Daily Current Affairs and GK | 4 February 2026

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

1. More than 1.18 lakh birds have been rescued across Gujarat during the last ten years under the state’s Karuna Abhiyan.

• These birds were injured largely during the Uttarayan kite-flying season.
• Karuna Abhiyan was launched in 2017. Since its launch, more than 1.29 lakh injured birds have received medical treatment.
• The overall recovery rate of more than 92 per cent has been achieved.
• Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia said better coordination has improved rescue operations.
• He also highlighted improved medical facilities for injured birds.
• This year’s Karuna Abhiyan ran from January 10 to January 20.
• During this year’s Karuna Abhiyan, 16,380 birds injured by kite strings were treated. Out of these, 14,690 birds survived.
• This led to a recovery rate of about 90 per cent.
• Rescue and treatment work were carried out in all 33 districts of Gujarat. Ahmedabad recorded the highest number of cases.
• A total of 7,040 birds were treated in Ahmedabad and out of these, 6,532 birds were rescued.
• Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Gandhinagar followed Ahmedabad.
• Pigeons formed the largest group of injured birds. Pigeons were followed by black kites, crows, sparrow hawks and others.
• Birds from 41 different species were treated during the 2026 campaign.

Topic: Corporates/Companies

2. The grant of ‘Miniratna’ Category-I status to Yantra India Limited has been approved by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh.

• He congratulated Yantra India Limited for transforming from a government organisation into a profit-making entity in about four years.
• Its sales grew from Rs 956.32 crore in 2021-22 (H2) to Rs 3,108.79 crore in FY 2024-25.
• Exports increased from zero in 2021-22 (H2) to Rs 321.77 crore in FY 2024-25.
• Yantra India Limited produces carbon fibre composites and ammunition assembly products.
• The company also makes assembly products for armoured vehicle, Artillery Guns and Main Battle Tanks.
• The Miniratna Category-I status allows the board to spend up to Rs 500 crore on new projects without government approval.
• The government corporatised the former Ordnance Factory Board into seven new DPSUs on October 1, 2021.
• Yantra India Limited is one of the newly formed Schedule ‘A’ Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU).
• It functions under the administrative control of the Department of Defence Production.
• In May 2025, three other DPSUs also received Miniratna-I status.
• These were Munitions India Limited, Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, and India Optel Limited.