# Omicron strain

• Prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday directed a review of the plan to ease international travel restrictions in light of the emerging new covid virus variant B. 1.1.529 (omicron) found in South Africa.
• Omicron is designated as the variant of concern by WHO.
• Central government officials have been instructed to coordinate with states to ensure that there are adequate buffer stocks of various medicinesmedicines and other equipments.

# Delhi’s air quality

• The air quality of the city continued to be in the “severe” Category for the second consecutive day on Saturday.
• Speed of local surface winds is likely to pick up slightly on Monday and Tuesday, resulting in slight improvement of air quality to ‘very poor’ level, according to the central run monitoring agency SAFAR.
• The air quality index of Delhi was 402 on Saturday, slightly down from 406 on Friday.

# Telangana

• The Union Government made it clear to the Telangana government that it would not procure parboiled rice from Telangana.
• The Telangana government has given a call to the farming community against cultivating paddy in rabi.

# India-UK FTA

• Negotiations between the India and the UK on a comprehensive free trade agreement could be delayed to January 2022.
• The main reasons for the delay are Change in cabinet in the UK and need for more pre negotiations talks.

# C-section deliveries

• One in two women who go to a private hospital undergoes a Carsarean section delivery, according to the latest national health family survey data.
• According to the world Health Organization, the ideal rate is 10-15℅ across a population.