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<ul><li>India’s Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) classified Delta Plus variant, a mutant of novel Coronavirus, as a ‘variant of concern’.</li><li>The health ministry has advised three states -- Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala to ramp up containment measures in the districts affected with the Delta Plus variant.</li><li>The new mutant variant has so far been detected in three other states as well -- Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.</li></ul>The Delta Plus variant of the Coronavirus has been detected in around 80 countries including India, US, UK, Portugal, Switzerland, Japan, Nepal, Poland, China and Russia. India’s Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) classified Delta Plus variant, a mutant of novel Coronavirus, as a ‘variant of concern’. The health ministry has advised three states — Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala to ramp up containment measures in the districts affected with the Delta Plus variant. Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said that the government is taking all necessary steps to curb the spread of the Delta Plus variant in the state. “For this, the government has decided to collect hundreds of samples from each district of the state for genome sequencing. The process of collecting samples from each district has already started," he told India Today TV. The new mutant variant has so far been detected in three other states as well — Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. What is the Delta Plus variant? Viruses mutate in order to survive, SARS-CoV-2 (which causes COVID-19) has gone through several mutations, giving rise to several variants. The Delta variant was detected in India, initially. It is technically the next generation of SARS-COV-2. Where was Delta Plus variation first detected? The mutant of Delta was first detected in Europe in March this year, but was brought to public notice on June 13. What do we know so far about Delta Plus variation? There is no clear evidence, which indicates that the new variant is highly infectious, but it is seen as a rising concern in many regions. “There is no proof that the variant could be more transmissible than others,” Prof. Shahid Jameel — former Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics or Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genetics Consortium (INSACOG) member and a premier virologist — told PTI. Are COVID-19 vaccines effective against the Delta Plus variant? Reports say it's too early to predict and there is no indication of the severity of the disease. Before coming to a conclusion, detailed study needs to be established if the variant showcases any significant level of immune escape. Two Delta Plus variant cases were registered in the UK even after 14 days of getting the second dose of vaccine. However, both Indian vaccines — Covishield and Covaxin — are effective against the Delta variant, says Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Ministry Secretary. Does the Delta Plus variant cause more severe disease? Not many known symptoms have been found for Delta Plus variation. But for Delta variation these are the common symptoms -- <ul><li>Stomach pain</li><li>Nausea</li><li>Vomiting</li><li>Loss of appetite</li><li>Loss of hearing</li><li>Joint pain</li></ul>What are the odds of Delta Plus sparking the third wave of COVID-19? Well, there is no certainty and currently, due to low numbers, it is difficult to predict. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/investments-in-crypto-hit-17-billion-in-the-first-six-months-of-2021/articleshow/83740327.cms">Investments in crypto hit a new record of $17 billion, but Indian funds are yet to jump on the bandwagon</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/flipkart-and-amazon-may-not-be-able-to-do-flash-sales/articleshow/83737670.cms">Amazon, Flipkart and other e-commerce platforms may not be able to do flash sales any more, if Indian government has its way</a> <meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

Delta Plus: All you need to know about the new Coronavirus variant

<ul><li>Remdesivir, steroids, plasma, Tocilizumab, and Favipiravir are some of the most widely used treatments for COVID-19.</li><li>According to AIIMS’ director Randeep Guleria, the timing of using these drugs — depending on the condition of a COVID-19 patient — is critical in their effectiveness.</li><li>Using them too early or too late could result in harmful side-effects.</li><li>Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about COVID-19 drugs.</li></ul>(Disclaimer: This should not be considered medical advice. The views and opinions expressed belong to Dr.Randeep Guleria, the director of AIIMS. Please check with your doctor before taking treatment.) It’s been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic has been ravaging humanity. Despite predictions that the world would be out of the woods by now, the second wave of the virus is wreaking havoc in countries everywhere, including India. As the number of cases has increased, so has the demand for the drugs that offer potential treatment. This includes everything from the overhyped Remdesivir to less known drugs like Tocilizumab and Favipiravir. These drugs, however, are in short supply. Pharmacies across the country are reporting shortages. Moreover, this has led to a boom in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/remdesivir-injection-price-jumps-five-times-as-covid-19-cases-rise/articleshow/82083414.cms">blackmarket sales</a> of these drugs. According to Randeep Guleria, director of All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), these drugs aren’t just something that you can take at home. And the timing of when they should be administered is critical in ensuring that a bad situation isn’t made worse. In a press conference on April 19, Guleria answered some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) around COVID-19 and the drugs that fight it. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Here’s a quick look at his responses:" comment="subhead" text="Here’s a quick look at his responses:">Here’s a quick look at his responses:</cmsannotation> <ol><li>Is Remdesivir effective in the treatment of COVID-19? No study has conclusively been able to prove that Remdesivir is beneficial in the treatment of COVID-19. “It’s important to understand that Remdesivir is not a magic bullet and it’s not a drug that is reducing mortality,” said Guleria.</li><li>If there is not enough evidence to support the use of Remdesivir to treat COVID 19, why are doctors still prescribing it? “It [Remdesivir] does have a role,” Guleria explained. While everyone has been focused on coming up with a vaccine to fight off the pandemic, the same push has not been seen in the development of antivirals. So, in absence of a good drug that can treat COVID-19, doctors and patients are turning to Remdesivir in hopes of relief.</li><li>When should a patient of COVID 19 take Remdesivir? More important than the drug itself, is the timing of when it is administered. Taking it too early or too late, could do more harm than good.“Remdesivir has been shown to be useful only in those patients who were hospitalised, who showed oxygen saturation and had infiltrates on their chest X-ray or CT scan,” said Guleria. According to him, the optimal timing for Remdesivir is usually after five to seven days of having the virus. “It is of no use if given early to mild or asymptomatic patients,” he told the press. “It is of no use if it’s given very late because it would create a cytokine storm.” A cytokine storm is when the immune system goes into overdrive. The body starts to attack its own cells and tissues instead of just the virus.</li><li>Is Remdesivir something you can take at home? Remdesivir isn’t just a pill that you can down with a glass of water. It comes in a vial and has to be injected into the body. So, ideally, one should not be taking it at home.“It is for patients who are hospitalised and severe. Therefore it should not be given at home. It is for patients who need to be admitted and need hospital care,” said Guleria. </li><li>Are steroids effective in the treatment of COVID 19? Unlike Remdesivir, there is evidence to support the use of steroids in the treatment of COVID-19. The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recovery trial showed that steroids do have a beneficial effect. “But again, the timing is critical. The recovery trial clearly showed that if we give steroids too early, before oxygen saturation, it showed a harmful effect. Those who got it early had higher mortality than those who did not,” warned Guleria.According to him, steroids are most effective during the later part of the disease, when there is more inflammation and oxygen saturation is falling. “Steroids are only useful for moderate or severe cases,” he said.</li><li>Is plasma a good way to fight off COVID-19? Plasma was popular when COVID-19 initially came around but studies in India, and around the world, have determined that it is not effective in the treatment. “Subsequently, other studies have been done and a large meta analysis as well which combines results of all the studies, have shown that plasma is not effective in treating COVID-19,” said Guleria.</li><li>Should a person with COVID-19 take Tocilizumab? Tocilizumab is a drug of last resort. According to Guleria, it should only be used when a COVID-19 infection in a patient is worsening despite steroids, Remdesivir, and other treatments like anticoagulants. “Tocilizumab is required in less than 2% of COVID 19 patients. Very few patients need this drug because it's only for treating a cytokine storm… And, therefore, it has a limited role,” he explained.</li><li>Is Favipiravir effective in treating COVID-19? Favipiravir is another antiviral that is being promoted for the treatment of COVID 19. It was initially doled out as a treatment of influenza after the H1N1 pandemic.“There is not enough evidence in robust studies to show that it is a good drug. In most countries, it is not being used. They’re not finding higher mortality,” said Guleria. And, since it’s not a proven treatment, India’s national guidelines also don’t recommend its use. </li><li>Is it possible to treat COVID-19 without any of the drugs mentioned above? According to Guleria, people with mild COVID-19 or those who are asymptomatic will improve with just symptomatic treatment.“Outside [in other countries] they treat COVID-19 with paracetamol, good hydration and multivitamins — all of them have recovered without any treatment,” he told reporters. “Giving treatment when it is not required, you may be doing more harm than good.”</li></ol>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/for-saas-y-salaries-indian-engineers-are-skipping-the-traditional-it-services-queue/articleshow/82157280.cms">SaaS-y salaries are 30% more than traditional IT services — and they’re making it tougher for traditional IT service firms to find the right talent</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/tiger-global-invests-in-healthcare-startup-pristyn-care-valuation-more-than-doubles-in-six-months/articleshow/82158467.cms">Tiger Global invests in healthcare startup Pristyn Care, valuation more than doubles in six months</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-has-the-142nd-rank-of-the-180-countries-in-the-world-press-freedom-index-falls-behind-myanmar-sri-lanka-and-nepal/articleshow/82158331.cms">India still has the ‘bad’ classification in the World Press Freedom Index, falls behind Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Nepal</a> <meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

When to use Remdesivir, Favipiravir, Steroids and Tocilizumab drugs for covid 19 treatment: AIIMS doctor explains

<ul><li>Reports say that the RBI is looking to hike its gold reserves to 10% of its total reserves as opposed to the current 6.5%.</li><li>A Central Bank buys gold for the same reason that households do. It's a safe investment.</li><li>Whenever there is a fear of a crisis, RBI buys either gold or US dollars – the world's two safest bets.</li></ul>An Indian TV channel, <a href="https://twitter.com/ETNOWlive/status/1295352471968026628">ET NOW,</a> reported citing sources that the Reserve Bank of India is looking to increase its reserves of gold substantially. According to the report, the RBI is looking to hike its gold reserves to 10% of its total reserves as opposed to the current 6.5%. <ol><li>Why does the RBI want to buy gold? A Central Bank buys gold for the same reason that households do. It's a safe investment.Inflation does not reduce the value of gold neither does an economic crisis.RBI had recently indicated the red expects inflation to remain very high in the coming months and before cooling down by the end of the financial year in March. The coronavirus crisis has also caused a huge dent in India's economic growth potential.</li><li>Why is gold a safe investment? Shoring up gold will be a defence against this crisis combined with the possibility of inflation. China has been shoring up gold reserves for 7 straight months now.Whenever there is a fear of a crisis, RBI buys either gold or US dollars – the world's two safest bets. India already has over $538 billion in US dollars and the RBI may feel that it has enough dollars in the kitty. If something were to go wrong in the US (E.G election, trade war with China or an actual war) and that leads to the weakening of the dollar, then that would mean the existing foreign exchange reserve will be worth less. </li><li>Is this a sign that the current crisis will definitely worsen? The RBI may be taking a precautionary move if the economic crisis or inflation explodes in the coming months."Headline inflation may remain elevated in till September, but may moderate in the second half of the year aided by large favourable base effects," RBI said after its latest monetary policy review.</li></ol><meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

Here's why Reserve Bank of India may be looking to boost its gold reserve

As many as 75 districts across the country are under lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19. Here are a few frequently asked questions related to lockdown in India. <ol><li>Can I move out from home to procure essential supplies for my home kitchen? This is perfectly allowed provided that you abide by the rules of social isolation. Plan your shopping in the nearby places and limit your movements. And when you do, maintain the basics of social distance. 
</li><li>Will transportation systems continue to operate? Privately public transportation systems like cabs, auto rickshaws, rickshaws and others will be suspended during the lockdown period. However, trains in cities like Mumbai will run but only those who furnish an ID proving to work for an essential service, will be allowed. </li><li>Can we host a birthday party at our home? Parties and gatherings of all kinds have been prohibited. You may need to postpone any event planned at your home or otherwise.
</li><li>Can I visit my friend or relative in the same town during lockdown? Movements outside your home are permitted only on grounds of procuring essential supplies and availing of critical medical assistance. At the checkpoints, officials overseeing the lockdown might enquire where you are moving to. As much as possible, try to avoid any casual moves outside your home during the lockdown period. 
</li><li>I have a cloth shop. Can I open it during the lockdown period? Cloth shops do not come under essential services. Hence you need to shut your shop during the lockdown period.
</li><li>I am a cab driver. Can I run my private transport system? The Delhi government owned public transport system will operate with 25% of the services during the lockdown period and other private operators are barred from operating their cabs. 
</li><li>I sell groceries, milk, ration and other items. Can I open my shop? Since groceries, milk, ration and other food items you sell are covered under essential categories of supplies, you can operate your shop as usual. 
</li><li>Can I open the sweet shop I own? Sweet shops might also sell bakery items. In such case your shop will come under essential services and hence you can operate your shop. 
</li><li>Can I travel from one city another during lockdown? Permitting travels between cities depends on the policies and situation of the locality you are living in. You must consult the local authorities in this case if any travel is absolutely necessitated. 
</li><li>Can I travel between states during lockdown? In most cases, state borders remain closed during lockdown and so you might not be able to travel between states except for critical medical reasons. 
</li><li>Can I go to work at my office during lockdown? Many offices have let their employees work from home during the lockdown period. If your company has allowed this provision, you can make use of it. If you need to travel to your office, you will need to produce a work certificate at checkpoints. </li></ol><meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

Can I open my sweet shop and other FAQs on the government lockdown, answered

Lohri marks the end of the winter. Crowds gather around large, teaming bonfires to celebrate the passing of the winter solstice. Rabi crops are primed for harvest as farmers look forward to a new season. One of Veer Zaara’s most popular songs Lodi re-popularised the tradition of dancing and singing as everyone circles the bonfire. Not just in Punjab, but other parts of North India, people celebrate by charring wood and playing songs on the radio. Lohri signals the beginning of the happy sunny days. Here are a few FAQs about Lohri that might interest you. <ol><li>What is Happy Lohri? Happy Lohri is the conventional greeting on Lohri. Rather than go to each other’s homes to exchange sweets or mithai, like during Diwali, Lohri calls for everyone to meet at a common place. The community comes together and wishes each other a ‘Happy Lohri’ signifying the beginning of a new season. The word Lohri is derived from two words til (sesame) and rorhi (jaggery), which are traditionally eaten during the festival. The terms til and rorhi together used to sound like 'tilohri' earlier in history, gradually morphing into the term ‘Lohri’. One the fire dies out, dinner includes crowd favorites like makki di roti te sarson da saag (cornflour pancakes and mustard spinach) and lassi (buttermilk).</li><li>What is the significance of Lohri? Lohri celebrations mark the beginning of the harvest season. It is celebrated to offer thanks for making a bounteous harvest possible. Lohri night traditionally falls on the longest night of the year known as the winter solstice. Lohri festival indicates that the biting cold of the winter is ending and happy sunny days are arriving. </li><li>What do we do on Lohri? Bonfire is the top highlight of Lohri. Traditionally, families used to gather around bonfires and sing folk songs like Sundariye Mundariye Ho. Nowadays, most people plug in a speaker to play songs off of YouTube or other music apps.Dishes made of rewri, gajak, peanuts and other seasonal products are snacks — as well as bonfire fodder. </li><li>What do you put on a Lohri fire? People sing and dance around the Lohri fire and throw foods like gajak, popcorn, puffed rice and others into the fire as ‘tributes’ to the gods in exchange for blessings. Lohri is also considered especially auspicious for newlywed couples and parents with newborn babies.</li><li>Why do we burn fire on Lohri? Folklore of Punjab believes that the flames of the bonfire lit on the day of Lohri carry the messages and prayers of the people to the sun god to bring warmth to the planet to help crops grow. In exchange, the sun god blesses the land and ends the days of gloom and cold. The next day is celebrated as Makar Sankranti. For some, the bonfire symbolically indicates that the bright days are ahead of the people’s lives and acts as the carrier of people’s prayers to the sun god — it's just a really good excuse to party.</li></ol> See Also - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/all-you-need-to-know-about-pongal-and-sankranti/articleshow/73226362.cms">All you need to know about Pongal and Sankranti</a> <meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

What is the significance of Lohri and why we burn fire on Lohri?

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is an authority instituted vide Article 148 of the Constitution of India. The prime responsibility of this authority is to audit the receipts and expenditures of the state governments and the union government in India including those of the entities and corporations financed by the government. The reports generated by the CAG are crucially important for the Public Accounts Committees (PACs) and Committees on Public Undertakings (COPUs), which are part of the state and central governments. Here are a few FAQs that will clarify many things about CAG? <ol><li>What is full name of CAG? The expansion of CAG reads as ‘The Comptroller and Auditor General of India’. </li><li>Who is the present CAG president? The incumbent CAG is Rajiv Mehrishi, IAS who assumed his office on 25 September 2017. Born on August 8, 1955 Rahiv Mehrishi is a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer belonging to the 1978 batch of the Rajasthan cadre. Rajiv is the 13th Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&amp;AG) and also the Vice - Chairman of United Nations Panel of External Auditors.</li><li>Who was the first CAG in India? V. Narahari Rao, a former civil servant was the first CAG who remained in his office from 1948 to 1954. In recognition of his significant contributions to the civil service in India, the government of India awarded him the highest civilian award namely Padma Bhushan in the year 1954.</li><li>Who can appoint CAG? The President of India appoints the CAG (The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India) based on the recommendations made by the Prime Minister. On his appointment to the office, the CAG needs to take the oath or affirmation in front of the President of India. </li><li>How can the CAG be removed from his office? The CAG can be removed from his office only if both the houses of parliament pass a resolution to do so on grounds of misbehavior or incapacity. The tenure of the CAG is 6 years or till the age of 65, whichever happens earlier while he serves from his position. </li><li>What is the power of CAG? Ranked 9th in the country in terms of his powers, the CAG enjoys the status that is similar to that of a judge of the Supreme Court of India.Vide article 148 of the Constitution of India, the CAG enjoys an independent office in the country. The CAG is also the head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department. He too has the most important duty to protect the interests of the public exchequer. The Indian Audit and Accounts Service provides the support necessary for the CAG to carry out his functions. </li><li>What are the important functions of CAG? Auditing the state and central government accounts and finding the performance of the consolidated fund of the state and the union government's irrespective of whether they happened inside or outside IndiaAuditing all the revenues into the consolidated funds of the state and central governments and all the transactions connected to the public accounts and the contingency funds of the union and state governments.</li></ol><meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

CAG Audit - What is prime responsibility of CAG in audit

The deadline for paying the toll charges through FASTag has been extended to December 15, 2019, whereas the earlier deadline was December 1, 2019. While the government has given some additional time for the vehicle owners to make a switchover to this system, those vehicles crossing the toll plazas without FASTag after December 15 will have to incur twice the toll charges. This being announced, now the vehicle owners are desperately hunting for the required info <ol><li>What is FASTag system FASTag is a method of electronically paying the toll charges while the vehicles pass through the toll plazas located at the National Highways all over India. FASTag works on radio frequency identification technology that can automatically debit the toll charges applicable to the given vehicle from the linked account of the vehicle owner. Having FASTag affixed to the windshield of your vehicle will mean you will not have to stop at the toll plazas in long queues for paying the toll charges. This will make the process much easier. It is quite easy to buy, use and recharge FASTag and the whole system works in a similar fashion to the concept of mobile wallet. 
</li><li>Where to buy FASTag FASTag, the electronic toll collection tags are made available by the government through various providers like PayTM, fuel stations, banks and others. You can also buy FASTag from Amazon or any toll plaza. Talking of banks that offer FASTag, we can list out entities like Kotak Mahindra, ICICI, HDFC and others. If you wish to buy a new FASTag, you need to carry an ID proof, address proof, and vehicle registration documents. The National Highways Authority of India has requested the banks to offer FASTag free of charges. However, only a few banks have implemented the instructions. Here is an overview of the discounts available on FASTag from different banks so that you can make informed decisions while buying FASTag. 
</li><li>how much discount by PayTM for fastag PayTm charges one-time fee of Rs. 100 (tag fee) to issue FASTag. The other charges payable are a security deposit of Rs. 250, and a threshold amount. The threshold amount depends on the type of vehicle. For instance, the threshold amount for light commercial vehicles is Rs.150 and it is Rs. 200 in case of LCV’s with 2 axles.
</li><li>how much discount by HDFC Bank for fastag When you buy FASTag from HDFC bank, there is no tag joining or one-time fee till 31 December 2019 as the banker’s site says. Security deposit is Rs. 200 with the threshold amount calculated depending on the vehicle. Threshold amount for LCV is 100 and for LCV with 2 axles, it is Rs. 200.
</li><li>how much discount by ICICI Bank for fastag When you buy FASTag from ICICI, you will have to pay Rs. 499. The break up is as follows. Tag joining fee is Rs. 99.12 which includes GST. The security deposit is Rs. 200 and the minimum recharge amount is Rs. 200. A small convenience fee is applicable for online recharges.
</li><li>how much discount by SBI Bank for fastag With SBI, the FASTag issuance fee is Rs. 100 for all categories of vehicles. The minimum security deposit depends on the type of vehicle. For LCV, the security amount is Rs. 200 and for LCVs with 2 axles, it is Rs. 300. The minimum balance is Rs 100 and Rs 140 respectively in these cases. 
</li><li>how much discount by Kotak Mahindra Bank Kotak Mahindra Bank has waived off the one time joining fee or tag fee till 15 January 2020. The tag deposit is Rs. 200 and the threshold amount is Rs 200 in case of LCV. In case of LCVs with 2 axles, the tag deposit is Rs. 300 and the threshold amount is Rs 200.
</li></ol><meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

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