Daily Current Affairs and GK | 3 September 2024

Topic: Environment and Ecology

1. A tracking initiative ‘Vulture Count 2024’ launched by WWF-India to keep track of nature's ‘sanitation workers.’

• WWF-India has launched this initiative that involves counting vultures and raising awareness about the critically endangered bird species.
• This campaign will start from 7 September and will run till 6 October.
• This initiative has been launched on the occasion of International Vulture Awareness Day.
• Vultures are essential to the health of ecosystems, they act as nature's clean-up crew.
• By eating carrion, they prevent the spread of diseases that might otherwise affect wildlife, livestock and humans.
• Their role in feeding on decaying animal carcasses helps in nutrient cycling and maintains ecological balance.
• The aim of the Vulture Census 2024 is to address this crisis by systematically monitoring the vulture population.
• The count will focus on major vulture species, including white-rumped vulture, red-headed vulture, Indian vulture, bearded vulture, slender-billed vulture, Himalayan griffon, Eurasian griffon, Egyptian vulture, and cinereous vulture.

Topic: Important Days

2. World Coconut Day 2024: 2 September

• Every year on September 2, World Coconut Day is celebrated.
• It is celebrated to promote the importance of coconuts and their contributions to various aspects of life.
• The theme of World Coconut Day 2024 is "Coconut for a circular economy, Building partnership for maximum value".
• This day is celebrated to raise awareness about the benefits of coconut cultivation and consumption.
• Every year, coconut producing countries around the world celebrate 2 September as World Coconut Day, which is the foundation day of the International Coconut Community (ICC).
• This is an inter-governmental organization of coconut producing countries, established in 1969 under the auspices of UNESCAP.
• India is a founding member of the ICC.
• It was first celebrated in 2009 by the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC).
• The Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) was established in 1969.
• Coconut Development Board celebrated World Coconut Day on 2nd September 2024 all over India.

Topic: National Appointment

3. V Satish Kumar has assumed the charge as Indian Oil Chairman.

• V Satish Kumar, who is Director (Marketing), has been given the additional charge of Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation.
• He will concurrently serve as Chairman while continuing in his role as Director (Marketing).
• He has served in various regions across the country and held key positions in IOCL.
• He has also extensive experience in engaging with multinational oil companies, serving as Non-Executive Chairman of Indian Oil Petronas.
• He played a key role in implementing key business initiatives such as the Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG consumers (DBTL), the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).

Topic: Sports

4. Yogesh Kathuniya won the silver medal in the men's discus throw F-56 event.

• India’s Yogesh Kathuniya clinched his second consecutive Paralympic silver medal in the men’s discus throw F-56 event.
• He throws the discus to 42.22m at the ongoing Games in Paris.
• Brazil’s Claudiney Batista dos Santos won a hat-trick of Paralympic gold medals with a throw of 46.86m.
• Greece’s Konstantinos Tzounis won the bronze with a throw of 41.32m.
• The F-56 classification covers limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power and impaired range of movement.