Current Affairs Feb 2017 - Important Days

News 1 - World Wetlands Day celebrated at Bhopal

World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2^nd each year to mark the Day the Convention on Wetlands was adopted in the Iranian City of Ramsar in 1971. India is a party to this Convention since 1982 and committed to the Ramsar approach of wise use of wetlands.

The World Wetland Day 2017 was celebrated in collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh at Bhoj Wetlands, Bhopal, which is one of the 26 Ramsar sites that India has designated under the Ramsar Convention. The theme of World Wetlands Day for 2017 was ‘Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction’.

News 2 - February 4^th observed as the ‘World Cancer Day’ worldwide

February 4^th was observed as the World Cancer Day based on 2017 theme 'We can. I can' which has an objective to prove that every single individual can make a difference in fighting against cancer. World Cancer Day is observed as a part of the World Cancer Campaign.

The campaign was adopted after the World Summit against Cancer for the Millennium, on February 4, 2000. The World Health Organization made aware that tobacco and alcohol abuse and unhealthy diets increase the risk of cancer.

News 3 - International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation: 6^th February

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is observed annually on the 6^th of February. The day has been dedicated to the intolerance of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons.

The theme for 2017 is "Building a solid and interactive bridge between Africa and the world to accelerate ending FGM by 2030."

News 4 - Health Ministry observed Third Annual National Deworming Day

To improve child health scenario of the country, National Deworming Day was observed on the 10^th of February. It aims to reach every child, regardless of their socio-economic circumstance. India has the highest burden of worm infections in the world, with the WHO estimating in 2014 that over 22 crore Indian children aged 1-14 years are at risk.

The National Deworming Day 2017 reached around 34 crore children in the age group of 1-19 years in 34 states and union territories in government and government-aided schools, anganwadis and private schools.

News 5 - World Day of Social Justice

The United Nations' (UN) World Day of Social Justice is observed every year on February 20. The day recognizes the need to promote efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion and unemployment. It also encourages people to look at how social justice affects poverty eradication.

The theme for 2017 is "Preventing conflict and sustaining peace through decent work”. The day supports efforts of the international community in poverty eradication, the promotion of full employment and decent work, gender equity and access to social well-being and justice for all.

News 6 - International Mother Language Day

UNESCO celebrates International Mother Language Day (IMLD) annually on February 21. The theme for 2017 is “Towards Sustainable Futures through Multilingual Education”.

The day promotes 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.

News 7 - The 74^th Central Excise Day celebrated by CBEC

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) celebrated the 74^th Central Excise Day on 24^th February 2017. The day encourages encourage the employees of excise department to carry out the central excise duty all over the India in better way.

This day is celebrated by organizing a variety of theme based programs, cultural events, workshops, awareness programs, competitions and seminars in various states of the country. The CBEC is the single largest contributor to the national exchequer with the collection of Rs. 8,50,000 crores a year.