Israeli forces began withdrawing from a key Gaza corridor on Sunday, February 9, 2025, as part of Israel’s commitments under a fragile ceasefire deal with Hamas, according to Israeli officials.

• The withdrawal focused on the Netzarim Corridor, a strategically important military zone that separated northern and southern Gaza.
• This 6-kilometer stretch of land was established during the Gaza conflict, which began in 2023 and continues.
• Named after a former Israeli settlement, the corridor served as a key operational area for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and played a role in securing aid routes across the region.
• The withdrawal marks a significant development in the conflict, potentially indicating a shift in military strategy or priorities.
• The decision may also have broader implications for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, given the corridor’s previous role in controlling both military operations and aid distribution.

World Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day is observed every year on February 14.

• A congenital heart defect is a heart condition present at birth, caused by abnormal development of the heart or nearby blood vessels. The exact causes remain unclear, and these defects are considered anomalies rather than diseases.
• The theme for CHD Awareness in 2025 is “Remember Our Hearts.” This day provides a platform to inform people about the prevalence, symptoms, and treatment options for CHDs.

The Grameen Credit Score Scheme was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the 2025 budget.

• Aims to enhance financial inclusion for Self Help Groups (SHGs) and rural women entrepreneurs in India.
• Public Sector Banks will develop a ‘Grameen Credit Score’ framework to serve the credit needs of SHG members and rural populations.
• This initiative represents a shift in assessing the creditworthiness of millions of women involved in SHGs, aligning them with India’s formal financial system.
• The scheme seeks to restore credit discipline in the microfinance sector by providing a standardized assessment of creditworthiness.

India has recently added four new wetlands to the Ramsar Convention’s list, increasing its total to 89 sites—the highest in Asia and third globally.

• The newly designated sites are:
  • Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuaryin Tamil Nadu
  • Therthangal Bird Sanctuaryin Tamil Nadu
  • Khecheopalri Wetlandin Sikkim
  • Udhwa Lakein Jharkhand
• This marks the first Ramsar site for both Sikkim and Jharkhand. Tamil Nadu now leads among Indian states with 20 Ramsar sites.
• The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, provides a framework for national and international efforts to conserve and wisely use wetlands.
• World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on February 2nd to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands. This date marks the adoption of the Ramsar Convention.
• The theme for 2025 is “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,”

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) launched GARBH-INi-DRISHTI at the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in Faridabad, Haryana.

• It is a data dashboard providing a comprehensive overview of one of South Asia’s largest maternal and child health databases.
• The platform offers access to clinical data, images, and biospecimens collected from over 12,000 pregnant women, newborns, and postpartum mothers.
• Developed under the GARBH-INi program, it aims to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes by facilitating research and collaboration.

Recently, Chaman Arora was awarded Sahitya Akademi Award 2024 in Dogri for his book “Ik Hor Ashwthama”.

• The Sahitya Akademi Awards were inaugurated in 1954 and are given by the Sahitya Akademi, an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Culture.
• The first awards were presented in 1955.
• These awards are conferred upon the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the major Indian languages recognized by the Akademi, which include the 22 languages listed under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, as well as English and Rajasthani.
• The award comprises a casket containing an engraved copper plaque and a cash prize of ₹1,00,000.

The Union Government has approved four startups in the field of technical textiles under the Grant for Research & Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT) Scheme.

• The GREAT Scheme was launched in August 2023 under the Research, Development, and Innovation component of the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM).
• It aims to develop the startup ecosystem in technical textiles in India by providing financial support to individual entrepreneurs or startups for functional prototypes or commercialization of their technologies.
• The scheme focuses on key strategic areas such as medical textiles, industrial textiles, and protective textiles, fostering innovation, research, and entrepreneurship.
• The Union Ministry of Textiles provides grant-in-aid of up to ₹50 lakhs for a period of 18 months to support these initiatives.

13th February is celebrated as the birth anniversary of the Nightingale of India i.e. Sarojini Naidu.

• She was born on February 13, 1879, in Hyderabad to Aghornath Chattopadhyaya, a scientist, and Barada Sundari Devi, a poetess.
• She became the first Indian woman President of the Indian National Congress in 1925.
• She was the first woman Governor of an Indian state, serving as the Governor of United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh) from 1947 until her death in 1949.
• She was a renowned poet and earned the title “Nightingale of India” for her lyrical poetry, including works like The Golden Threshold and In the Bazaars of Hyderabad.

World Radio Day is observed annually on February 13 to raise awareness about the importance of radio and its role in information dissemination.

• The day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 2011 and later adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day.
• Radio remains a crucial medium for reaching remote communities and providing emergency communication during disasters.

India has become the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, following China, with Vietnam in third place.

• As of 2024, 99.2% of all mobile phones sold in India are domestically produced.
• Mobile phones account for 43% of India’s total electronics production.
• In the fiscal year 2023, India’s electronics sector reached a valuation of USD 155 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13% over the past five years.
• Electronics production nearly doubled from USD 48 billion in FY17 to USD 101 billion in FY23.
• Electronics have become India’s fifth-largest export commodity, though the country holds less than a 1% share of the global market.
• The Indian government aims to expand electronics manufacturing output to USD 500 billion by 2030, which would require a fivefold increase and is projected to generate 12 million jobs by 2027.