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As vaccines run out, Adar Poonawalla says US, Europe holding back material needed for vaccine production

He said if they get critical raw materials by late April onwards, it will impact capacity and would be only able to produce half of what they can.

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Adar Poonawalla

With vaccine shortage being reported from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and a few others, Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), has said the production of Covid-19 vaccines in the country has been hit because the United States and European countries have banned export of critical raw material.

In an interview to a TV channel, Poonawalla said SII is struggling due to such an embargo in the US. He said India needs those materials now, not six months or a year later. The SII is not looking to import raw material from China given quality issues and other supply constraints, Poonawalla said.

When asked about SII’s strategy to meet commitments in terms of the supply of Covishield, the University of Oxford’s Covid-19 vaccine, Poonawalla said SII is prioritizing India’s needs. He said if they get critical raw materials by late April onwards, it will impact capacity and would be only able to produce half of what they can.

What is the vaccine shortage mystery?

Even as the Centre continues to claim that there is no shortage of vaccines, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have spoken up about the shortages and have asked the Centre to help them. Nationalist Congress Party leader Supriya Sule said over 100 vaccination centres remained shut in Maharashtra’s Pune due to the vaccine shortage.

What about other states and Delhi?

Some private hospitals in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, near Delhi, are facing a crisis. Reports said a few private hospitals have not been carrying out vaccinations since Monday. The situation in Delhi is also worrisome since the new cases are multiplying beyond the expectation of health ministry mandarins.

What has the Central government said about the vaccine shortage?

Read Also: CBSE board exam: Over 1 lakh students urge government to cancel it, board responds

The Centre has decided to send 17 lakh doses instead of the earlier-promised 7.3 lakh to Maharashtra. Health Minister Rajesh Tope insisted Maharashtra should get more vaccines and aid states ruled by the BJP were getting enough or more than adequate stocks of the vaccine. Tope said Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are getting over 40 lakh doses, Gujarat over 30 lakh and Haryana over 24 lakh doses.

India News

PM Modi marks Operation Sindoor anniversary, calls it India’s firm stand against terrorism

PM Modi said Operation Sindoor showcased India’s firm response against terrorism while paying tribute to the armed forces on the operation’s first anniversary.

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PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s firm response against terrorism and highlighted the country’s commitment to national security.

Marking one year of the operation, the Prime Minister praised the courage, precision and professionalism of the Indian armed forces. He said the military action was carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that had claimed the lives of 26 civilians in 2025.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, 2025, as a calibrated tri-services operation targeting terror infrastructure linked to cross-border terrorism. Reports said the operation showcased coordinated action by the armed forces and was seen as a major counter-terror response by India.

On the anniversary of the operation, PM Modi also changed the display pictures across his social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The image carried the text “Operation Sindoor” along with the Indian tricolour design.

The Indian Air Force also shared visuals and messages recalling the operation and highlighting India’s military response. A video released by the force described the operation as a strong message against terrorism and referred to the precision strikes carried out during the mission.

Operation Sindoor was launched following the Pahalgam terror attack, after which India carried out strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to official statements and reports published at the time.

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Vijay meets Tamil Nadu Governor again as TVK pushes to prove majority

TVK chief Vijay held another meeting with Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar as the party intensified efforts to secure majority support after emerging as the single-largest party in the Assembly elections.

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Actor vijay

Actor-turned-politician Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar again on Thursday as his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), continued efforts to prove it has enough support to form the next government in the state.

TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly after winning 108 seats, but it remains short of the majority mark of 118.

The Congress has extended support to TVK, adding five MLAs to Vijay’s side. However, the alliance still needs additional backing from other parties or independents to comfortably cross the halfway mark.

According to reports, the Governor has not yet been fully convinced that TVK currently has the required numbers to form a stable government. This has delayed clarity over the swearing-in ceremony and the formal invitation to form the government.

Political activity intensified after reports emerged that some AIADMK legislators were moved to a resort in Puducherry amid speculation over possible support to TVK. AIADMK leaders, however, publicly denied any internal crisis.

TVK sources have expressed confidence that the party will be able to demonstrate majority support during discussions with the Governor.

The Tamil Nadu election results marked a major political shift in the state, with TVK breaking the long-standing dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in its first Assembly election contest.

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India News

PM Modi changes social media profile pictures to mark Operation Sindoor anniversary

PM Modi changed his social media profile pictures to commemorate one year of Operation Sindoor, with several NDA leaders following the move.

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PM Modi speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday updated the display pictures of his social media accounts to mark the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor. The new image was seen across his profiles on X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp channels.

The updated profile picture carries the text “Operation Sindoor” on a black background along with elements of the Indian tricolour. One of the letters in the word “Sindoor” has been stylised using vermilion, commonly associated with married Hindu women.

Operation Sindoor was launched a year ago by Indian defence forces and the Border Security Force along the western border. The anniversary was also marked by several Union ministers and NDA leaders, who changed their social media profile pictures in a similar manner.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other senior leaders were among those who adopted the commemorative display image on social media platforms, according to reports.

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