Current Affairs Jan 2017 - Important Days
News 1 - United Nations declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has approved the adoption of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development recalling the potential of tourism to advance the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The International Year aims to support a change in policies, business practices and consumer behaviour towards a more sustainable tourism sector than can contribute effectively to the SDGs.
News 2 - World Hindi Day observed across the globe
Since 2006, 10th January is observed as World Hindi day every year. Indian Embassy in Cairo and its cultural wing the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture conducted cultural performances at Hanager Theatre in the Cairo Opera House. Hindi language is spoken worldwide by around 258 million people.
To promote Hindi language at global stage, 10th January is observed as World Hindi day. At present Hindi as a language is spoken in more than 20 countries around the world and is being taught in 150 Universities of the world.
News 3 - National Youth Day celebrated on the 12th of January
The 12th of January was observed as the National Youth Day across India. It also marks the 154th birth anniversary of India’s foremost social reformer and philosopher, Swami Vivekananda. He is a role model for the Indian youth.
Every year this day is celebrated as the National Youth Day since the 12th of January, 1985 in recognition of Swami Vivekananda’s ideals and teachings. National Youth Festival (India) is an annual gathering of young people associated with National Youth Day.
News 4 - India observed the 69th Army Day on the 15th January 2017
The 15th of January 2017 was observed as the 69th Indian Army Day. General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff reviewed the Army Day Parade at Delhi and awarded 15 Sena Medals for individual acts of Gallantry and 14 COAS Unit Citations for commendable performance of their respective units.
Every year Indian Army celebrates 15th January as ‘Army Day’ to commemorate the day when General K.M Carriappa took over the command of Army from General Sir F.R.R Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949 and became the first Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army Post Independence.
News 5 - India observed National Girl Child Day
The Ministry of Women & Child Development celebrated the National Girl Child Day at a special function in New Delhi on 24th January, based on theme ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’. The National Plan of Action for Children, 2016 was also released. Winners of quiz competition organized across various Kendriya Vidyalaya schools in Delhi on the theme of “Empowerment of Girl Child” were also rewarded.
The event culminated by regional performances in Hindi, Punjabi, Rajasthani and Malayalam languages by professional troupes of Song and Drama Division.
News 6 - Election Commission of India celebrated the 7th National Voters’ Day
The Election Commission of India celebrated the 7th National Voters’ Day on the 25th January based on the theme – “Empowering Young & Future Voters”. NVD aims at increasing enrolment of voters & ensure universal adult franchise for all. NVD is being celebrated since 2011 on 25th January, the foundation Day of Election Commission of India (25th January, 1950).
The Education Program in the year 2017. On the occasion, the President presented Election Photo Identity Cards to five new young voters and felicitated six future voters.
News 7 - India celebrated its 68th Republic Day on 26th January
India celebrated its 68th Republic Day on 26th January. The day honours the date on which the Constitution came into force on 26th January, 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the Chief Guest of the ceremony.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the three service chiefs paid tributes to soldiers at the Amar Jawan Jyoti. The ceremony culminated with the national anthem and release of balloons, which lit up the cloudy sky with merry colors.
News 8 - National Immunization Day observed on the 29th January
To observe the National Immunization Day on the 29th January, the Indian President Pranab Mukherjee launched the countrywide program for 2017 by administering polio drops to children aged below five years. This program will cover around 17 crore children aged under five years to maintain the country's polio-free status.
The Government also introduced the injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine into its routine immunization program to provide double protection to the children. Ministry will soon introduce Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine to reduce the burden of diarrhea, pneumonia and meningitis.
