Parliamentary panel questions Modi govt on vaccine efficacy, cites ‘trials not held widely’
Standing committee on health, who were briefed by health secretary Tuesday, raised questions on vaccine efficacy and its pricing, as well as distribution in rural areas.
All 4 members of SC-appointed panel on farmers’ protest support new farm laws
SC has formed a panel to break the farm laws deadlock. Members are agricultural economists P.K. Joshi and Ashok Gulati, and farmer leaders Anil Ghanwat and Bhupinder Singh Mann.
Yogi govt plans new law to regulate temples, mosques, churches, will keep tab on donations
UP govt looking to bring in the law, which will likely set rules for registration & operational practices among others, 'without much noise' to avoid controversies.
16 anti-conversion law cases, key accused Muslims, but UP govt insists law is religion-neutral
UP’s anti-conversion law seems to have deepened communal fault lines and instilled fear among Muslims. Fringe Hindu Right-wing groups say the fear is ‘important’.
India’s fast economic recovery will surprise everyone in 2021-22: NITI Aayog’s Rajiv Kumar
Rajiv Kumar says Modi govt’s labour reforms and PLI scheme will boost industry and exports, and not joining RCEP won’t freeze India out of global markets.
Heritage Conservation Committee approves construction of new Parliament building
A few days ago, the SC cleared the decks for Central Vista Project, which covers a 3-km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, by upholding the environmental clearance.
Madhya Pradesh Governor gives nod to anti-conversion ordinance, becomes law
Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2020 has provisions that are similar to the ordinance issued by the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh against fraudulent conversions.
Covid vaccine drive to begin on 16 January, healthcare & frontline workers to be prioritised
After healthcare and frontline workers, priority will be given to those above 50 years of age and the under-50 population groups with co-morbidities numbering around 27 crore.
Don’t publish election surveys without verification — PCI issues new advisory for newspapers
New guideline part of PCI’s updated Norms of Journalistic Conduct, edition 2020, which was uploaded to media watchdog’s website Friday. Also includes advisory on Covid reporting.
Why railways’ Dedicated Freight Corridor was delayed, and how it could be a game-changer
As the total 2,843-km project is finally set to take off, here’s why it is significant for the railways and for goods movement in the country.
Why Bombay High Court’s fury on Rhea Chakraborty’s media trial is misdirected
In this episode of #CutTheClutter, Shekhar Gupta decodes how the Mumbai High Court unfairly generalised the entire media for the actions of a few TV news channels.
Sensex tops 50,000 points for first time ever
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) were net buyers in the capital market as they purchased shares worth Rs 2,289.05 crore Wednesday, as per exchange data.
Defence
This R-Day, catch a glimpse of IAF’s vintage Dakota that ‘saved Srinagar’ in 1947-48 war
The aircraft, which participated in the 1971 war too but began to be phased out soon after, will be flanked by two Mi-17-1V at the flypast in a Rudra formation — a first for the Dakota.
Neither ‘udta’ nor ‘padhta’ Punjab. Question is how India’s no. 1 state in 2003 fell to 13
Punjab, once India’s richest state, has slipped and fallen behind. MSP and subsidies should continue, but it needs to rediscover its entrepreneurial impulse.