# Vaccination drive

• More than 40 lakh adolescents in the 15-17 years age group received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine on the first day of the vaccination drive for this age group.
• According to the Cowin dashboard, more than 49 lakhs in this age group have registered for the vaccine so far.
• Only Covaxin is approved for less than 18 years age group.
• Also, India recorded more than 33000 cases in a day on monday.

# Pangong lake

• China is constructing a bridge in eastern ladakh connecting the North and South bank of Pangong Tso.
• This bridge will bring down the time for people’s liberation Army to move troops and equipment between two sectors.
• The bridge is in China’s territory and the Indian Army would have now to factor this in its operational plans.

# ISRO in 2022

• Indian space research organization (ISRO) is gearing up for a number of missions in 2022 including the launch of the first unmanned mission of gaganyaan.
• Other missions of ISRO include the launch of the Earth observation satellites EOS-04 and EOS-06 on board the PSLV and the EOS-2 on board the maiden flight of the small satellites launch vehicle (SSLV).

# Covaxin

• The health ministry on Monday clarified that all allegations about expired vaccines being administered in India under its national covid-19 vaccination programme are false and misleading and based on incomplete information.
• The central drugs standard control organization (CDSCO) had extended the shelf life of Bharat biotech’s covaxin from nine months to twelve months.

# Exports

• India’s merchandise exports in December touched $37.29 billion, the highest ever monthly figure, according to commerce and industry minister Piyush goyal.
• Merchandise exports grew 48.9℅ to $299.74 billion in April-December 2021.