Important Dates & Festivities - Current Affairs for February, 2017

Chandra Shekhar Azad's 86^th Martyrdom Day was observed on 27^th Feb 2017.

Chandra Shekhar Azad was born on 23^rd July 1906. His birthplace was Bhavra, Alirajpur. He died on 27th Feb 1931 in Allahabad.

He lived for 24 years and died for the country.

Chandra Shekhar Azad: Know More

- Born: 23 July 1906, Bhavra

- Died: 27 February 1931, Allahabad

- Full name: Chandra Shekhar Tiwari

- Education: Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) celebrated 74th Central Excise Day on 24th February in New Delhi.

CBEC is the single largest contributor to the national exchequer with the collection of INR.8,50,000 crore per year.

Olympic silver medalist, P.V. Sindhu was the guest of honour.

The history of Central Excise day dates back to 1944 when Central Excise Act helped in levying the Central Excise Duty.

Justice Satish Chandra, President, Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) presided as the chief guest.

CBEC: Know More

• Formed: 26 Jan 1944
• Employees: 19,137 (Gazetted Officers) & 53,754(Non Gazetted Officers)
• Chairman: Mr. Najib Shah
• Branches: 91

Defence Security Corps (DSC), which was raised on 25 February 1947 as ‘Defence Department Constabulary’, celebrated its 70th Raising Day on 25 February 2017.

DSC troops have been providing security to various sensitive defence and civil installations across the length and breadth of the Country since 1947.

DSC is known for its relentless efforts in guarding sensitive Defence and civil establishments.

DSC has been awarded three Vir Chakras, one Kirti Chakra, four Shaurya Chakras, ten Sena Medals, two Vishisht Seva Medals and fifteen Chief of Army, Air and Naval Staff Commendation Cards.

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999 (30C/62).

On 16 May 2007 the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/61/266 called upon Member States “to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world”.

By the same resolution, the General Assembly proclaimed 2008 as the International Year of Languages, to promote unity in diversity and international understanding, through multilingualism and multiculturalism.

International Mother Language Day has been observed every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

The date represents the day in 1952 when students demonstrating for recognition of their language, Bangla, as one of the two national languages of the then Pakistan, were shot and killed by police in Dhaka, the capital of what is now Bangladesh.

Bangladesh: Know More

• Capital: Dhaka
• Dialling code: +880
• Currency: Bangladeshi taka
• Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina
• Population: 156.6 million (2013) World Bank
• President: Abdul Hamid

World Radio Day is observed on February 13 to celebrate radio as a medium to promote and access information.

After originally proposed by the Kingdom of Spain, UNESCO in its 36th General Conference proclaimed World Radio Day on November 3, 2011.

Last year, the UNESCO’s theme for World Radio Day is “Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster”.

The theme for the 2017 edition of World Radio Day is “Radio is You!”

World Radio Day was first celebrated in 2012 and was later adopted as an International Day by the United Nations General Assembly.

Previous themes have included gender equality, youth participation, and radio in humanitarian and disaster situations.

As a part of the celebrations held in 2016, more than 380 World Radio Day events were held in more than 80 different countries.

In India, Outreach, an Indian social organisation, will organise a three-day ‘Radio Fair’ in Bhubaneswar between February 12 and 14.

This year the radio community calls for greater participation of audiences and communities in the planning of radio broadcasting.

On this day, radio stations can register for World Radio Day on their official website and promote World Radio Day events on the UNESCO map of activities.

World Radio Day: Know More

• Also called: WRD
• Observed by: UN Member States
• Celebrations: UNESCO
• Frequency: annual

Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi inaugurated the second edition of “Hunar Haat”.

It is being organized by the Minority Affairs Ministry to encourage, promote and provide national and international market to master artisans/craftsmen belonging to the Minority communities from across the country.

With the theme “Craft Aur Cuisine Ka Sangam”, the second “Hunar Haat” is being organized from 11th to 26th February, 2017 at Connaught Place, New Delhi.

“Hunar Haat” is unique in the sense that it is showcasing crafts and traditional cuisines brought from different parts of the country.

“Hunar Haat” is being organized through National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) under USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills & Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) scheme of Ministry of Minority Affairs.

100 artisans and 30 culinary experts from about 24 states and Union Territories are participating at about 130 stalls in the second “Hunar Haat.”

This also has a “Bawarchikhana” where various cuisine from different parts of the country are being showcased and the visitors can enjoy them.

For the first time in this exhibition very exquisite pieces of Handicraft & Handloom work are featured like:

• Makrana Marble products,
• Bandhej from Sikar,
• Mojri from Rajasthan,
• Banjara Embroidery from Telangana,
• Handmade Locks & Door Handles along with Phool-Patti works from Aligarh, Cocoon decorated products from Nagaland,
• Mizoram Traditional Crafts,

Different cuisines from 13 states are being brought by culinary experts for this second “Hunar Haat”.

Awadhi Mughlai foods from Lucknow, Dal Bati Churma & Thali from Rajasthan, Sandesh & Rasogolla from West Bengal, Malabari food from Kerala are just some of these.

Litti-Chokha of Bihar, Puran-Poli from Maharashtra, Dhokla & Jalebi from Gujarat, Kashmiri Wazwan from J&K, Bhutte Ki Khees, Sabudana-Kheer & Khichri from Madhya Pradesh are also featured.

The selected master artisans/craftsmen belong to states such as UP (29), Rajasthan (9), Jammu and Kashmir (9), Gujarat (6), Manipur (3), Assam (2), Odisha (2) and Kerala, Telangana and Bihar etc.

In “Bawarchikhana”, the people can enjoy food from states such as UP (3), Jammu and Kashmir (3), West Bengal (2), Gujarat (2) and Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan etc.

National Productivity Council, an autonomous body under Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India was established on 12th February, 1958, with the objective of stimulating and promoting productivity and quality consciousness across all sectors in the country.

With the Government’s focus on Make in India, the need for accelerated growth through higher productivity and quality has never been felt more.

The ongoing process of liberalization and globalization of the Indian economy makes it imperative to re-double our efforts towards enhancing productivity for competitiveness.

Also the aim is making it a mass-movement.

12th-18th February is celebrated as the ‘National Productivity Week’ every year.

The theme chosen for this year’s observance is “From Waste to Profits-through Reduce, Recycle and Reuse”.

Departmental Secretaries, PSU’s, Industry Associations, Autonomous Bodies, Universities, Local Productivity Councils & NPC Regional Directorates have been requested to actively organize workshops, essay/painting/slogan competitions, debates, training programs during the week.

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee opened the annual ‘Udyanotsav’ of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on February 04, 2017.

The Mughal Gardens will remain open for general public from tomorrow to March 12, 2017 (except on Mondays which are maintenance days) between 0930 hrs to 1600 hrs.

Members of the public will also be able to visit the Spiritual Garden, Herbal Garden, Bonsai Garden and Musical Garden. During this period, there will be no online booking for visiting the Gardens.

The Mughal Gardens will be open exclusively on March 10, 2017 to special category of visitors viz farmers, differently abled persons, defence/para-military forces and Delhi Police personnel.

The Tactile Garden will be open for visually impaired people on March 10, 2017.

World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2 each year.

This marks the Day the Convention on Wetlands was adopted in the Iranian City of Ramsar in 1971.

India is a party to the Convention since 1982 and committed to the Ramsar approach of judiscious use of wetlands.

Continued functioning of wetlands has acquired a new meaning in the age of increasing water and food security.

Wetlands are the life support for a range of plant and animal life.

As wetlands degrade, the existence of these life forms would be under stress.
At the same time, it is for the security of human well-being, that wetland conservation acquires prominence.

As ‘kidneys of landscape’, wetlands receive flows of water and waste from upstream sources. They help stabilize water supplies, cleanse polluted waters, protect shorelines and recharge groundwater aquifers.

The extensive food chain and biological diversity in wetlands make them ‘biological supermarkets’.

Wetlands have special attributes as cultural heritage of humanity, and have deep connections with our beliefs and practices. They are an important part of our natural wealth and “liquid assets”.

Despite their tremendous value, wetlands are also one of the most rapidly degrading ecosystems.

The theme of World Wetlands Day for 2017 is ‘Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction’.

This year World Wetland Day is being celebrated in collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh at Bhoj Wetlands, Bhopal.

This is one of the 26 Ramsar sites that India has designated under the Ramsar Convention.

All the State Governments have been requested to celebrate the World Wetland Day in their respective States in a befitting manner.

Wetlands are our natural buffers against increasing risk of floods, droughts and tropical cyclones.

Wetlands can act as sponges, storing peak rainfall and releasing water gradually during lean season.

Integration of wetlands within disaster risk reduction planning can be achieved by a series of collaborative actions between wetlands managers and those responsible for implementation disaster risk reduction actions.

States should constitute Wetland Authorities as nodal agencies for integrated policy, planning and regulation of wetlands.

Representation of Disaster Management Authorities should be ensured within the State Wetland Authorities.

Mass awareness campaigns should be undertaken to educate stakeholders from all walks of society, particularly local communities on the value of wetland ecosystems.

The Ministry accords high priority to wetlands conservation, and has a dedicated scheme of ‘National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems’ (NPCA) to support State Governments in integrated management of these ecosystems.

Till date, over 170 wetlands have been covered under the programme.

The Ministry has also introduced Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 as the regulatory framework for conserving wetlands of the country.