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New Delhi, In a strong rebuttal to Congress charges, Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> on Tuesday said <keyword id="20233623" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="atal-pension-yojana" source="keywords">Atal Pension Yojana</keyword> (APY) is designed based on the best practice choice architecture and guarantees a minimum of 8 per cent return. "Atal Pension Yojana is designed based on best practice choice architecture to automatically continue the premium payment unless the subscriber opts out. This is a deliberate and beneficial feature which is in the best interest of the subscribers," <keyword id="19916494" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sitharaman" source="keywords">Sitharaman</keyword> said in post on X. Instead of requiring people to decide each year to continue, they have to take a decision to discontinue, she said, adding, this makes many of them take the right decision and save for their retirement. Earlier in the day, the Congress attacked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government over the Atal Pension Yojana, alleging it is a "very poorly-designed scheme" and a "paper tiger" that needs officials to hoodwink and coerce people into participating in it. Congress general secretary <keyword id="20035989" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jairam-ramesh" source="keywords">Jairam Ramesh</keyword> said the scheme is a "fitting representation of the Modi government's policy making: headline management, with few benefits actually reaching the people". His attack came after a media report claimed that at least one of three subscribers who dropped out of the central government's pension scheme for the unorganised sector, the Atal Pension Yojana (APY), did so because their accounts were opened without their "explicit" permission. The report cited a recent sample study by the <keyword id="20608253" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-council-of-social-science-research" source="keywords">Indian Council of Social Science Research</keyword> (ICSSR). Attacking Ramesh, Sitharaman said he did not bothered to check facts on the guaranteed pension scheme. "The minimum return under the APY is guaranteed by the GoI to be at least 8 per cent, regardless of prevailing interest rates and returns. This is an attractive guaranteed minimum return. GoI pays a subsidy to PFRDA to make up for any shortfall in actual returns," she said. If higher investment returns are received on the contributions of subscribers of APY, higher pension would be paid to the subscribers: In fact, currently the returns are more than 8 per cent, she said. "@Jairam_Ramesh says that people are being 'hoodwinked and coerced' into participating! Hoodwinking is what @INCIndia does always - in the name of vote bank politics or minority appeasement. Coercion is what was used to make former Chairman of @TheOfficialSBI Shri RK Talwar resign because he refused to give loans to favourites of the dynasty," she said. As regards the majority of pension accounts being in the lower slabs, for a subsidised scheme intended for the poor and lower middle class, this is obvious, she said. In fact, it shows the proper targeting of the scheme, she said, adding, if the offtake was at the higher end, that would be surprising! The elitist mindset of the dynasty and its minions who are constantly thinking of people in the higher echelons of society, perhaps, blinds them to this obvious truth. The @INCIndia prefers that poor should not have pensions so that they are forced to rely on government hand-outs which keeps them dependant on dynasty politicians, the minister said.

Atal Pension Yojana guarantees minimum 8% return: Sitharaman rebuts Cong charges

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A four-day work week trial at a UK council cut staff turnover by 39%, researchers from two universities said.</li><li>The council saved almost $500,000, and worker mental health and motivation improved.</li></ul>A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/4-day-workweek-evidence-prevent-burnout-productivity-ai-well-being-2023-4">four-day workweek reduces staff turnover, improves employee mental health,</a> and saves money, according to the largest public sector trial held in the UK.On Monday, academics at two British universities — Cambridge and Salford — released <a target="_blank" href="https://scambs.moderngov.co.uk/documents/g9810/Public%20reports%20pack%20Monday%2015-Jul-2024%2010.30%20Employment%20and%20Staffing%20Committee.pdf?T=10">their findings</a> from a 15-month trial of a shortened working week.The experiment, which started in January 2023, was introduced by South Cambridgeshire District Council in southeast England.It is the largest public sector trial of the four-day workweek held so far in the UK, involving 697 employees, including office and waste workers.As part of the project, people were expected to complete 100% of their work in 80% of the time for full pay.Researchers assessed 24 areas, such as worker motivation, staff mental health, and workers' commitment to their roles.Out of the 24 areas assessed, performance improved or stayed the same in a total of 22. Staff turnover was reduced by 39%, significantly lowering recruitment demand. The number of external applicants for open roles also greatly increased, with 76% reporting the four-day week trial as influencing them to apply for open positions.Prof Daiga Kamerāde, one of the report's authors and a professor of work and wellbeing at the University of Salford, told Business Insider: "Organizations that will be too reluctant to introduce the four-day week might start falling behind, because that's what we see in other trials already.""Organizations who are forerunners in the industry of four-day workweek trials attract the best talent around because people say if I can do four days a week or five days a week, I'm going to go where I can do four days a week," she said.The project helped the council to save £371,500 ($476,980), mainly from agency staff costs, which related to only 10 posts.Workers saw their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-four-day-workweek-helps-workers-employers-science-evidence-2023-2">mental and physical health improve</a> and their motivation levels rise, researchers said."You can see across the board, that if anything, there's a lot more evidence that things improved during the period of the trial compared to before the trial," Prof Brendan Burchell, another author of the report and a professor at the faculty of Human, Social and Political Sciences at the University of Cambridge, told BI.Discussing the positive outcomes of the four-day workweek experiment, he said: "It should give other organizations a lot of confidence that this is definitely something worth looking at."There were just two drawbacks discovered from the shorter week. Rent collected from social housing mildly declined, and the average number of days to re-let housing stock worsened slightly. Burchell said national problems such as the cost-of-living crisis and people struggling to pay their bills were partially responsible for the trial's problematic aspects.The US, Canada, Ireland, and Germany are among the countries that have trialed the shortened working week. Belgium became the first country to legislate for a four-day week in February 2022.In a post-pandemic world already accustomed to remote and hybrid work patterns, with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-companies-biggest-4-day-work-week-trial-made-permanent-2024-2">more</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/four-day-workweek-companies-profits-workers-happier-efficient-takano-2023-7">more</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/benefits-of-four-day-work-week-global-study-2022-12">reports</a> coming back hailing the benefits of prolonged weekends, the movement is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/steve-cohen-4-day-workweek-artificial-intelligence-ai-golf-investment-2024-4">gaining traction</a>."When workers are better rested, when they have a better work-life balance, and they have more time to themselves outside of work, they then actually perform better at their job," Joe Ryle, the campaign director at 4 Day Week, a campaign to transition to a shorter working week with no loss of pay, told BI."We're finding that people are doing all sorts of things on their day off, like volunteering in the community," he said."At the end of the day, that's what this is all about, it's about creating a society where we can all live happier and healthier lives."

A public sector 4-day workweek trial had practically no drawbacks, researchers found

So, you’re sitting at your desk again. It’s been hours. Maybe you’ve only moved to grab your second cup of coffee or stretch your legs for a minute. Sound familiar? Whether you’re juggling emails, crunching numbers, or scrolling through social media (it’s “work-related,” right?), sitting down has become our natural habitat. And while it’s no surprise that this desk-bound lifestyle isn't doing our bodies any favours, the real question is: how much <keyword id="20067991" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="exercise" source="keywords">exercise</keyword> do we need to offset the hours of sedentary sloth? Turns out, about half an hour of “moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity” should do the trick, according to research that crunched data from over 44,000 people across multiple countries. Moderate to vigorous means working up a sweat — cycling, brisk walking, even gardening. <h2>The math behind the movement</h2>In this meta-analysis, scientists dove into nine previous studies. The results indicated that if you’re sitting for 10 hours a day, 30-40 minutes of serious activity can effectively lower your risk of an untimely death. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113551046" title="A 70-year-old lost 70 pounds and got into weight-lifting. She shares 4 tips for getting fit whatever your age." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Now, if you’re thinking "10 hours? I don’t sit that much", a quick tally can be quite revealing. For instance, the hours you spend at your commute, your time at work and lunch, and even the relaxation after work can add up quickly. A recent Lancet study even revealed that almost half of <keyword id="22199530" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-adults" source="keywords">Indian adults</keyword> do not meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended levels of <keyword id="20053428" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="physical-activity" source="keywords">physical activity</keyword>. In fact, the WHO has already given its seal of approval to this approach. In its 2020 Global Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour, the WHO recommended 150-300 minutes of <keyword id="23298308" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="moderate-exercise" source="keywords">moderate exercise</keyword> or 75-150 minutes of vigorous exercise per week. It’s all part of the same philosophy: move more, sit less. According to Emmanuel Stamatakis, one of the researchers involved, any movement helps — whether you’re chasing after your kids, wrestling with the vacuum cleaner, or doing some desk yoga (yes, it’s a thing). "In active individuals doing about 30-40 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity, the association between high <keyword id="21587883" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sedentary-time" source="keywords">sedentary time</keyword> and risk of death is not significantly different from those with low amounts of sedentary time," the researchers explained. This basically means that every little bit helps with the dying later ambitions. Walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator? Gold star. Dancing around the kitchen while making dinner? Even better. <h2>But how do you actually do it?</h2>Here’s the tricky part: life. With meetings and deadlines, finding 40 minutes a day to sweat it out might feel impossible. The key is to start small. You don’t need to leap into a 40-minute HIIT class if you’re still warming up to the idea. Even standing up more frequently can make a difference. Can’t squeeze in 40 minutes at once? Break it up! Try three 10-minute bursts of activity throughout your day. A brisk walk in the morning, a quick dance session during lunch, and a set of squats before bed – you’re already there! <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113401260" title="A woman lost 190 pounds from exercise, food journaling, and GLP-1 medication. She&amp;#39;s now training for a marathon." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>And if you’re still worried that 40 minutes is overkill, the research says: chill. The benefits of moderate physical activity are cumulative, meaning every step counts. So, while 40 minutes is the goal, even smaller amounts will help. "As these guidelines emphasise, all physical activity counts and any amount of it is better than none," Stamatakis explains. "People can still protect their health and offset the harmful effects of physical inactivity." <h2>What’s next?</h2>Science is still catching up to our sitting problem. Researchers admit there’s more to learn — like where exactly the line is drawn for “too much sitting.” But one thing is clear: moving more can significantly reduce the <keyword id="19977451" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-risks" source="keywords">health risks</keyword> of being chained to a desk. "We are still not clear, for example, where exactly the bar for 'too much sitting' is,” Stamatakis notes. “But this is a fast-paced field of research, and we will hopefully have answers in a few years' time." So, while it may feel like we’re glued to our office chairs for the foreseeable future, there’s good news: we have the power to fight back. Lace up those sneakers, grab that yoga mat, and get moving – because your health depends on it. The findings of this research have been published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and can be accessed <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/54/24/1499">here</a>.

Here’s how much exercise you must do if you sit at a desk most of your day!

“He totally looks like a Kabir.” “Her personality matches her name—Shanaya.” Ever thought someone perfectly embodies their <keyword id="6360204" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="name" source="Orion">name</keyword>? Or worried whether the name you choose for your baby might shape their personality? It turns out there might be more to these musings than mere coincidence or overthinking! A new study—published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences—has found that our faces might actually evolve to match our names. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Name—a self-fulfilling ‘pro-face-y’?" comment="subhead" text="Name—a self-fulfilling ‘pro-face-y’?">Name—a self-fulfilling ‘pro-face-y’?</cmsannotation> Researchers set out to explore an intriguing question: Do parents choose names that fit their baby's appearance, or do our facial features adapt over time to align with the names we are given? In the study, researchers asked 9- to 10-year-old children as well as adults to match faces with names. Both age groups showed a notable ability to successfully pair adult faces with their correct names, performing significantly better than random chance. However, when it came to matching names with children's faces, the accuracy of their associations dropped considerably. In a separate analysis within the same study, a machine learning system processed a vast database of facial images. It found that adults with the same name tended to have more similar faces compared to those with different names. However, no such correlation was observed among children. According to researchers, this resemblance between a person's face and their name stems from a self-fulfilling prophecy—a psychological phenomenon where if we believe something will happen, our behaviour can unwittingly make it come true. This concept is often applied in social psychology to explain how expectations and perceptions can influence behaviour and outcomes. The research team determined that over time, a person’s appearance gradually conforms to the social stereotypes linked with their name. These stereotypes might arise from associations with well-known individuals or the cultural connotations of names, such as those derived from references in mythology and religion. “Our research highlights the broader significance of this surprising effect—the profound impact of social expectations. We have demonstrated that social constructs, or structuring, do exist—something that until now has been almost impossible to test empirically,” said Dr. Yonat Zwebner from the Arison School of Business, Reichman University. “Social structuring is so strong that it can affect a person's appearance. These findings may imply the extent to which other personal factors that are even more significant than names, such as gender or ethnicity, may shape who people grow up to be.” <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112005173" title="Heard of face blindness? Researchers just used ‘Game of Thrones’ to better understand the disorder" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Previous studies have also shown that names often come with built-in stereotypes. These preconceived notions can shape how we visualise and interpret the appearance of people with those names, thereby influencing our overall perceptions. Now, these new findings further underscore the profound influence that names can have on <keyword id="20703453" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="personal-identity" source="keywords">personal identity</keyword>, suggesting that the choice of a baby’s name is more consequential than previously thought. So the next time you’re picking a name, choose wisely—your little one’s future self might just thank you for it!

Name your baby, shape their face? Our names might influence our facial appearance, study finds!

With the <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-survey" source="keywords">Economic Survey</keyword> flagging a rise in <keyword id="19956983" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="mental-health" source="keywords">mental health</keyword> issues among <keyword id="19916609" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indians" source="keywords">Indians</keyword> calling for a <keyword id="20740266" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="paradigm-shift" source="keywords">paradigm shift</keyword> on how to address the problem, experts on Monday said it is an unaddressed health crisis in India. They called for increasing accessibility to mental health resources, raising <keyword id="19927137" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="awareness" source="keywords">awareness</keyword>, reducing <keyword id="20448786" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="stigma" source="keywords">stigma</keyword> and developing robust support systems to tackle the issue while also highlighting the need to find comprehensive solutions to contributing factors such as work pressure and societal expectations, among others. "Mental health problems are an unaddressed health crisis in India. Nearly 20 per cent of people live with mental health problems in India. Depression and anxiety are common causes of disability. There is a treatment gap of more than 80 per cent," Achal Bhagat, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi, said. The indirect economic cost of loss of livelihoods due to mental health is significantly high as it is not only for the person living with mental health problems but also due to the loss of livelihoods for the caregivers, he added. Expressing similar views, Shambhavi Jaiman, Consultant Psychiatrist at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, said the impact on productivity is substantial, reflecting the broader implications for societal well-being and economic stability. "The contributing factors - work pressure, societal expectations, financial worries, and insufficient support systems - create a complex web of stressors that require comprehensive solutions," she added. Jaiman said addressing mental health issues involves increasing accessibility to mental health resources, raising awareness, reducing stigma and developing robust support systems. "Creating a supportive environment where mental health is prioritised is essential for fostering a healthier, more productive society," she said. Sameer Malhotra, Senior Director and Head Dept of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, pointed out that factors such as growing consumerism, excessive competition, shrinking social and family support networks, increased pace of life and growing distress, timeline pressures, lesser time for self and family are driving rise in mental health problems globally. "Disturbed mindset influences concentration, productivity at work and economics as well," he added. The Economic Survey 2023-24 flagged a rise in mental health issues among Indians, calling for a paradigm shift towards a bottom-up, whole-of-community approach to address the problem. Although it noted that India is creating positive momentum in policy development by recognising mental health as a fundamental aspect of overall well-being, the survey said, "While most of the policy design is in place, proper implementation can accelerate the improvement on the ground. That said, there remain certain gaps in the existing programmes which need to be addressed to maximise their effectiveness". The fundamental issue of the lack of awareness about mental health and the stigma surrounding it can render any sincerely crafted programme unfeasible, it added. "Hence, there is a need to bring about a paradigm shift and utilise a bottom-up, whole-of-community approach in addressing the topic of mental health. Breaking the stigma starts with taking cognisance of the natural human tendency to accept physical ailments and seeking treatment for the same while being in denial about mental health issues," the survey said. To an extent, the denial is an outcome of fear about social attitudes and social acceptance after one 'comes out' with mental health issues, it said. "For public health officials, tackling mental health requires acknowledging and addressing this fundamental reluctance. Arguably, mental health issues drag down productivity more widely in the ecosystem than individuals' physical health issues. Hence, paying attention to mental health issues in society is both a health and an economic imperative," the document noted.

Mental health problem an unaddressed health crisis in India: experts after Economic Survey findings

Opening your social media has become an unintentional gamble in recent times. You either stumble upon an adorable video of someone’s pet, or get blasted with the most diabolical political opinion you’ve ever had the misfortune of witnessing. However, such apps have also fuelled a sort of food revolution among the masses recently, with more and more people looking out for <keyword id="21712333" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="healthier-food-alternatives" source="keywords">healthier food alternatives</keyword> to supplement their main meals and guilty snacking habits. While this is undoubtedly a great step considering how much of our health hinges on our food intake, one question has been increasingly puzzling everyone out of their minds: what exactly is healthy anymore? To get to the bottom of the matter, we looked at the latest <keyword id="21712334" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-dietary-guidelines" source="keywords">Indian dietary guidelines</keyword> released by the Indian Council of Medical Research (<keyword id="19918794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICMR" source="keywords">ICMR</keyword>), and our findings left the office erupting in groans. According to the medical board, some examples of <keyword id="21712332" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="ultra-processed-food" source="keywords">ultra-processed food</keyword> include commercially produced <keyword id="93269" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bread" source="Orion">bread</keyword>, breakfast cereals and even other staples such as refined flour and <keyword id="6446947" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="butter" source="Orion">butter</keyword>. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What counts as &quot;ultra-processed&quot;?" comment="subhead" text="What counts as &quot;ultra-processed&quot;?">What counts as "ultra-processed"?</cmsannotation> Before you throw your snack out the window, let’s understand what “ultra-processed” means. Considering that we don't live in a utopia where we can just head out and bite the stalks off a wheat plant for sustenance, most of the food we consume has to undergo some processing to make them suitable for consumption. Thus, grains are grinded into flour, fruits may have to be refrigerated and milk pasteurised — all forms of processing that make these healthy food items ready to eat. However, in the pursuit to improve taste, appearance or shelf-life, many companies subject their food products to extensive industrial processing by integrating a concerning amounts of additives such as preservatives, sweeteners, colourings, flavourings, emulsifiers, and other substances that would not typically find in an everyday kitchen. These are massive no-nos, as far as the ICMR is concerned. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Heart attack, stroke, obesity" comment="subhead" text="Heart attack, stroke, obesity">Heart attack, stroke, obesity</cmsannotation> These ultra-processed foods (UPFs) also tend to be excessively high in fats and unusually low in fibres and essential <keyword id="19896135" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nutrients" source="keywords">nutrients</keyword>. Studies have shown that a diet that is rich in such items can lead to obesity, hasten ageing, and are associated with a higher risk of heart attack, strokes, diabetes and poorer overall health. Perhaps the worst problem with them is that such foods are typically very cheap and easily accessible, leading them to be a popular choice for the masses. Further, enriching UPFs with nutrients still does nothing to make them wholesome or healthy. The ICMR advises against overconsumption of “level C” foods, which means that these edibles are high in sugars and salts and/or have been subjected to extensive techniques that break down nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and fibre in them. Such processes include over-refining of flours, juicing of fruits, subjecting the food items to high temperatures and pressures, and canning and preservation. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="List of foods classified as ultra-processed" comment="subhead" text="List of foods classified as ultra-processed">List of foods classified as ultra-processed</cmsannotation> According to the ICMR, Group C food items include commercially produced bread, breakfast cereals, cakes, chips, biscuits, fries, jams, sauces, mayonnaise, commercially produced ice cream, protein packs powders, peanut butter, soy chunks, tofu, frozen foods with additives, commercially produced cheese, butter, paneer with additives, meats, plant-based meats, refined flours of cereals, millets and legumes, energy drinks, health drinks added to milk, beverages and fruit juices. The group also includes many culinary ingredients such as cooking oils, refined sugars, salt and spices, since cosmetic food additives such as artificial colours and emulsifiers are often used in their processing. As social media drives a growing interest in healthier eating habits, it becomes crucial for consumers to discern and avoid these heavily processed items, favouring more natural and minimally processed alternatives to promote better overall health. However, moderation is perhaps the word of the year, and it would do well to learn about the stuff that goes inside our bodies, rather than live in fear of them. The full ICMR report can be accessed <a href="https://main.icmr.nic.in/sites/default/files/upload_documents/DGI_07th_May_2024_fin.pdf" data-type="tilCustomLink">here</a>.

Bread, butter, milk-based health drinks, cooking oils classified as ultra-processed food, ICMR advises restriction

<keyword id="149108" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Biotech">Bharat Biotech</keyword>'s COVID-19 vaccine <keyword id="9485939" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="covaxin">Covaxin</keyword> was on Tuesday recommended by an expert panel for <keyword id="6393270" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="phase">phase</keyword> II/III <keyword id="122283" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Clinical-trial">clinical trial</keyword> on those aged between two to 18 years, official sources said. The trial will take place in 525 subjects at various sites, including <keyword id="40458" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="AIIMS">AIIMS</keyword>, Delhi, AIIMS, Patna and Meditrina Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur. The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on COVID-19 of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (<keyword id="6375144" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="cdsco">CDSCO</keyword>) on Tuesday deliberated upon Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's application seeking permission to conduct phase II/III clinical trials to evaluate the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of Covaxin jabs in children aged 2 to 18 years. "After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended for conduct of proposed phase II/III clinical trial of whole virion inactivated coronavirus vaccine in the 2 to 18 years age group subject to the condition that the firm should submit the interim safety data of phase II clinical trial along with DSMB recommendations to the CDSCO before proceeding to phase III part of the study," a source said. Earlier the proposal was deliberated in the SEC meeting dated February 24 and the firm was asked to submit a revised clinical trial protocol. Covaxin, indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>n Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is being used in adults in India's ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-responds-to-privacy-criticism-by-alleging-other-apps-like-zomato-ola-aarogya-setu-zoom-google-and-other-apps/articleshow/82570897.cms">WhatsApp responds to privacy criticism by alleging that other apps and tech companies also show disdain for user privacy</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/vodafone-idea-adds-subscribers-for-the-first-time-in-15-months/articleshow/82568343.cms">Vodafone Idea shares up by 10% as it adds subscribers for the first time in 15 months – Airtel, Reliance Jio expand their user base</a>

Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN reportedly recommended by expert panel for phase 2 and 3 clinical trials on 2-18 year-olds

Hyderabad, Amid the gloom caused by COVID-19, one sector which provided a ray of hope was life sciences and turning the challenge into an opportunity, Hyderabad fortified its position as a global force in the world of pharmaceuticals. This southern city, already recognised as a global information technology destination, proved its prowess in the field of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology and emerged as the vaccine capital of the world. Already known as the bulk drug capital of India, Hyderabad witnessed manufacturing of lifesaving COVID-19 drugs like Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine and Favipiravir by some of the top pharma companies based here. This was followed by hectic efforts in the city to develop COVID-19 vaccine. In fact, Hyderabad has emerged as the nerve centre of all research and development activities in the country for COVID-19 vaccines and has even attracted international attention. Today, almost all the vaccines being developed in the country for the pandemic have a Hyderabad connect. Four of the six companies developing COVID vaccines in India are based in Hyderabad. <keyword id="149108" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Biotech">Bharat Biotech</keyword> is currently conducting Phase III clinical trials of India's first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin. Covaxin is being developed in collaboration with <keyword id="1256547" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Indian-Council-of-Medical-Research">the Indian Council of Medical Research</keyword> (ICMR) - National Institute of Virology (NIV). This indigenous, inactivated vaccine is being developed and manufactured in Bharat Biotech's BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) bio-containment facility at Genome Valley here. According to Bharat Biotech, Covaxin has been evaluated in approximately 1,000 subjects in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials, with promising safety and immunogenicity results. The Phase III human clinical trials of the vaccine began in November, involving 26,000 volunteers across India. This is India's first and only Phase III efficacy study for a COVID-19 vaccine, and the largest phase III efficacy trial ever conducted for any vaccine in India. "Covaxin has garnered interest from several countries worldwide for supplies and introduction," said Suchitra Ella, Joint Managing Director of Bharat Biotech. In April, Bharat Biotech announced development of CoroFlu, an intranasal vaccine for <keyword id="8698690" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus-">Coronavirus.</keyword> University of Wisconsin–Madison and vaccine company FluGen along with Bharat Biotech began the development and testing of CoroFlu. The Hyderabad based company will produce almost 300 million doses of vaccine for global distribution. In May, Bharat Biotech and Thomas Jefferson University of Philadelphia signed an exclusive deal to develop a new vaccine candidate for COVID-19 invented at Jefferson. The novel vaccine was developed using an existing deactivated rabies vaccine as a vehicle for coronavirus proteins. Bharat Biotech claimed to have excellent track record of innovation with more than 140 global patents, a wide product portfolio of more than 16 vaccines, 4 bio-therapeutics, registrations in more than 116 countries and WHO Pre-qualifications. The company has so far developed vaccines for H1N1, Rotavirus, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies, Chikungunya, Zika and the world's first conjugated vaccine for Typhoid. It has delivered more than four billion doses of vaccines worldwide. It is also the largest Rabies vaccine manufacturer in the world. Another city-based firm Biological E last month initiated clinical trial of its COVID-19 subunit vaccine candidate in India following approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). BE is making the vaccine in collaboration with <keyword id="5289395" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="dynavax-technologies-corporation">Dynavax Technologies Corporation</keyword> (Dynavax), a US-based vaccine focused biopharmaceutical company, and <keyword id="503459" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Baylor-College-of-Medicine">Baylor College of Medicine</keyword>, a health sciences university in Houston. Biological E has also signed an agreement with Johnson &amp; Johnson to produce the latter's vaccine at its vaccine production facilities and sell them both in India and export across various global markets. Indian Immunologicals, a human and animal vaccines maker, too is developing a vaccine for COVID. Hyderabad-based pahrma major Dr Reddy's Laboratories is conducting clinical trials of Russian COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V. Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia's sovereign wealth fund, has collaborated with Dr Reddy's to conduct clinical trials and distribute the vaccine in India. Hyderabad was under spotlight with the recent visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ambassadors of more than 60 countries to the facilities of Bharat Biotech and Biological E in Genome Valley Telangana's industry minister K. T. Rama Rao believes that Hyderabad has cemented its position as the vaccine capital of the world. He pointed out that Hyderabad is already manufacturing more than two billion doses of vaccines every year, which is one-third of the global vaccine output. The city, with its strong ecosystem, has played a critical role in making India not only self-sufficient in the medicine manufacture but also turned it into the pharmacy capital of the world. It accounts for 40 per cent of the total Indian bulk drugs and 50 per cent of the bulk drug exports. Industry leaders believe that Hyderabad will be an integral part of the global efforts to vaccinate the world against COVID. Even if no vaccine is developed in the city, the city will still have a big role to play in global vaccination efforts with the sheer vaccine manufacturing capacity it houses. Hyderabad has the largest US FDA approved vaccine facilities. They have the capacity to manufacture millions of doses with world-class standards. "India's vaccine sector will play a critical role in developing and producing vaccine at scale for distribution across the world. Hyderabad's importance in the global vaccine landscape is only growing," K.T. Rama Rao said. Telangana government has assured the companies that it will play the enabling role in global vaccination efforts against COVID-19. The Hyderabad airport announced few days ago that has developed necessary infrastructure to handle the exports. As per the industry insights, most of India's vaccine export will be to Africa, Latin America and Asian destinations. Hyderabad is already home to more than 800 life sciences companies and the sector employs over 1,20,000 pharmaceutical professionals. It is said to be the only city in the country to house more than 20 incubation centres focused only on life sciences and health-tech. More than 200 start-ups are also working on innovative solutions in healthcare. Genome Valley is India's first organised cluster for life sciences R&amp;D activities spread across 600 square kilometers. Set up in 1999, it has world-class infrastructure facilities in the form of <keyword id="10464926" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="industrial-/-knowledge">Industrial / Knowledge</keyword> parks, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Multi-tenanted dry and wet laboratories and incubation facilities. It is home to more than 200 companies including presence of the marquee global names like Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Ferring Pharma, Chemo, DuPont, Ashland, United States Pharmacopeia and Lonza. With <keyword id="4920024" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hyderabad-Pharma-City">Hyderabad Pharma City</keyword> also likely to be operational soon, the city is looking to ramp-up production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and thus develop a cluster to help the country compete with China. The new project is expected to create 1,70,000 direct jobs and 5,60,000 indirect jobs. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/wistron-apple-iphone-manufacturer-could-face-these-penalties-if-found-guilty/articleshow/79790319.cms">If investigators find Wistron management guilty, here's what is at stake for the company</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/heres-what-analysts-say-if-you-should-subscribe-or-not-to-the-300-crore-ipo-of-antony-waste-handling-cell/articleshow/79790998.cms">Antony Waste Handling Cell ₹300-crore IPO will open on Monday— these are the risks and opportunities</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ikea-india-cfo-says-she-still-has-3500-crore-to-be-spent-in-india-the-pandemic-has-changed-targets-but-not-the-investment-plan/articleshow/79790938.cms">INTERVIEW: Ikea CFO says she still has ₹3,500 crore to be spent in India⁠— the pandemic has changed targets but not the investment plan</a>

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