A recent faunal survey by the Forest Department in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala, recorded 15 new species in the protected area.

• It is Situated in the Anamalai-Nelliyampathy landscape of the Western Ghats, spanning Palakkad and Thrissur districts, Kerala.
• The Parambikulam River, a tributary of the Chalakudy River, flows through the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in Kerala.
• The reserve is home to four indigenous tribes: Kadar, Malasar, Muduvar, and Mala Malasar, residing in six colonies within the sanctuary.
• Diverse ecosystems include evergreen, semi-evergreen, deciduous, and shola The reserve also has marshy grasslands (vayals) and is home to the legendary Kannimara Teak tree.
• Parambikulam is referred to as the “state capital for the massive gaur“.

Arunachal Pradesh Foundation Day is celebrated annually on February 20th to commemorate the day in 1987 when the region was granted statehood, becoming the 24th state of India.

• Situated in northeastern India, Arunachal Pradesh shares international borders with Bhutan to the west, China to the north, and Myanmar to the east. Domestically, it borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south.
• Itanagar serves as the state’s capital and largest town.
• The name “Arunachal Pradesh” translates to “Land of the Rising Sun.” 

Mizoram Foundation Day is observed annually on February 20 to commemorate the state’s attainment of full statehood in 1987, making it the 23rd state of India.

• Mizoram is a landlocked state in northeastern India, sharing international borders with Bangladesh to the west and Myanmar to the east and south.
• Domestically, it borders the Indian states of Assam, Manipur, and Tripura.
• Aizawl serves as the capital and largest city of Mizoram. Other significant towns include Lunglei, Champhai, and Serchhip.
• Mizo and English are the official languages of the state.

World Anthropology Day is observed annually on the third Thursday of February, falling on February 20 this year.

• The American Anthropological Association will officially celebrate Anthropology Day on February 20, 2025.
• This day allows anthropologists to honor their field and share its significance with the world.

World Day of Social Justice is globally observed on February 20 each year, emphasizing the need to foster equitable societies by addressing injustices and labor insecurity that threaten social welfare.

• The theme for World Day of Social Justice 2025 is “Empowering Inclusion: Bridging Gaps for Social Justice.”
• On November 26, 2007, the UN General Assembly proclaimed February 20 as World Day of Social Justice, with the first observance in 2009.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Bharat Tex 2025 event at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on February 16, 2025.
• Bharat-Tex is a global textile event that brings together the entire industry, from raw materials to finished products, under one roof.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi set ambitious goals for India’s textile exports, aiming to triple them from ₹3 lakh crore to ₹9 lakh crore by 2030.
• Bharat Tex 2025 is the second edition of an annual exhibition organized by twelve export promotion councils with support from the Ministry of Textiles.
• Featuring over 5,000 exhibitors, it showcases India’s textile strength on a global stage, covering 2.2 million square feet.
• Sustainability is a key focus of Bharat Tex 2025, highlighting eco-friendly innovations and responsible practices in the textile industry.
• On the sidelines of Bharat Tex 2025, the European Union (EU) and India’s Ministry of Textiles unveiled seven new projects aimed at supporting the textile and handicraft sector. These initiatives are being funded by the EU with a contribution of €9.5 million (₹5 crore).

India’s textile sector employs 45 million people, with women making up 60% of the workforce.

India’s first zoo-based biobank has been established at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) in Darjeeling, West Bengal.

• The facility, also known as a ‘frozen zoo,’became operational in July 2024 as part of a collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• The biobank collects and preserves DNA materials, cellular and tissue samples from endangered animals, as well as reproductive cells from deceased specimens.
• The initiative supports wildlife conservation, genetic research, and potential revival of critically endangered or extinct species.
• Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, established on August 14, 1958, is known for breeding high-altitude herbivores and pheasants.
• The zoo gained international recognition for its red panda conservation program, which was shortlisted for a global conservation award by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) in October 2024.

• To mark the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11, UNESCO launched the “Imagine a world with more women in science”
• The campaign emphasizes the value of diverse perspectives in science and encourages greater women’s participation using the hashtag #EveryVoiceInScience.
• The UNGA declared the day in 2015to reduce the gender gap in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine)
• In India, 43% of STEMM enrollment in higher education consists of women, but only 6% of scientists in the country are women.
• UNESCO(United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) was founded on November 16, 1945, to promote international cooperation in education, science, and culture.
• UNESCO has 195 member countries and is headquartered in Paris, France.
• It publishes important reports like the Global Education Monitoring Report and the Gender Parity Index.

The Indian Navy’s INS Shardul and Long Range Maritime Surveillance P-8I aircraft arrived at Benoa Port in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia to participate in the International Fleet Review (IFR), which is scheduled from February 16 to February 22, 2025.

• This year’s theme is “Maritime Partnership for Peace and Stability,” focusing on natural disaster management and humanitarian aid.
• The International Fleet Review (IFR), is a prestigious international event in which participating navies showcase their ships in a parade, typically reviewed by an incumbent head of state or military dignitaries.
• It also marks the 80th anniversary of the Indonesian Navy’s formation.
• Exercise Komodo 2025 will gather 15 nations for multilateral maritime training, including a joint maritime search and rescue scenario.

Meta launched Project Waterworth, a subsea internet cable to improve connectivity in the U.S., India, Brazil, South Africa, and other regions, which was announced following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.S. and is expected to be operational by 2039.

• The Artificial Intelligence(AI)-powered subsea cable system spans 50,000 km across five continents, connecting the S., India, Brazil, South Africa, and other key regions.
• It will be the longest and highest-capacity subsea cable, with cables laid at depths up to 7,000 meters and protected in shallow waters using advanced burial techniques.
• India will invest in maintaining and repairing undersea cables in the Indian Ocean for the project.

The project will create three new oceanic corridors, boosting the scale and reliability of internet networks and fostering international cooperation, digital inclusion, and technological progress.