TITBITS:
1. The
Centre has relaxed the "automatic exclusion" criteria under the
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), allowing families owning
"two-wheelers, motorised fishing boats, refrigerators, landline
phones" and earning "up to Rs 15,000 per month" to now avail the
rural housing scheme.
2. In
its first meeting after the Lok Sabha polls, the Standing Committee of the
National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) cleared a controversial transmission line
project that sparked protests amid concerns over deforestation in Goa's Mollem
National Park.
3. In
its 54th meeting, the GST Council adjusted the tax rate on several items. It
lowered the rate on cancer drugs - Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib and
Durvalumab-from 12 per cent to 5 per cent, and also brought down the tax levied
on extruded or expanded products from 18 per cent to 12 per cent.
4. SpaceX
launched its daring Polaris Dawn mission, a multi-day orbital expedition
carrying a four-member civilian crew for the first spacewalk by
non-professional astronauts.
5. Presbyopia
:The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved the eye drop, PresVu.
The eye drop has been specifically developed to reduce reliance on reading
glasses for individuals with presbyopia It is a condition where the eyes
gradually lose the ability to focus on nearby objects, typically starting
around age 40. Unlike near-sightedness or farsightedness, which are caused by
the shape of the eye or lens, presbyopia occurs as the lens inside the eye
becomes less flexible with age.
6. ANUSANDHAN
NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION : Prime Minister Modi chaired the first meeting of
the Anusandhan National Research Foundation’s Governing Board, emphasising
innovation in India’s research ecosystem. The ANRF aims to boost R&D
funding and foster collaboration between universities and industries for
national growth.
7. India’s
Four-Point Principle on Russia-Ukraine Conflict:
·
India believes in pursuing peace, not war.
·
War cannot resolve the conflict;
negotiations are essential.
·
Russia must be included in any successful
peace process.
· India remains concerned and engaged in seeking a resolution