Subrata Panda &Amp; Sohini Das

Stories by Subrata Panda &Amp; Sohini Das

100 million Covaxin vaccines by Sept

100 million Covaxin vaccines by Sept

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2021

The production of Covaxin will increase from the current 10 million doses per month to 60 million-70 million by July-August.

Second Covid wave is 1.7x times faster than first wave, shows data

Second Covid wave is 1.7x times faster than first wave, shows data

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2021

It has taken 51 days to reach a daily caseload of 84,000 from 11,000, as against 85 days taken in the first wave, report Abhishek Waghmare and Sohini Das.

'We will be prioritising vaccine only for India'

'We will be prioritising vaccine only for India'

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2021

'I don't think anybody would want to be in my position today where every head of State has to be explained that I am prioritising my country because there is a surge in cases.'

You will soon be able to withdraw cash from digital wallets

You will soon be able to withdraw cash from digital wallets

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2021

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday proposed to make interoperability mandatory for digital payments firms. It also allowed users to withdraw cash from e-wallets and fintech companies to process RTGS and NEFT transactions. The RBI expressed dissatisfaction over prepaid payment instruments' (PPIs') failure to migrate towards full-KYC (know your customer) PPIs, and therefore interoperability, even two years after guidelines were issued.

Serum, Bharat Bio seek govt funds to boost vaccine output

Serum, Bharat Bio seek govt funds to boost vaccine output

Rediff.com   5 Apr 2021

Both manufacturers have sought funds in excess of Rs 150 crore under the department of biotechnology's Mission Covid Suraksha scheme. Announced last November, the scheme has an outlay of Rs 900 crore to help develop Covid vaccines, from the clinical development stage to setting up production sites.

Expert panel seeks more data on Sputnik V Covid vaccine

Expert panel seeks more data on Sputnik V Covid vaccine

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2021

'No approval was given to Sputnik V on Thursday. Some queries have been asked on safety, efficacy, and logistics, which the firm will have answers to at the next meeting'

RuPay takes on Visa and Mastercard with a little govt help

RuPay takes on Visa and Mastercard with a little govt help

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2021

RuPay is working on how to increase offers to customers. It is also focused on technology innovation in the card payment system.

Sputnik V vaccine may be added to India's Covid armoury soon

Sputnik V vaccine may be added to India's Covid armoury soon

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2021

'We expect to get the approval in the next few weeks,' says Deepak Sapra, CEO, API and pharmaceutical services, Dr Reddy's Laboratories (DRL).

Life insurers shell out crores as Covid-19 death claims

Life insurers shell out crores as Covid-19 death claims

Rediff.com   29 Mar 2021

As of March 25, life insurers have paid Rs 1,986 crore towards 25,500 Covid death claims

Loan moratorium: SC ruling clears overhang for banks

Loan moratorium: SC ruling clears overhang for banks

Rediff.com   24 Mar 2021

Lenders can now initiate recovery proceedings since the SC has lifted the standstill on asset classification, which protected stressed accounts from slipping into NPAs.

'You never exit a portfolio'

'You never exit a portfolio'

Rediff.com   23 Mar 2021

'We will be looking to prune our portfolio to make GIC Re a healthier entity.'

Bharat Biotech's Krishna Ella wins Covaxin fight

Bharat Biotech's Krishna Ella wins Covaxin fight

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2021

'He came back from the US only to work for his country.' 'He has invested his fortunes to build this company and is married to his work.' 'Rarely does one see such commitment.'

NUE: 6 in fray for digital payments licence

NUE: 6 in fray for digital payments licence

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2021

The race to get a New Umbrella Entity (NUE) licence for digital payments may get crowded. As many as six consortiums are said to be in the fray to apply for an NUE licence, which would create a for-profit National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)-like body for retail payments. A consortium led by Financial Software and Systems (FSS), a leading provider of payment products and payment processor, is in talks and may file an application to the RBI for an NUE license, said sources aware of the development. The other constituents of this group include Indian Bank, Central Bank of India, India Post Payments Bank, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard), and a few small finance banks.

Irdai launches standard personal accident cover

Irdai launches standard personal accident cover

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2021

The product, named Saral Suraksha Bima, will have a maximum sum assured of Rs 1 crore and minimum Rs 2.5 lakh.

Unwinding high indirect taxes on fuel is critical for economy: RBI's Das

Unwinding high indirect taxes on fuel is critical for economy: RBI's Das

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2021

With inflation under control, the Monetary Policy Committee's (MPC's) job is to support growth because the economy had recovered well from the lows in the initial months of the pandemic, according to the panel's members, who met in the first week of this month. The minutes of the meeting show the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor in his statement said: "Given the sharp moderation in inflation along with a stable near-term outlook, monetary policy needs to continue with the accommodative stance to ensure that the recovery gains greater traction and becomes broad-based." Ashima Goyal, external member of the MPC, said: "The current macroeconomic configuration and its expected future evolution imply there is space for the MPC to continue to support the revival of the economy with inflation remaining in the target band."

Public may get COVID-19 vaccine by April

Public may get COVID-19 vaccine by April

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2021

Anybody over 50 years of age or with co-morbidities can get a date, place and time of choice for getting the vaccine shots.

Low turnout forces govt to mull private rollout of Covid vaccine

Low turnout forces govt to mull private rollout of Covid vaccine

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2021

Two weeks after the vaccination programme started, about 37 per cent of the targeted 10 million healthcare professionals had received the first shot. This slow rate may prompt the government to allow vaccines in the private market sooner, to use up the doses before they expire, Sohini Das reports.

Lupin aims to enter Chinese market in the next one year

Lupin aims to enter Chinese market in the next one year

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2021

Once a difficult market to crack, in recent years, China has relatively opened up its drug market, enacting reforms and speeding up approval time.

More Covid vaccine candidates get approval for clinical trials in India

More Covid vaccine candidates get approval for clinical trials in India

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2021

Ahmedabad-based Zydus Cadila, Bharat Biotech's intra-nasal candidate are among the candidates who got approval from the expert panel to conduct clinical trials, Sohini Das reports.

More Indians will take vaccine if politicians do: Survey

More Indians will take vaccine if politicians do: Survey

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2021

In India, Opposition parties along with healthcare professionals have urged the government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top leaders, to take either of the Covishield or Covaxin doses, which could help in drastically reducing trust and fear issues amongst citizens., reports Sohini Das.