The bill was recently passed in Lok Sabha to amend the Central Excise Act, 1944.

About the Bill

• Background 
  • Central excise duties on many items were repealed with the introduction of GST(2017), except for some items such as tobacco and tobacco products, liquor, petroleum.
  • Along with GST, GST compensation cess was also introduced on products such as tobacco to compensate states for revenue loss due to GST.
  • Thus, tobacco and tobacco products are currently subject to GST, compensation cess, and central excise duty.
  • The compensation cess on tobacco and tobacco products is planned to be discontinued.
• Objective of Bill: To levy a higher excise duty on tobacco and related products once GST compensation cess ends to keep taxes on them at existing level.
  • Excise duty is a form of indirect tax imposed by the central government. on domestic production of goods.

NHRC recently submitted that 97 central and State laws continue to contain provisions that discriminate against persons with leprosy.

About Leprosy (Hansen’s disease)

• Definition: It is a chronic bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae that affects the skin, peripheral nerves, and eyes.
  • Left untreated, this neglected tropical disease may cause progressive and permanent disabilities.
• Transmission: The bacteria are transmitted via droplets from the nose and mouth during close and frequent contact with untreated cases.
• Situation in India: Prevalence Rate (PR) from 57.2 per 10,000 in 1981 to 0.57 per 10,000 in 2025 (99% reduction).
  • In 2005, India achieved Elimination status for leprosy at National level. i.e. PR less than 1 per 10,000 population.
• Elimination Efforts: National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), the National Strategic Plan and Roadmap for Leprosy (2023-2027)

Centre ‘not classifying’ denotified tribes despite survey report.

• The AnSI (Anthropological Survey of India) in its 2023 report had recommended fresh classification of 85 of these DNTs.

About DNTs:

• DNTs: also known as Vimukta Jati, are the tribes that were listed originally under the Criminal Tribes act of 1871, as criminal tribes.
  • The Criminal Tribes Act was repealed in 1949 and thus 'de-notified' the tribal communities.
  • Idate Commission (2017) recommended setting up a permanent commission for DNTs and doing a caste census column to count DNT populations.

Center is planning a major overhaul of urban property registration system by replacing hand-drawn sketches with precise spatial Databases such as NAKSHA (National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations). 

About NAKSHA 

• Ministry- It is a pilot programme of the Department of Land Resource, Ministry of Rural Development under Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).
• Aim: to build a comprehensive, GIS-integrated database of urban land parcels using cutting-edge aerial and field survey techniques.
• Significance: transparent property ownership, streamlining urban planning, better infrastructure development, etc.

Scientists have found glucose in samples collected from asteroid Bennu by Nasa’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft in 2023.

• This discovery indicates the presence of essential chemical ingredients for life in the early solar system.

About Asteroid Bennu:

• It is a relatively small asteroid that passes close to Earth about every six years.
• Constituents: It is an amalgamation of such rocks (not found on Earth) that are loosely packed and barely held together by gravity or other forces.

As per a new study, high concentration of inhalable microplastics (iMPs) has been found across Indian cities.

About Inhalable Microplastics (iMPs)

• Meaning: They are plastic particles less than 10 micrometres (microns) in size, as compared to microplastics (less than 5 millimetres).
  • These plastic particles, once inhaled, can penetrate deep into the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and potentially reach crucial organs, acting as “Trojan Horses”.
• Potential Health Impacts: iMPs can carry pathogens and toxic chemicals, causing inflammation, cellular stress, and increased risk of long-term diseases like cancer.

Russia’s lower house ratified the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) pact marking a major step in deepening bilateral military cooperation between Russia and India.

About RELOS pact

• Purpose: Allows both countries’ military platforms to access each other’s bases, ports, airfields and maintenance facilities.
• Significance: Will facilitates joint exercises, training, disaster relief, refuelling, repairs and port visits.
• Strategic Impact: It enhances India’s operational reach, including potential access to Russian naval routes, and strengthens overall military coordination.

Recently, CDSCO mandated designated QR code and toll-free number to be displayed at all retail and wholesale pharmacies to report adverse drug reactions.

About CDSCO (HQ: New Delhi)

• Established: It is a statutory authority under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. 
• Ministry: Ministry of Health and family welfare. 
• Functions: Regulatory control over the import of drugs, approval of new drugs and clinical trials,  etc.