English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

Finally, PM Modi declares free Covid-19 vaccination from June 21 for 18 and above

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that the Centre will take full control of the Covid-19 vaccination drive from June 21, International Yoga Day. He said vaccines will be given free of cost to state governments which can then pass it on to citizens at health centres.

Published

5 years ago

on

Narendra modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that vaccines will be given free of cost to state governments which can then pass it on to citizens 18 years of age and above at health centres. For those who wish to access the vaccine in private hospitals, the government set a price ceiling and a margin ceiling, Modi said.

Addressing the nation in a televised speech at 5 pm on Monday, instead of the 8pm speech, PM Modi said the Centre will take full control of the Covid-19 vaccination drive from June 21, International Yoga Day. He said this was because states were finding it difficult to manage.

The Centre had inoculated people above the age of 45 with free vaccines initially but from May 1, it had allowed state governments to vaccinate the 18-44 age group at a charge. Right from day 1, most states had been calling on Modi to buy vaccines for all eligible citizens across the country, instead of the differential pricing mechanism that had been introduced where the Centre would buy at the least price and the states would get it at a higher mark-up.

Also, state governments like Punjab and Maharashtra had tried to buy vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna but were told the companies will talk only to the Central government. Along with the news of free vaccination, the PM also announced he extension of the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana under which 80 crore poor were getting daily rations free of cost till Diwali this year.

The reason for the course correction is hinting at the situation in Uttar Pradesh. Given the state of the vaccination programme in the key state, which will go to the polls in 2022 and sends the highest number of Lok Sabha MPs, the scheme’s lacklustre performance here will add to the anti-incumbency. It also points to the BJP’s tried and tested method of promising Modi governance and choosing a CM candidate, which in 2017 was Yogi Adityanath, who was chosen after the polls.

It must be remembered that a two-man team of RSS veterans had been to UP to gather inputs on the situation in the state. They had come back with glowing reports from the state but such is politics.

The other thing to note is that the Supreme Court is examining the entire vaccination process including the decisions taken so far. Just last week, a bench of Justice D.Y. Chandrachud,  Justice L. Nageswara Rao and Justice S. Ravindra Bhat had told the Centre that its policy was irrational and arbitrary. It had asked the government to provide complete data on vaccine choices, vaccine procurement and the price difference. The Apex Court had also wanted to know what had happened to the much-vaunted, much-publicised and budgeted Rs 35,000 crore.

PM Modi’s speech came on a day when India witnessed 1,00,636 fresh  Covid-19 cases with 2,427 deaths in the last 4 hours. Only 15.87 lakh samples were tested on Sunday, compared to an average of more than 20 lakh in the last week.

PM Modi said the Covid-19 is the biggest epidemic to struck in the last century, the country has fought bravely and successfully overcome its impact.

Modi began the speech with saying the coronavirus outbreak was the biggest pandemic in the last 100 years. To combat which the government came up with new health infrastructure in the past few months.

Similarly, India has never felt the need for oxygen this much, he said. While condoling the deaths of those who died in the second wave’s worst weeks of April and May, Modi said India has overcome oxygen shortage very fast. He noted that despite vaccination, covid-appropriate behaviour is the only way to fight against Covid.

To save the world, Modi claimed, the country came up with two vaccines, while Covishield was developed in the University of Oxford, UK and was mass-produced in India by the Serum Institute. If the vaccine was not made in India, what would have happened, he said.

Though the PM made some untenable claims on vaccines taking decades to reach the corners of the country, before the coronavirus, it is to be remembered that polio and other diseases were inoculated at birth and none of them were vaccines against pandemics like in this case.

Read Also: AIIMS Delhi to begin screening children aged 2-18 years for Covaxin trials from today

PM Modi also spoke of more vaccines waiting to get clearances to enter the country and spoke of a nasal spray that would kill the virus.

The final nail in today’s announcement tied in with the BJP announcement of free Covid vaccines in Bihar during the campaign for the 2020 Assembly election. Seems Bihar will finally get its free vaccines after this deft somersault, which is good news for all Indians, poor or rich or middle-class.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

India News

Amit Shah praises Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, says Nation above post

Amit Shah hailed Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as Union Education Minister, saying BJP places the nation and students above any position while highlighting the government’s commitment to examination reforms.

Published

9 hours ago

on

July 26, 2026

By

Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday praised Dharmendra Pradhan’s decision to step down as Union Education Minister, saying the move reflected the Bharatiya Janata Party’s commitment to placing the nation and students above any political position.

In a post on X, Shah said that for BJP workers, the country, its youth and students are more important than any office. He described Pradhan’s resignation as an example of the party’s guiding principle of prioritising national interest over personal ambition.

Shah highlights government’s focus on exam reforms

Amit Shah said the Narendra Modi-led government respects the sentiments of students and remains committed to strengthening the examination system following concerns over alleged paper leaks.

He said the Centre has introduced strict measures to ensure severe punishment for those involved in examination paper leaks and expressed confidence that these steps would deliver justice to students who cleared the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Praises Pradhan’s work as Education Minister

Recalling Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure, Shah highlighted several initiatives undertaken during his time in the Education Ministry. He credited Pradhan with helping implement the National Education Policy (NEP), expanding PM SHRI schools, promoting digital education, strengthening skill development and improving coordination between industry and academic institutions.

Shah also said Pradhan worked towards making examinations more inclusive and student-centric, adding that his tenure reflected his commitment to the vision of a developed India.

Resignation follows NEET controversy

Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation comes amid nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and growing demands for accountability.

The resignation has triggered political reactions across party lines. While opposition parties have described the development as a result of sustained student protests, BJP leaders have projected it as an example of accountability and commitment to national interest.

Continue Reading

India News

Assam flood death toll rises to 66, over 6.5 lakh people still affected

Assam’s flood situation improved slightly on Saturday, but more than 6.54 lakh people remain affected in six districts. Four fresh deaths have pushed the state’s flood toll to 66.

Published

9 hours ago

on

July 26, 2026

By

Assam floods

The flood situation in Assam showed marginal improvement on Saturday, though the disaster continued to impact more than 6.54 lakh people across six districts. Four more deaths were reported during the day, taking the total number of fatalities in this year’s floods to 66.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), three of the latest deaths were reported from Sivasagar district, while one person lost their life in Charaideo.

The number of affected people declined from over 7.05 lakh across nine districts on Friday to 6,54,800 across six districts on Saturday, indicating a gradual improvement in the overall situation.

Sivasagar remains the worst-hit district

Among the affected districts, Sivasagar continues to be the worst hit, with nearly 2.9 lakh people impacted by the floods. Charaideo follows with around 1.9 lakh affected residents, while more than 1.3 lakh people remain affected in Jorhat.

The other districts still facing flood-related challenges are Dibrugarh, Golaghat and Nagaon.

Relief operations continue across affected areas

The ASDMA said the state administration is operating 274 relief camps and aid distribution centres across the affected districts. Around 18,902 displaced people are currently taking shelter at these facilities.

The latest daily bulletin also stated that floodwaters have inundated 810 villages across the state, while 34,970.8 hectares of agricultural land have suffered damage.

Rivers flowing above danger level

The floods have also damaged embankments, roads, bridges and other public infrastructure in several areas.

Authorities said the Dikhou River in Sivasagar and the Dhansiri River at Numaligarh are flowing above the danger level, and officials continue to closely monitor the situation.

Continue Reading

India News

UP Government forms new SIT led by 3 IPS officers to probe Ayodhya Ram Temple donation theft

The Uttar Pradesh government has formed a new SIT led by three IPS officers to investigate the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case in Ayodhya following Supreme Court directions.

Published

9 hours ago

on

July 26, 2026

By

Ram Mandir

The Uttar Pradesh government has reconstituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by IG Kiran S, with DIG Somen Verma and SSP Dr Gaurav Grover as members, to investigate the alleged theft of donations meant for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. 

The move comes after directions from the Supreme Court, which sought a reconstituted investigation team to ensure an independent and comprehensive probe into the allegations.

The newly formed SIT is expected to continue the investigation and submit a status report before the Supreme Court on July 27.

Senior IPS officers to lead the probe

According to the state government, the investigation will now be supervised by senior IPS officers.  The revamped SIT has been tasked with examining all aspects of the alleged embezzlement of temple donations and carrying the investigation forward.

The Supreme Court had observed that criminal investigations and technical examination of theft-related cases are more effectively handled by experienced police officers, leading to the reconstitution of the SIT under senior IPS leadership.

Probe to continue under court supervision

The case relates to the alleged embezzlement of offerings (chadhava) donated by devotees at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.

The Supreme Court is monitoring the investigation and will review the SIT’s status report at the next hearing.

Authorities are expected to continue examining evidence collected during the earlier stages of the investigation as the newly constituted SIT proceeds with the case.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com