APTI PLUS OAS GAZETTE
AUGUST 2025
CREATING CIVIL SERVANTS FOR THE NATION 28
EDITION
TH
Debrigarh
Wildlife Sanctuary
Oldest
Odisha launches
Odia Inscription AWESOME App
discovered
Gopabandhu Shaktishree
Jana Arogya Scheme
Yojana
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COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR ODISHA STATE CIVIL SERVICES EXAMS
APTI PLUS OAS GAZETTE
A House Journal of APTI PLUS
AUGUST 2025
CONTENT
OPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS 4
ODISHA RELATED STATIC GK 12
APPOINTMENTS 14
AWARDS 15
BOOKS & AUTHORS [CURRENT] 17
BOOKS & AUTHORS [STATIC GK] 18
SPORTS 18
IMPORTANT DAYS 23
STATIC GK 25
CURRENT GK 27
COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR ODISHA STATE CIVIL SERVICES EXAMS
Page |5
SYLLABUS:
CURRENT EVENTS OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE: TO BE READ FROM THE IAS
GAZETTE: COVERS – POLITY, GOVERNMENT SCHEMES, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMY,
SECURITY, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, SECURITY, GEOGRAPHY, SOCIETY, ENVIRONMENT AND
ECOLOGY
Accountant General, Odisha The AG helps ensure transparency, accountability
Context: and financial discipline in how the state handles
A preliminary audit by the Accountant General public money.
(AG), Odisha found serious problems in collecting NOTE: The current Accountant General (Audit-II) of
Annual Lease Rental (ALR) from private agencies. Odisha is Shri Atul Prakash. He assumed the charge
These agencies are running seven tourism on January 6, 2025
properties under the Public-Private Partnership
(PPP) model. Odisha yet to finalise PESA Rules for
Annual Lease Rental (ALR)
Scheduled Areas Implementation
Annual Lease Rental (ALR) refers to the total Context:
amount of rent payable annually for a leased The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas)
property or asset. It's the yearly cost a lessee (the Act (PESA), 1996 empowers Gram Sabhas in
party renting) pays to the lessor (the property Scheduled Areas to manage natural resources and
owner). ensure self-governance.
However, Odisha is yet to notify the PESA Rules
Key Findings by Accountant General:
essential for implementing this Act across its Fifth
Around ₹3.24 crore in ALR dues have not been
Schedule (tribal-dominated) districts.
paid for many years by these agencies.
Details
As per rules, private agencies must pay ALR in
Odisha Government has not set a timeline for
advance every year and if delayed, they must pay
final notification of PESA Rules.
18% penalty interest.
A draft notification was issued on November 10,
But the Tourism Department didn‟t send demand
2023, seeking public feedback.
notices to all agencies, as required.
Consultations and personal hearings were held
Also, no action has been taken to end the lease
with stakeholders.
agreements, even though some leases started in
Draft rules were translated into Odia and
2016 and dues remain unpaid.
Santhali for wider accessibility.
This shows poor monitoring and lack of
Rules were modified post-feedback and shared
enforcement by the department, leading to loss of
with departments for review.
public money.
The process is ongoing; final notification is still
Who is the Accountant General (AG)?
awaited.
Every state has an Accountant General (AG) or
PESA applies to Fifth Schedule areas like
Principal Accountant General (PAG) under the
Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur,
Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) of
Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj and parts of other tribal-
India.
dominated districts.
The C&AG is a Constitutional Authority,
What is the PESA Act, 1996?
appointed by the President of India.
PESA = Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to
The AG checks state government departments,
Scheduled Areas) Act.
public sector units and autonomous bodies.
Extends Part IX of the Constitution (Panchayats)
The AG works under Articles 149 to 151 of the
to Fifth Schedule areas with modifications.
Indian Constitution and the C&AG‟s Duties,
Need for PESA
Powers and Conditions of Service Act, 1971.
73rd Amendment excluded Fifth Schedule Areas
The AG prepares the state’s Finance and
from Panchayat provisions.
Appropriation Accounts and submits them to the
PESA bridges this gap, recognizing tribal customs,
Governor, who then presents them in the State
self-rule and decentralised governance.
Legislature.
Objectives
Enable self-governance for tribal communities.
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Make Gram Sabha central to village-level Divided into Southern (core, hilly) and Northern
planning and decisions. (tourist spots) zones.
Protect tribal customs, resources and identity. Wildlife also includes 242 bird species and 30
Applicability types of reptiles, including mugger crocodiles.
Applies to 10 states: AP, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Challenges & Conservation Efforts
Gujarat, HP, Jharkhand, MP, Maharashtra, Odisha, Core villages like Kabatghai and Bakua remain;
Rajasthan. relocation efforts are ongoing but controversial.
Covers only Fifth Schedule Areas. Issues like cerebral malaria pose health risks in the
Key Features area.
Laws must align with tribal customs and Faced major forest fires in 2021, causing wildlife
traditions. displacement.
Gram Sabha empowered to approve plans, certify Vegetation studies show human disturbances in
fund use and manage resources. buffer zones, but potential for ecological recovery
Mandatory consultation for land acquisition, with proper protection.
mining and displacement.
Control over minor forest produce, markets, Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary
money lending and social sectors. Context
50%+ reservation for STs in Panchayats; all The Odisha government is planning to introduce
chairperson seats reserved for STs. tigers in Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary.
Significance Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Empowers tribals with local decision-making. Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuaryis located in
Protects land, forests and water (Jal, Jungle, Bargarh district, near Hirakud Dam in
Jameen). Sambalpur.
Promotes sustainable development and inclusive Spread over 346.91 sq. km, this sanctuary is
governance. recognised for its rich biodiversity and has been
Legally recognizes tribal institutions and dispute declared an Eco-Sensitive Zone, restricting
resolution systems. industrial activities to protect its ecological
integrity.
Similipal Tiger Reserve Geographical and Ecological Features
Context Surrounded by the Hirakud Reservoir on the east
Odisha’s Forest Department plans to introduce and north.
male tigers into Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) to Supports both terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity,
boost natural breeding and in-situ conservation. making it unique in Odisha.
About Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) A major wintering ground for migratory
Located in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha; covers waterfowl.
2,750 sq km. Flora and Fauna
Part of Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, including Hosts over 250 plant species, many with
Hadgarh and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuaries. medicinal and ethno-botanical value.
Named after the Simuli (red silk cotton) tree. Houses 40+ species of mammals, 200+ birds, 40
Declared a tiger reserve in 1973 under Project reptiles, 12 amphibians, 42 fish, 39 odonates, 85
Tiger. butterflies and 38 spiders.
Also, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2009. Key species include cheetal, sambar deer, wild
Geography & Ecosystem boar, gaur, chowsingha, Indian wild dog,
Rich in biodiversity with tropical moist deciduous leopard, bear, langur and peacock.
forests, sal trees, grasslands and over 1,000 plant
species. Baitarani River
Major rivers: Budhabalanga, Kharkai, Palpala, Context:
Deo. Baitarani River crossed the alert level near
Home to animals like tigers, elephants, leopards, Akhuapada in Bhadrak district, raising fears of
sambar deer, gaurs and four-horned antelope. another flood.
Has beautiful waterfalls: Barehipani (217 m) and About Baitarani River:
Joranda (181 m).
