President Donald Trump ordered a review of U.S. sanctions exemptions for Iran, including those for the Chabahar Port project. The move aims to block all financial channels benefiting Iran, escalating tensions in U.S.-Iran relations.

• Chabahar Port is located in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan Province, on the Makran coast, in the Gulf of Oman.
• The port has two main areas: Shahid Kalantari Port and Shahid Beheshti Port.
• India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of Chabahar Port in May 2015.
• In May 2016, India, Iran, and Afghanistan signed the Chabahar Agreement, establishing the International Transport and Transit Corridor to boost trade and connectivity.

Observed annually on 11 February.

• In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly declared 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
• This day is an opportunity to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls.
• The 10th Anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science is organized by the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) and the Permanent Mission of Malta.

• The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.25 per cent on February 7,2025.
• This is the first rate cut initiated by the RBI in five years, the last one being in May 2020.
• Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank of a country(RBI in case of India) lends money to commercial banks in the event of any shortfall of funds. Here, the central bank purchases the security.
• As such, the repo rate forms the floor interest rate for all other interest rates in the economy.
• Repo rate is used by monetary authorities to control inflation.

• India’s Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh announced that the country aims to launch the Chandrayaan-4 mission by 2027.
• ISRO’s Chandrayaan-4 Mission is India’s first lunar sample return mission, aiming to collect and bring back Moon soil and rock samples.
• The Chandrayaan-4 will use five different components, which will be assembled in orbit, to help India overcome payload limitations as due to payload size constraints for single-launch rockets.
• It will require two separate launches using the heavy-lift LVM-3 rocket.
• The first launch is planned to carry the ascender module and descender module.
• The second launch would carry the transfer module, re-entry module, and the propulsion module.
• It could involve international collaboration with partners like Russia or NASA.

The Defence Ministry is set to sign a contract worth over ₹10,200 crore for ammunition for Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher weapon systems.

• The deal is with Solar Industries, Nagpur and public sector firm Munitions India Limited.
• The Pinaka rocket system has been developed by Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pune supported by High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, another Pune-based laboratory of DRDO.
• The Pinaka Mark1 (Mk1)has a range of 38 km and it can fire a variety of ammunition.
• The upgraded Pinaka system has successfully tested guided rockets with a 75 km range and is set to extend its range to 120 km and 300 km. It is becoming the Army’s main long-range artillery.
• The Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) can fire 72 rockets in 44 seconds.
• In 2024, Armenia became the first export customer for the indigenously developed Pinaka.

• The United States recently deported 104 Indian migrants who had undertaken a perilous illegal journey, including a dangerous crossing through the Darien Gap.
• Many Indians attempting to enter the US illegally follow what is known as the ‘donkey route’ or illegal migration route through darien gap.
• The Darien Gap is a dense, swampy rainforest spanning approximately 97 km between northern Colombia in South America and southern Panama in North America. 
• The terrain is characterized by muddy trails, wetlands, and steep mountains,making it one of the most inhospitable and dangerous regions in the world.
• The area is controlled by criminal gangs and armed groups, further increasing the dangers for those attempting to cross it.

• At the Bengal Global Business Summit 2025, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the start of mining operations at the Deucha-Pachami coal block in Birbhum
• The West Bengal government is set to commence basalt mining on 326 acres at the Deocha-Pachami coal mine.
• Mining basalt is crucial as it covers the coal reserves beneath.
• This block is one of the largest coal deposits in the world, with over 1,200 million tonnes of coal.
• The Deocha-Pachami coal mine is Asia’s second largest coal mine,while Gevra mine of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) in Chhattisgarh is the largest coalmine in Asia.

Celebrated annually on the second Monday of February. In 2025, it falls on February 10.

• Established to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and advocate for the rights of people with epilepsy.
• Organized by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).
• Epilepsy affects around 50 million people globally, making it one of the most common neurological disorders.

Observed annually on February 10.

• Established by the United Nations in 2019 after the success of the 2016 International Year of Pulses.
• Pulses include dry beans, lentils, chickpeas, and peas, which are rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
• 2025 Theme: “Pulses: Bringing diversity to agrifood systems.

Observed annually on February 09.

• Baba Amte, born Murlidhar Devidas Amte on December 26, 1914, was a renowned social activist and humanitarian, best known for his work with leprosy patients.
• He was born in Hinganghat, a city in the Wardha district of Maharashtra.
• In 1951, he founded Anandwan, a rehabilitation center in Maharashtra for leprosy patients.
• Baba Amte passed away on February 9, 2008, at the age of 93 in Anandwan, Maharashtra.