India is witnessing a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases, primarily driven by a new variant identified as JN.1. According to the Union Health Ministry, 257 active COVID cases have been recorded across states, with the majority arising in Maharashtra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. This variant is believed to have originated in Southeast Asia and is now spreading in parts of India, echoing similar spikes seen in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand. What is the JN.1 Variant?