India has airlifted more than 6 million COVID-19 doses to nine countries in Phase-I under its initiative termed "Vaccine Maitri".
Povidone iodine ointment and solutions are available in the market under various popular brands such as Betadine and Wokadine.
The US and China have sparred over the origin of the virus for days, with a Chinese official promoting conspiracy theories.
Some of the proposals (for example trade margin calculation for imported medical devices) were not approved by the PMO and were sent back for revisions.
India had been engaged in a contentious battle with the US over the issue, especially in the pharmaceutical sector.
However, two districts -- Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar in Punjab -- which did not record a fresh case in the last 28 days, reported new COVID-19 cases on Monday, it added.
The prime minister is likely to talk about its possible extension.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in India declined by about 15 per cent to $12.6 billion (Rs 74,971 crore) during April-October this year, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.
As cases of 'black fungus' among COVID-19 patients in the country rise to cross 7,000, the Centre on Thursday urged all states and union territories to declare it as a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act to ensure mandatory surveillance to tackle the 'new challenge'.
Excise duty on drugs likely to be halved
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The report comes at a time when the government is trying to clear pending FDI proposals, which include various planned investments in this sector.
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In 2011-12, 2010-11 and 2009-10, the sector attracted FDI worth $1.99 billion, $1.66 billion and $2.55 billion respectively.
A single-member commission under retired judge Anita Jha was constituted on Firday to probe the botched sterilisation surgeries at Bilaspur's government-run medical camps, which have so far claimed lives of 13 young women and left nearly 138 ill, and asked to submit its report within three months.
CBI has also summoned a senior official of Reliance Industries Limited and a noted chartered accountant.
US country head, key departmental heads leave; more likely to follow.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in India almost doubled to $2.16 billion in December 2014, compared to $1.10 billion in the same month of 2013.
In keeping with the Trusts' objectives, the initiative was underpinned by an attempt to determine how over-nutrition was impacting citizens at a mass scale.
Dairies, milk plants, grocery shops, chemists and petrol pumps, ATMs, e-commerce services of essential items like food and medicines will remain open, he said.
This can mean companies like Apple, Zara can sell in India through wholly-owned subsidiaries
The United Kingdom on Wednesday became the first country to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19, paving the way for mass vaccinations against the deadly novel coronavirus.
Several companies, including Indian units of Abbott Laboratories and Pfizer Inc, and domestic firms like Cipla Ltd and Macleods Pharmaceuticals, went to the Delhi High Court to try to get the ban lifted.
The Ministry of Science and Technology has approached about a dozen well-known scientists from across the world in an effort to bring them back to various departments under the ministry, said Jitendra Singh, minister of state (independent charge) for science and technology.
The FIPB, headed by Department of Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram, discussed 30 foreign direct investment proposals, including 10 from pharma sector.
There may be shortage of drugs till pharmaceutical companies supply new batches with revised MRPs.
A certain segment of the US pharma industry have become vocal about Indian policies on domestic content requirements and IPR.
According to a senior government official, the plan is to do "collective bargaining" for certain medical devices and implants by assuring a bulk requirement to the manufacturers. "The requirement for these devices runs into millions. We assure them that the requirement is going to be in bulk. In return, they should offer us better rates," he said.
In January 2014, the country had received $2.18 billion FDI.
Financial shares were among the top Sensex gainers along with auto and pharma shares.
Amongst the top 10 sectors, telecom received the maximum FDI of $2.47 billion
Fresh guidelines issued by the Union home ministry on Wednesday permit industries operating in rural areas to run from April 30 with strict social distancing norms.
The highest FDI came in services ($2.18 billion), followed by automobiles ($1.28 billion), pharmaceuticals ($1.27 billion) and construction development ($1.05 billion) in the 11 months of 2013-14.
Gates, who is to attend the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting, on Monday said there is reason to be optimistic than ever about the future progress using vaccines to give all children a healthy start to life.
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) has released a list of top Indian universities across categories.
