CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• The population of nesting birds in Bhitarkanika National Park has seen a slight uptick.
• About Bhitarkanika National Park:
  • Location:
    • Situated in the Kendrapara district of Odisha, this park is part of a lush delta formed by the Brahmani, Baitarani, and Dhamara rivers.
  • Ecosystem:
    • It features extensive mangrove forests, winding rivers, and tidal creeks, covering an area of 672 sq. km, making it the second-largest mangrove ecosystem in India. Its proximity to the Bay of Bengal enriches the soil with salt, supporting a variety of tropical and subtropical intertidal vegetation.
  • Conservation Status:
    • Bhitarkanika is designated as the second Ramsar site in Odisha, following Chilika Lake.
  • Flora:
    • The park boasts diverse flora, including mangrove species, casuarinas, and grasses such as indigo bush.
  • Fauna:
    • It is home to the largest population of endangered Salt Water Crocodiles in India.
    • Gahirmatha Beach, located on the park's eastern boundary, hosts the largest colony of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.
    • The area also shelters a range of wildlife, including hyenas, wild boar, chitals, sambar, spotted deer, jungle cats, and wild pigs. In winter, migratory birds flock to the park, adding vibrant colors to its rich ecosystem.

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• A 59-year-old British man had a close brush with death after a seemingly minor spider bite led to a life-threatening condition known as necrotizing fasciitis.
• About Necrotizing Fasciitis:
  • Necrotizing fasciitis, often referred to as flesh-eating disease, is a rare and severe bacterial infection that impacts the fascia, the connective tissue beneath the skin. The term "necrotizing" indicates tissue death, while "fasciitis" refers to inflammation of the fascia.
• Types:
  • Type I (polymicrobial): This form occurs when multiple bacteria, typically a combination of aerobic and anaerobic strains, cause the infection.
  • Type II (monomicrobial): This variant is usually triggered by a single type of bacteria, most commonly group A streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus.
• Entry Points for Infection: The bacteria can enter the body through:
  • Cuts and scratches
  • Burns and scalds
  • Insect bites
  • Surgical wounds
  • Drug injection sites
• Necrotizing fasciitis falls under the category of Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections (NSTIs), which can severely affect the skin, muscles, and soft tissues, leading to tissue death.
• The infection often spreads along fascial planes, which have limited blood supply, allowing it to progress without initially affecting the overlying tissues. This characteristic can delay diagnosis and necessary surgical intervention.
• Symptoms:
  • Early symptoms can mimic those of the flu, while later signs may include:
    • Red or discolored skin
    • Swelling in the affected area
    • Unstable blood flow
    • Blisters with bloody or yellowish fluid
    • Tissue necrosis
    • Low blood pressure
    • Signs of sepsis
• Treatment:
  • Currently, there is no vaccine available to prevent necrotizing fasciitis. Treatment typically involves antibiotics and surgical procedures to remove necrotic tissue.

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• The government has recently reduced the windfall tax on domestically produced crude oil to zero per tonne.
• About Windfall Tax:
  • A windfall tax is a higher tax imposed on certain industries when they experience unexpected and significantly elevated profits. The term "windfall" denotes an unanticipated increase in earnings, and the tax on these unexpected gains is referred to as the windfall tax.
  • These profit increases are not typically the result of a business's growth or investment strategies but stem from favorable external factors beyond the company’s control.
  • Windfall taxes are generally applied to industries that realize disproportionate profits during unforeseen events such as commodity shortages, wars, pandemics, or shifts in government policy. The oil, gas, and mining sectors are the most commonly targeted industries for this type of tax. Additionally, certain individual taxes, like inheritance taxes or taxes on lottery winnings, can also be considered forms of windfall tax.
  • Objective: The main goal of windfall taxes is to capture a portion of these extraordinary profits, which are seen as exceeding normal returns, for the benefit of the public. Governments argue that these profits result not solely from the efforts of the taxed entities but also from external circumstances, thus justifying the redistribution of these gains to serve societal needs. Windfall taxes also serve as an additional revenue source for the government.

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• Women-owned micro and small enterprises will benefit from increased credit guarantee coverage of 90 percent under the CGTMSE scheme, following recent approval of new guidelines by its board.
• About Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE):
• The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (M/o MSME) launched the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs) in 2000.
• Objective: The primary aim is to stimulate the flow of institutional credit to micro and small enterprises.
• Formally launched on August 30, 2000, the scheme has been operational since January 1, 2000. It seeks to enhance access to credit for the underserved segments of the MSE sector, particularly benefiting new entrepreneurs and those without collateral or third-party guarantees.
• To implement this Credit Guarantee Scheme, CGTMSE was established jointly by the M/o MSME, the Government of India, and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
• Funding: The corpus of CGTMSE is financed by the Government of India and SIDBI, contributing in a 4:1 ratio.
• Eligible Lending Institutions: The scheme includes scheduled commercial banks (public sector, private sector, and foreign banks) and select Regional Rural Banks classified as 'Sustainable Viable' by NABARD. Additionally, institutions like the National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC), North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi), SIDBI, certain Small Finance Banks, and NBFCs are also eligible.
• Eligible Credit Facility: CGTMSE provides collateral-free credit support of up to Rs. 5 crores for MSEs through its Member Lending Institutions. The guarantee coverage is structured as follows:
• Microenterprises: 85% coverage for credits up to Rs. 5 lakhs.
• Credits from Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 500 lakhs: 75% coverage.
• North East Region (including Sikkim, UT of Jammu & Kashmir, and UT of Ladakh): 80% for loans up to Rs. 50 lakhs; 75% for amounts above that.
• MSMEs owned/operated by SC/ST entrepreneurs, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), MSEs in Aspirational Districts, ZED-certified MSEs, and those promoted by Agniveers: 85% coverage.
• Women-owned MSMEs: 90% coverage.
• Other borrowers: 75% coverage.
• In cases of default, the trust will settle claims up to 75% (or 85%/80% where applicable) of the outstanding amount of the credit facility provided by the lending institution.

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• Rapa Nui, commonly known as Easter Island, has not undergone a catastrophic population collapse, according to an analysis of ancient DNA from 15 former residents of this remote Pacific island.
• About Rapa Nui:
  • Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, is a Chilean territory located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. It serves as the easternmost point of the Polynesian island chain. The island is approximately 3,540 km west of Chile and about 1,900 km east of Pitcairn Island.
  • Covering an area of 163.6 sq. km, Rapa Nui is one of the most isolated inhabited locations in the world. This small, triangular volcanic island stretches about 24 km in length and has a maximum width of around 12 km. It experiences a tropical rainforest climate.
  • Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site on March 22, 1996, significant portions of the island are protected under Rapa Nui National Park.
• What are Moai Statues?
  • Rapa Nui is renowned for its large statues known as moai. These statues resemble oversized human heads and are placed on stone pedestals. Famous for their intricately carved features and the "Pukao," a hat-like covering made from soft red stone, some moai reach heights of 40 feet and can weigh up to 75 tonnes.
  • The moai were carved from volcanic stone at quarries and transported to their current locations across the island. Scholars believe that the Rapa Nui people constructed these statues between the 13th and 16th centuries to honor their esteemed ancestors. To date, over 900 moai have been discovered on the island.

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• Recently, the Prime Minister of India inaugurated ‘SUBHADRA,’ the flagship scheme of the Government of Odisha, in Bhubaneswar.
• Named after Goddess Subhadra, the younger sister of Lord Jagannath, the scheme aims to support eligible women beneficiaries aged 21 to 60 years. Each beneficiary will receive a total of Rs. 50,000 over a span of five years, from 2024-25 to 2028-29. This amount will be distributed in two equal installments of Rs. 10,000 per year, credited directly to their Aadhaar-linked and DBT-enabled bank accounts.
• How It Works:
• The funds will be deposited directly into the beneficiary's Aadhaar-enabled single-holder bank account. To ensure smooth processing, e-KYC has been made mandatory for participants, and beneficiaries will be issued a Subhadra Debit Card.
• Additionally, in each gram panchayat and urban local body area, the top 100 beneficiaries with the highest number of digital transactions will receive an extra incentive of Rs. 500.
• Eligibility criteria exclude women from economically advantaged families, government employees, and income tax payers. Women receiving Rs. 1,500 or more per month (or Rs. 18,000 or more per year) from any other government scheme will also be ineligible.
• There is no deadline for registration; the process will remain open until all eligible beneficiaries have been accounted for.

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• Recently, tribal communities across several states in India celebrated the harvest festival known as Karma or Karam Parv.
• About Karma Festival:
  • Karma Puja is one of the most cherished festivals, dedicated to the harvest and honoring the Karam tree, which symbolizes fertility, prosperity, and auspiciousness. The festival's roots can be traced back to the advent of agriculture among tribal societies.
• Celebration Practices:
  • In the week leading up to the festival, young women collect clean sand from a river to sow seven varieties of grains. On the day of the celebration, a branch of the Karam tree is planted in the courtyard or ‘akhra.’
  • Devotees arrive with Jawa (hibiscus) flowers, and the pahan (priest) performs rituals to worship the Karam Raja. The festivities include traditional dancing and singing of Karam songs.
  • The celebration culminates with the immersion of the Karam branch in a river or pond, followed by the distribution of Jawa flowers among the attendees. At the end of the festival, branches from sal or bhelua trees are often planted in the fields, symbolizing a plea for protection of the crops by the Karam Raja/Devta.
  • Karma is traditionally celebrated on the Ekadashi tithi (eleventh day) of the lunar fortnight in the month of Bhado/Bhadra, which falls around August-September in the Gregorian calendar. The festival holds special significance among the Munda, Ho, Oraon, Baiga, Kharia, and Santhal tribes and is predominantly celebrated in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and Odisha.