INDIA’S 100 CRORE JABS MILESTONE SHOWS THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE EFFORT: PM MODI

"India completed the administration of 100 crore doses of the Covid-19 vaccine on October 21, 2021, in just about nine months since the start of the vaccination drive. This has been a tremendous journey in dealing with Covid-19, especially when we recall how things stood in early 2020. Humanity was dealing with such a pandemic after 100 years and no one knew much about the virus. We remember how unpredictable the situation appeared then, as we were faced with an unknown and invisible enemy mutating rapidly," writes Prime Minister Narendra Modi for various newspapers.

"The journey from anxiety to assurance has happened and our nation has emerged stronger, thanks to the world’s largest vaccination drive."

"For any effort to attain and sustain speed and scale, the trust of all stakeholders is crucial. One of the reasons for the success of the campaign was the trust that people developed in the vaccine and the process followed, despite various efforts to create mistrust and panic.

"There are some among us who only trust foreign brands, even for simple everyday necessities. However, when it came to something as crucial as the Covid-19 vaccine, the people of India unanimously trusted “Made in India” vaccines. This is a significant paradigm shift.

The vaccine drive is an example of what India can achieve if the citizens and the government come together with a common goal in the spirit of Jan Bhagidari. When India started its vaccination programme, there were many people who doubted the capabilities of 130 crore Indians. Some said India would take three to four years. Some others said people will not come forward to get vaccinated. There were those who said there will be gross mismanagement and chaos in the vaccination process. Some even said that India will not be able to manage supply chains. But just like the Janata Curfew and subsequent lockdowns, the people of India showed how spectacular the results can be, if they are made trusted partners.

"When everyone takes ownership, nothing is impossible. Our healthcare workers traversed hills and crossed rivers across difficult geographies to vaccinate people. Our youth, social workers, healthcare workers, social and religious leaders, all deserve credit for the fact that India faces minimal vaccine hesitancy when compared to even developed nations.

"There was a lot of pressure from different interest groups to give preferential treatment to them in vaccination. But the government ensured that, like our other schemes, there is no VIP culture in the vaccination drive.

"In my Independence Day address in 2015, I had said that our country is moving ahead because of “Team India” and this “Team India” is a big team of our 130 crore people. People’s participation is the biggest strength of democracy. If we run the country through the

"I am optimistic that the success achieved in the world’s largest vaccination drive will further spur our youth, our innovators and all levels of government to set new benchmarks of public service delivery, which will be a model not only for our country, but also for the world."

'YOU CANNOT BLOCK ROADS', SAYS SUPREME COURT; FARMERS REMOVE BLOCKADE

The Supreme Court on Thursday said farmers protesting at Delhi borders against the three farms laws have the right to agitate, but they cannot block roads indefinitely even as the farmer unions and government embroiled themselves in a blame game.

While the farmers’ unions alleged that the police were responsible for the blockade as it suits them to allow a feeling in the minds of the citizens that farmers are blocking the road, the Centre said there was an oblique purpose behind the protests.

During the hearing, a bench headed by Justice S K Kaul said it was not against the right to protest even when the legal challenge is pending but ultimately some solution has to be found.

“Farmers have the right to protest but they cannot keep roads blocked indefinitely. You may have a right to agitate in any manner but roads should not be blocked like this. People have the right to go on roads but it cannot be blocked,” the bench also comprising Justice M M Sundresh said.

The top court asked the farmer unions to respond within three weeks on the issue and posted the matter for hearing on December 7.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), whose supporters and office-bearers led by Rakesh Tikait are camping at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border since November 2020, on Thursday said the barriers at the protest site have been put by the Delhi Police and not farmers. “The protesters have removed their tents but barricades have been put by the government and the Delhi Police which are still there. The road is otherwise open. If you see, there are only barricades which have been put by the police,” Tikait told reporters.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, however, submitted that there was an oblique purpose behind the protests and "sometimes it is felt the farmers' protest is not for the cause but for something else." “Last time they came (on Republic Day), it became a serious issue... something much more than a serious issue,” the Solicitor General submitted.

EASTERN LADAKH STRETCHED EQUIPMENT TO LIMITS: IAF CHIEF

The situation that developed in eastern Ladakh last year required acclimatisation of a large number of IAF personnel and stretching of equipment to limits, but the force is "much better prepared"  now in case there is a "long haul", Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari said on Thursday.

In an interaction at a defence conclave, he also said it was a matter of concern that depleting number of fighters is continuous, whereas the induction is some way off, and asserted that it should be ensured that drawdown of fighter squadron is quickly compensated by new induction, so "we don't lose our overall capabilities".

"The situation that developed in eastern Ladakh last year was something that we were not very familiar with, particularly in the kind of environment that we needed to operate. It required acclimatisation of a large number of personnel at short notice, required stretching our equipment to limits, which some of it were not cleared for," he said.

The IAF chief said, "We have moved equipment to altitude, well above the altitudes they were tried and tested for, when we acquired those systems."

KEY COVID NUMBERS

Current Active Cases Countrywide: 1,69,408

New Cases in last 24 hours: 15,757

Recovered in last 24 hours: 18,636

Change in no. of Active cases in last 24 hours: -3,111

No. of deaths in last 24 hours (Total Covid Deaths so far): 232 (4,53,076)

Daily Tests (Wednesday): 13,12,328

Daily Positivity Rate (Proportion of Positives among total Tested): 1.2%

Percentage of Population Vaccinated (At Least One Dose / Two Doses): 52.9% / 22.0%

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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CHINA AN AGGRESSOR AGAINST INDIA & OTHERS: US’ BEIJING ENVOY-NOMINEE

China has been an aggressor against India along the Himalayan border, a top American diplomat nominated by President Joe Biden as his next envoy to Beijing has told lawmakers, stating that the US must hold the Chinese government accountable for failing to play by the rules.

Nicholas Burns told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that the US will challenge China where it must, including when Beijing takes actions that run counter to America’s values and interests; threaten the security of the United States or its allies and partners; or undermine rules-based international order.

“Beijing has been an aggressor against India along their Himalayan border; against Vietnam, the Philippines, and others in the South China Sea; against Japan in the East China Sea; and has launched an intimidation campaign against Australia and Lithuania,” Burns said.

Burns said that the “Chinese genocide in Xinjiang and abuses in Tibet, its smothering of Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms, and its bullying of Taiwan are unjust, and must stop”.

PAKISTAN STAYS ON FATF GREY LIST, TOLD TO PROSECUTE PROSCRIBED TERRORISTS

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Thursday kept Pakistan on the Grey List, saying it “needs to further demonstrate that investigation and prosecution of proscribed terrorists and terror groups is being seriously pursued”.

FATF chief Marcus Pleyer, at the end the global finance watchdog’s deliberations that began Sunday, said: “Pakistan has already completed 30 out of 34 action points. This shows the clear commitment of Pakistan Government. So there was no discussion on blacklisting. The government is cooperating with FATF and we urged it to very quickly address the remaining four items as soon as possible,” he said.

Pleyer denied it was pressure by India that had led to Pakistan’s retention on the Grey List. “FATF is a technical body and we take our decisions by consensus. It is not one country but 39 jurisdictions and the decision is taken by consensus on a jurisdiction to be put under increased monitoring,” replied Pleyer when asked whether it was India which was instrumental in keeping Pakistan on the Grey List in June 2018.

In a further blow to Pakistan, Turkey, its closest ally in FATF, was also put on the Grey List along with Jordan and Mali. Pakistan is estimated to have lost over $30 billion in foreign investments since being placed on the Grey List.

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SMARTPHONES, SCOOTIES FOR GIRLS IF VOTED TO POWER: PRIYANKA IN UP

Congress general secretary for Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Vadra on Thursday said the Congress, if voted to power in the state, would provide Class XII pass girls smartphones and graduate girls a scooty each.

“Yesterday I met some girl students. They said they need smartphones for their studies and safety. I am happy to announce that today the UP Congress has decided, with the consent of the manifesto committee, that we will provide smartphones to inter-pass girls and electronic scooties to graduate girls on forming its government,” Vadra tweeted.

The tweet follows a previous announcement by Vadra of giving 40 per cent of all Congress tickets in the upcoming UP elections to women.

GOVT FAILS TO EXPLAIN ₹8L EWS QUOTA CAP, SC SEEKS AFFIDAVIT

The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed displeasure over the Centre not explaining on what basis it fixed the income limit of Rs 8 lakh for granting reservation to economically weaker sections (EWS) and directed it to file an affidavit, disclosing whether any exercise was undertaken by it before taking the decision and clarify the rationality behind fixing the limit.

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud, Vikram Nath and B V Nagarathna raised questions on how the same income limit of Rs 8 lakh could be fixed for both EWS and OBC categories to be eligible for reservation and sought an explanation from the government. It said there is a social and educational backwardness attached with the OBCs and it is presumed that their backwardness subsides with economic advancement. The EWS category, on the other hand, is different and there is no concept of social and educational backwardness, the bench said while asking the Centre on how the same income limit can be fixed for both.

Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the Centre, on Thursday said the limit was fixed on the basis of the 2010 Sinho Commission report. The bench, however, asked him to file an affidavit.

YOGENDRA YADAV SUSPENDED BY SKM

On Thursday, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) — the apex body of farmers' organisations opposing the three farm laws — suspended social activist Yogendra Yadav from the farmers' body for one month.

The demand for Yadav's suspension was pressed by several farmers' unions because he had met the bereaved families of the BJP workers who were killed during the Lakhimpur violence.

According to sources, during the SKM meeting on October 21, Yogendra Yadav was first asked to apologise for the act of meeting the bereaved families of the BJP workers killed during the Lakhimpur violence in which four farmers had died. When he refused to tender his apology, the SKM decided to suspend him. As per sources, the demand for his suspension was aggressively pushed by Punjab-based farmers' unions.

As per sources, during the meeting, Yogendra Yadav did apologise for not consulting his colleagues before meeting the families of the deceased BJP workers in Lakhimpur Kheri.

Yogendra Yadav has refused to comment on his suspension from the SKM.

SELA TUNNEL LAUNCH ADVANCED TO JUNE

India’s all-weather road, including a tunnel under Sela — a 13,700-feet high Himalayan massif — will be ready in another nine months from now.

Thanks to the Austrian technology and perseverance of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the opening of the tunnel has been advanced by two months. The target now is to open it by June 2022, two months ahead of the scheduled deadline of August.

The tunnel is coming up on the 329-km Tezpur-Tenga-BomdiLa-Tawang route that leads to the LAC in this sensitive sector in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. At present, it takes about 12 hours to complete the long-winding route and it often gets blocked due to heavy snow for three-four months during winter.

"NEXT BILLION DOSES LIKELY IN 3 TO 4 MONTHS": VACCINE PANEL HEAD TO NDTV

It took India a little over nine months to achieve the one billion vaccination milestone, but the next billion doses will only take about three to four months - about one-third the time -- according to Dr NK Arora, who heads the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration. "How do I reach 100% of the population by the end of the year? At least one dose we should be able to give most of the adults by the end of the year and within the next 4-6 weeks second doses will also be given."

The government has said that three-quarters of adults in the country have received one shot and around 30 per cent are fully vaccinated.

"We finished 50 crores on 7th August. In October, we had expected 100 crores because that was the supply side, we knew about it. Then in the coming three months, we have the arrangement for about 80-90 crore doses. In fact, by January we will have nearly 100 crore doses. We should be able to do it (another 100 crore) within the next three to four months," Dr Arora said.

NITI VC URGES TESLA TO MAKE ELECTRIC CARS IN INDIA; ASSURES TAX BENEFITS

Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar on Thursday urged US-based Tesla to manufacture its iconic electric vehicles in India, while assuring the company that it will get the tax benefits it wants from the government.

Speaking at a virtual conference of the Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI), Kumar further said Tesla should not just ship its products into India as this will not create jobs in the country.

"Come and manufacture in India, you (Tesla) will get all the tax benefits you want," he said while replying to a question about the company's demand related to tax concessions.

"The argument that we will create a market by exporting into India finished products... is an old argument and we have moved on from that," Kumar added.

At present, cars imported as completely built units (CBUs) attract customs duty ranging from 60-100 per cent, depending on engine size and cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value less or above USD 40,000.

In a letter to the road ministry, the Elon Musk-led firm had stated that the effective import tariff of 110 per cent on vehicles with customs value above USD 40,000 is "prohibitive" for zero-emission vehicles. It has requested the government to standardise the tariff on electric cars to 40 per cent irrespective of the customs value, and withdraw the social welfare surcharge of 10 per cent on electric cars.

BCCI COULD EARN UP TO $5 BILLION FROM IPL BROADCASTING RIGHTS

The BCI is set for a windfall of gigantic proportions as the IPL broadcast rights (TV and digital) could fetch the Board up to USD 5 billion for the next five-year cycle (2023-2027) while some high-profile interest is being seen in the bidding process for the two new teams.

The current five-year rights (TV and digital) for IPL from 2018 to 2022 are with Star India but, according to people who are in decision-making capacity, the valuation, which is at Rs 16,347.50 crore (USD 2.55 billion) right now, could more than double and reach USD 5 billion (around Rs 36,000 crore approx at current exchange rate).

“With two new teams about to fetch anything between Rs 7000 crore to 10,000 crore, the broadcast rights are certainly going to shoot through the roof. So expect the IPL broadcast rights to go for anything above USD 4 billion and may be up to USD 5 billion,” an official in the know of things said.

DRUGS CASE: NCB RECORDS ANANYA PANDAY'S STATEMENT

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Thursday recorded the statement of Bollywood actor Ananya Panday after it allegedly came across some WhatsApp chats during its investigation against Aryan Khan, son of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, in a drugs case.

Ananya's actor father Chunky Panday accompanied her to the NCB office located at Ballard Estate in south Mumbai.

After recording her statement, Ananya left the agency office after about 2 hours.

Ananya's name cropped up in the case after certain WhatsApp chats between her and Aryan Khan were allegedly found in the latter's mobile phone. However, the NCB officials are yet to clarify about her role, if any, in the case.

A team of the NCB also visited Shah Rukh Khan’s residence “Mannat” in suburban Bandra for seeking from him certain material related to the investigation into the drugs case, an official said.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Success can feather our nest so comfortably that we forget how to fly. - Vance Havner

OFF TRACK

A young man, living away from home, writes to his parents:

Dear folks,

I feel miserable because I have to keep writing for money. I feel ashamed and unhappy to have to ask for more but every cell in my body rebels. I beg on bended knee that you forgive me.

Your son,

Marvin.

P.S. I feels so bad about writing this letter, I'm praying the postman misplaces it, that it never reaches you.

The father writes back:

Dear Son,

Your prayers were answered. Your letter never came.