This is the current affairs of 3 & 4 February 2024. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. Which BJP leader has been announced to be given Bharat Ratna by the Central Government in 2024?
a. Narendra Modi
b. Murli Manohar Joshi
c. Lal Krishna Advani
d. Rajnath Singh
Answer: c. Lal Krishna Advani
– Senior leader of the BJP and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani will be honored with the country’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, at the age of 96.
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced this on social media on February 3, 2024.
– Prior to this, President Draupadi Mumu had announced to confer the Bharat Ratna (posthumously) to former Chief Minister of Bihar, Kapoori Thakur. This means that in 2024, Bharat Ratna will be awarded to two individuals.
– However, as per the rules, the central government can confer this honor to a maximum of three individuals in a year.
The third BJP leader to receive Bharat Ratna:
– Lal Krishna Advani, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and BJP’s founding member Nanaji Deshmukh, after Deendayal Upadhyaya, are the third leaders of the BJP to receive this honor.
– Additionally, among those honored with the Bharat Ratna so far, he is the 50th personality.
What did Advani say:
– Advani said upon receiving the Bharat Ratna – “With utmost humility and gratitude, I accept the Bharat Ratna bestowed upon me today. This is not just an honor for me as an individual, but it is also respect for the ideals and principles for which I have strived to serve to the best of my abilities throughout my life.”
Advani was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2015:
– In 2015, Advani was honored with the country’s second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan.
– In the same year (2015), former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was conferred with the Bharat Ratna. The then President Pranab Mukherjee himself visited his home to confer this honor upon him.
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About Bharat Ratna:
– What is it: The highest civilian award of the Republic of India.
– Establishment: 1954
– Selection process: The Prime Minister recommends the name of the awardee to the President. There is no formal selection process for this.
– First recipients: C. Rajagopalachari, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and C. V. Raman.
– What the award includes: A citation and a bronze medal in the shape of a peepal leaf. On one side of the medal shines a platinum sun, beneath which “Bharat Ratna” is inscribed in silver. On the other side, “Satyameva Jayate” is inscribed alongside the Ashoka Pillar.
Protocol:
– The recipient of this honor holds the status of a VIP for the country.
– In protocol, the honored individual is given precedence after the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Cabinet Ministers, Governors, Chief Ministers, former Presidents, former Prime Ministers, former Chief Ministers, and leaders of the opposition in both houses of Parliament.
Benefits received by Bharat Ratna recipients:
1. The foremost privilege associated with this award is that the recipient is conferred with the status equivalent to that of a Cabinet Minister.
2. Bharat Ratna awardees are exempted from paying income tax. Additionally, they can participate in parliamentary meetings and sessions.
3. They can also participate as special guests in Independence Day and Republic Day events.
They are entitled to free travel by air, train, and bus.
4. When visiting any state, they are accorded the status of a state guest.
5. According to Article 18 (1) of the Constitution, awardees are not allowed to use “Bharat Ratna” as a prefix or suffix to their names. However, they can include “Recipient of the Bharat Ratna Award” or “Bharat Ratna Awardee” in their bio-data, visiting cards, letterheads, etc.
6. Recipients of the Bharat Ratna are allotted a place in the Warrant of Precedence by the government. The Warrant of Precedence is used to prioritize individuals in official government programs.
7. State governments provide facilities to Bharat Ratna recipients in their respective states.
List of 50 people honored with Bharat Ratna
Serial Number – Winner – Year of Award
1. Chakraborty Rajagopalachari – 1954
2. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan – 1954
3. Chandrasekhar Venkata Raman – 1954
4. Dr. Bhagwan Das – 1955
5. Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya – 1955
6. Jawaharlal Nehru – 1955
7. Govind Ballabh Pant – 1957
8. Dr. Dhondo Keshav Karve – 1958
9. Bidhan Chandra Roy – 1961
10. Purushottam Das Tandon – 1961
11. Rajendra Prasad – 1962
12. Zakir Hussain – 1963
13. Pandurang Vaman Kane – 1963
14. Lal Bahadur Shastri (posthumous) – 1966
15. Indira Gandhi – 1971
16. Varahagiri Venkata Giri – 1975
17. Kumaraswamy Kamaraj (posthumous) – 1976
18. Mother Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu (Mother Teresa) – 1980
19. Acharya Vinoba Bhave (posthumous) – 1983
20. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan- 1987
21. Manidur Gopalan Ramachandran (posthumous) – 1988
22. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (posthumous) – 1990
23. Dr. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela – 1990
24. Morarji Ranchodji Desai – 1991
25. Rajiv Gandhi (posthumously) – 1991
26. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (posthumous) – 1991
27. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (posthumous) – 1992
28. Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata – 1992
29. Satyajit Ray (posthumous) – 1992
30. Gulzari Lal Nanda (Posthumous) – 1997
31. Aruna Asaf Ali (posthumous) – 1997
32. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam – 1997
33. Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi – 1998
34. Chidambaram Subramaniam – 1998
35. Jayaprakash Narayan (posthumous) – 1998
36. Professor Amartya Sen – 1999
37. Gopinath Bordoloi (Posthumous) – 1999
38. Pandit Ravi Shankar – 1999
39. Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar – 2001
40. Ustad Bismillah Khan – 2001
41. Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi – 2009
42. Prof. CR Rao – 2014
43. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar – 2014
44. Atal Bihari Vajpayee – 2015
45. Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya (Posthumous) – 2015
46. Nanaji Deshmukh (Posthumous) – 2019
47. Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Hazarika (Posthumous) – 2019
48. Pranab Mukherjee – 2019
49. Karpoori Thakur (posthumous) – 2024
50. Lal Krishna Advani – 2024
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2. How many new wetlands of India got global Ramsar site status on 31 January 2024, taking its number to 80?
a. 2
b. 4
c. 5
d. 8
Answer: c. 5
– With this, by January 31, 2024, the number of Ramsar sites in India has reached 80. Of these, 38 have been added alone in the past three years.
– The Secretary-General of the Ramsar Convention, Dr. Musonda Mumba, gave the certificate of 5 new Ramsar sites to the Central Minister of Environment, Bhupendra Yadav, on January 31, 2024.
Note: World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2. Before this, 5 wetlands were designated as new Ramsar sites.
Ramsar sites added on January 31, 2024:
– Anksamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Karnataka
– Aghanashini Estuary, Karnataka
– Magadi Lake Conservation Reserve, Karnataka
– Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
– Longwood Shola Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu
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Why are they called Ramsar sites?
– Ramsar is a city in Iran.
– On February 2, 1971, countries around the world signed the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands here.
– Hence, it is called the Ramsar Convention. Some people also refer to this treaty as the Wetland Convention.
It came into effect in 1975.
– The official name of this treaty is the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat.
– It is an intergovernmental treaty that provides guidance on the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
– India signed this treaty in 1982.
– In India, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change is designated as the nodal ministry for matters related to the conservation of wetlands (wetlands).
Total Ramsar sites in the country: 80 (by February 2023)
1. Asthmudi Wetland, Kerala
2. Beas Conservation Reserve, Punjab
3. Bhitarkanika Mangroves, Orissa
4. Bhoj Wetlands, MP
5. Chandertal Wetland, Himachal Pradesh
6. Chilka Lake, Orissa
7. Deepor Beel, Assam
8. East Kolkata Wetlands, West Bengal
9. Harike Lake, Punjab
10. Hokera Wetland, Jammu and Kashmir
11. Kanjli Lake, Punjab
12. Keoladeo Ghana NP, Rajasthan
13. Keshopur-Mian Community Reserve, Punjab
14. Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh
15. Loktak Lake, Manipur
16. Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, Gujarat
17. Nandur Madmaheshwar, Maharashtra
18. Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary, Punjab
19. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
20. Parvati Agra Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
21. Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
22. Pong Dam Lake, Himachal Pradesh
23. Renuka Wetland, Himachal Pradesh
24. Ropar Lake, Punjab
25. Rudrasagar Lake, Tripura
26. Saman Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
27. Samaspur Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
28. Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan
29. Sandi Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
30. Sarsai Nawar, Uttar Pradesh
31. Sasthamkotta Lake, Kerala
32. Sundarban Wetland, West Bengal
33. Surinsar-Mansar Lakes, Jammu and Kashmir
34. Tsomoriri Lake, Jammu and Kashmir
35. Upper Ganga River, UP
36. Vembanad Coal Wetland, Kerala
37. Wular Lake, Jammu and Kashmir
38. Asan Conservation Reserve, Uttarakhand
39. Kabartal (Kanwar Lake), Bihar
40. Keetham Lake (Surasarovar), UP
41. Lonar Lake, Maharashtra
42. ‘Startasapuk Tso’ and ‘Tso Kar’ Lake, Ladakh
43. Sultanpur National Park, Haryana
44. Bhidawas Wildlife Sanctuary, Haryana
45. Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat
46. Wadhwana Wetland Area, Gujarat
47. Haiderpur Wetland, Uttar Pradesh
48. Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, Gujarat
49. Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
50. Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
51. Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu
52. Pichavaram Mangroves, Tamil Nadu
53. Pala Wetland, Mizoram
54. Sakhya Sagar Wetland, Madhya Pradesh
55. Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
56. Satkosia Gorge, Odisha
57. Nanda Lake, Goa
58. ‘Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve’, Tamil Nadu
59. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka
60. Vembannur Wetland Complex, Tamil Nadu
61. Velode Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
62. Sirpur Wetland, Madhya Pradesh
63. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
64. Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
65.Tampara Lake, Odisha
66. Hirakud Reservoir, Odisha
67. Anshupa Lake, Odisha
68. Yashwant Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
69. Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
70. Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex, Tamil Nadu
71. Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
72. Kanjirkulam Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
73. Thane Creek, Maharashtra
74. Haigam Wetland Conservation Reserve, Jammu and Kashmir
75. Shalbug Wetland Conservation Reserve, Jammu and Kashmir
76. Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Karnataka
77. Aghanashini Sanctuary, Karnataka
78. Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve, Karnataka
79. Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
80. Longwood Shola Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu
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3. ‘Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve’ has been included in the global Ramsar site list, it is located in which state?
a. Uttar Pradesh
b. Rajasthan
c. Karnataka
d. Assam
Answer: c. Karnataka
– The Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve is located in the Vijayanagar district of Karnataka. It spans an area of 98.76 hectares (244.04 acres).
– It is a man-made wetland dating back several centuries.
– It was created to harvest monsoon water from the Tungabhadra River and provide irrigation in the surrounding drought-prone areas.
– It is known for its avian diversity.
Approximately 35,000 birds of around 240 species have been recorded here, with nearly 30 waterfowl species breeding in this area.
– 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 amphibians, 27 species of butterflies, and 32 species of odonates are found here.
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4. ‘Aghanashini Sanctuary’ located in which state was included in the global Ramsar site list?
a. Assam
b. Mizoram
c. Rajasthan
d. Karnataka
Answer: d. Karnataka
– Spread across an area of 4801 hectares, the Aghanashini Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.
– It is located at the confluence of the Aghanashini River and the Arabian Sea. The water here is brackish.
– This diverse environment provides habitat to more than 80 species of fish, 115 species of birds, and 45 species associated with mangroves.
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5. ‘Magdi Kere Conservation Reserve’ included in the Ramsar site list, is located in which state?
a. Karnataka
b. Madhya Pradesh
c. Bihar
d. Jharkhand
Answer: a. Karnataka
– The Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve is located in the Gadag district of Karnataka.
– It is a man-made wetland spanning approximately 50 hectares of area.
– It was constructed to collect rainwater for irrigation purposes.
– This is a home to over 166 species of birds, out of which 130 are migratory.
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6. ‘Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary’ located in which state was included in the global Ramsar site list?
a. Tamil Nadu
b. Chhattisgarh
c. Himachal Pradesh
d. Punjab
Answer: a. Tamil Nadu
– The Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary is one of the largest inter-district wetlands in Tamil Nadu. It spans over 453.72 hectares in the Ariyalur district.
– The water from the wetland is utilized by rural communities for cultivating agricultural crops like rice, sugarcane, cotton, maize, and red gram.
– Approximately 198 species of birds have been recorded here.
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7. ‘Longwood Shola Reserve Forest’ included in the Ramsar site list, is it located in which state?
a. Bihar
b. Tamil Nadu
c. Assam
d. West Bengal
Answer: b. Tamil Nadu
– The Longwood Shola Reserve Forest derives its name from the Tamil word “Solai,” which means ‘tropical moist evergreen forest.’
– It is a UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve.
– Located near the eastern slopes of the Nilgiri mountain range, it is situated close to the city of Kotagiri.
– Within it are interspersed with internal freshwater marshes and streams within the “Shola” (a type of tropical montane forest found in the southern part of India, typically separated from grassy meadows) areas.
– It harbors approximately 40 species of trees, four species of reptiles, 14 amphibians, and 14 birds that are endemic to the Western Ghats region.
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8. To which neighboring country did India send 40,000 liters of pesticide?
a. Bangladesh
b. Bhutan
c. Pakistan
d. Afghanistan
Answer: d. Afghanistan
– India has sent 40,000 liters of Malathion to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port in Iran.
– Locusts, which cause damage to crops, are causing significant losses to crops in Afghanistan.
– In view of this, India has sent 40,000 liters of Malathion, an insecticide, to Afghanistan.
– Malathion is an environmentally friendly pesticide and is most suitable for dry areas.
– The Ministry of Afghanistan expressed gratitude to India for this assistance.
– They said that this pesticide could help prevent locusts coming from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
India has sent wheat
– The Indian government has partnered with the United Nations World Food Program for the internal distribution of wheat in Afghanistan.
– Under this partnership, India has supplied 47,500 metric tons of wheat to the WFP centers in Afghanistan as assistance.
– Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian government provided vaccines to Afghanistan.
– Additionally, India has also sent shipments of oxygen gas, masks, and other essential items.
Capital: Kabul
– Supreme Leader: Hibatullah Akhundzada
– Currency: Afghan Afghani
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9. In which state was the 37th International Surajkund Fair organized in February 2024?
a. Punjab
b. Haryana
c. Himachal Pradesh
d. Uttar Pradesh
Answer: b. Haryana
– The International Surajkund Crafts Mela was organized in the city of Faridabad, Haryana from February 2 to 18.
– President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the fair.
– Along with her, Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, CM Manohar Lal, Union Minister Krishnpal Gurjar, State Tourism Minister Kanwarpal, Transport Minister Mulchand Sharma, and other guests were present.
– This time, Tanzania was made the partner nation in the Surajkund Mela.
– 20 countries participated in the fair.
– The theme of this year’s fair is focused on the North Gujarat State, showcasing Gujarati culture.
– For the first time in the 2024 fair, cultural partners were appointed, where all seven northeastern states were represented as cultural partners, showcasing their culture in the fair.
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10. Tamil film superstar Thalapathy Vijay announces new political party, what is its name?
a. Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam
b. Punarjagran DMK
c. National Progressive Dravidian Kazhagam
d. Tamil Navjagran
Answer: a. Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam
– Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, superstar actor Vijay from South Indian films has stepped into politics. He announced his party on February 2, 2024, named ‘Tamizhaga Vetri Kasagam’.
– His party has been registered with the Election Commission, and it will contest the 2026 Assembly elections.
– Thalapathi Vijay stated, “I want to humbly convey that neither has the party’s general council nor the executive committee decided to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections nor to support any party.”
– The actor said that politics is not a profession but rather ‘sacred public service’. The literal meaning of ‘Tamizhaga Vetri Kasagam’ is ‘Tamil Nadu Vijay Party’.
– Vijay is the highest-paid Tamil actor. He charged a fee of 100 crores for the film ‘Thalapathi 65’.
– Vijay’s real name is Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar. Among fans, he is famous as Thalapathi.
– His father, S. A. Chandrasekhar, is a renowned director in Bollywood.
– Vijay has worked in 15 films directed by his father, appearing as a child artist in 6 of them.
These superstars have also entered politics:
Rajinikanth:
– In the early 1990s, Rajinikanth was a staunch supporter of the Dravidian parties and the Tamil Manila Congress.
– He announced his entry into politics in 2017 and formed the Rajini Makkal Mandram in Tamil Nadu.
– He discontinued it in 2021, announcing that he no longer wishes to become a politician.
Kamal Haasan:
– Kamal Haasan founded the Makkal Needhi Maiam in Tamil Nadu in 2018.
– His party contested in 37 seats in the 2019 general elections besides the Assembly elections and faced defeat.
– Kamal’s political party has remained active.
Chiranjeevi:
– In 2008, Chiranjeevi announced the formation of the Praja Rajyam Party in erstwhile United Andhra Pradesh.
– His party won 18 seats out of 294 in the Legislative Assembly.
– In 2011, Chiranjeevi surprised everyone by merging his party with the Indian National Congress.
– He took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha in 2012.
– After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, he distanced himself from politics, and his tenure ended in 2018.
