DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 2 February- 2024

2nd Feb 2024

HEADLINES
 Iran to build four nuclear power plants
 Profit Yojana Scheme
 5 new Ramsar sites
 EU aid to Ukraine
 Sale of MQ - 9B drones to India
 American educationist Scott Yomade passed away

IRAN TO BUILD FOUR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

 The Iranian government has decided to build four new nuclear power plants to
increase nuclear power generation to 5,000 megawatts.
 Iran, which aims to generate 20,000 megawatts of electricity by 2041 with nuclear
energy, can currently generate only 1,000 megawatts from a single nuclear power
plant.
 Iran has already been accused of refining uranium needed to make nuclear weapons.

PROFIT YOJANA SCHEME

 Odisha Cabinet headed by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on January 29,
2024 launched 100 percent state funded Minimum Support Price (MSP) Labha
(LABHA) Yojana scheme for small Forest products. 100 crores have been allocated
for this scheme. A minimum support price for forest produce is provided as part of
this scheme.
 The scheme aims to eliminate the possibility of selling the product to middlemen.
 The government aims to include 30,000 tribal beneficiaries under the scheme. And it is expected to be extended to lakhs
of beneficiaries.
 The government will set up a tamarind processing plant with an investment of Rs.25 crores In Rayagada.
 There are total 63 tribal tribes in Odisha. Tribal population constitutes 23 percent of the total population of Odisha.
 Odisha has the third largest tribal population in India after Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
 LABHA - Laghu Bana Jatya Drabya Kraya

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 2 February- 2024

5 NEW RAMSAR SITES

 Union Minister for Environment, Water and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav announced
that 5 wetlands in India (3 from Karnataka, 2 from Tamil Nadu) have been identified as
Ramsar sites.
New Ramsar Sites
1. Anka Samudra Bird Conservation Reserve
 It is a man-made village irrigation tank spread over 98.76 hectares (244.04 acres) adjacent to Lanka Samudram village
in Karnataka.
 It is an ecologically important wetland, rich in biodiversity. There are more than 210 species of plants, 8 species of
mammals, 25 species of reptiles, 240 species of birds, 41 species of fish, 3 species of frogs, 27 species of butterflies.
 More than 30,000 water birds nest in this wetland.
2. Aghunashini Mukha Dwaram :
 The confluence of Aghanashini River with the Arabian Sea over an area of 4801 hectares in Bellary Karnataka originates
 This wetland provides livelihood to 6000 - 7500 families through different activities like fishing, agriculture etc.
3. Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve :
 It is a man-made wetland spread over 50 hectares at Gadak in Karnataka and built to store rainwater for irrigation
purposes.
 It is home to 166 birds. Among them are 130 migratory birds. It is one of the largest wintering grounds for Bar' Headed
Goose in South India. Around 8,000 birds visit this place in winter.
4. Karaivetty Bird Sanctuary :
 It is spread over 453.72 hectares at Ariavare in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the largest lowland wetlands in Tamil Nadu.
 It is home to one of the largest groups of waterfowl in Tamil Nadu. There are about 198 types of parties.
5. Long Wood Shola Reserve Forest :
 Iti is spread over 116.007 hectares at Kota Giri in Tamil Nadu. Its name is derived from the Tamil word 'Solai'. It means
tropical rain forest.
 Sholas are found in the upper reaches of Niligiri, Anamalai, Palani Hills, Calcutta, Mundanthurai and Kanyakumari.
 Out of the 26 endemic bird species of the Western Ghats, 14 are found in these wetlands.
 This brings the total number of Ramsar sites in India to 80. Among the states with the highest number of Ramsar sites
in the country, Tamil Nadu (16 sites) is at the top followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites).
 Currently, around 2,400 places around the world have been identified as Ramsar sites. The UK has the highest number
of sites with 175 sites. While at the top, Mexico is second with 142 sites.
 Kolleru in Andhra Pradesh has been recognized as a Ramsar site.
 A Ramsar site is a wetland of international importance for the conservation of biodiversity. These soils are especially
important for waterfowl habitats and support for plant life.
 The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was adopted on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran and
entered into force in 1975.
 India ratified the treaty on February 1, 1982.

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 2 February- 2024

EU AID TO UKRAINE
 The President of the European Council, Charles Michael, said that the European Union
is ready to help Ukraine in the ongoing war with Russia.
 The leaders of the 27 member states of the EU, which met in Brussels, agreed to
provide 54 billion dollars (about 4.48 lakh crores) in aid to Ukraine.
 Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán did not approve this financial aid package at
a meeting in December 2023.
 But Hungary lifted the veto in the current meeting.
SALE OF MQ - 9B DRONES TO INDIA
 The US government has approved the sale of 31 MQ-9B armed drones to India on February
1, 2024. To this extent, the Defense Security Cooperation Organization has notified the US
Congress and provided the necessary confirmation. The price of these metal sculptures
may be 399 million dollars.
 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the MQ - 9B drone deal during his visit
to America in June 2023.
 Under this agreement, India will procure 15 Sea Guardian drones for its Navy and eight Sky Guardian drones each for
Air Force and Army.
AMERICAN EDUCATIONIST SCOTT YOMADE PASSED AWAY
 American Pulitzer Prize winner, educator and folklorist, Scott Yomade passed away on
January 24, 2024 in New Mexico, USA.
 He belongs to the Kiowa tribe in America. He was the first American author to receive the
Pulitzer Prize.
 His novel "House Made of Dawn" was published by Harper Collins in 1968. He won the
Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for this novel.
ISSF WORLD CUP -2024
 The first edition of the World Cup 2024 will be held in Cairo, Egypt from January 24 to
February 1, 2024.
Indian medal winners in this tournament
1. Divansh Singh Panwar (Men's 10m Air Rifle) -Gold.
2. Ritham Sangwan, Ujjawal Malik (10m Air Pistol Mixed Team)- Gold
3. Sonam (Women's 10m Air Rifle) - Silver.
4. Arjuna Babuta, Sonam (10m Air Pistol Mixed Team) - Silver.
5. Anuratha Devi (Women's 10m Air Pistol) - Silver.
6. Akhil Sheeran (Men's 50m Rifle 3 places) - Bronze.
 India topped the tournament by winning two gold, three silver and one bronze medal.
 Britain came second with two golds and one silver, while Germany finished third with two golds and three bronze
medals.
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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 2 February- 2024

BEST ELECTORAL PRACTICES AWARDS - 2023

 On the occasion of the 14th National Electoral Day celebrations, the President of India, Draupadi Murmu presented the
Best Electoral Practices Awards to state and district level officials who have performed best in the conduct of the 2023
Assembly elections. A total of 16 awards were presented.
 All these awards were presented in 4 Categories.
General Award
Category Winner
a) Election Management - Vinit Nandanwar
(Chhattisgarh)
b) Electoral Roll Management - Divya Prabhu (Karnataka)
c) Voters Education and Electoral Participation - Dr. Vipin Lthankar (Maharashtra)
d) IT Program - Anshdeep (Rajasthan)
e) Accessible Election - Saju Waheed (Tripura)
f) Security Management - Dr. Ramesh Chand Yadav (Tripura) and Vineet Kumar (Mizoram)
Special Award
Category Winner
a) Election Management & Innovative Major - Vikas Kumar (Rajasthan)
b) Election Management - Sarfaraz (Telangana)
c) Voters Education & Electoral Participation - Rohan Saxena (Madhya Pradesh)
c) IT Initiatives - Syed Nasir Jameel (Jharkhand)
 others
a) Election Management (Expenditure) - Shikha C (Karnataka)
b) Best Performing State Award - Reena Baba Saheb (Chhattisgarh)
ECI Media Awards
 This award is mainly divided into 3 categories.
Category Winner
1. Electronic Media (Radio) - Radio Mirchi (Karna Ka)
2. Electronic Media (TV) - News State MPCG (New Nation Network)
3. Print Media - Newspaper of Rajasthan Press Group
WORLD WETLANDS DAY
 World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2 every year to raise public awareness of the
importance of wetlands around the world and to commemorate the adoption of the International
Convention on Wetlands at Ramsar in Iran in 1971.
 The theme of 2024 is Wetlands and Human wellbeing.
 The Union Ministry of Environment, Environment and Climate Change organized a National
World Wetlands Day program for the year 2024 at Sirfoor Lake, Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Ramsar Convention Secretary
General Musonda Mumba attended the event.

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