Notes:
The State Bank of India (SBI) has launched the first ‘Video life certificate service’ for pensioners. This new facility will allow pensioners to submit their life certificates through video from their homes.
As per the SBI, this facility is available for only pensioners and spouse of the pensioner receiving a pension will not be able to use this facility. The process of video life certificate is paperless and also available free of cost.

Notes:
According to a new NASA study published in the journal, Nature Food, climate change may affect the production of maize and wheat by 2030 under a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario.
As per the study, Maize crop yields are projected to decline by 24%, while wheat could potentially see a growth of about 17%. This is due to increases in temperature, shifts in rainfall patterns, and elevated surface CO2 concentrations from greenhouse gas emissions.

Notes:
UK medicines regulator has recently approved the first antiviral pill designed to treat symptomatic Covid.
The tablet named Molnupiravir will be given twice a day to vulnerable patients recently diagnosed with the disease. The pill which was originally developed to treat flu, is claimed to cut the risk of hospitalisation or death by about half.

Notes:
India and Bhutan will have seven additional entry and exit points for trade as part of measures to increase trade connectivity.
These include Nagarkata Land Customs Station, Agartala Land Customs Station, Pandu port (Guwahati Steamerghat), Jogighopa port, Asian Highway 48 connecting Torsha Tea Garden in India and Ahllay in Bhutan among others. Trade between India and Bhutan rose from USD 484 million in 2014-15 to USD 1,083 million in 2020-21.

Notes:
Bestu Varas or Gujarati new year is celebrated in Kartik month of the Hindu calendar.
The day is traditionally known as Varsha Pratipada or Bestu Varas. People celebrate this day by preparing new books to keep accounts called the Chopda. They also worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Krishna on this day.