provided with potable water.

About JJM:

• Launch Date: August 15, 2019
• Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti
• Objective: To provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all rural households.
• Target: To reach 55 liters of water per person per day to every rural household.
• Coverage: Focus on functional household tap connections (FHTCs) in rural areas.
• Components:
  • Development of reliable drinking water sources and infrastructure.
  • Water conservation and rainwater harvesting.
  • Implementing measures for sustainable groundwater management.
  • Greywater management.
  • Capacity building of stakeholders and awareness creation.
• Implementation: Community approach with local participation, including Gram Panchayats and Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSC).
• Funding Pattern:
  • For plain areas: 50% by the Central Government and 50% by the State Government.
  • For Himalayan and North-Eastern states: 90% by the Central Government and 10% by the State Government.

• South India’s first leopard safari opens at Bannerghatta Biological Park.
• As per Central Zoo Authority guidelines for safaris, an area of 20 hectares has been demarcated and fenced for the safari. 

About BBP:

• Location: Bannerghatta, Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Establishment: 1971 as part of Bannerghatta National Park; became a biological park in 2002
• Butterfly Park:
  • The first of its kind in India.
  • Encompasses a butterfly conservatory, museum, and audiovisual room.

• Historians, academics, writers, and heritage enthusiasts are diligently working to restore the prominence of Srikakulam’s forgotten ancient history.

About Srikakulam:

• Location: Andhra Pradesh
• Historical Significance:
  • Once part of the Kalinga Dynasty.
  • Later ruled by the Gajapati Kingdom, Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, Kakatiya, and Vijayanagara empires.
• Buddhist Sites:
  • Dantapuri and Salihundam:
    • Salihundam has four stupas, relic caskets, and sculptures of Buddhist deities Mareechi and Tara.
    • Remnants date from 2nd century BC to 12th century AD.
    • Believed to be the origin point of Buddhism’s spread to Sumatra and other far-eastern countries.
• Jainism Sites:
  • Tangamayyakonda and Rottavalasa villages.
• Temples:
  • Arasavalli:
    • Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Temple dedicated to the sun god.
    • One of the two temples of its kind, the other being Konark Sun Temple in Odisha.
  • Srimukhalingam:
    • Built in the Kalinga architectural style.
    • Located by the Vamsadhara River and dedicated to lord Srimukha Lingeswara.
• Ancient Heritage:
  • Numerous prominent Buddhist sites and Neolithic-era caves.
  • Some of the oldest temples in the state.

• The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Rafale fighter jets are currently in Egypt for Ex- HOPEX along with the Egyptian Air Force (EAF).

About Exercise HOPEX:

• Date and Duration:
  • Ex-HOPEX took place from 21st to 26th June.
  • It was a weeklong exercise.
• Participants:
  • Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed its Rafale fighter jets, along with C-17 Globemaster and IL-78 tankers.
• Objective:
  • The exercise aimed to promote bilateral and regional cooperation.
  • It symbolized the strong relations between India and Egypt.
• Diplomatic Relations:
  • India and Egypt have a long-standing relationship that began in 1947.
  • They are both founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement.

• The Odisha government has announced plans to introduce an aspirational curriculum in schools, focusing on coding and life skills-based learning. 

Focus Areas:

• Enhance the standard of education in all government and government-aided schools.
• Improve infrastructure, educational environment, and school management initially.

Government Priority:

• Providing quality education in government and government-aided schools.
• Implementation of various programs to achieve this goal.

Curriculum Details:

• Introduce an aspirational curriculum in every school.
• Emphasis on coding, project-based learning, life skills, and linguistic creativity.

Infrastructure Development:

• Focus on ensuring quality education and improving primary school infrastructure.
• Expedite ongoing projects, including the establishment of foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) classrooms.

Technology Integration:

• Development of Asset Management Software to bring significant improvements to the education sector.

Event: Business roundtable meeting organized by UAE-India CEPA Council and the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Bhubaneswar.

Economic Impact:

• Odisha’s developed minerals and industrial sectors and strong human capital attract UAE investors.
• Trade between UAE and Odisha reached $2.63 billion in the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
• Odisha is UAE’s eighth-largest trading partner among India’s 28 states and eight union territories.

Future Prospects:

• Continuous efforts to build on the trading relationship and seek new growth avenues.
• UICC and ICC committed to supporting Odisha businesses in achieving international trade and investment goals.

Industrial Strength:

• Odisha is a leading producer of steel, stainless steel, ferroalloys, alumina, and aluminum.
• Holds significant reserves of nickel, bauxite, iron ore, and coal.
• Recent steps to deepen investment and trade collaboration between UAE and India.

Key Developments:

• June 2022: Memoranda of understanding valued at USD 2.76 billion signed between Odisha and UAE companies.
• Lulu Group plans to establish hypermarkets, shopping malls, and agricultural and seafood processing hubs in Odisha.

CEPA’s Role:

• CEPA has been instrumental in enhancing economic ties between UAE and India.
• Total trade between UAE and India was $83.64 billion for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

IMEEEC Digital Platform:

• India-UAE sea corridor project to launch a digital platform within 100 days.
• Aims to enhance trade connectivity and streamline cargo movement between India and UAE.

Dr. Dhanada Kanta Mishra included in the Diversity List 2024 by the Zubin Foundation, Hong Kong.

Zubin Foundation’s Mission:

• The Zubin Foundation, based in Hong Kong, is dedicated to advocating for the inclusion of ethnic minorities, aiming to eliminate social disparities and create equal opportunities through various initiatives.
• The Diversity List serves as a platform to highlight the vital contributions of ethnic minorities to the vibrant society of Hong Kong.

Dr. Mishra’s Contributions:

• Arrived in Hong Kong in 2017 as a visiting research scholar at HKUST.
• Joined startup RaSpect AI, advancing automated safety inspection of infrastructure.
• Contributed to the growth of RaSpect AI beyond Hong Kong.

• The Union Ministry of Forests, Environment and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has released a draft notification proposing an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around Bhitarkanika National Park and Gahirmatha
• Marine Sanctuary in Odisha’s Kendrapara district. This proposed zone encompasses 209 villages with a population of approximately 2.75 lakh.

Scope of the Eco-Sensitive Zone:

• The proposed ESZ will cover an area of 497.67 square kilometers, extending from 0.10 km to 8.7 km around the boundaries of Bhitarkanika National Park, Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.

Significance of Bhitarkanika and Gahirmatha:

• Bhitarkanika is renowned for being India’s second-largest mangrove forest after the Sundarbans. 
• It is home to the country’s largest population of estuarine crocodiles and the largest heronry in Asia, attracting numerous migratory birds during monsoon and winter. 
• Additionally, the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is globally recognized for the mass nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles.

Objectives and Regulations of the Eco-Sensitive Zone:

• The ESZ aims to serve as a buffer zone to minimize human-wildlife conflict, promote in-situ conservation of wildlife, and reduce impacts on fragile ecosystems. 
• The ESZ will restrict certain non-forestry activities such as setting up polluting industries, stone crushers, commercial mining, sawmills, shrimp farms, brick kilns, and commercial use of firewood.

Legal Framework:

• All activities within the ESZ will be governed by the Environment Act and its associated rules, including the Coastal Regulation Zone, 2011, and the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006. 
• Additionally, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, will apply.
• This proposed ESZ aims to protect the unique biodiversity of Bhitarkanika and Gahirmatha while balancing the needs of the local population and sustainable development.

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