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Kejriwal visits Singhu border, supports farmer protest, Bharat Bandh

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday visited the Singhu border, where thousands of farmers are protesting against the Centre's new farm laws, and reviewed arrangements made for them by the city government. The visit comes a day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) extended its support to the ''Bharat Bandh'' called by protesting farmers on December 8.

BS views of the week: Modi's dilemma, solution to farmers' grievances and more

From RBI's bimonthly monetary policy to the farmers’ blockade of Delhi, here’s what Business Standard columnists wrote this week

Any responsible govt will not dismantle MSP system: NITI Aayog's Chand

Farmers largely from Northern India have been staging protests in and around Delhi since last few days against the three farm acts recently passed by Parliament. The acts which have been termed as revolutionary by several commentators also drew criticism over some of the clauses. In an interview with Business Standard, eminent agriculture economist and member of NITI Aayog, Dr Ramesh Chand discusses all the provisions of the acts and key demands of the farmers. He also lays bare some of the misgivings about the legislations.

MDH Dadaji, style icon & a successful CEO: The legacy of Dharampal Gulati

Dharampal Gulati, famously known as 'MDH Dadaji' for repeated appearance in his spice brand's television ads, died on December 3. He started his spices business journey as a nondescript shack in Delhi's Karol Bagh after selling his tonga, and went on, at the age of 94, to becoming the highest-paid CEO in the country's FMCG sector. Gulati, also known as the Spice King, was born in Sialkot (now in Pakistan) on March 27, 1923, and moved to India after Partition and set up his business in Delhi. His father had a spice shop in Sialkot, called 'Mahashian Di Hatti' (MDH), but the outlet was popularly known as 'Deggi Mirch Wale'. Watch the video which tracks his inspiring journey.

Coronavirus vaccine could be ready in a few weeks: PM Narendra Modi at all-party meet

In his closing remarks at an all-party meeting with leaders of various political parties to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country, Modi said experts believe the wait for the COVID-19 vaccine will not be long and it may be ready in a few weeks.

Last monetary policy review of 2020: RBI Governor's speech highlights

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has left interest rates unchanged for a third straight meeting as inflation stayed stubbornly high, and said the economy was recuperating fast and would return to positive growth in the current quarter itself. The benchmark repurchase rate will be maintained at 4 per cent, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said. The six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) retained its accommodative stance, signaling its intentions to cut interest rates whenever the situation eases. A spike in consumer prices forced RBI to pause after cutting rates by 115 basis points this year. The central bank, which had previously expected the economy to shrink 9.5 per cent in the year to March, revised its forecast after a shallower-than-expected decline in the gross domestic product (GDP) in the July-September quarter.

Covid vaccine by end of this month? AIIMS Director's 'big turnaround' claim

AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria has pinned his hopes on the five Covid-19 vaccine candidates which are in advanced stages of clinical trial in India, stating they are logistically feasible for distribution in both urban and rural areas. His assertion comes amid Pfizer-BioNTech's anti-coronavirus vaccine getting emergency clearance in the UK, paving the way for mass vaccinations against the deadly novel coronavirus from as early as next week. Dr Guleria expressed hope that by the end of this month or early next month, at least one of the five vaccines being locally-tested should get emergency use authorisation from the drug regulator to be administered to the public starting with priority groups.

Pfizer coronavirus vaccine rollout: What it means for India, world

The UK has become the first Western nation to approve a Covid-19 vaccine, vaulting past the US and the European Union in the race to approve a vaccine, months into a pandemic that has killed almost 1.5 million people worldwide. The Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine is the first one in the UK to be approved for use, with hopes people can start receiving the injection within a week. But will it be available for Indians? And how this development is going to help the world in its fight against coronavirus. Watch the video

Drink tea, get a mask free: Gujarat man's 'chai initiative' against Covid

As Gujarat saw rise in Covid-19 cases post Diwali, a tea seller in Vadodara city is distributing free mask with a cup of tea to his customers. Sapan Machi, who runs his tea stall named ‘Shree Sainath Tea Center’ in Bajwada area, is doing his part to ensure Gujarat gets past what can be called a second wave of coronavirus in the western state.

Farmers' protest and 'villages on wheels': Inside story from Ground Zero

Farmers' protest: Why are thousands of farmers protesting in and around Delhi? Why do they fear new farm laws? What they stand to lose? These are some basic questions that everyone across the country would want to know. As government hopes for a positive outcome from talks, Business Standard travels to the protest site to know more about farmers' demands and the conditions they are the living in, in the hope of a better tomorrow, miles away from their families and villages in Punjab, Haryana and other states.

Will the entire country be vaccinated? Govt's take on Serum row, Covid-19

The Centre has said there may not be a need to vaccinate the country's entire population against Covid-19 if a critical mass of people are given a shot to break the chain of virus transmission, and made it clear it had never spoken about inoculating everyone. The Centre also asserted that an ''adverse event'' allegedly suffered by a participant in the clinical trial of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine by the Serum Institute of India (SII) will not impact in any manner the timeline for its rollout. Also, it said the initial findings of a probe into the event did not necessitate halting of the trials of the vaccine.

First Indian as Global CEO: Tracking the story behind Bata's India connect

Sandeep Kataria has become the first Indian to be appointed as global CEO of leading footwear company Bata. He joins the growing league of other Indians who have risen to head global organisations, including Satya Nadella of Microsoft and Sundar Pichai of Alphabet, just to name a few from the long list. Bata holds a special place for Indian consumers. Watch this video to get a sense of Bata's India connect and its history.

Watch: Canada PM Trudeau expresses concern over farmers' protest in India

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday expressed concern about the ongoing farmers' protest in India against three farm laws and said Ottawa has reached out to the Indian authorities to highlight the same. Speaking during a Facebook video interaction organised by Canadian MP Bardish Chagger to mark Gurupurab or the 551st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, Trudeau on Monday (local time) said Canada will always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest.

How Melania Trump is preparing for Christmas one last time at White House

US First Lady Melania Trump has unveiled the White House Christmas decor on the theme, 'America the Beautiful', which she said is a "tribute to the majesty of our great nation". All of the halls, from the East Room to the Red Room, were decked by over 125 volunteers. "I am excited to announce this year's White House holiday theme, 'America the Beautiful'," the First Lady said on Monday. It is "a tribute to the majesty of our great Nation", she said. "From coast to coast, the bond that all Americans share is an appreciation for our traditions, values and history, which were the inspiration behind the decorations this year," Melania Trump said.

Watch: PM Modi blames Opposition for 'misleading farmers' over new laws

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on has accused the opposition parties of misleading farmers and "playing tricks" again on them as he asserted that the new agriculture laws over which protests by farmers raged in the NCR will provide new options to sell for more and also with safeguards. Modi also said that presently a new trend is being seen in the country where protests are based on creating doubts through misinformation while union ministers urged farmers not to have any misconceptions about the three agriculture reform legislations.

India's vaccine plan against coronavirus: Govt sets August 2021 deadline

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on November 30, informed that a COVID-19 vaccine will be provided in first 3-4 months of next year. “In the first 3-4 months of next year, there is a possibility that we will be able to provide vaccine to the people of the country. By July-August, we have a plan to provide vaccines to around 25-30 crore people and we are preparing accordingly.”

Who will get Covid vaccine first? Serum CEO on distribution, pricing & Modi

Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla said that the coronavirus vaccine will be distributed initially in India and then the company will look at Covax countries, which are mainly in Africa. Serum Institute of India (SII) is conducting clinical trials of AstraZeneca-Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine candidate in India. Watch the full interview.

Watch: PM Modi in PPE suit, on 3-city tour to review Covid vaccine progress

Wearing a PPE kit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the vaccine development process at the Zydus Cadila research centre in Changodar industrial area, over 20 km from Ahmedabad. Zydus Cadila has announced that the phase-I clinical trial of its vaccine candidate ZyCoV-D is over and it has commenced phase-II clinical trials from August. In Hyderabad, Modi visited vaccine maker Bharat Biotech's facility. Bharat Biotech's Covaxin is undergoing phase-3 trials. After his hour-long visit to the facility, the PM will proceed to Pune, where he will visit the Serum Institute of India (SII), which has partnered with global pharma giant AstraZeneca and the Oxford University for the vaccine.

Three Facts with AKB: Now, FY21 GDP contraction is nearly certain for India

The rate of India’s GDP contraction in the July-September quarter of 2020-21 has come down to a respectable 7.5 per cent, after an unprecedented 24 per cent contraction in the previous quarter. While this is a positive sign, reflecting the onset of an economic revival, it’s not all good news. The bad news is that now it is almost impossible for the country to register a growth in GDP this financial year. In order to avoid a negative growth in full 2020-21, India will need to register a real GDP growth of over 15 per cent in each of the two remaining quarters. That may just not be possible in the present economic scenario. >

Defying barbed wires, tear-gas & water jets, farmers inch closer to Delhi

Despite heavy security deployment, groups of agitating farmers from Punjab and Haryana reached near two Delhi borders after breaking police barricades on the way as part of their protest march against the Centre's new farm laws. The Delhi Police has enhanced deployment of security personnel, stationed sand-laden trucks and water cannons and used barbed wire for fencing at the Singhu and Tikri border points (Delhi-Haryana border) to prevent the protesters from entering the city. Police were also deployed on Delhi's border with Faridabad and Gurgaon. However, two groups of farmers reached near the Singhu and Tikri borders as Delhi Police fired tear gas shells to prevent them from entering the city. Situation was tense at the border points as Delhi Police made repeated announcements on loudspeakers asking the farmers to retreat.