# Merchandise exports

• India’s merchandise exports in August touched $33.14 billion.

• This export figure is 45.17% higher than a year ago and 27.5% over the pre pandemic level of August 2019.

• Trade deficit widened to a four month high, driven by a sharp uptick in gold imports.

• Merchandise imports during the month grew 51.47% year-on-year to $47 billion, which is also 18% higher than the August 2019 figure.

• The trade deficit widened 69.15% year-on-year to touch $13.87 billion but was just 0.07% higher than the pre-covid level of 2019.

# RT-PCR tests

• Union health secretary Rajesh bhushan on Thursday said that reports are emerging of new mutations in SARS-COV-2 and the rising number of variants of concern and variants of interest.

• Passengers coming from South Africa, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand and Zimbawe will have to undergo RT-PCR tests on arrival in India.

• Passengers from the UK, Europe and the Middle East are already required to take their test.

# Deputy speaker

• Delhi high court asked the union government on Wednesday to explain its stand on a petition that said keeping the post of Deputy speaker of the Lok sabha vacant is a violation of Article 93 of the constitution.

• The congress’s floor leader in the Lok sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “It is a constitution-mandated position and not a ceremonial one”.

# DefExpo 2022

• Defence minister Rajnath Singh and Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani jointly reviewed the preparations for DefExpo-2022, to be held for the first time in Gujarat, at a meeting in Kevadia on Thursday.

• The 12th edition of the biennial DefExpo, which is India’s flagship event showcasing the land, naval, air as well as homeland security, will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat between March 10 and 13, 2022.

# Indian biologist

• Indian biologist Shailendra singh has been awarded the Behler Turtle conservation award for bringing three critically endangered turtle conservation species back from the brink of extinction.

• The award has been bestowed by several global bodies involved in turtle conservation Such as Turtle survival alliance.