# COVAXIN

• Covaxin has demonstrated an interim clinical efficacy of 81% in the phase 3 clinical trials.

• Covaxin is the first indigenous vaccine made by bharat biotech.

• The first results from phase 3, called the primary endpoint, are based on the first occurence of polymerase chain reaction-confirmed symptomatic covid-19 with onset at least 14 days after the second dose.

• Health minister harsh vardhan on wednesday reiterated that the centre had done away with the 9 am to 5 pm timeline for giving covid-19 vaccination and beneficiaries can take it round the clock.

# Love jihad in Haryana

• Four cases of interfaith relationship – which is claimed to be love jihad have been lodged in Haryana over the past three years.

• The police have moved to quash FIRs in two of the cases and a third ended in acquittal. The fourth case is in the court.

• The haryana government is set to bring in a legislation against love jihad in the upcoming budget session.

# Wildfire in simlipal

• A massive fire has threatened to cause colossal damage to simlipal biosphere reserve- one of the largest biosphere reserves of India.

• Odisha government has deployed a big contingent of field level staff to douse it.

• Expressing concern, union minister of environment, forest and climate change prakash javdekar has sought a report.

# Field trial for census-NPR

• The registrar general of India (RGI) is preparing to conduct field trials of the first phase of the census and the national population register.

• This exercise will be done using a mobile application in all states and UTs.

• The first phase involving house listing and housing census, along with updating the NPR was scheduled from april 1 last year.

# Excise duty on fuels

• The centre has room to cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by upto 8.5 rupees per litre without impacting its target for revenue from the tax on the two fuels, analysts said.

• Petrol and diesel prices hover at a historic high following a relentless increase in rates over the last nine months.

• Excise duty was raised by 13 and 16 rupees per litre on petrol and diesel between march and may 2020 and nowstands at 31.8 rupees on diesel and 32.9 rupees per litre on petrol.