-The Hindu 12-member team to go beyond present crisis, prepare road map for transparent budgeting with States The Supreme Court has constituted a 12-member National Task Force to streamline and ensure the “effective and transparent” allocation of liquid medical oxygen on a “scientific, RATional and equitable basis” to States and Union Territories fighting COVID-19. The apex court had expressed its dissatisfaction at the Centre’s earlier “oxygen-for-bed” formula. This “rough-and-ready” arrangement, as the court...

-Newslaundry.com According to their data, four journalists died every day on average in the first six days of May. At least 171 journalists have lost their lives to Covid-19 since April 2020, according to a list compiled by RATe The Debate Campaign, and initiated by the Institute of Perception Studies, Delhi. The list, updated on May 6, shows that 121 journalists died this year alone, with the most deaths, 90, taking place in...

-The Hindu Current price negotiated through bulk orders may not be replicable: Finance Secy The first lot of vaccines were procured by the Centre using PM CARES funds at a higher RATe than the subsequent rounds paid for by budgetary allocations, The Hindu has learnt from the response to a Right to Information request by a transparency activist. The Health Ministry response said that the initial 5.6 crore doses of Covishield were bought...

-The Hindu Ministry concedes Q1 growth to be hit, bats for expanding vaccination pace. The second COVID-19 wave which is spreading fast beyond the worst-affected districts in the country, could dent economic activity till June this year, and expanding vaccination pace in the country is the “need of the hour”, the Finance Ministry said on Friday. The Ministry also indicated it is not in favour of a national lockdown to curb the pandemic,...

-The Hindu India has so far reported more than 2.18 crore cases and over 2.38 lakh deaths. India recorded more than 4,000 new COVID-19 related deaths for the first time on a single day, with 4,197 fresh fatalities on May 7. The country also recorded 4,01,228 new COVID-19 cases on May 7. India has so far reported a total of 2,18,86,611 cases and 2,38,265 deaths. Maharashtra reported 54,022 infections, followed by Karnataka (48,781), and...