# 2nd lockdown

• A sharp spike in coronavirus cases in Maharashtra nagpur on thursday became the first city in nine months to a state of complete lockdown.

• The lockdown in nagpur is for one week, between march 15 and march 21.

• Some essential activities, including a few industries, are partially exempt.

# Ceasefire along FIR

• The renewal of ceasefire agreement of 2003 has led to further engagement on other issues.

• The pakistani sources has said that pakistan is demanding restoration of statehood of J&K for further engagement.

• The pakistani sources also said that pakistan’s position has not changed that kashmir is a disputed region.

# Quad agenda

• PM narendra modi, US president Joe biden, Japan’s PM yushihide suga and Australia’s PM Scott morrison will meet through virtual mode, for the first ever quadrilateral grouping’s leaders summit on friday 7 PM.

• This will be Modi’s first meeting with Biden, after the new US administration assumed office in January this year.

• The foreign ministers of the quad grouping have met thrice so far, twice in person and once virtually.

• Among the issues that are likely to be discussed are supply of vaccines across the world, collaborating on building a reliable rare-earth supply chain, joining hands on climate change and securing free and open access to Indo-pacific.

# Ethanol policy in Bihar

• Bihar industries minister syed shahnawaz hussain has said that Bihar is set to become the first state in the country to have a dedicated ethanol policy.

• This policy will also address the distress in maize sales and improve sugarcane procurement.

• This policy is followed after the centre approved last year that ethanol can be made directly from maize, sugarcane, etc.