Tag: dailycurrentaffairs

CURRENT AFFAIRS
26 April 2021

NATIONAL NEWS:

A) Government asks social media to take down 100 COVID-19-related posts.

The government has asked social media platforms to take down around 100 posts which it believes were done to create panic about the COVID-19 situation in India by using unrelated, communally sensitive posts and misinformation. On April 24, Twitter had removed over 50 posts from its platform following orders from the government. The majority of these tweets were critical of the Centre’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic as India grappled with a record number of cases amid shortage of beds and medical oxygen. When contacted, an official of the Minister of Electronics and IT (MeitY) said that the Ministry, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs, has asked social media platforms to remove around 100 posts or URLs. The official said this was done in view of the misuse of these platforms by certain users to spread fake or misleading information and create panic about the COVID19 situation in India by using unrelated, old and out of the context images or visuals, communally sensitive posts and misinformation about COVID-19 protocols. This decision has been taken to prevent obstructions in the fight against the pandemic and escalation of public order due to these posts, the official added. As per the order received by Twitter, some of the verified accounts for which the tweets have been removed include, Congress Spokesperson Pawan Khera, Member of Parliament Revanth Reddy, a Minister from West Bengal Moloy Ghatak, ABP News editor Pankaj Jha, Actor Vineet Kumar Singh, filmmaker Avinash Das and filmmaker and former journalist Vinod Kapri. Many of the removed tweets had content related to shortage of medicine, beds, mass cremations, and the gathering of crowds at Kumbh Mela amid the pandemic. While blocked for viewing in India, these tweets will continue to remain visible outside the country. Mr. Khera has sent a legal notice to Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and social media platform Twitter for taking down his April 12 tweet on the surge of Covid-19 cases. The tweet had questioned the complete silence of the Union government in allowing the Kumbh Mela and election rallies to take place despite the worsening coronavirus situation in India. Russia is planning to fly special planes with a wide range of COVID-related assistance including oxygen generators and concentrators as well as drugs needed for the treatment of the coronavirus that is ravaging many parts of India, but may have to hold off sending the drug Remdesivir owing to U.S. patent violations.

B) PM CARES fund allocates funds for 551 oxygen plants.

The PM CARES Fund has approved allocation of funds for setting up 551 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) medical oxygen generation plants at public health facilities in the country, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on April 25. With 162 such plants approved earlier, the decision would lead to setting up of an oxygen plant in all districts with government hospitals, an official said. A tweet from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Twitter handle about the development said: Oxygen plants in every district to ensure adequate oxygen availability. An important decision that will boost oxygen availability to hospitals and help people across the nation. (Sic). The PMO said the Fund had given in-principle approval to 551 PSA oxygen generation plants in line with the Prime Minister’s direction of boosting availability of oxygen to hospitals. The decision came in the wake of oxygen shortages at hospitals in the country amidst a surge of Covid-19 cases. Prime Minister had ordered the plants to be set up as soon as possible and said they would boost oxygen availability at the district level, the statement said. The plants would come up in selected government hospitals in district headquarters and the procurement would be done via the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, it said.

C) Cancel diversion of 80KL oxygen, Tamil Nadu CM writes to PM.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate cancellation of the diversion of 80 KL of liquid oxygen from Sriperumbudur to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He reasoned that there was a need to ensure adequate oxygen availability in the State due to the active caseload crossing over a lakh. In his letter, Mr. Palaniswami said that in the latest National Medical Oxygen allotment, the oxygen allocation for Tamil Nadu has been fixed at 220 Metric Tonnes (MTs), while the State would require 450 MTs shortly, which would be more than the production capacity of 400 MTs. Based on this wrong allotment [of 220 MTs], 80 MTs of liquid oxygen has been diverted from the manufacturing facilities located at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This is based on the wrong position that the existing oxygen consumption in Tamil Nadu is lower than the manufacturing capacity, he said. The Chief Minister said according to the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisations data, the consumption of oxygen in Tamil Nadu has already reached 310 MTs as against the inadequate allotment of 220 MTs. Also, the States to which the allotment has been made have lower number of active cases than us and also have major steel industries located within the their State/close to their States. Hence, the diversion from the Sriperumbudur plant which supplies to Chennai city with the second biggest caseload in South India seems to have no justification. This needs to be immediately corrected, Mr. Palaniswami said.

D) Delhi lockdown extended by a week.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced that the lockdown in Delhi will be extended for another week to deal with the surge in COVID-19 cases and the health emergency due to shortage of oxygen. The six-day lockdown that was preceded by a weekend curfew was scheduled to end on April 26. The lockdown was out last weapon against Corona. We have spoken to several sections and have decided to extend the lockdown by one more week. They hope that this will further bring down the positivity rate, Mr. Kejriwal said. He added that despite the lockdown, cases continue to rise in the city and the spread has not stopped. However, he said that the positivity rate that rose to 36-37% (the highest in the country) during the start of the lockdown is now showing signs of improvement over the past two days, and has fallen in the past 24-hours below 30%. They have to monitor this situation closely and see if it comes down further, he said. On the oxygen shortage in the city that has lead to several deaths, the Chief Minister said that the government has been working all night to ensure that oxygen reaches hospital on time. They have failed at times and have been successful at times. They need to manage our oxygen resources properly and have started a portal which will provide updates on availability of oxygen every two hours. This is to get information from the stock available with manufacturers, suppliers and the need of hospitals as well so that we do not face an emergency, the Chief Minister said.

E) Covid watch: Numbers and Developments.

The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stands at 1,71,96,471 with the death toll at 1,93,612. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday announced that the State government will provide free coronavirus vaccine to people above the 18 years of age, who will be inoculated beginning May 1. He said the State government will spend about ₹3,000 crore on the exercise. Meanwhile, the first Oxygen Express train for Delhi carrying around 70 tonnes of the life-saving gas will depart from Jindal Steel Works plant in Raigarh on Sunday night, Railway Board Chairman Suneet Sharma said. The train, with four tankers, will reach Delhi by Monday night, he said.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

A) The U.S., other countries, promise support to India.

The U.S. will rapidly deploy additional support to India and its health care heroes amidst the horrific COVID-19 outbreak, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said. Mr. Blinken’s remarks came as pressure grew on the Biden administration to ship COVID-19 vaccines along with several life-saving medical supplies to India. Our hearts go out to the Indian people in the midst of the horrific COVID-19 outbreak, Mr. Blinken said in a tweet on Saturday night. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the United States is deeply concerned by the severe COVID outbreak in India. They are working around the clock to deploy more supplies and support to our friends and partners in India as they bravely battle this pandemic. More very soon, Mr. Sullivan said. Several U.S. lawmakers, eminent Indian-Americans and the powerful U.S. Chambers of Commerce have voiced their concerns over the situation in India and have asked the Biden administration to extend assistance, release vaccines and other raw materials critical for India. Meanwhile, the European Union and Germany have also promised aid to fight the second wave of Covid that’s currently ravaging India. The assurance of help came this afternoon, as the daily Covid numbers almost touched 3.5 lakh the fourth straight day of 3 lakh-plus fresh infections. Upon request for assistance by #India, we have activated the #EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU will do its utmost to mobilise assistance to support people of IN. Our #ERCC is already coordinating EU MS that are ready to provide urgently needed #oxygen & medicine rapidly, tweeted Janez Lenarcic, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management. Also on Sunday, Russia is planning to fly special planes with a wide range of COVID-related assistance including oxygen generators and concentrators as well as drugs needed for the treatment of the coronavirus that is ravaging many parts of India, but may have to hold off sending the drug Remdesivir owing to U.S. patent violations. According to sources aware of the discussions between Delhi and Moscow, the grant-based assistance could begin to arrive this week, possibly in the next few days, and will include oxygen generating equipment for various purposes, ranging from use in individual homes to nursing homes and hospitals, as well as pharma supplies of drugs like Favipiravir, used to treat milder versions of COVID-19.

B) 82 killed in hospital fire, Iraq Interior Ministry confirms.

Iraq’s Interior Ministry said on April 25 that 82 people died and 110 were injured in a catastrophic fire that broke out in a Baghdad hospital. Among the dead were at least 28 patients on ventilators battling severe symptoms of the coronavirus, tweeted Ali al-Bayati, a spokesman of the country’s independent Human Rights Commission. The commission is a semi-official body. Negligence on the part of hospital authorities has been blamed for the fire, which initial reports suggest was caused when an oxygen cylinder exploded in an intensive care ward at he Ibn al-Khatib hospital. The hospital cares for patients with severe symptoms of the coronavirus. The semi-official Independent High Commission for Human Rights reported that at least 28 of the dead were on ventilators. Iraq’s prime minister fired key hospital officials Sunday hours after the fire broke out.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
25 April 2021

NATIONAL NEWS:

A) 20 COVID-19 patients die in Delhi’s Jaipur Golden Hospital due to oxygen shortage.

As many as 20 critically ill COVID-19 patients died at Jaipur Golden Hospital in the national capital on Friday night due to low stock of oxygen. The hospital on Saturday morning said it had oxygen for only 45 minutes and sought urgent government help. The city has been grappling with a shortage in oxygen supply for the past seven days amid a huge surge in coronavirus cases. 20 critically ill COVID-19 patients died last night over the oxygen crisis. The oxygen stock was never completely dry, but the pressure was low as we were running out of stock, Dr. D.K. Baluja, Medical Director of Jaipur Golden Hospital in Delhi told. He added that they have stopped new admissions. Delhi government has been blaming Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments for not allowing the smooth supply of oxygen from private oxygen plants in the States to Delhi. Ideally, there should be a buffer stock of oxygen for at least 48 hours in hospitals, according to doctors. But since the record surge in COVID-19 cases in the city, hospitals have been working with lesser stock and they are refilling almost on a daily basis. Most hospitals are operating with oxygen stock which would last only for 12-18 hours, officials said. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court today said that if any official at the central, state, or local administration was obstructing the picking up or supply of oxygen, then they will hang that man.  The observation by a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli came during the hearing of a plea by Maharaja Agrasen Hospital over shortage of oxygen for seriously-ill Covid-19 patients. The court told the Delhi government to give it one instance of who was obstructing the oxygen supply and said that they will hang that man.

B) Kejriwal spending crores on publicity, doing nothing to augment oxygen supply in Delhi, says Congress.

The Congress on Saturday accused the Arvind Kejriwal government of spending crores on publicity but doing nothing in the past year to augment oxygen storage capacity and set up new plants in the national capital. Congress leader Ajay Maken said the Centre and the Delhi government can squabble later but they should at least work for public welfare and development during the Covid-19 pandemic. Addressing a virtual press conference, he said the Centre has informed the High Court that it has sanctioned eight pressure swing absorption (PSA) plants but only one plant has been set up. The Delhi government has not added even a single PSA plant in the past year and neither has it augmented the oxygen storage capacity in the national capital, he alleged. Why oxygen plants have not come up in Delhi, whereas States such as Rajasthan have set up 24 out of 37 PSA units sanctioned in the past year and seven big oxygen storage plants, he asked. Instead of doing their bit, they are trying to put the blame on each other to divert the attention. What the Delhi government and the Central government have done is criminal. They have not spent a single penny on enhancing oxygen supply and adding storage capacity in Delhi in the past year, he said, urging them to provide at least oxygen to people struggling to get it. Maken alleged that the Delhi government spent ₹355 crores on advertisement and publicity in the last year and another ₹467 crore has been earmarked as publicity budget for this year. With a total of ₹822 crores being spent on advertisements and publicity in Delhi in the last two years, one can set up as many as 800 oxygen plants, adding 750 metric tonnes capacity of oxygen, but the government will not take such a step in public welfare, he alleged.

C) Govt claim that there is no vaccine shortage is hollow, says P. Chidambaram.

Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Saturday pointed to the shortage of vaccines and warned the government of more protests if people were turned away at hospitals. He, however, welcomed the decision to vaccinate all above the age of 18 years from May 1. However, they have to caution the government that this decision brings with it huge responsibilities, he tweeted. The former Minister said the first and foremost requirement was the availability of vaccines, adding that there were widespread complaints about the lack of supply of the jabs. The government’s claim that there is no shortage of vaccines is hollow and untrue, he said. When the surge in demand happens on May 1 and more people flock to hospitals for vaccination, will there be adequate stocks of vaccines all over the country? he asked. If people are turned away at hospitals, there will be great resentment and protests. Chidambaram said the time to plan for May 1 started many weeks ago and wondered whether the government was prepared for it. All adults will be eligible for coronavirus vaccination from May 1 after the government announced its liberalized vaccine policy. Currently, only people above 45 years of age are eligible to get the vaccine.

D) Tamil Nadu to shut theatres, gyms, shopping malls as fresh restrictions come into effect from April 26.

Amid surging COVID-19 cases, the Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced more restrictions, including mandatory e-registration for those entering the State (except Puducherry), which would come into effect from 4 a.m. on April 26 (Monday). Theatres, gyms, all bars, recreation clubs, big format shops, shopping complexes, and malls will not be allowed to operate, while industrial establishments can function as per existing norms. The government has made e-registration mandatory for those entering Tamil Nadu, including persons from abroad. The current 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. night curfew and Sunday total lockdown would continue to be in place. Auditoriums and meeting halls are not allowed to function, as per the new restrictions. Independent vegetable and grocery stores and departmental stores are allowed to operate without air conditioning and with only 50% footfall at any given point of time.

E) RSS warns against ‘anti-Bharat forces amid pandemic.

In the midst of a massive second wave of Covid-19 infections hitting India, the RSS on Saturday appealed for caution against destructive and anti-Bharat forces who, it said, could exploit the situation to create an atmosphere of negativity and distrust. RSS general secretary and second-in-command Dattatreya Hosabale released a statement that also asked the organization’s workers, and social and religious institutions to come forward to resolve current challenges. It is also possible that destructive and anti-Bharat forces in society can take advantage of these circumstances to create an atmosphere of negativity and mistrust in the country. The countrymen, apart from their positive efforts to resolve the situation, should also be cautious of the conspiracies of these destructive forces, said Hosabale in his statement. On behalf of the Sangh, he also requested all sections of the society including the media to contribute to maintaining an atmosphere of positivity, hope, and trust in the society. Those who are active on social media should play a positive role, he said.

F) Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments. 

The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 1,67,73,185 with the death toll at 1,90,421. Ahead of the rollout of vaccination for people aged between 18 and 45 from May 1, the Centre on Saturday asked States to register additional private vaccination centers and ensure effective crowd management at sites and stress on inoculation through only online registration for beneficiaries in the age bracket. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and ‘Empowered Group on Technology and Data Management to Combat COVID-19’ chairman R.S. Sharma held a high-level meeting on Saturday to guide States and Union Territories on effective implementation of the new vaccination strategy (Phase-3) and to review their augmentation plans so as to strengthen the existing hospital and clinical treatment infrastructure for Covid-19 patients. Six patients died at a private hospital in Amritsar due to a shortage of medical oxygen, even as the State government on Saturday ordered the shutdown of operations in iron and steel industries to divert oxygen for medical use, along with the immediate establishment of Oxygen Control Rooms at the State and district levels amid the escalating oxygen crisis. The government has decided to exempt basic customs duty on import of COVID-19 vaccines, and the basic customs duty and health cess on import of medical grade oxygen and other equipment related to providing oxygen to patients, for a period of three months. The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister to review steps taken to boost oxygen availability in the country, the Finance Ministry said on Saturday.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) Less than two months after the Quad summit on vaccine cooperation, U.S. denies India’s request to lift the ban on the export of COVID vaccine raw materials.

Defending U.S. restrictions on the export of key vaccine raw materials that threaten to slow India’s COVID-19 vaccination drive by slowing down production, a senior State Department official has said the Biden administration’s first obligation is to take care of the requirements of the American people. Interestingly, in a Quad summit held on March 12 this year, the leaders of the Quad countries, which include the U.S. and India, along with Japan and Australia, had highlighted mutual cooperation to boost the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to meet shortages in Southeast Asia. On being asked when the Biden administration would decide on India’s request to lift a ban on the export of vaccine raw materials, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that the United States first and foremost is engaged in an ambitious and effective and, so far, successful effort to vaccinate the American people. That campaign is well underway, and we’re doing that for a couple of reasons. Number one, we have a special responsibility to the American people. Number two, the American people, this country has been hit harder than any other country around the world – more than 550,000 deaths, tens of millions of infections in this country alone, he said on Thursday. It is not only in the U.S. interest to see Americans vaccinated; but it is in the interests of the rest of the world to see Americans vaccinated, he said. The point the Secretary (of State Antony Blinken) has made repeatedly is that as long as the virus is spreading anywhere, it is a threat to people everywhere. So as long as the virus is spreading uncontrolled in this country, it can mutate and it can travel beyond our borders. That, in turn, poses a threat well beyond the United States, Price said in responses to questions. The Biden administration had recently conveyed to New Delhi that the current difficulty in the export of critical raw materials needed to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines is mainly due to an Act that forces American companies to prioritize domestic consumption. President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump had invoked the war-time Defence Production Act (DPA) that leaves U.S. companies with no option but to give priority to the production of Covid-19 vaccines for domestic production.

B) Defying Turkey, U.S. recognizes the Armenian genocide of 1915. 

U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday recognized the 1915 killings of Armenians by Ottoman forces as genocide, a watershed moment for descendants of the hundreds of thousands of dead as he defied decades of pressure by Turkey. Mr. Biden became the first U.S. President to use the word genocide in a customary statement on the anniversary, a day after informing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he would go ahead with this step. They remember the lives of all those who died in the Ottoman-era Armenian genocide and recommit ourselves to preventing such an atrocity from ever again occurring, Mr. Biden said. And they remember so that we remain ever-vigilant against the corrosive influence of hate in all its forms, he added. Turkey on Saturday accused the U.S. of trying to rewrite history. They will not take lessons from anyone on our history, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a tweet. Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan thanked Mr. Biden for the powerful step towards justice and historical truth. As many as 1.5 million Armenians are estimated to have been killed from 1915 to 1917 during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire. Starting with Uruguay in 1965, France, Germany, Russia, and many others have recognized the genocide.

C) MP held over Sri Lanka Easter Attacks

Sri Lanka police Saturday arrested All Ceylon Makkal Congress leader and opposition parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen in connection with the April 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. In a pre-dawn raid, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) took Mr. Bathiudeen into custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) that rights groups term draconian and want to be repealed. His brother Riyaaj Bathiudeen who was arrested in April 2020 and released months later due to lack of evidence was arrested again. They were arrested under the PTA based on circumstantial and scientific evidence that they had connections with the suicide bombers who carried out the attacks, police spokesman Ajith Rohana said in a statement. On April 21, Sri Lanka marked the second anniversary of the ghastly Easter Sunday terror bombings, carried out by a network of suicide bombers from an IS-inspired local radical Islamist group. A total of 279 people died, and several hundred were seriously injured in the serial blasts carried out at luxury hotels and churches in Colombo, and in the eastern city of Batticaloa. The arrest of the Bathiudeen brothers comes amid growing calls, from the Catholic church.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
24 April 2021

NATIONAL NEWS:

 

A) 25 dead in Delhi’s Ganga Ram hospital due to oxygen shortage.

Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram hospital, which treats hundreds of coronavirus patients, saw the death of 25 “sickest” patients on Friday following low oxygen pressure, the hospital said on Friday. It had issued an SOS to the government at 8 a.m., saying that only two hours of oxygen was available, and the ventilator and BiPAP were not working effectively. The BiPAP machine (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) is a non-invasive machine used to provide oxygen to patients. A source at the hospital said that low pressure oxygen could be the likely cause of at least some of these 25 deaths over the past 24-hours. Two other hospitals in the city, Max Smart Hospital and Max Hospital Saket, too, said that they had less than an hour’s oxygen supply currently. Less than an hour’s Oxygen supplies at Max Smart Hospital & Max Hospital Saket. Awaiting promised fresh supplies from INOX since 1 a.m. Over 700 patients admitted, need immediate assistance, the hospital said in a statement. Later, the hospital group said that it has stopped new admissions in all its hospitals in Delhi-NCR due to low oxygen stocks. They regret to inform that we are suspending any new patient admissions in all our hospitals in Delhi NCR till oxygen supplies stabilise, Max Healthcare said in a statement. The group has at least six hospitals in the region and a total of over 1,000 beds. Hospitals in Delhi have been facing an oxygen shortage. Delhi government has blamed Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments for not allowing smooth supply of oxygen from private oxygen plants in the States to Delhi.

B) 13 COVID-19 patients die in Maharashtra hospital following a fire accident.

In yet another mishap in Maharashtra, 13 COVID-19 patients at an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Vijay Vallabh hospital in Palghar district’s Virar were killed in a fire early on Friday. According to district officials, the ICU unit is on the second floor of the four-storey hospital and a total of 17 patients were undergoing treatment at the time of the incident. The fire broke out at around 3 a.m. According to information from the State government, three fire engines reached the spot immediately and the inferno was doused by 5.20 a.m. While 13 patients died in the tragedy, the surviving patients have been moved to different hospitals to safety and further treatment, said an official. Two days ago, 24 patients lost their lives in Nashik after leakage in an oxygen tank at Dr. Zakir Hussain Hospital run by Nasik Municipal Corporation (NMC).

C) Covishield effective against double mutant variant, show preliminary studies.

Preliminary studies show that people who have been vaccinated with Covishield have protection against the double mutant variant (B.1.617) first found in India. Studies by researchers at the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), a CSIR lab, found that protection against the double mutant variant was also seen when convalescent plasma from people who have been infected and have already recovered was tested in the lab. Both Covishield vaccinated sera and convalescent sera were found to offer protection against the double mutant variant (B.1.167), says Dr. Rakesh Mishra, Director of CCMB. This is only a preliminary study involving four-five people for each group and was carried out among young people who have recovered from prior infection and another group of people who have received Covishield vaccine. Dr. Mishra says that in about 10 days, studies involving more people from both groups who have recovered and who have been vaccinated will be done. Also, the study will involve older people to understand the level of protection conferred by previous infection and by Covishield vaccine. The Institute is carrying similar studies using plasma from people vaccinated with Covaxin.

D) Centre responsible for people dying due to lack of oxygen, ICU beds, says Rahul Gandhi.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the Centre was responsible for people dying due to shortage of oxygen and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Corona can cause a fall in oxygen level but it’s #OxygenShortage & lack of ICU beds which is causing many deaths. GOI, this is on you, tweeted Gandhi, who himself tested positive and is in home isolation. The Congress leader and his party have been critical of the Narendra Modi government’s handling of the pandemic that has seen a massive shortage of oxygen, hospital beds with ICU facilities, and life-saving anti-viral drugs such as Remdesivir and vaccines. Over the last few days, the Congress has been advocating free and universal vaccination of all adult age groups and criticised the new vaccine policy that allows differential pricing. Former Finance Minister P. Chidamabaram suggested that States should jointly form a committee to negotiate with the manufacturers. The Central government’s decision to allow multiple prices for vaccines is discriminatory and regressive. States must unanimously reject the decision. The best way forward is for the State governments to jointly form a Price Negotiation Committee and offer to negotiate a uniform price with the two vaccine manufacturers, Chidamabaram said in a series of tweets. The joint purchasing power of the State governments will force the manufacturers to agree to a uniform price. States must take the initiative. The Central government has abdicated its responsibility and surrendered to corporate profiteering, the former Finance Minister added.

E) Modi raps Kejriwal for violating protocol of closed door meetings.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal got into a minor fracas during the Union government’s video conference with Chief Ministers of States with a high Covid-19 burden, after Kejriwal livestreamed his interjections at the meeting. Kejriwal, during his interjection at the meeting, while calling for help from the Centre for fulfilling the rising oxygen requirements of hospitals in Delhi, livestreamed his remarks, which Modi objected to as it was happening, saying it went against the protocol of such closed door meetings. At this, Kejriwal said that he would not make such a mistake again. Sources in the government said that Kejriwal’s actions were aimed at politicising the meeting to give the impression that the Centre was being heavy-handed with the States. Kejriwal’s office, however, provided a statement explaining his version of events. The chief minister’s address was shared live because there has never been any instruction, written or verbal, from the central government that the said interaction could not be shared live. There have been multiple occasions of similar interactions where matters of public importance which had no confidential information were shared live. However, if any inconvenience was caused we highly regret it, the statement said.

F) Govt announces 5 kg food grain to 80 crore beneficiaries under PMGKAY.

The Union government announced that 5 kg of food grains would be provided to 80 crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for the months of May and June as many States were undergoing curfews and the high rates of coronavirus infections had led to a slowdown in economic activity. The announcement came on the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Chief Ministers, especially of States with high case burden. The outlay for the free grain programme has been pegged at ₹26,000 crore. Modi assured States that all resources, including the Indian Railways and the Indian Air Force (IAF), were being deployed to reach oxygen to different corners of the country. The meeting with Chief Ministers, followed by Modi’s meeting with oxygen manufacturers, the fourth such review of oxygen availability in the last week, assumes significance with daily new cases going past the 3.5 lakh mark on Friday.

G) You have imputed motives to us, Supreme Court tells senior lawyers.

A Special Bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde on Friday objected to senior lawyers imputing motives to the top court, and implying that it was attempting to stall proceedings in various High Courts concerning acute oxygen shortage and Covid-19 essentials for patients. The Bench was reacting to several senior lawyers voicing their perceptions on the Bench’s sudden intervention on Thursday, taking suo motu cognisance of the issue. According to them, the top court should have neither disturbed the High Court proceedings nor attempted to transfer the cases to itself midway. On Thursday’s two-page order, the Bench had asked the Centre for a ‘national plan’ to facilitate a uniform supply of Covid-19 essentials. It had issued formal notices to the Centre and States, the Union Territories, and parties who went to the various High Courts. The CJI Bench had asked them why the top court should not go ahead and pass uniform orders on the supply of oxygen, essential drugs, method and manner of vaccination and declaration of lockdown. This order on Thursday had triggered anticipation among the legal fraternity and the public that the sudden intervention of the top court would delay much-needed relief from the High Courts or derail their ongoing monitoring of oxygen supply by the States and the Centre. On Friday, the Bench accused senior advocates such as Vikas Singh and Dushyant Dave, who were vocal against Thursday’s order, of putting pressure on the court. Meanwhile, the court-appointed amicus curiae and senior advocate, Harish Salve, recused himself from the case. Salve said he was withdrawing from the sensitive case because of imputations made that he and the CJI were personal school friends. The court allowed him to recuse and posted the case for Tuesday. Dave had told the media on Thursday CJI Bobde and Salve were school friends.

H) SC intervention in COVID-19 situation wrong: Congress.

The Supreme Court of India’s intervention in the management of COVID-19 is wrong, uncalled for and may have the unintended effect of legitimation of the utter failure of the Central Government in handling the pandemic, the Congress said on Friday. Addressing a virtual press conference, senior advocate and Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said various high courts were upholding the citizens’ right to life and were providing relief to the common people. The Supreme Court’s intervention on April 22, 2021 is totally uncalled for. Unfortunately, it is wrong, wrong and wrong. It is wrong because it is not suo motu ameliorative but a reaction to palliative high court orders. It is wrong because decentralisation, not over centralisation, judicial, administrative and societal is the need of the hour, Singhvi said, reading out from a strongly worded statement. It is wrong because it may have the unintended effect of legitimation of the utter failure of the Central government on all fronts in its anti-Covid policies and actions. It is wrong because it in fact enhances the closed and incestuous circle of the Central government or connected/ affiliated persons and seeks to find a solution from amongst those responsible for the crisis in the first place, the Congress leader added. The Congress party’s sharp response follows criticism from several senior lawyers and jurists who had questioned the Supreme Court’s intervention.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) Russia starts pulling back troops from Ukraine border.

Russian troops began pulling back to their permanent bases on Friday after a massive buildup that has caused Ukrainian and Western concerns. On Thursday, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu declared the sweeping maneuvers in Crimea and wide swaths of western Russia over, and ordered the military to bring the troops that took part in them back to their permanent bases by May 1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the announcement. The Russian Defence Ministry said on Friday that its forces that took part in the massive drills in Crimea were moving to board trains, transport aircraft and landing vessels en route to their permanent bases. He thanked NATO and the EU countries for offering very firm and immediate support to Ukraine. While ordering the pullback of military personnel, Mr. Shoigu also ordered to keep heavy weapons in western Russia for a massive exercise later this year.

B) China’s national security office to open permanent base in HK. 

Hong Kong is set to grant a site on the western Kowloon peninsula, close to the highspeed railway to the mainland, to Beijing’s national security office for its permanent base in the city, the government said on Friday. The office, which operates beyond the scrutiny of local courts or other institutions, will oversee the Hong Kong government’s enforcement of sweeping national security legislation that Beijing imposed on the city in June. China opened the last July, temporarily turning a hotel near a city-centre park on Hong Kong island that has been one of the most popular venues for pro-democracy protests into its new headquarters. The national security law has allowed officers from China’s security forces to take enforcement action in the city for the first time. The Hong Kong government said the site, measuring about 11,500 sq. m., is zoned for government use and the national security office would bear all construction costs. The former British colony of Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of continued freedoms. Pro-democracy activists say those freedoms are being whittled away, especially with the national security law cracking down on dissent China denies the charge.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
23 April 2021

NATIONAL NEWS:

A) Anyone above 18 can register for COVID-19 vaccines from April 28.

Registration for vaccination against Covid-19 for all those aged above 18 will begin on the CoWIN platform and Aarogya Setu app from April 28, a Press Information Bureau release has said. However, they will get appointments only after hospitals publish their schedules on CoWin, the nodal site for coordinating the vaccine drive. On Monday, the Centre announced that everyone above 18 years old will be eligible for a vaccine from May. Estimates for India’s adult population range from 800 to 900 billion and discounting those above 45 years and the 130 million who’ve got at least one dose, at least 500-600 million are expected to register for doses from Saturday. Unlike the ongoing vaccination drive, where the Centre is the sole buyer and supplier of vaccines to States, the May rollout will also include doses that have been independently purchased by States from vaccine manufacturers. It could also include shots of Sputnik V, the Russian vaccine authorised by the Central Drug Regulator. However, both Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India (SII) are fulfilling existing commitments to the Centre and have said that they are unable to substantially ramp up supply before July. It’s also unclear when the first doses of Sputnik V will be available. Under the existing arrangement, beneficiaries can register for a vaccination slot and opt for a centre nearest to them. There is also an option for registering on the spot.

B) Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of Covid-19 situation; Bar Association files plea against transfer of pandemic-related cases from High Courts.

As the country grapples with the current wave of Covid-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court on Thursday took suo motu cognisance of the prevailing grim situation and said it wanted a national plan on issues, including supply of oxygen and essential drugs for treatment of patients infected with the virus. Taking suo motu cognisance of the prevailing grim situation across the country, a Bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde said it would also consider the matter pertaining to the method and manner of Covid-19 vaccination, and the power of the high courts to declare lockdown amid the pandemic. It further said that at least six high courts are hearing Covid-19-related matters, leading to confusion and diversion of resources based on different priorities. The apex court appointed senior advocate Harish Salve as an amicus curiae to assist it in the suo motu proceedings. The Bench issued notice to the Centre and said it would hear the matter on Friday. The top court said at least six high courts — Delhi, Bombay, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Calcutta and Allahabad — are dealing with issues pertaining to the prevailing situation. It said these high courts are exercising their jurisdictions in bona fide and in the best interest. What is happening is that it is creating some kind of confusion and diversion of resources, the Bench observed. Incidentally, the various high courts, including the Delhi High Court, have been scathing in their criticism of the Centre’s handling of the Covid-19 situation.

C) Modi calls off campaign visit on April 23, to address voters virtually.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi cancelled his election rallies for Friday, looking at the exponential rise in Covid-19 cases in the country, which topped 3,15,000 cases on Thursday. Tweeting his decision, Modi said that tomorrow, will be chairing high-level meetings to review the prevailing COVID-19 situation. Due to that, I would not be going to West Bengal. He was scheduled to address four meetings, including one at Shaheed Minar grounds in Kolkata. It’s not clear at the moment whether the suspension of the campaign is only for Friday’s meetings or the rest of the campaign time for the last two phases of the West Bengal Assembly polls. The BJP and other political parties came under increasing criticism after big rallies and crowded road shows continued amid sky-rocketing Covid-19 cases. West Bengal crossed five figures in daily cases as the election phases passed.

D) Centre invokes Disaster Management Act to enable unhindered transport of medical oxygen.

The Centre invoked the Disaster Management Act on Thursday, making district magistrates and senior superintendents of police personally liable to ensure unhindered inter-State movement of vehicles carrying medical oxygen and ensure that supply is not restricted to the State where the oxygen plant is located. The order comes hours after Delhi’s deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia alleged that the governments of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh were blocking the supply of oxygen to Delhi. Delhi procures medical oxygen from neighbouring districts in these States. The Union Home Secretary is the Chairman of the National Executive Committee under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Though the 2005 legislation was passed in the wake of the tsunami disaster, it was invoked for the first time in March 2020 to battle the pandemic. The order said that no restriction shall be imposed on the movement of medical oxygen between the States and transport authorities shall be instructed to accordingly allow free inter-State movement of oxygen carrying vehicles; No restrictions shall be imposed on oxygen manufacturers and suppliers to limit the oxygen supplies only to the hospitals of the State/ UT in which they are located. The order added that there shall be free movement of oxygen carrying vehicles into the cities, without any restriction of timings, while also enabling inter-city supply without any restriction and no authority shall attach the oxygen carrying vehicles passing through the district or areas for making supplies specific to any particular district(s) or area. It also prohibited supply of oxygen for industrial purposes, except those exempted by the Government.

E) New vaccine policy discriminatory, Sonia tells Modi, urges him to reverse it.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the modified vaccine policy was not only discriminatory but also a complete abandonment of the youth and urged the government to reverse it. Gandhi, in her letter, said that in these said times, how can the Government of India permit such brazen profiteering from people’s misery? She said the aim of the government should be to vaccinate everyone above 18, regardless of their economic circumstances, but the policy implies that the Government of India has abdicated its responsibility to provide free vaccination for citizens between the age group of 18 to 45 years. It is surprising that despite the harsh lessons of last year and the pain inflicted on our citizens, the Government continues to follow an arbitrary and discriminatory policy, which promises to exacerbate existing challenges, she said. On Wednesday, the Serum Institute of India (SII), which manufactures Covishield, announced three rate slabs: ₹150 for the Central Government, ₹400 for State Governments and ₹600 for private hospitals per dose. This means that citizens will be compelled to pay these high rates to be vaccinated. This will also bleed the finances of State Governments. This begs the question, how can the same vaccine manufactured by the same company have three different prices? There is no rationale or justification that allows for such arbitrary distinction, Gandhi noted.

F) Assam unit of Congress moves poll candidates to resort.

The Assam unit of the Congress has herded its Assembly poll candidates to a resort in Sonapur, about 30 km east of Guwahati. The move ahead of election results on May 2 is apparently to stop the ruling alliance led by the BJP from luring its candidates away. The Congress had fielded 95 candidates in the three-phase poll that ended April 6. It left the remaining 31 seats to its coalition partners in the 10-party Mahajot, or grand alliance. The party believes the people will reject the BJP-led alliance and the party could indulge in horse-trading if the verdict on May 2 is fractured. Congress spokesperson Bobbeeta Sharma played down the decision to keep its flock together. The candidates want to stay together for a few days in a relaxed environment away from public contact, she said on Thursday. But Rupjyoti Kurmi, the party’s three-time MLA from Mariani constituency, told a group of reporters that the BJP has been sending feelers to a few candidates. Everybody knows what happened in Goa and Manipur. The BJP will try to buy some victors among us or browbeat the Opposition MLAs with threats of implicating them in some case or the other, he said.

G) Delhi High Court dismisses WhatsApp plea against CCI order to investigate new privacy policy.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed plea of instant messaging app WhatsApp challenging a decision of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) calling for an investigation into its controversial new privacy policy. WhatsApp had contended that since the issue of its privacy policy was before the Supreme Court, the CCI did not need to order the probe. Not only WhatsApp, but social media giant Facebook, which owns the instant messaging app, also filed a similar petition challenging the competition watchdog’s March 24 decision. WhatsApp had said the CCI jumped the gun and started the probe when this was not a competition issue. It had said the issue with respect to personal data of users, and sharing of personalised data was already before the Supreme Court, hence CCI ought not to have intervened. The High Court, however, noted that CCI’s order of investigation could not be quashed merely because it did not await the outcome of the pending cases before the Supreme Court and High Court. CCI, on the other hand, had argued the probe order was made to gauge whether access to data would lead to abuse of dominant position. The commission had said it was dealing with the instant messaging app’s new privacy policy that could lead to excessive data collection of consumers and the sharing of data in an anti-competitive context. The commission had said it was not concerned with the privacy aspect of the issue as the Supreme Court was already seized of it.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) Australia ends China deals on national interest grounds. 

Australia said on Thursday that it cancelled two accords between Victoria State and China on the Belt and Road Initiative because they were out of line with the federal government’s foreign policy, which sees a free and open Indo-pacific as a key goal. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman responded by urging Australia to abandon its Cold War mentality and ideological bias and immediately correct its mistakes and change course. The Chinese Embassy earlier criticised the move by Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne to veto two agreements signed by Victoria State as provocative, and said it would further damage ties. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the accords were cancelled because his federal government did not want other levels of government to enter into agreements that are in conflict with Australia’s foreign policy. They will always act in Australia’s national interest to protect Australia, but to also ensure we can advance our national interest in a free and open Indo-Pacific and a world that seeks a balance in favour of freedom, he said. Under a new process, States must consult with the Foreign Minister before signing agreements with other nations. Ms. Payne earlier told local radio the policy was not aimed at any one country. Wang Wenbin, a spokesman at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, expressed doubt over that claim during a regular news conference in Beijing. He warned Australia against travelling further down the wrong path to avoid making the already strained China Australia relations worse.

B) Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe to visit Sri Lanka. 

China’s Minister of Defence Wei Fenghe will visit Sri Lanka next week, in the second high-level visit from Beijing to Colombo in the past six months. The Minister will arrive on April 27 and leave on April 29, Mohan Samara. nayake, Director-General of the Department of Government Information, told. The Chinese Defence Minister and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General’s visit follows that of a highpowered delegation, led by senior Chinese leader and top foreign policy official Yang Jiechi, in October 2020. China has provided crucial support to Sri Lanka in the pandemic year, by way of a Sl billion loan, as well as a Sl.5 billion currency swap facility to help the Colombo government boost its foreign reserves. Closer cooperation President Xi Jinping, in a call with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last month, assured him that China was ready to support Sri Lanka’s postpandemic recovery with closer cooperation. General Wei’s visit to Sri Lanka is the second to the region in recent months and comes months after China signed a military deal with Pakistan in December 2020, during his visit to Islamabad. The scheduled visit next week also assumes significance in the wake of heightened scrutiny within Sri Lanka, over China’s role and presence in the country, through infrastructure projects. Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court is currently hearing a case, of nearly 20 petitions challenging a Bill, of proposed, special laws to govern the China-funded $1.4billion Port City coming up on reclaimed land on Colombo’s seafront. Critics of the Bill say it could pave the way to creation of a “Chinese colony” in Sri Lanka.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
22 April 2021

NATIONAL NEWS:

A) 24 Covid-19 patients die in Nashik hospital after oxygen tank leak.

At least 24 Covid-19 patients who were on life support have lost their lives in Nashik’s Dr. Zakir Hussain Hospital owing to acute shortage of oxygen following massive leakage of the gas from the main storage tank. The death toll in the incident reached 24 after two more patients died in the evening, a top district official said. Two more patients, who were on ventilator, succumbed in the evening. They could not get sufficient oxygen earlier in the day when its supply stopped due to the leakage in the tank, collector Suraj Mandhare told PTI. Earlier in the day, attributing the cause to a valve malfunction in the tank, State Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that a probe to ascertain negligence had been ordered into the incident. Sources said that the mishap occurred sometime around noon. Massive leakage from an oxygen tank caused disruption in vital oxygen supply for at least half-an-hour, resulting in the deaths of several patients who were on ventilator support. A fire brigade team was rushed to the spot of the mishap to contain the leak. Tope said 157 patients were undergoing treatment at the hospital, of whom 61 were in a critical condition and required oxygen. The tragedy comes at a time when Maharashtra, the worst-hit State in India in terms of Covid-19 cases and fatalities, is reeling under an acute shortage of oxygen. Along with Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur, Nashik has witnessed massive case spikes and Covid-19-related deaths in both waves of the pandemic.

B) Serum Institute fixes Covishield price at ₹400 per dose for States.

From May 1, Serum Institute of India (SII) will be selling Covishield to State governments at ₹400 dose and to private hospitals at ₹600 dose, Adar Poonawala, CEO, SII said in a statement on Wednesday. The vaccine would continue to be procured by the Centre at ₹150-200 per dose, resulting in a three-tier price structure. The vaccines, however, would not retail until 4-5 months and corporates and private individuals could in the meantime only get these vaccines from State-facilitated machinery, his statement added. On Monday, when announcing vaccination for all above 18, the Centre said vaccine companies could sell half their approved lot of vaccines in the open market, opening up avenues for States to directly procure them without intervention from the Centre. States have, however, expressed reservations. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that such a policy would place additional burden on States’ finances.

C) Congress, Left slam Centre over differential pricing of Covishield vaccine.

Congress on Wednesday criticised the Centre over differential pricing of the Covishield vaccine, with former Union minister Jairam Ramesh calling it atrocious that the Centre could procure it for ₹150 per dose but States would have to pay ₹400 per dose. While former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram posed a series of questions on Twitter, party general secretary Ajay Maken, at an online press conference, charged the Narendra Modi government with reducing India from being a vaccine leader to a vaccine beggar. The party lashed out at the Modi government for not preparing for the second wave. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in an interview to news agency ANI, said, This government can speak to ISI. They are speaking to ISI in Dubai. Can’t they talk to Opposition leaders? I don’t think there is any Opposition leader who is not giving them constructive and positive suggestions. The government needs to be sensitive at this time, the Prime Minister needs to show up, he needs to get off the stage of the rally where he is laughing and cracking jokes. He needs to come here, sit in front of people, talk to them and tell them how is he going to save lives. Vadra flagged the issue of shortage of vaccines, which she attributed to the Modi government’s PR exercise, lack of planning to ensure smooth supply of oxygen despite India being its largest producer, and allowing export of critical drugs like Remdesivir as well as oxygen. The party also sharply reacted to the announcement by the Serum Institute of India (SII) on vaccine pricing. Ramesh tweeted, the Central government will continue to pay ₹150 per dose for Covishield. State governments will now be charged ₹400 a dose. This is not cooperative federalism. This will bleed dry the already reeling State finances. Atrocious. We demand One Nation, One Price for Centre and State governments. Who will pay the ₹400 for one dose in government hospitals? The State government or the beneficiary? How many persons between 18 and 44 years can afford to pay ₹400 per dose? Will the beneficiary be burdened with the cost? How many States would be willing to pay the price of the vaccine and subsidise the people? asked Chidambaram. Pointing out that for 70 years India always had a free universal vaccination programme, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury tweeted, This is unacceptable. Centre must buy vaccines and distribute in a transparent equitable manner free to States. PM must spend the lakhs of crores hoarded in PMCares for this.

D) New coronavirus lineage found in West Bengal.

With elections ongoing in West Bengal, scientists report the emergence of a new lineage of coronavirus that may comprise as much as 15% of the genomes in the State from January to March. The new variant, B.1.618, has a major mutation called E484K found in several of the internationally identified variants of concern that helps it evade the immune system and possibly compromise vaccine efficacy. On April 8, INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics), a group of 10 Indian labs working across the country on sequencing genomes from coronavirus patients, named a double mutant variant as B.1.617, which contained two mutations, E484Q and L245R. Though more studies are underway, there’s suspicion that this variant, whose mutations have also been found in variants in other countries, may be playing a significant role in the nearly month-long exponential rise in cases that is now seeing over 270,000 new infections a day, the most in the world, and straining India’s health infrastructure to breaking point. The B.1.618 was first isolated on October 25, 2020 and most recently on March 17. The variants that carry some of the mutations associated with B.1.618 have also been found in the U.S., Switzerland, Singapore and Finland. While mutations occur in all parts of the coronavirus genome, key changes to the spike protein that help the virus bind better to the body’s cells are most closely tracked. In the case of B.1.618, there are four characteristic mutations to the spike protein associated with increased infectivity and immune escape. Scaria said there wasn’t ‘conclusive’ evidence that the lineage was driving the epidemic in West Bengal, other than the fact that the numbers and proportions were rising. Like other States, West Bengal too has seen a sharp spike in cases. On April 1, it was reporting 829 cases a day and that has since spiked to 7,000 cases everyday, with 53,000 active cases reported as of Tuesday. This has prompted some Opposition parties to announce withdrawing from campaigns and calls to club the remaining phases of the polling.

E) Updated data from Covaxin phase 3 trial shows 78% efficacy.

The efficacy of Covaxin has dropped a tad lower to 78% compared to the 81% reported in March. On Wednesday, Bharat Biotech, via a press release, announced results from an interim analysis of its phase 3 trial. The efficacy against severe Covid-19 disease was 100%, the company claimed, but that against protecting from asymptomatic Covid-19 infection was 70%. The analysis was on a data set of 127 Covid-positive volunteers. The safety and efficacy results from the final analysis would be available in June, and the final report will be submitted to a peer-reviewed publication. Based on the achievement of the success criteria, placebo recipients have now become eligible to receive two doses of COVAXIN, Bharat Biotech said in a statement. Prof. Balram Bhargava, Secretary Dept. of Health Research & Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, said that he is also happy to note that COVAXIN works well against most variants of SARS-CoV-2. These findings together consolidate the position of our indigenous vaccine in the global vaccine landscape. So far around 11 million doses of Covaxin have been administered in India’s vaccination drive, far below the nearly 117 million doses of Covishield.

F) India again placed at 142nd rank on press freedom.

The 2021 World Press Freedom Index produced by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a French NGO, has again placed India at 142nd rank out of 180 countries. This is despite the fact that for a year, under directions from the Cabinet Secretary, an Index Monitoring Cell worked to improve the world rankings. It even organised a meeting between the Ambassador to France and RSF officials in a bid to lobby for a change in the ranking. In 2016, India’s rank was 133. It has since steadily climbed down to 142 in 2020. The RSF report says India is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists trying to do their job properly. They are exposed to every kind of attack, including police violence against reporters, ambushes by political activists, and reprisals instigated by criminal groups or corrupt local officials. Fearing such an adverse assessment, in February last year, on the directions of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, the Index Monitoring Cell was set up in 18 Ministries to find ways to improve the position on 32 international indices. Information and Broadcasting Ministry was delegated to look at the freedom of press index. As per the report of this Index Monitoring Cell, accessed by The Hindu, on April 26 last year, the PIB Additional Director General first wrote to Chairman of the RSF Pierre Haski asking for criteria for the survey on the basis of which they compile the index, for better understanding of the ranking. This was followed by a meeting of Ambassador to France, Javed Ashraf, with RSF’s Secretary General Christophe Deloire and Head of Asia Pacific desk Daniel Bastard. The minutes of this September meeting are part of the report of the Cell. Ashraf said the openness of the government to be criticised and questioned with respect to subjects like economy, international affairs and defence deals like Rafale are indicators of press freedom. The RSF representatives, however questioned the extended Internet ban in Jammu and Kashmir from August 5, 2019, which went on for nearly a year.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) EU reaches major climate deal ahead of Biden climate summit.

The European Union (EU) has reached a tentative climate deal that should make the 27-nation bloc climate-neutral by 2050, with member states and parliament agreeing on the targets on the eve of a virtual summit that U.S. President Joe Biden will host. Our political commitment to becoming the first climate neutral continent by 2050 is now also a legal commitment. The Climate Law sets the EU on a green path for a generation, said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen early Wednesday. Under the provisional deal reached after officials negotiated through the night, the EU also commits itself on an intermediate target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. It was high time for the agreement, as Europe has to show where it stands in view of the positive developments in the USA and China, said MEP Peter Liese, the negotiator for the EPP Christian Democrat group. The United States, the world’s second-biggest polluter after China, is preparing to announce its new target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The deal still needs to be officially approved by the member states and the legislature, but Wednesday’s agreement should make that little more than a rubber stamp.

B) Putin warns rivals against ‘crossing red line’ with Russia.

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday warned Russia’s foreign rivals against crossing the red line with Moscow, as he gave a state Of the nation speech amid deep tensions with the West. Russia’s ties with the West have deteriorated to near Cold War lows, with Moscow and Western capitals at loggerheads overjailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, a RusSian troop build-up on Ukraine’s borders and a series of espionage scandals. In some countries, they have started an obscene custom of blaming Russia for anything, Mr. Putin told gathered lawmakers and regional governors in a speech broadcast on national television. Mr. Putin added that Moscow wants “good relations” with all members of the international community — even with those that it does not see eye to eye. “But ifsomeone perceives our good intentions as weakness… let them know that Russia’s response will be asymmetric and harsh,” he said. He hope that no one will think of crossing the red line in relation to Russia. And where it will be — we will determine that ourselves, he added. Moscow has seen its diplomats in recent months expelled from a host of Western countries, which have imposed sanctions on Russia over allegations of cyber attacks, hacking and the poisoning of Mr. Navalny. The Kremlin last week said it was “good” that U.S. President Joe Biden was seeking dialogue with Mr. Putin by offering a summit between the two leaders, even as Washington slapped Moscow with new sanctions. It has said, however, it is still considering the offer. Meanwhile, thousands of supporters of Mr. Navalny took to the streets in Moscow and elsewhere on Wednesday to protest his detention. police detained over 450 protesters, according to monitoring group COVID-Info.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
21 April 2021

NATIONAL NEWS:

 

A) SC stays Allahabad High Court order on lockdowns in U.P. cities.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim stay on the Allahabad High Court order directing the Uttar Pradesh government to impose strict restrictions till April 26 in five cities amid a surge in Covid-19 cases. There shall be an interim stay on the order of the high court, a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said while hearing the state government’s plea against the order passed on Monday. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Uttar Pradesh, said the state has taken several steps to contain the spread of coronavirus but to lockdown five cities by a judicial order may not be the right approach. He said the state government has issued several directions and taken adequate precautions on the issue. Mehta said the high court order would create immense administrative difficulties. The apex court, while granting interim stay on the high court order, appointed senior advocate P S Narasimha as amicus curiae to assist in the matter. The bench directed that the matter be listed after two weeks. Earlier in the day, the apex court agreed to hear the plea of the Uttar Pradesh government against the high court order after the state requested urgent listing of the matter. The high court had directed the Uttar Pradesh government to impose strict restrictions, including closing of malls, shopping complexes and restaurants till April 26 in five cities Allahabad, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur, Nagar and Gorakhpur but stopped short of calling it a complete lockdown.

B) As Delhi hospitals run out of oxygen, HC tells company not to divert it from capital.

Multiple government hospitals in the city said that their oxygen stock will last only for seven to twelve hours and people will die if they do not get oxygen. Delhi has been witnessing a huge jump in cases, with a positivity rate of almost 30%. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also reiterated there was a serious oxygen crisis and again sought help from the central government. Serious oxygen crisis persists in Delhi. I again urge centre to urgently provide oxygen to Delhi. Some hospitals are left with just a few hours of oxygen, he said in a tweet. We need oxygen very badly. Have enough to last only seven to eight hours,Dr. D.S. Rana, chairman of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, a private hospital, told. If we don’t get oxygen on time then many will die. 120 patients in ICU are heavily dependent on oxygen. 80% of the other patients are also dependent on oxygen. We have informed about it to both central and state governments, Dr. Rana said. Sir Ganga Ram Hospital is one of the largest private hospitals in the city. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court issued notice to INOX, which produces oxygen, as to why contempt action should not be initiated against it for not complying with court orders to supply oxygen and directed the presence of the company’s Managing Director on the next date of hearing on April 22, PTI reported. The court also sought the presence of the Uttar Pradesh government on the next date. The direction came after senior advocate Rahul Mehra told the bench that INOX did not supply oxygen to Delhi as directed by the court, claiming that doing so would lead to a law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh from where the supply was to come. The court in its order also directed the Centre to issue appropriate orders and also meet the representatives of the steel and petrochemical industries to divert some portion of their oxygen for medical needs for a period to tide over the prevailing pandemic.

C) In address to nation, PM bats for ‘micro-containment zones’ over lockdowns.

In a special address to the nation today evening, Prime Minster Narendra Modi urged the youth to take the lead in encouraging Covid-19-appropriate behaviour, and said that if everyone were to strictly follow COVID protocols, then there would be no need for a lockdown, which could disrupt economic activity. He also said that where needed, ‘mirco-containment zones’ could be used as a strategy to curb the spread of infections rather than a blunt instrument such as a lockdown. Pointing out that India is today much better equipped to tackle the second wave of the pandemic compared to the same time last year when the nation didn’t have many elements of the COVID-specific infrastructure such as test kits and PPEs, he said the government is fully cognizant of the current challenges and is working hard to ramp up production of oxygen cylinders, medicines, and vaccines to meet the surge in demand following a spike in infections. Stating that he shared the pain of ordinary citizens who have been hit hard by the pandemic and have lost loved ones, he saluted the contributions of thousands of frontline workers, or ‘COVID warriors’, who have worked tirelessly to save lives while risking their own.

D) ICSE Class 10 exams cancelled amid Covid-19 surge.

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) on Monday told schools that the ICSE Class 10 examinations had been cancelled due to the rising Covid-19 cases. In a letter to all heads of schools that were presenting candidates for the exams, CISCE chief executive and secretary Gerry Arathoon said: Given the present worsening situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, the CISCE has decided to cancel the ICSE (Class 10) 2021 examination. The safety and well-being of our students and teaching faculty is our topmost priority and of paramount interest. He said the April 16 circular, which made the exams optional, had been withdrawn. In addition all CISCE-affiliated schools were advised to begin the admission process for Class 11, if they had not already done so, he said. Schools should prepare a schedule for starting online classes for Class 11 students. The CISCE was committed to a fair and an unbiased criterion on which basis the Class 10 results would be declared. The criterion and the date of result declaration would be announced later, he said.

E) Both election commissioners test positive.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra and Election Commissioner (EC) Rajiv Kumar have tested positive for Covid-19 and have been working from home, according to Election Commission of India (ECI) officials. Chandra, who took over as CEC from Sunil Arora on April 13, had assumed charge of the new role from home as he had been Covid-19 positive then, an official said. An ECI spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that Chandra and Kumar had tested positive for the pandemic and were working from home. The development comes at a time when the Commission is short of one EC, following the elevation of Chandra from EC to CEC, and while the West Bengal Assembly elections are ongoing.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) Pakistan Parliament to decide on French envoy’s expulsion.

A resolution was tabled in the lower house of Parliament on Tuesday for the expulsion of the French Ambassador from Pakistan over the issue of blasphemous cartoons being published in the European country. Amjad Ali Khan of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e lnsaf (PTI) party presented the resolution in the National Assembly. Technically, it was not an official document as it was moved by a member in his private capacity but it was accepted for discussion. The resolution condemned the publication of blasphemous caricatures by French magazine Charlie Hebdo in September last year and expressed regret over the French President’s encouragement of the elements hurting the sentiments of the hundreds of millions of Muslims in the name of freedom of expression. It stated that a debate should be held in the House on the expulsion of the French Ambassador from Pakistan. The main Opposition Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamiat Ulema-e-lslam (JUI-F) attended the session but the Pakistan People’s Party boycotted it. Ahsan Iqbal of PML-N demanded that the government should bring a new resolution after discussion with the Opposition. Speaker Asad Qaiser said that he would like to give time to the House for discussion to come up with the consensus document and adjourned the session until Friday.

B) U.S. envoy to Moscow returning to Washington for consultations.

Washington’s envoy to Moscow will return to the United States for consultations, the U.S. Embassy said on Tuesday, after Moscow recommended that Ambassador John Sullivan temporarily leave amid soaring tensions. Ambassador Sullivan is returning to the United States for consultations this week, the U.S. diplomatic mission in Moscow said in a statement. He believe it is important for me to speak directly with my new colleagues in the Biden administration in Washington about the current state of bilateral relations, the statement quoted Mr. Sullivan as saying. The announcement came amid a spike in tensions between Moscow and Washington over a litany of disputes, including alleged meddling in the U.S. elections, Russia’s troop build-up along Ukraine’s borders and the deteriorating health of President Vladimir Putin’s imprisoned critic Alexei Navalny. U.S. President Joe Biden is pursuing a tougher line against Mr. Putin but has also proposed that the two leaders meet for a summit in a third country later this year. Mr. Sullivan said he would return to Moscow in the coming weeks, before any meeting between Mr. Biden and Mr. Putin. Moscow has said it is studying the summit proposal. Moscow recalled its own envoy, Anatoly Antonov, from Washington for consultations in March and last week the former Cold War foes announced a wave oftitfor-tat sanctions and expulsions of diplomats.