Current Affairs 2nd February 2016

Important Points :

• Which two countries have signed pact for visa-free travel by diplomats - India & Afghanistan
• Who has became the 1st woman to head paramilitary force - Archana Ramasundram
• Who has lifted ban on import of Indian groundnut - Vietnam
• Which state will spend 15 crore rupees on Swachh Bharat Mission - Himachal Pradesh
• Who has been appointed Senior Director for Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group at World Bank - Saroj Kumar Jha
• Who has granted licence to use gene editing techniques on human embryos - UK
• Who has been appointed as MD and CEO of Corporation Bank - Jai Kumar Garg 
• World Wetlands Day observed on - 2nd February

Details : 

Which two countries have signed pact for visa-free travel by diplomats - India & Afghanistan

On 1st February 2016, India and Afghanistan inked a pact for visa-free travel by their diplomats. 

Besides, both the leaders of the countries discussed the role of international community to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan. 

Who has became the 1st woman to head paramilitary force - Archana Ramasundram

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 1st February 2016, the first woman appointed as the Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) that guards India's frontiers with Nepal and Bhutan is Tamil Nadu Cadre IPS officer Archana Ramasundram.

At present, she is the Director of National Crime Records Bureau.

Apart from this, IPS officer K Durga Prasad was also appointed as Director Generals of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). New Chief of the Border Security Force (BSF) will be IPS officer K K Sharma. 

Who has lifted ban on import of Indian groundnut - Vietnam

On 1st February 2016, Vietnam removed the ban on import of Indian Groundnut which will help India to resume export.

In December 2015, during the visit of Vietnam delegation to India, the lifting of ban has come in the wake.

After inspecting the fumigation facilities, export procedures and export certification system for export of groundnuts export from India, as per the Standard Operating Procedure developed by Directorate of plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage, Faridabad, the delegation was satisfied.

Which state will spend 15 crore rupees on Swachh Bharat Mission - Himachal Pradesh

In the first week of February 2016, the Himachal Pradesh Government decided to spend 15 crore rupees on Swachh Bharat Mission in tribal district of Kinnaur.

These funds will be used in capacity building and organizing of workshops for awareness. 

Key highlights of the Mission

• The first installment of four crore fifty lakh rupees has been received by the district authorities.
• As per the survey conducted in the year 2012, every single household will be given 12 thousand rupees for toilet construction.
• With the help of Youth and Mahila Mandals in all the 65 Panchayats, a special cleanliness drive will be launched under Swachh Bharat Mission.

Who has been appointed Senior Director for Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group at World Bank - Saroj Kumar Jha

Among the important appointments, On 1st February 2016, An Indian national Saroj Kumar Jha was appointed as the Senior Director for the Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group at the World Bank.

The new role was assigned to him by the WB President Jim Young Kim.

Prior to this, he was the World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia based in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Apart from this, he has also worked as the World Bank's Global Manager for Disaster Risk Management Practice.

About Saroj Kumar Jha

• In the year 2005, he joined the World Bank as a Senior Infrastructure Specialist in the Sustainable Development Network.
• He is known for innovations in regional cooperation, social safety nets, and grievance redress mechanisms.

Who has granted licence to use gene editing techniques on human embryos - UK

On 1st February 2016, the license to Francis Crick Institute to use new gene editing techniques on human embryos was granted by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) of United Kingdom.

This will enable the institute to genetically modify human embryos for research purposes for better understanding of infertility and miscarriage issues.

UK has now became one of the first countries in the world to give authorization for experimentation on human embryos. 

Who has been appointed as MD and CEO of Corporation Bank - Jai Kumar Garg 

Among the important appointments, On 1st February 2016, Jai Kumar Garg was appointed as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Corporation Bank by the Union Government.

About Jai Kumar Garg

• In the year 1986, he started his career at Corporation Bank.
• He is an associate member of Indian Institute of Banking and Finance and a chartered accountant.
• Earlier to this, he worked as executive director in UCO Bank.

World Wetlands Day observed on - 2nd February

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 2nd February 2016, to mark the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in the city of Ramsar in Iran in 1971, the World Wetlands Day was observed across the globe.

The day was observed on the theme of "Wetlands for our Future – Sustainable Livelihoods" to promote, create awareness and ensure positive and affirmative action for conservation of wetlands. 

About Wetlands

Water is life and wetlands are the life support systems that ensure functioning of the water cycle. Wetlands help recharge groundwater aquifers, cleanse polluted waters, protect shorelines and act as sponges to mitigate floods.

The extensive food chain and biological diversity in wetlands make them biological supermarkets. These are valuable as sources, sink and transformers of a multitude of biological, chemical and genetic material.