# NEET

• The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Constitutional validity of reservation for other backward classes (OBC) candidates in the all India quota seats for the National eligibility Cum entrance test (NEET) for under graduate and post graduate medical and dental courses.
• Supreme Court said that reservation is not at odds with merit in open competitive exams.
• The supreme Court said that the “idea of merit” based on scores in an exam requires “deeper scrutiny”.

# Covid-19

• India is seeing relatively low mortality in the ongoing covid-19 surge because of enhanced vaccination cover.
• NITI Aayog member VK Paul also added that 6.5 crore persons who were due for their second dose of the covid-19 vaccine had not taken it so far.
• Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil nadu, Kerela, Uttar pradesh and Delhi are the highest contributors in new cases.

# Brahmos

• The supersonic cruise missile Brahmos with increased indigenous content and improved performance was successfully test fired from the integrated test range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
• The missile was equipped with the advanced indigenous technology and followed a modified Optimal trajectory for enhanced efficiency and improved performance.
• The launch was conducted by Brahmos aerospace in close coordination with DRDO teams.

# Pakistan

• A powerful blast on Thursday ripped through a crowded market where Indian commodities are sold in Pakistan’s cultural capital Lahore.
• Explosion killed atleast 3 persons and wounding atleast 28 others.
• According to police, the blast took place near the paan mandi in the famous Anaarkali market, Where Indian commodities are sold.