Current Affairs: February 03, 2018

February 03, 2018

2nd February: World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day is celebrated every

year on 2 February. This day marks the date

of the adoption of the Convention on

Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian

city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian

Sea. The Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands approved "Wetlands for

a Sustainable Urban Future" as the theme for World Wetlands Day in 2018. India has 26 sites

which are listed as Ramsar Wetlands. Important include Chilika lake, Keoladeo National park

and so on.

Magahi writer Shesh Anand Madhukar honored with Sahitya Akademi Bhasha Samman award

He is the second writer of Magahi language to be given

this award. The Magahi language, also known as

Magadhi, is a language spoken in Bihar-Jharkhand

region of eastern India. Magadhi Prakrit was the

ancestor of Magadh, from which the latter's name

derives. Magadhi has approximately 18 million

speakers. It is believed to be the language spoken by Gautama Buddha. It was the official

language of the Mauryan court, in which edicts of Ashoka were composed. Basha Samman

Awards are given to author works in 24 languages (22 Indian official languages, Rajasthani and www.talentsprint.com 1

Current Affairs: February 03, 2018

English).

Sahitya Akademi: founded in 1954

Headquarters: New Delhi.

Cochin Shipyard signs a MoU with Russian firm, United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) for vessel development

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and Joint Stock

Company United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC),

Russia have signed a Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU) to collaborate and engage in

Design, Development, and Execution of

contemporary, State-of-Art vessels for Inland and Coastal Waterways. The MoU was signed by Shri Madhu S Nair, Chairman & Managing

Director, Cochin Shipyard Limited and Mr. Alexey Rakhmanov, President, United

Shipbuilding Corporation, in the presence of Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport

& Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Govt. of India.

Saurav Ghosal becomes the highest-ranked Indian squash player

India’s leading squash player, jumped

five places to No 14 to become the highest ranked Indian

in the latest Professional Squash Association (PSA)

rankings. Ghosal beat Joshna Chinappa who slipped

three places to No 17 while Dipika Pallikal Karthik

www.talentsprint.com 2

Current Affairs: February 03, 2018

remained on 20. Former Indian national champion was placed at 49th,

Mahesh Mangaonkar on 64, the spot that too achieved after rising 16 places and

Vikram Malhotra on 68.

Surajkund crafts Mela begins in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh is the theme state for the first time

Surajkund Mela, an annual confluence of India's

culture and folk traditions is back in Faridabad,

Haryana. The 17-day cultural extravaganza is in its

32nd edition. The Surajkund Mela will see a

spectacular showcase of regional and international

crafts, handlooms, traditions along with some mouth-

watering multi-cuisine food for the visitors. The Surajkund Mela 2018 will begin on February 2

and will continue till February 18, 2018. Apart from the handicrafts, and handlooms on display,

cultural performances in open-air Chaupal where renowned singers, musicians and poets will

perform daily, can be seen at the Surajkund Mela.

Shabnam Asthana wins Times Power Woman 2017 award

The Times Group recently celebrated the invaluable

contribution of women by introducing The Times

Power Woman 2017 (Pune) awards. These were

initiated to celebrate the victories of women who have

been a great source of inspiration. These awards

focused on the women of Pune and the prestigious

list included 34 select women with power, supremacy, command, and control. www.talentsprint.com 3

Current Affairs: February 03, 2018

Time Group Chairperson: Indu Jain

CEO: Raj Jain

Headquarters: Mumbai

Maharashtra govt approves new wildlife sanctuary at Ghodazari

The Maharashtra government has approved

Ghodazari in Chandrapur district as a new wildlife

sanctuary in the state. The decision was taken at the

13th meeting of the Maharashtra State Board for

Wildlife, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra

Fadnavis Wednesday. The sanctuary is located in the

North East of Tadoba, will include 159 sq km of Brahmapuri forest. The wildlife sanctuary

located North East of Tadoba Tiger Reserve will be carved out in a total of 159 sq km area

covering Nagbhir, Talodhi, and Chimur forest areas.

India has joined the Ashgabat agreement

India has joined the Ashgabat agreement which

envisages setting up of an international transport

and transit corridor linking central Asia with the

Persian Gulf to significantly ramp up trade and

investment. "Turkmenistan, as depository State of

Ashgabat Agreement, informed India today that all

the four founding members(Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) have consented to the

accession of India (to the agreement)," the external affairs ministry said. This agreement comes

into force from 3rd February 2018. www.talentsprint.com 4

Current Affairs: February 03, 2018

Iran: Capital- Tehran and Currency- Iranian rial.

Oman: Capital- Muscat and Currency- Omani rial.

Turkmenistan: Capital: Ashgabat and Currency- Turkmenistan manat. Uzbekistan: Capital- Tashkent and Currency- Uzbekistani som.

www.talentsprint.com 5