Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 30 October 2024 | Download PDF

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Civil Registration System (CRS) mobile application to “integrate technology with governance.”
• Under the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023, all reported births and deaths in the country from October 1, 2023, must be digitally registered through the Centre’s portal at dc.crsorgi.gov.in.

Key Points:

• History: The history of the Civil Registration System (CRS) in India dates back to the middle of the 19th century.
• Post-independence: the Registration of Births and Death Act (RBD Act) was enacted in 1969 to promote uniformity and comparability in the registration of Births and Deaths across the country and compilation of vital statistics based thereon.
• Registration: The Registrar General, India (RGI) at the Central Government level coordinates and unifies the activities of registration throughout the country.
  • However, implementation of the statute is vested with the State Governments.
  • The registration of births and deaths in the country is done by the functionaries appointed by the State Governments.
• Uniform birth and death reporting: The Act mandates the use of uniform birth and death reporting forms and certificates throughout the country.
• India is in the process of setting up a National Population Register (NPR-2010). The Civil Registration System has been linked to the NPR.

• Four elephants were discovered dead, and five others were in poor health, in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points:

• • It is located between the Vindhyan and Satpura ranges in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh.
  • It was declared a national park in 1968 and then became Tiger Reserve in 1993.
  • The habitat is characterized by valleys, hills, and plains, with the Bandhavgarh fort prominently seen as a major landmark.
• Vegetation:

• • It consists of tropical moist, deciduous forests with sal, mixed forest, and grasslands.
  • Bamboo stretches on the lower slopes of the region.
• Flora: Some of the most famous floral species include Saj (Terminaliatomentosa), Dhaora (Anogeissuslatifolia), Tendu, Arjun (Terminaliaarjuna), Amla (Emblicaofficinalis), Palas (Buteamonosperma), etc.
• Fauna: It is known for the Royal Bengal Tigers. The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India as well as in the world. 

• The Delhi High Court stated that the strict provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) should not be used as a “tool for incarceration.”

Key Points:

• • PMLA defines money laundering as an act of directly or indirectly attempting to indulge or knowingly assisting or knowingly being a party or actually involved in concealing, possessing, acquiring, using, projecting as untainted property, or claiming as untainted property, in any manner whatsoever, the proceeds of crime.
  • It is defined as the process through which an illegal fund, such as black money, is obtained from illegal activities and disguised as legal money, eventually portrayed as white money.
• About Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002:

• • • It is an act to prevent money laundering and to provide for the confiscation of property derived from or involved in money laundering.
• The Act was formulated for the following objectives:

• • • Prevent money-laundering.
    • Combat/prevent the channelising of money into illegal activities and economic crimes.
    • Provide for the confiscation of property derived from, or involved/used in, money laundering.
    • Penalize the offenders of money laundering offenses. 
    • Appointing an adjudicating authority and appellate tribunal for taking charge of money laundering matters.
    • Provide for matters connected and incidental to the acts of money laundering.
• The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, is responsible for investigating the offenses of money laundering under the PMLA.

• The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has ordered manufacturers to lower the maximum retail prices of three anti-cancer drugs—Trastuzumab, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab—to ensure affordable access.

Key Points:

• • It is a government regulatory agency established with the aim of controlling and regulating the prices of pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices in the country to ensure their availability at affordable rates.
  • It was constituted by Government of India Resolution dated 29th August 1997 as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers. 
• Functions:

• • To implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order in accordance with the powers delegated to it.
  • To deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the Authority.
  • To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps.
  • To collect/ maintain data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc, for bulk drugs and formulations.
  • To undertake and/ or sponsor relevant studies in respect of pricing of drugs/ pharmaceuticals.
  • To recruit/ appoint the officers and other staff members of the Authority, as per rules and procedures laid down by the Government.

• Israeli lawmakers approved two laws on Monday that may jeopardize the main UN agency’s operations in Gaza by prohibiting it from working on Israeli territory and cutting ties with it.

Key Points:

• • It is a subsidiary agency created by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1949.
  • Objective: To provide relief, health, and education services for Palestinians who lost both their homes and their means of livelihood during the Arab-Israeli wars following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
  • Beginning operations in 1950, UNRWA was originally headquartered in Beirut but was moved to Vienna in 1978. 
  • Services: The agency’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance, including in times of armed conflict.
  • Fields of operations: It provides services in its five fields of operations: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank,including the East of Jerusalem.
• Funding:

• • It is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN Member States.
  • UNRWA also receives some funding from the Regular Budget of the UN, which is used mostly for international staffing costs.
• Its chief officer, the commissioner-general—the only leader of a UN agency to report directly to the General Assembly—is appointed by the UN secretary-general with the approval of an Advisory Commission.

• The Odisha government has amended the Odisha Excise Rules banning dance performances in bars. 
• The amendment prohibits dance bars but allows women aged 21 and above to perform musical programmes or orchestras in licensed ‘on shops’ selling foreign liquor and IMFL with prior writ

• In order to enhance the state’s disaster response capabilities, Odisha CM has announced to form 10 new Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams and construct 500 cyclone centers.
• Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) is a specialized unit of Odisha Police formed to respond immediately to disasters caused by natural calamities or industrial accidents. 
• It was established in 2001 and is the first of its kind in India. 

Key points about ODRAF:

• Composition: It comprises 20 units carved out of the Orissa Special Armed Police (OSAP), Armed Police Reserve (APR), India Reserved (IR) Battalion, and Specialized India Reserve (SIR) Battalions.   
• Manpower: Each unit consists of approximately 50 personnel, making it a lean but agile organization.   
• Training: ODRAF personnel are highly trained to handle various disaster situations, including floods, cyclones, earthquakes, and industrial accidents. 

• Four sandstone replicas of the iconic Konark wheel have been installed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre and the Amrit Udyan. 
• This initiative aims to showcase and promote India’s rich heritage and cultural legacy to visitors. 
• By incorporating these replicas into the Rashtrapati Bhavan complex, the government aims to introduce traditional cultural and historical elements, further enhancing the significance of this national monument.

Konark Sun Temple:

• The Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century Hindu temple dedicated to the Sun god Surya. 
• The temple is shaped like a colossal chariot drawn by seven horses and has 24 wheels, symbolizing the sun’s journey across the sky.   
• The temple’s sculptures depict various aspects of Hindu mythology, including deities, celestial beings, and everyday life. 
• The erotic sculptures, known as “Kamasutra carvings,” are particularly famous. 
• It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

• PM Modi launched three significant healthcare projects in Odisha virtually from New Delhi on October 30, 2024. 

These projects include:

• Central Drugs Testing Laboratory: Inaugurated at Gothapatna, near Bhubaneswar, this laboratory will play a crucial role in ensuring the quality and safety of medicines in the state.
• Central Research Institute of Yoga and Naturopathy: Foundation stone laid at Binjhagiri in Khurda district, this institute will promote research and education in yoga and naturopathy, contributing to the country’s rich tradition of holistic healthcare.
• Critical Care Block: Inaugurated under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) in Bargarh district, this block will enhance critical care facilities in the region, providing better access to specialized medical services.

• Odisha plans to create a pool of 400 skilled geriatric caregivers every year anticipating that the State may have to cater to the needs of approximately 80 lakh senior citizens by 2036.

Key Points:

• It was in view of growing population ages, the likelihood of chronic illnesses and co-morbidity that adults face will cause an increased demand for support and assistance from family and friends. 
• Aging involves a number of biological changes which affect the activities of daily living like reduction in eyesight, hearing and mobility, reducing an individual’s ability to sustain independent living, for which they need other people’s assistance.

• After unveiling a new air connectivity policy, the Odisha government is all set to lease out eight airstrips in the state for establishment of flight training institutes.
• The Commerce and Transport department has decided to lease out a minimum 1,000 sqm space at its eight airstrips for establishment of flight training organizations on design, build, operate, and maintain (DBOM) basis.

Key Points:

• The airstrips where the training institutes will come up are Tusra in Balangir district, Hirakud (Jamadarpali) in Sambalpur, Gotma in Nuapada, Padampur (Sativata) in Bargarh, Phulbani (Gudari) in Kandhamal, Rairangpur (Dandbose) in Mayurbhanj, Raisuan and Barbil in Keonjhar.

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