83 LAKH JABBED IN ONE DAY AS NEW PHASE OF VACCINATION KICKS IN

As India returned to centralised procurement and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, it reported 82.70 lakh vaccinations on Monday, a daily record by far.

Under the government’s new vaccination policy that came into effect on Monday, the Centre will procure 75 per cent of the vaccine stock from the open market and distribute it to states, to be administered free to everyone of age 18 years or older at government vaccination centres.

The remaining 25 per cent is meant for private hospitals and vaccination centres, which can levy a service charge of Rs 150 over and above the price of the vaccine.

“Today’s record-breaking vaccination numbers are gladdening. The vaccine remains our strongest weapon to fight COVID-19. Congratulations to those who got vaccinated and kudos to all the front-line warriors working hard to ensure so many citizens got the vaccine. Well done India,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet.

However, the numbers of Monday are not expected to be achieved daily. Sources said that with the increase in vaccine supplies in July, the Centre expects states to administer an average of 45 lakh shots per day. “States have now established a baseline of around 45 lakh [vaccinations] a day on average. There would be days where they would do maybe 60-70 lakh. There is no reason not to, if vaccine availability does not fall — which we do not see happening,” the official said.

KEY COVID NUMBERS

Current Active Cases Countrywide: 6,59,208

New Cases in last 24 hours: 39,081

Recovered in last 24 hours: 76,662

Change in no. of Active cases in last 24 hours: -38,685

No. of deaths in last 24 hours (Total Covid Deaths so far): 1,104 (3,89,268)

Daily Tests (Sunday): 13,88,699

Daily Positivity Rate (Proportion of Positives among total Tested): 3.8%

Percentage of Population Vaccinated (At Least One Dose / Two Doses): 17.2% / 3.8%

Most Affected States:

(S. No. / State / No. of Active Cases / New Cases in last 24 Hrs / Deaths in Last 24 Hrs)

1          Maharashtra     1,24,398           /           ↑6,270  /           ↑352

2          Karnataka         1,23,134           /           ↑4,867  /           ↑142

3          Kerala  99,691  /           ↑7,449  /           ↑94

4          Tamil Nadu       61,329  /           ↑7,427  /           ↑189

5          Andhra Pradesh            58,140  /           ↑2,620  /           ↑44

6          Odisha 32,046  /           ↑3,031  /           ↑43

7          Arunachal Pradesh        30,407  /           33081   /           7.2L

8          West Bengal     22,740  /           ↑1,879  /           ↑42

9          Telangana        17,246  /           ↑1,197  /           ↑9

10        Manipur            9,298    /           ↑353     /           ↑8

11        Chhattisgarh     8,564    /           ↑496     /           ↑8

12        Jammu and Kashmir     7,759    /           ↑362     /           ↑10

13        Gujarat 5,639    /           ↑151     /           ↑2

14        Meghalaya        4,196    /           ↑269     /           ↑5

15        Uttar Pradesh   4,163    /           ↑118     /           ↑46

16        Tripura 3,980    /           ↑175     /           ↑4

17        Mizoram           3,946    /           ↑662     /           ↑2

18        Puducherry       3,364    /           ↑233     /           ↑3

19        Goa      3,066    /           ↑218     /           ↑7

20        Bihar    3,016    /           ↑245     /           ↑7

21        Uttarakhand      2,964    /           ↑163     /           ↑9

22        Rajasthan         2,691    /           ↑151     /           ↑6

23        Sikkim  2,448    /           ↑25       /           Nil

24        Himachal Pradesh         2,403    /           ↑193     /           ↑6

25        Haryana           2,337    /           ↑162     /           ↑29

26        Delhi    1,996    /           ↑89       /           ↑11

27        Madhya Pradesh           1,980    /           ↑89       /           ↑19

28        Nagaland          1,844    /           ↑126     /           ↑6

29        Lakshadweep    319       /           ↑28       /           Nil

30        Chandigarh       311       /           ↑14       /           Nil

3RD FRONT BUZZ, PAWAR TO HOST OPPN LEADERS TODAY

Amid speculation on a possible federal front to take on the BJP, NCP chief Sharad Pawar will host a meeting of the Rashtra Manch, a cross-party platform, at his residence today. Pawar’s decision is being seen as a move to test the political waters.

While the Rashtra Manch, a political action group set up by former BJP leaders Yashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha in January 2018, has been meeting on and off, the invitees for Tuesday’s meeting include leaders of parties not associated with the forum so far.

This is the first time that Pawar will be hosting the meeting. His decision came on a day when he met poll strategist Prashant Kishor for the second time in two weeks.

Pawar’s initiative comes at a time when Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has given a call for formation of a federal front to take on the BJP.

YOGA RAY OF HOPE AMID COVID: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said yoga had become a source of inner strength in these difficult times and still “remains a ray of hope as the world fights the Covid pandemic”.

In an India-marshalled show, the seventh International Yoga Day was celebrated around the world by lay people, celebrities and even Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his wife.

Addressing the programme virtually, PM Modi announced the plan to launch a common yoga protocol in collaboration with the WHO.

“This will help us in making the ‘one world, one health’ motto successful,” he said, referring to the call for action he gave while virtually addressing the G-7 summit in Cornwall, the UK.

While practically all Indian embassies organised yoga events, noteworthy was the huge number of foreign yoga teachers and enthusiasts who had joined the celebrations.

Over 3,000 turned up to perform yoga at Times Square in the US, while Indian Navy personnel onboard INS Airavat and deployed at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam also showed their moves.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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NO NEED FOR NUCLEAR ARSENAL ONCE KASHMIR ISSUE IS RESOLVED: PAKISTAN PM

Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is "simply a deterrent" to protect the country and there will no longer be any need for it once the Kashmir issue is resolved, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said.

Pakistan has 165 nuclear warheads as of January this year and it appears to be expanding its nuclear arsenals, a study by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said last week. Pakistan had 160 nuclear warheads as of January last year, it said.

Khan said that he was "not sure" whether it was growing. "As far as I know, it's not an offensive thing. Any country which has a neighbour seven times its size would be worried.

He was responding to a question by the interviewer who asked, "Intelligence analysts say Pakistan has the fastest growing nuclear arsenal anywhere in the world. Why?"

Khan went on to say that he was "completely against nuclear arms". "The moment there is a settlement on Kashmir, the two neighbours would live as civilised people. We will not need to have nuclear deterrents," the cricketer-turned-politician said.

To another question, Khan said that the US had a big responsibility when it came to Kashmir. "If the Americans have the resolve and the will, [the Kashmir issue] can be sorted out," he said.

India has repeatedly ruled out any role for a third party, asserting that any issue between India and Pakistan should be resolved bilaterally under the provisions of Simla agreement and the Lahore declaration.

Asked why he was so outspoken about Islamophobia in the West but silent about the alleged genocide of Uighur Muslims in China's Xinjiang, Khan said that all issues were discussed with China "behind closed doors". "China has been one of the greatest friends to us in our most difficult times. When we were really struggling, China came to our rescue. We respect the way they are and whatever issues we have, we speak behind closed doors.

INDIA IN ‘CLOSE TOUCH’ WITH SRI LANKA AMID CONCERNS OVER NEW COLOMBO-BEIJING BONHOMIE

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke to his Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena Monday amid India’s growing concerns over the proposed Colombo Port City project, which has Chinese funding.

In a Twitter post, Jaishankar said the two countries will “continue to remain in close touch”.

The interaction comes days after the Ministry of External Affairs asked Sri Lanka to be “mindful” of the bilateral ties between New Delhi and Colombo, as it weighed in on the proposed Colombo Port City project, which is part of a $1.4 billion deal funded by China.

The relationship between Sri Lanka and China appears to be strengthening despite certain concerns within the island nation about the prospect of greater Chinese control over the country.

Chinese President Xi Jinping Sunday wrote a letter to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa wishing him on his birthday. “In face of major challenges in the world, #China and #SriLanka have been looking out for each other and working closely with each other,” Xi wrote. “I attach great importance to the development of #China-#SriLanka relations, and would like to continue to work with you to promote our strategic partnership for more fruitful outcomes, and bring more benefits to our two countries and peoples.”

Last week, as many as 12 leading Sinhalese political parties participated in an event hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China. Speaking at the event, Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa lauded China as a friend of the country.

THE REST

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HINT OF OPTIMISM OVER THURSDAY’S MEETING ON J&K

Ahead of a key meeting Tuesday of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Delhi’s move to initiate talks, the Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference, while calling it a “good change”, said there is realisation at the Centre that it cannot move forward in J&K without the mainstream political parties.

People’s Conference chairman Sajad Lone, who held discussions Monday with his colleagues, said: “This is a welcome development. Coming at the level of the Prime Minister, it speaks of the seriousness of this engagement. Given what has happened in the last two years, I am hoping that this could herald the start of a new phase of reconciliation.”

The People’s Conference underlined the need for “the political class to play a constructive role vis-à-vis ending the prevalent logjam and finding durable and democratic solutions to all the challenges facing the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has scheduled a meeting on June 24 with the political leadership of J&K, the majority of whom were detained following the constitutional changes effected in J&K on August 5, 2019.

The meeting is being seen by the Centre as the first crucial step for the return of elected representatives and the holding of Assembly elections subsequently in the two Union Territories.

HC REJECTS PLEA TO CALL OFF NHRC PROBE INTO W BENGAL POST-POLL VIOLENCE

The Calcutta High Court on Monday dismissed a plea filed by the West Bengal Government seeking recall of the High Court’s June 18 order by which it had directed the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to constitute a committee to examine complaints by victims of post-poll violence in West Bengal.

“We do not find any case made out for recalling, modification or stay of order passed by this court on June 18,” the court said in its order yesterday. The way the state was proceeding in the matter, which required immediate action, did not inspire confidence,” the court further said in the order.

NEW RULES FOR E-COMMERCE COMPANIES

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has initiated sweeping changes to the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, imposing new registration requirements for online retailers and a ban on “specific” flash sales — and mandating sharing of information with Government agencies.

The draft rules released Monday are broadly in line with the IT intermediary rules announced for social media companies earlier this year.

On the lines of IT intermediary rules, the Consumer Affairs Ministry has proposed to mandate e-commerce companies to appoint a grievance officer, a chief compliance officer, and a nodal contact person “for 24×7 coordination with law enforcement agencies”.

The rules are applicable for all goods and services bought or sold over digital or electronic networks, including digital products. They are valid for all models of e-commerce, including marketplace and inventory models, including multi-channel single brand retailers and single brand retailers.

Furthermore, to make the existing e-commerce norms more stringent, the Ministry is looking to ensure that these firms do not use data collected through their business for “unfair advantage” and prevent any possible links they may have with traders selling goods and services on their platforms. On this front, the Government has called for disallowing “specific flash sales” on e-commerce platforms.

Issuing a statement, the Consumer Affairs Ministry said: “Conventional e-commerce flash sales are not banned. Only specific flash sales or back-to-back sales which limit customer choice, increase prices and prevents a level playing field are not allowed.”

The Confederation of All India Traders, a body representing local traders and sellers who have been opposing practices by major e-commerce firms like Amazon and Flipkart, said in a statement: “The new draft is a guiding stone to purify the e-commerce landscape of the country, which has been greatly vitiated by various e-commerce global companies…”.

BHARAT BIOTECH SUBMITS PHASE 3 TRIAL DATA

Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, the maker of India’s only home-made vaccine against Covid-19, has finally submitted its phase 3 trial data to the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). “We have received the phase 3 trial data,” said a senior government official privy to the development.

Bharat Biotech — which developed and manufactures Covaxin, one of the three vaccines being used in India currently — has been facing tough questions over the delay in announcing its phase 3 trial data of the vaccine.

Phase 3 trial data is crucial for it will clearly state the efficacy of the vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech in association with the Indian Council of Medical Research.

The DCGI in January granted permission for emergency use of Covaxin based on its phase 1 and 2 clinical trials that comprised about 680 participants. The move, though, was questioned by public health experts, bringing greater attention to the phase 3 data. More eyebrows were raised when the company, which first promised a June announcement, pushed it to July.

PARENTS, STUDENTS FLAG CONCERNS OVER CLASS XII EVALUATION PLAN

As some students and parents’ bodies questioned the decision to cancel the Class XII examinations and the evaluation formulae to declare results of students, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the CBSE and the ICSE to respond to their pleas, saying it’s important to have finality in the matter.

“For students… they need to have some ray of hope, not uncertainty,” said a Bench led by Justice AM Khanwilkar, which had on June 17 given in principle approval to evaluation formulae of the two boards for declaration of results by July 31. However, it said, “The decision for cancellation of examination has been taken at the highest level and we have in-principle accepted it.”

Asking the CBSE and the ICSE to file their replies to the petitions, the top court posted the matter for hearing on Tuesday at 2 pm after Attorney General KK Venugopal agreed to it.

On behalf of UP Parents’ Association that demanded physical examinations for Class XII, senior advocate Vikas Singh assailed the different sets of criteria adopted for evaluation of students by the CBSE and the ICSE, saying there should be uniformity in the criteria of both boards.

Marking should be based on the performance of the current batch and not on any previous batch and the option to improvise the results must be given at the outset before the declaration of results, Singh said even as he reiterated his demand for physical examinations in view of improvement in Covid situation. “Such irrational policy of linking the performance of the present batch of students with that of former students can’t be legally sustained under any circumstances. The present batch of students can’t be penalised for the past performances of ex-students,” he contended.

CBSE told the Supreme Court that optional Class XII Board examinations for students not satisfied with their assessment would be held any time between August 15 and September 15, subject to the situation being conducive.

AIRTEL ROPES IN TATAS FOR 5G TECH TO COUNTER JIO’S MARCH

The fight for India’s 5G space and indigenous development is intensifying and Sunil Mittal’s Bharti Airtel — engaged in a competitive battle with Reliance Jio — scored a significant victory as it bagged the Tata Group as a partner for the new-age telecom technology.

Airtel and Tata Group’s flagship TCS will now jointly work on developing 5G technologies and deploying them on networks in India, and possibly even abroad — on Airtel’s African operations, and also for sale/export to other telecom companies.

“TCS brings its global system integration expertise and helps align the end-to-end solution… as the network and equipment are increasingly embedded into software. Airtel will pilot and deploy this indigenous solution as part of its 5G rollout plans in India and start the pilot in January 2022, as per the guidelines formulated by the government,” the companies said.

The ‘Made in India’ 5G products and solutions would be up to global standards, and will inter-operate with other products based on standard open interfaces such as the O-RAN (Open Radio Access Network) Alliance.

WTC FINAL: DAY 4 ALSO WASHED OUT

Rain washed out an entire day’s play for the second time in the World Test Championship (WTC) final yesterday, diminishing hopes of a result in the India-New Zealand contest.

Only 141.1 overs have been bowled in the match so far as the inclement Southampton weather continued to bedevil the inaugural edition of Test cricket’s pinnacle event.

Rain had washed out the entire opening day on Friday and interrupted play over the weekend, though a reserve day is allocated to make up for lost time. As of now, New Zealand are at 101/2, chasing India’s first innings total of 217. There are a maximum of 196 overs available over the 5th and 6th days.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Thankfully, perseverance is a great substitute for talent. - Steve Martin

OFF TRACK

Jim had an awful day fishing on the lake without catching a single one. On his way home, he stopped at the supermarket and ordered four catfish. He told the fish salesman, "Pick four large ones out and throw them at me, will you?" 

"Why do you want me to throw them at you?" 

"Because I want to tell my wife that I caught them." 

"Okay, but I suggest that you take the orange roughy." 

"But why?" 

"Because your wife came in earlier today and said that if you came by, I should tell you to get the roughy. She prefers that for dinner tonight."