India

Reports Claiming Big Hike In Medicine Prices Are False, Misleading: Centre

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Reports Claiming Big Hike In Medicine Prices Are False, Misleading: Centre

The government dismissed the media reports claiming that medicine prices will witness a significant hike

New Delhi:

The government dismissed the media reports claiming that medicine prices will witness a significant hike by up to 12 per cent from April 2024 and called them false, misleading and malicious.

“Some media reports have highlighted that medicine prices will witness a significant hike by up to 12 per cent from April 2024. These reports further claim that more than 500 medicines will be affected by this increase in price. Such reports are false, misleading and malicious”, an official statement said.

As per the provisions of Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO) 2013, drugs are categorised as scheduled and non-scheduled formulations. The formulations that are listed in Schedule I of DPCO 2013 are scheduled formulations and the formulations that are not specified in Schedule I of DPCO 2013 are non-schedule formulations.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals annually revises the ceiling prices of scheduled medicines based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).

The scheduled medicines included in the Schedule-I of the DPCO, 2013 are essential. During the calendar year 2023 over the corresponding period in 2022, the annual change in WPI with base year 2011-12 was ( ) 0.00551 per cent as per data published by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Accordingly, the Authority in its meeting held on 20.03.2024 has approved the WPI increase @ ( ) 0.00551 per cent for the scheduled medicines.

The ceiling prices on 923 medicines are effective as of date. Based on the above-mentioned WPI factor of ( ) 0.00551 per cent, there will be no change in the prevailing ceiling prices for 782 medicines and the existing ceiling prices will continue to prevail up to March 31, 2025.

Fifty-four (54) medicines with ceiling prices ranging from Rs 90 to Rs 261 will have a miniscule increase of Rs. 0.01 (one paisa). As the permissible price increase is miniscule, the companies may or may not avail of this increase. Thus, in the year FY 2024-25, there will be almost no change in the ceiling price of medicines based on WPI.

The WPI increase is the maximum increase permissible as per the DPCO, 2013 and the manufacturers may or may not avail of this increase, keeping in view the market dynamics. The companies adjust their Maximum Retail Price (MRP) depending on the ceiling price of their medicines, as MRP (excluding GST) can be any price that is less than the ceiling price.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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10 Million People At Risk Of Slipping Into Poverty In Pakistan: World Bank

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10 Million People At Risk Of Slipping Into Poverty In Pakistan: World Bank

World Bank says over 10 million more people are at risk of descending into poverty in Pakistan

Islamabad:

The World Bank has painted a grim economic picture of Pakistan in its biannual report, cautioning that over 10 million more people are at risk of descending into poverty in the cash-strapped country.

The Washington-based lender’s apprehension comes from a sluggish economic growth rate of 1.8 per cent coupled with soaring inflation, a staggering 26 per cent in the current fiscal year.

The World Bank’s biannual Pakistan Development Outlook report indicated that the country is set to miss almost all major macroeconomic targets.

The international lender said the country is anticipated to fall short of its primary budget target, remaining in deficit for three consecutive years, contrary to the International Monetary Fund’s stipulations mandating a surplus.

Sayed Murtaza Muzaffari, lead author of the report, said despite a board-based yet nascent economic recovery, poverty alleviation efforts remain insufficient.

The economic growth is projected to stagnate at a paltry 1.8 per cent while maintaining the poverty rate at around 40 per cent, with approximately 98 million Pakistanis already grappling with poverty, the World Bank report said.

The report underlined the vulnerability of those hovering just above the poverty line, with 10 million individuals at risk of slipping into poverty.

The report said that the poor and vulnerable are likely to have benefited from the windfall gain in agricultural output but these gains were offset by continued high inflation and limited wage growth in other sectors that employ many of the poor, such as construction, trade, and transportation.

The wages of daily labourers increased only five per cent in nominal terms during the first quarter of this fiscal year when the inflation was above 30 per cent, it said.

The persisting cost-of-living crisis coupled with rising transportation costs could potentially lead to an increase in out-of-school children and delayed medical treatments, particularly for worse-off families, warned the World Bank.

At the same time, it added that food security remains a concern in parts of the country.

Among 43 rural districts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan, many of which were impacted by the 2022 floods, the prevalence of acute food insecurity is also projected to increase from 29 per cent to 32 per cent in the third quarter of this fiscal year, the report said.

“Despite some recovery, Pakistan’s economy remains under stress with low foreign reserves and high inflation. Policy uncertainty remains elevated and economic activity is subdued, reflecting tight fiscal and monetary policy and import controls,” the World Bank said.

The Washington-based lender said growth is projected to remain below potential with heightened social vulnerability and limited poverty reduction in the medium term.

“Financial sector risks, policy uncertainty, and stronger external headwinds pose significant risks to the outlook,” it added.

Pakistan’s current account deficit (CAD) narrowed to USD 0.8 billion in the first half of the current fiscal year from USD 3.6 billion in the first half of the last fiscal year, on import controls, reduced domestic demand, and lower global commodity prices, the report said.

Meanwhile, official remittances fell by 6.8 per cent year-on-year in the first half of the current fiscal year due to exchange rate rigidities earlier in the year.

“Inflation is projected to remain elevated at 26 per cent in FY24 due to higher domestic energy prices, with little respite for poor and vulnerable households with depleted savings and lower real incomes,” it said.

The World Bank said the fiscal deficit is projected to widen to eight per cent of the GDP due to higher interest payments but gradually decline as fiscal consolidation takes hold and interest payments fall over time.

Pakistan’s economy is expected to grow by only 1.8 per cent in the current fiscal year ending June 2024 whereas the official target is 3.5 per cent, the World Bank said.

For the next fiscal year too, the World Bank has projected only a 2.3 per cent economic growth rate, which is even lower than the population growth rate of 2.6 per cent.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad

Sighting of elephant in Asifabad worries locals

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Residents of Burepalli village and nearby areas are gripped with fear after a wild elephant fatally attacked a farmer on Wednesday.

Updated On – 3 April 2024, 06:46 PM


Sighting of elephant in Asifabad worries locals


Kumram Bheem Asifabad: People of Burepalli village and surrounding habitations are in the grip of fear following the killing of a farmer by a wild elephant on Wednesday.

Dwellers of forest fringe villages are familiar with carnivores such as tigers, leopards, wild dogs. But they never saw an elephant in the forests of the region. Senior citizens opined sighting of a wild elephant was an unprecedented event in the history of the district.

“I never spotted an elephant in the wild except in a zoological park in Hyderabad,” K Jaganmohan Goud from Bejjur mandal centre said.

The movement of the tusker created panic among residents of Burepalli and Ranavelli, Korsini, Lambadihetti, Gangapur villages in Chintalamanepalli mandal. They requested officials to take steps to divert the animal into the forest.

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Vistara Expects To Resume Normal Operations By Weekend: Sources

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Vistara Expects Ops To Normalise Soon Post Pilots, Management Town Hall

Vistara began flight ops in January 2015 (File).

New Delhi:

Vistara expects to resume normal flight ops by the weekend, company sources told NDTV Wednesday evening, hours after CEO Vinod Kannan and senior members of his management team held a virtual town hall with striking pilots.

Company sources said the pilots had been promised a course correction to address concerns in the wake of Vistara’s merger with Air India. This, sources said, will include improved growth potential once the merger is complete and better rostering of pilots, which is expected by May.

The pilots have been told that opportunities to earn more will exist post the merger.

Almost 100 per cent of the pilots have now accepted the new contract, sources said, adding that no protest had been expressed by pilots during the virtual town hall.

Emphasising the point that crisis brought on by pilot shortage is nearing an end, Vistara sources also said only 24 flights were cancelled today compared to the 52 affected yesterday.

The pilots have yet to release a statement from their side.

READ | Vistara CEO To Meet Pilots After Scores Of Flights Cancelled

The airline had earlier said it faced a “significant number” of flight cancellations and delays “due to various reasons including crew unavailability”. It also said it had decided to temporarily reduce the number of flights it operates “to ensure adequate connectivity across our network”.

“We acknowledge and are deeply concerned about the inconvenience this has caused to our customers. Having said that, our teams are working towards minimizing the discomfort to the customers,” the airline said.

Vistara pilots had called in sick to protest the revised salary structure ahead of the merger with Air India. The pilots were sent a revised pay structure over mail and asked to sign on a short notice. The pilots were also warned that those who did not sign would be left out of the merger.

READ | Inside Track Of Vistara Crisis: Why Pilots Called In Sick En Masse

Pilots have complained that their cost to company (CTC) had been reduced in the new contract, in which they are mandated to fly 40 hours as opposed to 70 hours earlier. Sources in the airline, however, said that under the new structure pilots were incentivised to fly more, and that they could, in fact, earn more than they did earlier.

The centre is monitoring the situation and has sought daily reports from Vistara. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had asked the airline to share the steps they are taking to deal with the inconvenience caused to passengers.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

Hyderabad

Telangana BIE warns against unauthorized admission activities in private junior colleges

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In a statement, the Board said it received complaints highlighting unauthorized admission activities, pre-admissions and misleading testing procedures being conducted by certain private junior colleges.

Published Date – 3 April 2024, 07:10 PM


Telangana BIE warns against unauthorized admission activities in private junior colleges


Hyderabad: The Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education (TS BIE) on Wednesday warned private junior colleges of serious action for holding unauthorized admission activities before issuance of the admission notification by it.

In a statement, the Board said it received complaints highlighting unauthorized admission activities, pre-admissions and misleading testing procedures being conducted by certain private junior colleges.

Stating that the admission schedule for the academic year 2024-25 was not issued yet, the TS BIE asked students and parents not to take admissions in the junior colleges prior to the admission schedule from the Board.

Currently, the provisional affiliation process for 2024-25 is underway and a list of affiliation junior colleges will be hosted on the TS BIE websites https://tsbie.cgg.gov.in/ and https://acadtsbie.cgg.gov.in/. Parents should admit their children only in the affiliated junior colleges, it said.

“All managements of private junior colleges are reminded that admissions should be conducted strictly in accordance with the admission schedule announced by the TS BIE. Any deviation from the schedule is a violation of established norms and will be dealt with seriously and appropriate actions will be initiated as per the applicable provisions. Hence, ensure strict compliance of your institution with the rules and regulations,” the Board said.

Top News

Vistara Expects To Resume Normal Operations By Weekend: Sources

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Vistara Expects Ops To Normalise Soon Post Pilots, Management Town Hall

Vistara began flight ops in January 2015 (File).

New Delhi:

Vistara expects to resume normal flight ops by the weekend, company sources told NDTV Wednesday evening, hours after CEO Vinod Kannan and senior members of his management team held a virtual town hall with striking pilots.

Company sources said the pilots had been promised a course correction to address concerns in the wake of Vistara’s merger with Air India. This, sources said, will include improved growth potential once the merger is complete and better rostering of pilots, which is expected by May.

The pilots have been told that opportunities to earn more will exist post the merger.

Almost 100 per cent of the pilots have now accepted the new contract, sources said, adding that no protest had been expressed by pilots during the virtual town hall.

Emphasising the point that crisis brought on by pilot shortage is nearing an end, Vistara sources also said only 24 flights were cancelled today compared to the 52 affected yesterday.

The pilots have yet to release a statement from their side.

READ | Vistara CEO To Meet Pilots After Scores Of Flights Cancelled

The airline had earlier said it faced a “significant number” of flight cancellations and delays “due to various reasons including crew unavailability”. It also said it had decided to temporarily reduce the number of flights it operates “to ensure adequate connectivity across our network”.

“We acknowledge and are deeply concerned about the inconvenience this has caused to our customers. Having said that, our teams are working towards minimizing the discomfort to the customers,” the airline said.

Vistara pilots had called in sick to protest the revised salary structure ahead of the merger with Air India. The pilots were sent a revised pay structure over mail and asked to sign on a short notice. The pilots were also warned that those who did not sign would be left out of the merger.

READ | Inside Track Of Vistara Crisis: Why Pilots Called In Sick En Masse

Pilots have complained that their cost to company (CTC) had been reduced in the new contract, in which they are mandated to fly 40 hours as opposed to 70 hours earlier. Sources in the airline, however, said that under the new structure pilots were incentivised to fly more, and that they could, in fact, earn more than they did earlier.

The centre is monitoring the situation and has sought daily reports from Vistara. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had asked the airline to share the steps they are taking to deal with the inconvenience caused to passengers.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

Hyderabad

Randomisation of polling staff, ballot, control units complete in Nirmal: Collector

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He along with Additional Collector Kishore Kumar carried out the process of randomization of the staff and polling material in presence of representatives of political parties here on Wednesday.

Published Date – 3 April 2024, 07:00 PM


Randomisation of polling staff, ballot, control units complete in Nirmal: Collector


Nirmal: Collector Ashish Sangwan said that the first phase of randomization of polling staff for smooth conduct of Lok Sabha polls was completed.

He along with Additional Collector Kishore Kumar carried out the process of randomization of the staff and polling material in presence of representatives of political parties here on Wednesday.

Sangwan said that randomisation of presiding officers, assistant president officers, other presiding officers, and other polling staff was completed.

Orders would be issued to the officers, besides communicating through SMS about the post. He asked the polling officials to effectively render duties and strive for the success of the elections.

The Collector further said that randomisation of ballot units and control units, allocated to Nirmal, Khanapur and Mudhole Assembly constituencies, was carried out online.

He requested the representatives of the political parties to follow norms set by the Election Commission of India. He urged them to extend their cooperation to the officials for smooth conduct of the polls.

Elections supervisor Srinivas, e-Districts Manager Nadeem and representatives of the political parties attended the programme.

Top News

Crazy Viral: Bride Taapsee Pannu's Fairytale Entry At Udaipur Wedding

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Crazy Viral: Bride Taapsee Pannu's Fairytale Entry At Udaipur Wedding

Taapsee and Mathias at the wedding. (courtesy: VarinderChawla)

New Delhi:

Days after Taapsee Pannu and Badminton player Mathias Boe’s marriage report surfaced online, an inside video from their intimate Udaipur wedding has been trending on social media on Wednesday. In the video, Taapsee Pannu, dressed as a traditional Punjabi bride, can be seen dancing her heart out during her entry. Taapsee can be seen sporting kaleeras and choodas. As soon as she reaches the stage, groom Mathias Boe can be seen hugging her. Mathias Boe, whose face is covered with a sehera, can be seen dressed in a traditional outfit. The video also documents moments from their garlands exchange ceremony. Mathias can be seen kissing Taapsee on her cheeks. The video is already crazy viral. Take a look here:

Taapsee Pannu married Danish badminton player Mathias Boe in the presence of family members and close friends in Udaipur a few days ago. The couple are yet to make an official announcement. According to sources, the couple had a mehendi and a sangeet ceremony before the wedding. The pre-wedding celebrations and wedding took place between March 21 and 24. Taapsee’s Thappad co-star Pavail Gulati and her dear friends Abhilash Thapliyal (actor of Aspirants) and screenplay writer Kanika Dhillon were present at the wedding. Badminton players Satwiksai Raj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who are coached by Mathais Boe, were also present at the wedding. The wedding was organised by The Wedding Factory, an event management company owned by Taapsee, her sister Shagun Pannu and Farah Sood.

A few days back, Taapsee shared a few images in which she can be seen clad in a fusion saree. What caught the attention of the Internet was the henna artwork on her feet and the ring on her finger. Sharing the images, Taapsee wrote, “Hope this romance with saree never ends…..” Take a look:

On the occasion of Holi, Abhilash Thapliyal shared a picture from the celebrations in which Taapsee and Mathias can be spotted. In the picture, their faces are smeared with colours. Sharing the picture, Abhilash wrote, “Hamari toh  Holi.” Take a look:

According to a 2014 NDTV report, Taapsee and the badminton star first met at the inaugural Indian Badminton League in 2013. Mathias Boe was part of the Lucknow-based team Awadhe Warriors while Taapsee Pannu was the brand ambassador of champions Hyderabad Hotshots.

Hyderabad

Kamareddy: Domestic power consumption on rise due to high temperature

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The power demand is likely to fall in the second week of the month as harvesting season would be at the peak, the officials said.

Published Date – 3 April 2024, 06:40 PM


Kamareddy: Domestic power consumption on rise due to high temperature


Kamareddy: Rising temperatures has led to a sharp rise in power consumption in the district in the last ten days. According to officials, the daily power consumption in the district has touched six million units in the last two weeks.

The district is witnessing increase in domestic and commercial power consumption due rise in temperature.

Around 10 mandals across the district are recording temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.

However, the power demand in the agriculture sector has come down to a large extent in the last one week owing to a reduction in agricultural activities in the district.

The power demand is likely to fall in the second week of the month as harvesting season would be at the peak, the officials said.

About 2.5 lakh acres have been brought under cultivation in the district during the Yasangi season.

With projections of heat waves continuing in several parts of the State, power consumption was expected to be high till June, power officials stated.

They claimed that the Telangana power utilities were able to manage the demand by ensuring enough supply of power to all the sectors without resorting to any major power cuts.

“We are ensuring that there is no gap between demand and supply of power,”an official said.

Middle East

Israeli strike on Iran consulate came after big defeat

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Speaking to Mehr correspondent about the Monday deadly terrorist attack on the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus by the Zionist Israeli regime, Iraqi political analyst Qassem Salman Al-Aboudi stressed that the Zionists carried out the terror attack after their defeat and hopelessness against the Palestinian Resistance groups. 

The Iraqi analyst noted that the Zionist regime witnessed Resistance attacks deep inside the occupied territories. He added that the Islamic Resistance groups’s attacks shocked the policymakers of the regime and had left them in huge shock.

“In an out of desperation attempt to get out of the stalemate that the Axis of the Islamic Resistance had put this the Zionist occupation regime in, it targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus in a situation where the region is in a dangerous position,” he said 

“We believe that the goal behind this attack on the Iranian consulate is an escape forward. it came after numerous attacks by the Resistance Axis from land and sea against the Zionist enemy,” Al-Aboudi said.

He noted that the Zionist regime’s official had lost their mind after witnessing the huge attacks by the Resistance groups deep inside the occupied lands. 

“From the remarks made by the officials of the Zionist regime, we find to what extent this collapsing regime is suffering from the psychological and psychological pressure. They are trying to justify their heinous act and announced that they had targeted an Iranian military center in Damascus,” he further asserted.

“They are trying to escape from the consequences of violating international law. However, these efforts do not save the Zionist regime from the consequences of the attack on the international stage. The Zionist regime attacked the consulate of one of the UN member states. Also, attacking the territory of another country that is not in all-out war with you can be considered as a declaration of war.” 

The Iraqi political commentator further pointed out the Netanyahu-led regime is under immense internal pressure from protesters who have come to the streets to topple his regime. 

“Netanyahu is the one who failed in handling the war with Hamas and the Qassam Brigades,” he further told Mehr.

He went on to note that the Palestinian Resistance has grown too strong and “Palestinian weapons have become a threat to the Zionists.”

“Iran has always been blamed by the Zionists that the growth and progress of the Palestinian forces come from it.  Iran clearly declares its support for the Palestinian nation, and the last support Iran gave before this terrorist attack was the Islamic Republic’s receiving of the leaders of the Palestinian groups in Tehran,” he said elsewhere in the interview. 

“I would think that the main goal of the terrorist attack of the Zionist regime was to bring the Islamic Republic to a direct military confrontation in order to gain international support. I would argue that Iran’s reaction will not be what the Zionists are waiting for. Iran will respond to this terrorist attack at the due time and place and according to the nature of the confrontation.”

MNA/6068007