Current Affairs 02 February 2018 1. India slips to 42nd position in EIU Democracy Index ● India slipped to the 42nd position out of 167 countries in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Democracy Index report due to a rise of conservative religious ideologies, increasing atrocities against minorities as well as other dissenting voices. ● The country dropped 10 places from the 32nd position last year to 42nd position. The Scandinavian countries- Norway, Iceland and Sweden occupied the top three positions. ●
Syria (166th) and North Korea (167th) occupied the bottom positions in the index.
2. World Bank commits $100 million to boost Tamil Nadu’s rural economy ● The Government and World Bank commits $100 million to boost Tamil Nadu’s rural economy in selected blocks of Tamil Nadu across 26 districts, benefiting over 4 lakh people. ● The funding aimed at promoting rural enterprises, facilitate their access to finance and create employment opportunities for youth particularly women. ● The Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Project to create an enabling environment for producer organisations and enterprises to promote businesses across select value chains. Important points: World Bank ➢ CEO: Kristalina Georgieva ➢ President: Jim Yong Kim ➢ Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
3. 32nd Surajkund International Crafts Mela begins ● The 32nd Surajkund International Crafts Mela begin in Faridabad. The Mela is organized by the Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism in collaboration with Union Minister of Tourism, Textiles, Culture and External Affairs.
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An annual confluence of India’s culture and folk traditions Surajkund Mela is back in Faridabad. The 17-day cultural extravaganza will see a spectacular showcase of regional and international crafts, handlooms, traditions along with some mouth-watering multi-cuisine food for the visitors.
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This year Uttar Pradesh is the theme state and Kyrgyzstan is the Partner Nation.
4. Lt. Gen Anil Chauhan takes charge as DGMO of the Indian Army ● Lt. Gen Anil Chauhan takes charge as DGMO of the Indian Army. He succeeds Lt General A K Bhatt who will assume charge of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps. ● Lt Gen Chauhan has held several important posts in the Army and is known for his expertise in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.
Important points: DGMO – Director General of Military Operations
5. India joins Ashgabat Agreement ● India has joined Ashgabat Agreement on the establishment of an International Transport and Transit Corridor between the Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. ● The agreement was signed in April 2011, which envisages facilitation of transit and transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. ● External Affairs Ministry, the accession to the Agreement would diversify India’s connectivity options with Central Asia and have a positive influence on its trade and commercial ties with the region.
6. Magahi writer Madhukar awarded Sahitya Akademi’s Bhasha Samman ● Magahi writer Shesh Anand Madhukar, who has been working extensively for the development of the language, was honoured with this year’s Sahitya Akademi Bhasha Samman award.
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The second writer of Magahi language to be given the award, Madhurkar was conferred the award, comprising a Rs 1 lakh cheque and a memento, by Sahitya Akademi President Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari.
7. Neelam Kapoor appointed as director general of Sports Authority of India ● Senior bureaucrat Neelam Kapoor appointed as director general of Sports Authority of India (SAI). ● Kapoor, a 1982 batch officer of the Indian Information Service (IIS), is at present the Principal Director General of the Directorate of Field Publicity (DFP). ● It is for the first time that an IIS officer has been appointed as SAI chief. The post is usually held by an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
8. IOA appointed joint secretary Vikram Singh Sisodia as Chef-de-Mission ● The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed joint secretary Vikram Singh Sisodia as Chef-de-Mission for the Commonwealth Games to be held in Gold Coast, Australia. Sisodia is also currently the president of Chhattisgarh State Tennis Association. ● The IOA also appointed three team managers to accompany Sisodia and help him in the day-to-day duties during the Games. ●
The 21st Commonwealth Games will be held from April 4 to 15 in Gold Coast, the second largest city in Australia.