As you are aware, in all competitive exams, the “Daily Current Affairs Section” holds significant importance in determining the cutoff scores. Therefore, if you excel in this section, you will have a better chance of achieving higher marks in these exams and securing a spot on the merit list.
Addapedia Odisha – Daily Current Affairs -24 July 2024
National and International News
|
Wagner Group |
Why in the news?
- The Wagner mercenary group from Russia reported severe losses, including a commander, in recent battles with separatist forces in northeast Mali.
About Wagner Group:
- Official Name: PMC Wagner, a Russian paramilitary organization.
- Nature: A private military company and a network of mercenaries.
- Origin:
- Emerged in 2014 during Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
- Operated in Syria and several African countries including Libya, Sudan, Mozambique, Mali, and the Central African Republic.
- Founders:
- Yevgeny Prigozhin.
- Dmitry Utkin, a former special forces officer in Russia’s GRU military intelligence.
- Legal Status:
- Mercenary forces are technically illegal in Russia.
- Wagner registered as a “private military company” in 2022.
- Operations:
- Closely tied to the Russian military and intelligence community.
- Services vary based on client needs, including rebel groups and regimes.
- Funding ranges from direct payment to resource concessions.
|
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) |
Why in the news?
- The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) recently approved amendments to the deal for 31 MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs from General Atomics, USA.
About Defence Acquisition Council (DAC):
-
- Formation: Formed in 2001 following the Group of Minister’s recommendations on ‘Reforming the National Security System‘ post-Kargil War (1999).
- Objective:
- Ensure expeditious procurement of the armed forces’ approved requirements in terms of capabilities and prescribed time frames.
- Optimize utilization of allocated budgetary resources.
- Composition:
- Chaired by the Defence Minister.
- Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
- Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force
- Functions:
- Approve a 15-year Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP) for defence forces.
- Accord acceptance of necessity for acquisition proposals.
- Categorize acquisition proposals as ‘Buy’, ‘Buy & Make’, and ‘Make’.
- Address issues related to single vendor clearance.
- Decide on ‘offset’ provisions for acquisition proposals above Rs 300 crore.
- Make decisions regarding the Transfer of Technology under the ‘Buy & Make’ category.
- Conduct field trial evaluations.
|
International Labour Organization (ILO) |
Why in the news?
- India, a founding member of the International Labour Organization (ILO), is likely to file a complaint against the UN agency regarding its India Employment Report 2024.
About International Labour Organization (ILO):
- Specialized Agency of the UN: Dedicated to improving labour conditions and living standards worldwide.
- History:
- Creation: Established in 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles after World War I.
- UN Agency: Became a specialized agency of the UN in 1946.
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
- Membership: 187 members (186 UN member states plus the Cook Islands).
- Structure:
- Tripartite Agency: Includes governments, employers, and workers’ representatives from 187 member states.
- UNDP Membership: Part of the United Nations Development Group aimed at achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
- Functions:
- Policy Formulation: Develops international policies to promote human rights, improve working conditions, and enhance employment opportunities.
- Labour Standards: Creates and supervises the application of international labour standards.
- Technical Cooperation: Implements international technical cooperation programs in partnership with its constituents.
- Training and Education: Conducts training, education, and research activities to support its initiatives.
- Recognition:
- Nobel Prize for Peace: Awarded in 1969 for its contributions to improving labour conditions and promoting social justice.
|
Mission LiFE |
Why in the news?
- Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change launches Ideas4LiFE portal for inviting ideas related to products and services for inducing behavioral changes related to environment-friendly lifestyles.
About Mission LiFE:
- Unveiled by Prime Minister of India at the UNFCCC COP26 in 2021.
- Focuses on individual conduct in global climate action.
- Objective: Motivate at least 1 billion people (Indians and global citizens) to take individual and group actions for environmental protection and conservation (2022-2028).
- Vision:
- Encourage small, everyday actions to drastically halt climate change.
- Establish an ecosystem through the ‘Pro-Planet People’ (P3) community to support and sustain environmentally responsible behaviors.
- Principles:
- Everyone has a responsibility to live in harmony with the Earth and cause no harm.
- Individuals living this way are designated as Pro Planet People.
- Themes:
- Save Energy
- Save Water
- Say No to Single Use Plastic
- Adopt Sustainable Lifestyle
- Reduce Waste
- Adopt Healthy Lifestyles
- Reduce E-Waste
|
Digital Arrest |
Why in the news?
- The “Digital Arrest” scam, a new form of online fraud, involves perpetrators impersonating official authorities to extort money from victims via video calls.
About Digital Arrest:
- The term “Digital Arrest” refers to a sophisticated cyber scam where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement or government officials to extort money from unsuspecting victims.
- This scam typically involves video calls where the scammers falsely accuse the victim of illegal activities, creating a sense of urgency and fear to compel the victim to transfer money immediately.
- How It Works:
- Initial Contact: Victims receive a video call from scammers posing as authorities.
- Creating Fear: Scammers use intimidating tactics, such as false accusations of criminal activities.
- Demand for Payment: Victims are pressured to pay a large sum to avoid supposed legal consequences.
|
Odisha Specific News |
Odisha’s Loss of PMAY-G Houses |
Context:
- Odisha has reportedly lost central assistance for 6,57,945 houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) over the last eight years.
- The current state government attributes this loss to the inefficiency of the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) regime.
About PMAY-G
- In pursuance to the goal – Housing for all by 2022, the rural housing scheme Indira Awas Yojana has been revamped to Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin and approved during March 2016.
- Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided for construction of pucca house to all houseless and households living in dilapidated houses.
- The scheme would be implemented in rural areas throughout India except Delhi and Chandigarh. The cost of houses would be shared between Centre and States.
|
Landslide |
Context:
- Odisha experienced a major landslide near Tumba Padar village.
- The landslide has cut off 18 villages in Malkangiri from the rest of the state, disrupting essential services and transportation.
Landslide:
- A landslide is the movement of rock, earth, or debris down a sloped section of land.
Causes of Landslides
Natural Causes:
- Earthquakes: Shake and weaken the ground, triggering landslides.
- Rainfall: Saturates the ground, adding weight and reducing stability.
- Erosion: Coastal waves and river currents erode the base of slopes.
- Groundwater: Dissolves rocks within slopes, weakening them.
Human-Induced Causes:
- Deforestation: Tree roots stabilize slopes; their removal increases landslide risk.
- Construction: Buildings and roads can alter natural drainage patterns and load on slopes.
- Mining: Explosions and vibrations from mining activities can destabilize slopes.
- Agriculture: Farming practices can lead to soil erosion and slope instability.
Types of Landslides:
-
- Falls: Free fall of earth material from a steep slope or cliff.
- Slides: Downward movement along a well-defined surface.
- Rotational Slides: Movement along a concave-upward surface.
- Translational Slides: Movement along a planar surface.
- Flows: Movement that resembles fluid behavior, typically involving water.
- Mudflows: Rapid flow of water-saturated earth material.
- Debris Flows: Flow of water, soil, and rock debris.
- Topples: Forward rotation of rock or earth material out from a slope.
|
Odisha’s Second Vote-on-Account |
Context:
- On July 30, 2024, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi presented a vote-on-account of ₹95,000 crore to cover expenditures related to government schemes and administrative needs for the months of August and September.
- This move is notable as it marks the second vote-on-account within the same financial year, setting a new record for the state.
Vote on Account:
-
- A vote on account, as per Article 116 of the Indian Constitution, is an advance grant from the Consolidated Fund of India to cover short-term expenditure needs until the start of the new financial year.
- Consolidated Fund of India: Defined under Article 266, it comprises all revenue generated by the central government, including taxes, loan interest, and state tax portions.
Purpose of Vote on Account:
- Interim Measure: During an election year, the government presents a vote on account instead of a full-fledged Budget. This measure is used to provide funds for the short term while awaiting the new government.
- Legislative Procedure: The Consolidated Fund can only be accessed under an appropriation authorized by law, which requires passing an appropriation bill. This process can be time-consuming, necessitating the vote on account to ensure funds are available from April 1.
|
Project Tiger and Indigenous Displacement: Key Findings |
Context:
- On International Tiger Day, the Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) released a critical report titled “India’s Tiger Reserves: Tribals Get Out, Tourists Welcome.”
- The report examines the impact of Project Tiger on indigenous communities, highlighting severe consequences of the conservation initiative.
Displacement of Indigenous Communities:
- Scope of Displacement: The report alleges that Project Tiger, since its inception in 1973, has led to the displacement of approximately 550,000 Scheduled Tribes (ST) and other forest dwellers.
- Recent Trends: Between 2021 and 2017, the displacement rate per tiger reserve increased by 967%, with the addition of six new reserves. This has resulted in about 290,000 people being forcibly removed from their ancestral lands.
Violations and Irregularities:
- Forest Rights Act (FRA) Violations: The report accuses Project Tiger of breaching the Forest Rights Act by displacing tribal communities without their consent.
- Increased Tiger Deaths: Ironically, tiger deaths have risen due to infrastructure projects such as roads, even as tribes are displaced for conservation purposes.
Case Studies and Human Rights Concerns:
- Kaziranga National Park: The report highlights Kaziranga National Park in Assam as a case of concern, citing a 2014 report that questioned the legitimacy of alleged poaching encounters. The report states that between 2014 and 2016, 57 individuals were killed, raising suspicions about the nature of these encounters.
- Unfounded Displacement: Five tiger reserves, including Sahyadri, Satkosia, Kamlang, Kawal, and Dampa, have displaced over 5,600 tribal families despite not having a significant tiger population.
Commercialization and Its Impact:
- Tourism and Infrastructure: The report criticizes the commercialization of tiger reserves, noting the encroachment of tourism, infrastructure projects, and mining activities into protected areas.
- Forest Conservation Amendment Act: The recent amendment is viewed as exacerbating the issue by promoting commercialization under the guise of eco-tourism.
Successful Coexistence Models:
- Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve: The report acknowledges the success of the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, where the coexistence between tigers and the Soliga tribe has led to a thriving tiger population. The report advocates for this model to be adopted more widely.
Recommendations and Future Directions:
- Immediate Actions Needed: The report calls for a halt to current displacements, a comprehensive review of existing tiger reserves, and the adoption of coexistence models that respect the rights of indigenous communities.
- National Debate: The findings have sparked a debate on balancing wildlife conservation with the rights and livelihoods of human populations, urging for a more equitable approach to Project Tiger.
|
Copyright © by Adda247
All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of Adda247. |