# Coronavirus vaccines

• People will not have the option of making a choice between two available covid vaccines – said health secretary Rajesh bhushan.

• The union government has agreed to procure 110 lakh covishield doses from Serum institute of India at 200/doses.

• The union government will also procure 55 lakh doses of covaxin from Bharat biotech india limited, at 295/dose.

# Contempt act

• The karnataka high court on tuesday ordered issue of notice to the union government on a PIL filed by four eminent personalities challenging the constitutional validity of a provision of the contempt of court act, 1971.

• This provision makes “scandalising” or “tends to scandalise courts” as a ground for contempt.

• The petitioners have contended in their present position that section 2(c)1 of the act violates the right to free speech and expression guranteed under article 19 (1) A.

# Labour codes

• The four labour law codes enacted by parliament in 2020 and 2019 could be implemented before the earlier target of April 1.

• The codes, which have amalgamated 29 laws governing minimum wages, occupational safety, social security into four codes, were earlier expected to be implemented by April 1.

• The rules under the code on wages, 2019 have been finalised.

• The rules under the occupational safety, health and working condition code,2020, the industrial relation code 2020, and the social security code, 2020 were yet to be finalised.

# Inflation

• India’s retail inflation decelerated appreciably to 4.59% in December from 6.93% in november.

• Another data of NSO indicated that industrial output shrank 1.9%.

• India’s index of industrial production (IIP) for november was dragged lower by mining and manufacturing.

# Farm laws

• The supreme court on tuesday stayed the implementation of the controversial farm laws.

• Supreme has called its order “extraordinary” and “a victory for fair play”.

• The court formed a four member committee of experts to listen to the grievances of farmers on the laws and the views of the government and make recommendations.