The Reserve Bank of India has launched the inflation expectations survey of households and responses of the participants will be gathered over telephone in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The RBI has been regularly conducting the survey to elicit subjective views of the households on price movement across various cities of the country. The results of the survey are used as inputs for monetary policy.
 
The July 2020 round of the Inflation Expectations Survey of Households has been launched. As per RBI release, Hansa Research Group, Mumbai has been engaged to conduct the survey of this round on behalf of the RBI over telephone instead of the regular personal interview mode in view of the pandemic. The survey aims at capturing subjective assessments on price movements and inflation, of approximately 6,000 households, based on their individual consumption baskets, across 18 cities.
 
The cities that would be covered are Mumbai, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi and Thiruvananthapuram. The survey would seek qualitative as well as quantitative responses from households on price changes, general prices as well as prices of specific product groups, for the three months ahead as well as in the one year ahead period.

The Indian Naval vessel INS Jalashwa brought home 687 stranded Indians from Iran this morning. The amphibious naval ship docked at the VOC Port in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. The ship has undertaken the humanitarian mission under the Operation Samudra Setu.
 
AIR correspondent reports that INS Jalashwa embarked from the Bandar Abbas Port in Iran in the evening last Thursday with the evacuees. They were all the Indian fishermen who were stranded due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
 
The humanitarian mission using the ship has been facilitated by the Indian mission and the administration in Iran. For the VOC Port in Thoothukudi, this is the fourth time a rescue ship drops its anchor with the evacuees under the Operation Samudra Setu.
 
The operation testifies to the varied role being played by the Defence-e Force ranging from protecting Indian maritime interests to humanitarian assistance.

National Doctor’s Day is being celebrated today. The day is celebrated on July 1 every year to thank the doctors and physicians for their relentless service to the humanity. The theme of this year’s Doctors Day is ‘Lessen the mortality of COVID 19’.
 
AIR correspondent reports that today when the world is fighting coronavirus pandemic, it has realized the importance of doctors more than ever. The day is to thank the medical professionals who treat the health of the patients above theirs and offer round the clock services.
 
The first National Doctor’s day was celebrated in July 1991. In India, this day marks the birth as well as the death anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. He was one of the most renowned physicians in India and former Chief Minister of West Bengal. This year, West Bengal Government has declared a State holiday on the occasion today.
 
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today paid tributes to legendary physician and former Chief Minister of West Bengal Dr. B.C. Roy on Doctor’s Day. In a tweet, Mr Naidu said, Dr B C Roy made invaluable contribution to the development of medical field in India.
 
The Vice President extended greetings and good wishes to doctors across the nation for their selfless service to humanity. He said, in times of grave health emergencies like the current COVID pandemic, the doctors of the country have always bravely donned the mantle of being the frontline warriors. He called upon the countrymen to pledge the unconditional support to the dedicated members of the medical fraternity and express the deepest gratitude and respect to them.
 
The Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that the decision has been taken as a mark of respect for the Medical professionals and other frontline workers who are putting their lives at stake for fighting against Corona. She also urged the Centre and other States to declare holiday on this day each year to offer tribute to their sacrifices.

Railways has decided to expand to 350 local train services in Mumbai from today. At present, a total of 200 services are being run, out of which 130 services are running between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Kasara/Karjat/Kalyan/Dombivali/Thane on main line and 70 services are running between CSMT and Panvel on harbour line.
 
150 more services will be added to the existing services making the total to 350 services. The number of services may be modified as per the requirement to ensure social distancing norms. AIR correspondent reports that considering the State Government’s request to allow some more employees in essential services to travel by suburban local trains, railways have decided to add 150 more services from today.
 
These trains will halt at major stations only and will cater to the essential staff permitted to travel by select suburban services. The categories instructed by the Ministry of Home Affairs include defence personnel and employees of Central Government, Income Tax, GST and Customs and Department of Posts, along with employees of Nationalised Banks, Mumbai Port Trust, Judiciary and Raj Bhavan.
 
Only these employees are permitted to travel in these select suburban services. To ensure social distancing in the coaches, unlike its seating capacity to accommodate about 1,200 persons, only about 700 are to be allowed per train.

Odisha government has announced complete lockdown in ten districts on weekends in view of the rising COVID-19 cases in the state. These districts are Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Cuttack, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Jharsuguda. Night curfew will continue to remain in force, between 9 pm and 5 am, except for essential activities.
 
Schools, colleges, and other educational institutions will remain closed for teaching purposes till August 31. State Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy said cinema halls, theatres, gyms, swimming pools, entertainment parks, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and other similar places will remain shut till the end of this month.
 
Similarly, Social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other large congregations will also be prohibited.
 
Hotels and restaurants are allowed to operate as per SOPs issued by Union Health Ministry. Dhabas along National and State Highways and Major roads will also be opened but for takeaway only.

New guidelines for Unlock-2 to open up more activities in areas outside the Containment Zones will come into effect today. The process of phased re-opening of activities has been extended further. It said, the lockdown will continue to be implemented strictly in the Containment Zones till 31st of July this year. Home Ministry has said that the new guidelines are based on feedback received from States and UTs, and extensive consultations held with related Central Ministries and Departments.
 
Under the new guidelines of Unlock -2, Metro Rail service, operation of Cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will not be allowed. Similarly, social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural and religious functions and other large congregations will not be permitted.
 
The Ministry said, dates for opening of these will be decided separately, based on the assessment of the situation. It said, all activities, except these will be permitted outside containment zones. The Ministry said, after extensive consultations with States and Union Territories, it has been decided that schools, colleges and coaching institutions will remain closed till 31st of July.
 
As per the guidelines, night curfew timings are being further relaxed and curfew shall be in force from 10 PM to 5 AM. Further, relaxations in night curfew have been given for seamless operation of industrial units in multiple shifts, movement of persons and goods on National and State Highways, loading and unloading of cargo and movement of persons to their destinations after disembarking from buses, trains and airplanes. It said, domestic flights and passenger trains have already been allowed in a limited manner and their operations will be further expanded in a calibrated manner. It said, shops depending upon their area, can have more than 5 persons at a time. However, they have to maintain adequate physical distance.
 
Training institutions of the Central and State Governments will be allowed to function with effect from 15th of July. SOP in this regard will be issued by the Department of Personnel and Training.
 
International air travel of passengers has been permitted in a limited manner under the Vande Bharat mission. Further opening up will take place in a calibrated manner. The guidelines said, containment Zones are required to be carefully demarcated by the State Governments with a view to contain the spread of COVID-19, after taking into consideration the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry. Within the containment zones, strict perimeter control shall be maintained and only essential activities allowed.
 
These Containment Zones will be notified on the websites of the concerned District Collectors and by the States and information will also be shared with Union Health Ministry. It said, activities in the Containment Zones will be monitored strictly by the State authorities, and the guidelines relating to containment measure in these zones will be strictly implemented.
 
The Union Health Ministry will monitor the proper delineation of Containment Zones and implementation of the containment measures. AIR correspondent reports that the new guidelines said that States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain activities outside the Containment zones, or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary.
 
However, there shall be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods. No separate permission, approval and e-permit will be required for such movements. National Directives for COVID-19 management shall continue to be followed throughout the country, with a view to ensure social distancing.
 
Shops will need to maintain adequate physical distancing among customers.
 
Home Ministry will monitor the effective implementation of National Directives. Vulnerable persons, persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, are advised to stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes. The use of Aarogya Setu mobile application will continue to be encouraged.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced free food grains to 80 crore people across the country for five more months. The Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana has been extended till the end of November this year. Under the scheme announced in the wake of COVID- 19 pandemic, 5 kg free wheat or rice along with 1 kg whole chana will be provided to each member of a family per month. Its extension will cost over 90 thousand crore rupees.
 
Addressing the nation last evening, Mr. Modi noted that in the last three months, 31 thousand  crore rupees have been transferred to the Jan Dhan accounts of almost 20 crore poor families,18 thousand crore rupees have been transferred to the bank accounts of more than 9 crore farmers and 50 thousand crore rupees are being spent on PM Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan, which has been started to provide employment opportunities. He stressed that the country is moving towards the institution of ‘one nation, one ration card’, which will be of immense benefit to the poor who travel to other states in search of work.
 
 
Mr. Modi said, if one looks at the death rate due to corona, India is still in a very stable situation as compared to other countries. The Prime Minister added that timely measures like lockdown have saved many lives. Mr. Modi, however, said ever since unlock one started, people have shown negligence. He urged them to take all necessary precautions for fighting the novel Coronavirus. He also said, regulations need to be followed with the same seriousness as during Lockdown, especially in the Containment Zones. The Prime Minister added that people must maintain discipline and those not following the rules, need to be stopped and made aware. He warned that nobody is above the rule.
 
Mr. Modi also hailed farmers and honest tax payers for their contribution in making the welfare scheme successful. The Prime Minister said that in the coming times, the government will continue to take further steps to empower the poor and the needy. Economic activities will also be enhanced, with due precautions in place. He reiterated the pledge to work towards Atma nirbhar Bharat and to be vocal for local, while also asking people to be careful, use mask and face cover and continue following the mantra of maintaining do gaz doori. Mr. Modi said, the country is entering in Unlock 2 and the season of cough, fever and cold is also about to start and in such a situation the countrymen should take care of themselves.

COVAXIN, India’s first vaccine candidate against novel coronavirus, developed by vaccine maker Bharat Biotech gets the approval of Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for Phase I and II clinical trials.

COVAXIN is an inactivated vaccine, created from a strain of the infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus, that has shown promise in preclinical studies, demonstrating extensive safety and effective immune responses.

Human clinical trials of the experimental COVID-19 are scheduled to start across the country in July 2020.

COVAXIN has been developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV).

The SARS-CoV-2 strain was isolated in NIV, Pune and transferred to Bharat Biotech. The indigenous, inactivated vaccine will be developed and manufactured by Bharat Biotech’s BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) High Containment facility located in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, India.

Congratulations to everyone who have survived six months of this year. Accept the fact that you’re among the blessed ones.

Six months ago we welcomed this year with the usual zest and vigour expecting it to be a great one, but look at the irony it is a great and remarkable one but in a another way for us. This year will be remembered for centuries for causing so much suffering to the human race. In 2020 not only did COVID-19 entered our lives to make sure that it is converted into a pathetic one but also calamities like earthquakes, cyclones, oil spill, floods, suicides etc,etc have joined the list to reassure the same.

We never dreamt in our wildest dreams that beginning of a new decade is going to be so torturous. In this short span of half year multiple calamities have already claimed many lives and we really don’t know how many more lives they are going to claim in rest of the year. Human Suffering has just started and possibility is that many more such sufferings are awaiting us. This year will mark the survival of the fittest as well as the luckiest.

Many people are trying to be optimistic at this time and I really appreciate their effort because in times full of hopelessness these are the people who are bringing some hope in lives of others as well. Their this too shall pass phrase will give you a high for few hours and after that when you will read that WHO is saying that pandemic is not even close to being over, worst is yet to come your all hope will convert into hopelessness.

We can’t do anything about our future because we will never know what future has stored for us. We only have the present moment so let’s not waste in grieving.

Like Omar Khayyam has beautifully written:

Tomorrow’s fate, though be wise,
Thou canst not tell nor yet surmise;
Pass, therefore, not today in vain,
For it will never come again.