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Friday, January 30, 2026
TopicDr Balram Bhargava

Topic: Dr Balram Bhargava

Covid a ‘very pretty virus’ — ICMR DG Balram Bhargava recollects early pandemic days in India

The status of approving vaccination in children is still under consideration but there are concerns over side effects, Bhargava says at ThePrint’s Off the Cuff. 

Why India finally scrapped plasma as Covid treatment, 7 months after ICMR said it doesn’t work

ICMR chief Dr Balram Bhargava had revealed plans to take plasma therapy off the possible treatments’ list in October, but Indians kept scrambling to arrange it.

‘Worried about Maharashtra’: Govt says state has 8 of top 10 districts with most Covid cases

Two states with highest active Covid cases, Kerala & Maharashtra, are showing divergent trends. In last one month, cases in Kerala almost halved but Maharashtra showed an explosive spurt.

Covaxin approved as it’s more likely to act against mutant Covid strain, says ICMR chief

In an interview, ICMR chief Balram Bhargava addressed questions that have been raised about the approval granted to Covaxin in the absence of efficacy data.

ICMR chief Balram Bhargava tests positive for Covid, admitted to AIIMS

Dr Balram Bhargava has been a regular at the weekly Covid-19 briefings, and has been one of the three key technocrats in this government’s Covid strategy.

ICMR’s chequered role in Covid pandemic — from 15 August vaccine deadline to plasma flip-flop

India’s apex medical research organisation has been accused of straying from path of science to take questionable stands, often with undertone of ‘nationalism’.

Wear masks while exercising, says ICMR chief — his own ministry advises otherwise

ICMR director general Balram Bhargava says emerging data shows that masks don’t alter blood oxygen levels and so should be worn while exercising & walking.

ICMR denies sero survey hushed up data showing up to 48% Covid reach in hotspots in May

The ICMR clarification came after a report that team behind sero survey was asked to either hold it back or remove data on containment zones.

Reverse migration of workers led to an increase in number of Covid cases, says ICMR chief

In an article written for the first edition of an ICMR newsletter, e-Samvaad, Balram Bhargava also noted that the novel coronavirus has affected poor people the most.

‘Taskmaster, skilled administrator, impulsive’ — ICMR’s Bhargava who wanted vaccine by 15 Aug

Dr Balram Bhargava’s letter expediting Covid vaccine trials was slammed, but current & ex-colleagues highlight both his ‘impetuosity’ & ‘impeccable integrity’.

On Camera

Economic Survey 2025-26 takes global lessons seriously—and shows why Swadeshi is the way to go

The Economic Survey 2025-26 is not a celebration of success, but a measured warning that the traditional paradigms of global economic growth are no longer applicable.

Economic Survey backs skilled visas to give IT services sector a boost, green energy for data centres

The IT services sector contributed more than half of India’s Gross Value Added, serving as a major driver of exports and employment, the Economic Survey 2025-26 has found.

Indian Army ties up with US drone company that made its name in the Ukraine conflict

Shield AI will provide V-BAT vertical takeoff & landing drones along with licences for software, which will be integrated into aircraft and made available to select Indian partners.

Non-alignment is coming back in a new avatar: Trump-peedit alliance

No nation other than China can negotiate one-on-one with Trump on an equal footing. That’s why the middle powers who so far formed the core of multilateral bodies now feel orphaned.