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💉 iNCOVACC (BBV154): • "iNCOVACC (BBV154)" is an intra-nasal Covid vaccine co-developed by Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech and the U.S. based Washington University. • iNCOVACC is the world's first intra-nasal vaccine for COVID. • It has received government approval for use as a booster dose in the countrywide mass inouclation program. • It can be administered to those above 18 years. • The nasal vaccine was approved as a primary dose after Phase-3 trials, and was separately tested for safety and immunogenicity as a booster, according to a company statement. • Unlike Covaxin, which is an inactivated coronavirus injected along with an adjuvant, iNCOVACC is an adenovirus-vectored vaccine with a “prefusion stabilised spike protein”, which is more like the technology employed in the Covishield vaccines. • The vaccine is stable at 2-8°C. It is to be delivered through the nose, as a 2-dose series, 4 weeks apart. A total of 8 drops (0.5 mL per dose), 4 drops are administered into each nostril. □ How does it work? • iNCOVACC is a "recombinant replication deficient adenovirus vectored vaccine with a pre-fusion stabilized spike protein." • It stimulates a broad immune response – neutralizing IgG, mucosal IgA, and T cell responses, it says. • It also triggers immune responses at the site of infection (in the nasal mucosa) – essential for blocking both infection and transmission of Covid-19. □ Advantages of intra-nasal vaccines: • The nasal route has excellent potential for vaccination due to the organized immune systems of the nasal mucosa. • The delivery process is non-invasive and needle-free. • It thus eliminates needle-associated risks like injuries and infections. • Due to simple delivery mechanism, it does not require trained health care workers.

■ Good Governance (Ease of living): • No Income Tax for those with income upto ₹5 lakh. • 100 Smart cities Enhancing quality of life. • 4 crore+ got free medical treatment under Ayushman Bharat. • GST ensuring simpler Tax Compliance. • Bringing metro service to 27 cities. • Over 1 Lakh cases disposed of by Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). • Self certification of documents. • 134 lakh household tap water connections under AMRUT. • 562 crore documents issued under Digilocker.

🗞 Guidelines for finance and beauty-based ranking of cities launched: • The Union government on Wednesday launched guidelines for a new finance-based ranking of cities, which would evaluate urban units on 15 key parameters, including resource mobilisation, expenditure performance and fiscal governance. • A separate ranking will also evaluate cities on beautification. • The rankings are aimed at motivating city and State officials to implement municipal financial reforms. • A ‘City Beauty Competition’ initiative was also launched. This encourages and recognises the transformational efforts made by cities and wards in India towards creating beautiful, innovative and inclusive public spaces. • In this ranking, wards and public places in cities will be judged against the five broad pillars of accessibility, amenities, activities, aesthetics, and ecology. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/guidelines-for-finance-and-beauty-based-ranking-of-cities-launched/article66314234.ece