Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik inaugurates Jagannath temple corridor project
Current Affairs – January 2024
• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik dedicated the Srimandir Parikrama Project to the public under which a 75-metre heritage corridor has been built around the perimeter of the 12th century Jagannath temple.
• The corridor is divided into nine distinct zones, each serving a specific purpose, aimed at enhancing the visitor experience and preserving the cultural heritage of the temple.
• The corridor offers facilities like circumambulation by devotees, smoother pedestrian flow, cloakrooms, toilets and 1.5-km-long bridge that would bring people close to the temple, bypassing the crowd in the holy town.
ISRO to launch INSAT-3DS satellite from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
• ISRO will launch its latest meteorological satellite, INSAT-3DS. This satellite will enhance weather forecasting and disaster management and is the result of thorough testing and collaboration.
• It is designed to provide continuity of services while augmenting the capabilities of previous INSAT satellites.
• INSAT is the Indian National Satellite System and
it includes a series of multipurpose geostationary satellites to meet telecommunication, search and rescue operations, broadcasting and meteorology needs.
India to start world’s first (Melanistic) black tiger safari in Odisha
Current Affairs – January 2024
• Odisha will start a melanistic tiger safari near Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR). It will be a groundbreaking initiative, the first of its kind globally. The safari is set to be located near Baripada in the Mayurbhanj district, Odisha.
• Notably, STR stands as the sole habitat for melanistic tigers worldwide, as per the last All India Tiger Estimation Report released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in 2018.
• This move aims to provide tourists and visitors with a unique opportunity to witness the rare and majestic species found exclusively in Odisha.
• Melanism is a genetic condition in which an increased production of melanin, a substance in the skin that produces hair, eye, and skin pigmentation, results in black (or nearly black) skin, feathers, or hair in an animal.
Key Points
Odisha’s Chief Minister – Naveen Patnaik
Odisha’s Capital – Bhubaneswar
Governor – Raghubar Das
Investment Forum for Advancing Climate Resilient Agrifood Systems in India launched Current Affairs – January 2024
• NITI Aayog, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW), the Government of India, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations jointly launched the ‘Investment Forum for Advancing Climate Resilient Agrifood Systems in India’ in New Delhi.
• This initiative aims to develop an investment and partnership strategy to advance climate-resilient agrifood systems among the government, private sectors farmers’ organisations and financial institutions in India.
Key Points
FAO’s Headquarters – Rome, Italy
Director General – Qu Dongyu
Union Minister of Agriculture – Arjun Munda
and Farmers’ Welfare
Niti Aayog’s CEO – B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
Niti Aayog’s Vice-Chairman – Suman Bery
Headquarters – New Delhi
Launch of ‘Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality’ by India at World Economic Forum, annual meeting in Davos
• The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting was held at Davos, Switzerland from 15 to 19 January 2024 with the theme ‘Rebuilding Trust’.
• India participated in the spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, ready to shape a common future marked by global cooperation.
• One of the key takeaways from the forum meeting was the announcement of the launch of a ‘Global Good Alliance for Gender Equity and Equality’ with the support and endorsed by WEF and the Government of India.
• The primary and stated objective of this new alliance is to bring together global best practices, knowledge sharing and investments in the identified areas of women’s health, education and enterprise