4th DECEMBER 2025 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS
DRDO successfully tests emergency ejection pod from fighter jets
- The test was successfully conducted in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at the test centre in Chandigarh. The rocket sled test was conducted by launching a pod containing the power components that help the rocket fly from the ground to the sky on a rail track set up at the test centre.
- During this test, the speed of the rocket sled, which was attached to the front of the fighter jet along with the pilots' seat, was gradually increased and was launched at a maximum speed of 800 kmph. The pilot safely exited the rocket sled after launching it at high speed.
- This rocket sled test will help pilots escape from fighter jets in the blink of an eye in dangerous situations. The test was conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday.
- Based on the decision taken in the 56th GST Council meeting, a special tax of 40 percent was imposed on some items including cigarettes and tobacco products.
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday introduced two bills in the Lok Sabha - the 'Central Excise Amendment Bill 2025' to impose additional tax on items including tobacco and pan masala, and the 'National Security Cess Bill 2025' to impose a new cess on the production of pan masala.
- Introducing the Central Excise Amendment Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha for approval on Wednesday, Nirmala Sitharaman said, 'After the abolition of GST and compensation cess, the tax rate on tobacco products will be reduced from the current level.
- In order to ensure that the tax rate on these items is not reduced but is levied at the previous high level, an excise duty is being imposed on them.
- The loan taken to compensate for the revenue loss of the states during the Corona period will be repaid in a couple of weeks. After that, there will be no compensation cess, hence this bill is necessary.
- After a short debate, the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha by voice vote. Currently, 28 percent GST and additional cess are levied on cigarettes, tobacco, hookah, jharta and other tobacco products.
- The bill introduced by the Union Finance Minister has proposed to impose 60 to 70 percent excise duty on unmanufactured tobacco products. It has been proposed to impose 25 percent excise duty on cigars or Rs. 5,000 per 1,000 cigars or cheroots. For 65 mm. long cigarettes without filters, Rs. 2,700 and Rs. 4,500 will be levied on cigarettes with a length of 65mm to 75mm.
