Focus
NCP(SP) was prepared to hand over leadership of party to Ajit Pawar following merger: Shashikant Shinde
Mumbai, Feb 13 (IANS) Maharashtra NCP(SP) President Shashikant Shinde has written a commemorative editorial in the party’s magazine, shedding light on the hidden dynamics of the split and the alleged merger plans between the two NCP factions.
Shinde claimed that late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was forced to exit the original NCP due to threats and conspiracies orchestrated by "invisible powers."
He further said that a final decision to merge the two parties was reached in the presence of Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar and was to be announced on February 12.
In a massive revelation, Shinde asserted that Sharad Pawar and other senior leaders had agreed to hand over the entire command of the unified party to Ajit Pawar following the merger.
“Fulfilling this merger and rebuilding the party with strength would be the only true tribute to Ajit Dada," Shinde wrote.
Shinde clarified, "It was our decision to hand over all party responsibilities to Ajit Dada once the merger process was complete. However, fate had other plans. We were all mentally prepared to accept Ajit Dada’s leadership.”
Shinde appealed to the party faithful, asserting that a merger is the only true tribute to the late leader. He noted, “Ajit Pawar’s dream remains unfulfilled, and it is now the party's responsibility to complete it. Unity: Reuniting and strengthening the NCP is the ultimate goal. Leaders and workers must set aside their differences and broaden their perspective to achieve this unity.”
Following the publication of the article, senior NCP(SP) leader and former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh remarked, "I am unaware of what our State President has said. Since he wrote the article, he likely has more information than I do. I personally have no knowledge of this matter."
While Sharad Pawar has avoided commenting publicly on the matter, Shinde’s article has brought these behind-the-scenes developments to light. However, Shinde’s revelations have sparked a new controversy and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) has reacted with sharp skepticism.
Party spokesperson Suraj Chavan questioned the timing of these claims. Chavan alleged that discussing a merger while the leader’s mortal remains were still at Vidya Pratishthan suggests a "lust for power" rather than genuine respect. He clarified that Sunetra Pawar is now the ultimate authority of their party and any dialogue must happen through her.
Further, the party legislator Amol Mitkari stated that no such merger discussions have occurred within their internal party meetings, attributing the rumours to the rival camp's leaders.
While the Pawar family continues to demonstrate a unique balance of political rivalry and familial bond — recently seen at family weddings — the political future remains clouded.
All eyes are now on Sunetra Pawar. Whether she will pursue the "unfulfilled dream" of a unified NCP or maintain a separate identity, remains a question that will define the next chapter of Maharashtra politics.
--IANS
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India’s electronics exports outpace global growth: NITI Aayog report
New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) India’s share in global electronics demand has expanded at a rapid compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.2 per cent, significantly outpacing global growth of 4.4 per cent between 2015 and 2024, driven primarily by the sharp rise in mobile phone exports, according to NITI Aayog's Trade Watch Quarterly report for July-September 2025-26, launched on Friday.
Between 2016 and 2024, electronics exports increased nearly five-fold, reaching USD 42.1 billion. With global electronics trade valued at USD 4.6 trillion, the sector represents one of the largest and fastest-evolving segments of the world economy. India has demonstrated particular strength in products such as mobile phones, consumer electronics, and communication equipment, with exports increasingly directed towards major final-consumption markets including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the UAE, the report states.
Electronics, the thematic focus of this quarter's edition, has emerged as a cornerstone of India's manufacturing and export transformation. Now the second-largest item in India's export basket, the sector is both technology-led and deeply interconnected with industries such as automotive, renewable energy, telecom, defence, and digital services, making it a powerful multiplier for industrial growth.
The report states that having established a strong foothold in assembly and system integration, India is now entering the next phase of its electronics journey, moving decisively toward component manufacturing and higher value addition. This transition is supported by targeted policy measures, including the Union Budget's Rs 40,000 crore allocation under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, aimed at strengthening domestic capabilities.
The analysis underscores that sustained competitiveness will be driven by deeper integration into global electronics value chains, encompassing printed circuit board design, semiconductor assembly and testing, power electronics, and embedded systems. Complemented by continued improvements in logistics efficiency, tariff rationalisation, and industry-aligned skill development, these shifts position electronics as a key engine of India's export growth and technological advancement in the coming decade.
NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery said, "Electronics, as the organising core of modern manufacturing value chains, with semiconductors and components, plays a key role in determining trade balances and technological sovereignty. While India has achieved scale in final assembly, sustained competitiveness will depend on correcting structural cost disabilities, deepening domestic component ecosystems, and leveraging anchor investments in components to embed Indian firms more firmly within global production networks."
The publication also provides a comprehensive assessment of global and domestic trade trends at a time when global trade growth has moderated but remains positive, with services continuing to outperform goods and developing regions emerging as key drivers.
The analysis highlights that India's trade performance in Q2 FY26 was driven by export-led momentum sustaining the overall trade expansion amid heightened global uncertainty. Services and merchandise exports recorded robust growth of around 8.5 per cent, outpacing import growth in both merchandise and services.
At a structural level, the edition underscores the deepening of trade among developing economies, which has expanded nearly four-fold since 2005 and now accounts for a rising share of global exports, with India’s trade trajectory increasingly aligned with this Global South rebalancing through regional value chains and new trade corridors.
Further, this edition highlights the growing role of e-commerce as a key enabler of future export growth. India is now among the world’s top six e-commerce markets, with electronics accounting for nearly half of online retail.
--IANS
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ShowBiz
Dalip Tahil takes a dig at Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, calls it the ‘Best own goal’
Mumbai, Nov 14 (IANS) Veteran actor Dalip Tahil ridiculed Sonia Gandhi's recently released memoir, calling it the 'Best own goal'.
On Saturday, Dalip Tahil uploaded a video on his Instagram, in which ,he spoke at length about the Congress's rule, Sonia Gandhi, the Gandhi family, also comparing it to BJP's rule.
He started the video by saying that the book offered a blueprint of the DNA of the Congress, along with being a shocking reflection on the first political family of this country.
He said, "We all felt, and we believed there was a lot of depth. There was a lot of substance. There was a lot of political vision in this family, only to discover that really it was all feet of clay and, funnily enough, Sonia Gandhi has revealed this."
The 'Baazigar actor shared that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into power, he was a little skeptical as to how he would be able to displace the Congress because everyone believed that the Congress had a lot of depth and experience.
The veteran actor said, "He came and he just laughed and puff and blow your house down. And he did. And I always wondered, I said, like, 'What happened to this great party? How did the Congress just get blown away?' And now we realize that at the time, it was very clear that they were just sycophants who hovered around like flies around the pot of honey. And then the pot of honey was not there or began to leak. So they all fled, never to be seen again."
Talking about Sonia Gandhi, Dilip added that it also reflects on the people of the country, how they put people on a pedestal just because they're foreigners.
"Well, at the time, I mean, you know, OK, I grant you that there was no social media. So we did not have insights into how the Gandhi family was truly thinking, which comes out now. And they were shocked to hear that this was the level at which they were. So I think they deserve to be gone," he shared.
He added that he has grown up under the rule of the Congress and has hence seen the way things operated during the time of Congress.
Dilip concluded by saying that he believes that the memoir is a great source to understand what they all went through for those past 45 to 50 years.
--IANS
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Ananya Panday video calls Kartik Aaryan on ‘Koffee with Karan’, netizens go ‘aww’
Mumbai, Nov 14 (IANS) The latest episode of 'Koffee With Karan' season 9 will have two Ananyas- Ananya Panday and Ananya Birla as guests.
Raising the excitement, host Karan Johar shared the promo of the forthcoming episode on Saturday, in which both the ladies seemed to be having a gala time, creating some fond memories.
However, one particular moment that caught everyone's attention was when both the Ananya's were asked to call someone.
For those who do not know, as part of the phone call segment of the show, host Karan asks this guest to call their celebrity friends to pick up and say, ‘Hey Karan, it’s me!'. Whoever gets more people to say it wins.
During the episode, Ananya tried calling Aditya Roy Kapur, and Ishaan Khatter, but it was Kartik Aaryan who picked up her call, that to video call.
This prompted Ananya Birla to point out that the 'Kesari: Chapter 2' actress is calling all her exes one by one, leaving KJo laughing.
Many netizens also expressed their excitement over Ananya doing a video call to her ex in the comment section. The post saw several remarks such as, "Annie called Kartik!! Omgggg (sic)", "what Kartik on video call", and "Ananya calling kartik aww".
Going by the reports, Ananya was initially in a relationship with Ishaan Khatter, but they eventually ended up parting ways. In 2022, Ishaan himself confirmed his breakup with the 'CTRL' actress on 'Koffee With Karan'.
After Ishaan, Ananya was reported to be dating Aditya Roy Kapur for almost two years. While the couple never openly talked about their relationship, some pictures from their vacations together circulated on social media.
Most recently, Ananya was believed to be romantically involved with her 'Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri' co-star Kartik Aaryan.
It must be noted that Ananya and Kartik have also worked together in 'Pati Patni Aur Woh'.
--IANS
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Jr NTR announces his next with Anil Ravipudi: This one’s going to be a laugh riot
Mumbai, Nov 14 (IANS) Jr NTR has joined forces with director Anil Ravipudi for his next. On Saturday, the 'RRR' actor provided netizens with a glimpse into their much-anticipated collaboration.
Jr NTR took to his social media handle and shared the exciting professional update, writing, “This one’s going to be a laugh riot…(sic)”. He also tagged Anil Ravipudi and used the hashtag #NTRxAnilRavipudi.
Reacting to the announcement, Anil Ravipudi expressed his excitement, stating, “Our combination has been long overdue @tarak9999 sir… Full-on entertainer coming up! Rolling very soon... No no, ROFL-ing very soon… ”.
The announcement has already sparked curiosity among movie buffs, which is evident from their remarks in the comment section.
The post further included a picture of the actor and director duo posing with bright smiles.
However, further details about the latest venture of Jr NTR have been kept under wraps for now.
Meanwhile, at the moment, Jr NTR is busy working on Prashanth Neel's highly talked-about drama, 'Dragon'.
If the reports are to be believed, the actor resumed the shoot for the movie in October after recovering from a shoulder injury. It is further reported that the production work for 'Dragon' is heading towards completion.
Backed by the banners, Mythri Movie Makers and NTR Arts, the film also features Rukmini Vasanth, Anil Kapoor and Biju Menon in crucial roles, along with others.
'Dragon' is scheduled to get a worldwide theatrical release on June 11, 2027.
In addition to this, Jr NTR is also expected to reunite with Trivikram Srinivas, with whom he previously delivered the successful film, 'Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava'.
The actor and director duo is reportedly working on a mythology-inspired film centered on Lord Muruga/Kartikeya. The yet-to-be-titled project is being referred to as NTRxTrivikram for now.
With his latest announcement, Jr NTR's lineup has become even more exciting.
--IANS
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Ajay Devgn wishes Children’s Day with a happy picture featuring Nysa, Yug, & his nephews
Mumbai, Nov 14 (IANS) Actor Ajay Devgn wished everyone on Children's Day with a happy family picture. On Saturday, the 'Omkara' actor uploaded a photo featuring him, his wife, Kajol, daughter Nysa, son Yug, and his nephews, Aaman and Daanish.
Posting the joyful image on his official handle, Ajay penned the caption, "Love, joy & endless blessings to every child in the world especially my precious ones (Red heart emoji) Happy Children’s Day (sic)."
Aaman, who made his Bollywood debut with 'Azaad', reacted to the post with two red heart emoticons.
Daanish also dropped two blue hearts and a sparkle emoji.
Kajol's sister and Ajay's sister-in-law, Tanishaa Mukerji, shared a smiling face with hearts and red heart emojis in the comment section.
Earlier today, Kajol wished Children's Day to her daughter, Nysa, and son, Yug, with a picture of the sibling duo, most likely from Durga Puja.
The 'K3G' actress wished that all the forthcoming adventures of her children might lead to hilarious moments that she can tease them about later on.
"Happy Children’s day to the ones I made… May all ur grand adventures have funny videos that I can always make fun of (Folded hands emoticons) #HappyChildrensDay (sic)," Kajol penned on her Instagram account.
Both Ajay and Kajol often shower love on their kids on social media.
As Yug turned a year older in September, Ajay shared a sweet wish, calling him his 'favourite little troublemaker'.
The 'Drishyam' actor penned, "Still my favourite little troublemaker… just not so little anymore (laughing with tears and red heart emoji) Happy birthday, my boy! Love you."
Additionally, Kajol had also shared, "#sweetsixteen can’t believe we’re already there.. it’s a moment of disbelief almost. Because whenever I see u I still see a little boy almost superimposed on you. And I know ur taller and stronger now but for me that will always be the case.. small you and big you all mixed together.”
--IANS
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Suriya tells Tovino Thomas: Can’t thank you enough for being our Victor!
Chennai, Nov 14(IANS) Actor Suriya, who played the lead in director Jithu Madhavan's blockbuster film 'Scene', has now thanked Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas for agreeing to play Victor, a character with negative shades, in the film.
Even as industry circles confirmed that the film had emerged a huge blockbuster and that was still continuing to set the cash registers ringing at the box office, Suriya took to his X timeline to pen the note of gratitude.
Posting the clip in which Tovino Thomas's character is introduced in the film, Suriya wrote, "Dear @ttovino, I can’t thank you enough for being our Victor. The love and generosity with which you came on board means more to me than words can express(heart symbol)."
Suriya also thanked all the actors and technicians from the Malayalam film industry who had been a part of Scene.
He wrote,"And to all my wonderful co actors, technicians and creative minds from the Malayalam film industry, thank you for being with us on #Scene. It’s our little love letter to Malayalam Cinema!"
For the unaware, Scene featured a number of actors from the Malayalam film industry. The film, in which Suriya played a visually impaired police officer called Inbaraj, had Malayalam actor Naslen playing the antagonist. Naslen played Eeswaran, a serial killer. Malayalam actress Nazriya Nazim played a character called Maya, an assitant to Inbaraj in the film, which also featured veteran Malayalam actor Lal as Suriya's superior officer. Tovino Thomas too played a pivotal role as Victor, a serial killer nabbed by Inbaraj.
The film, which hit screens worldwide on November 6 for Deepavali this year, has already emerged a huge blockbuster. Its box office collections have already crossed the Rs 205 crore mark, with industry insiders saying the film was still going strong.
The film, which was produced by Zhagaram Studios, was being tenatively referred to as Suriya 47 before the announcement of its title.
Scene, which has been directed by Malayalam director Jithu Madhavan, boasts of a sound technical team. Cinematography for the film was by Vineeth Augustian while music was by Sushin Shyam. The film had production design by Ashwini Kale and editing by Ajmal Sabu. Chethan D Souza was the stunt choreographer for this project.
--IANS
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Bhagyashree joins Sharvari during a heartfelt performance of ‘Yeh Prem Mol Liya’
Mumbai, Nov 14 (IANS) Sharvari was unable to contain her excitement as she was joined by 'one of the most iconic Rajshri heroines' Bhagyashree for a heartfelt performance on the title track of 'Yeh Prem Mol Liya', co-starring Ayushmann Khurrana.
The clip published by Sharvari on Saturday on her official handle opened with her dancing to the melodious number. However, she soon also pulled Bhagyashree into the frame. After flaunting their graceful moves together, Sharvari and Bhagyashree shared a warm hug, after which the latter also planted a kiss on the former's forehead.
Expressing her excitement, Sharvari penned the caption, "It’s the most special feeling to share this little moment full of prem with Bhagyashree ma’am, one of the most iconic Rajshri heroines...Grateful for your kindness, love and blessings! I will cherish this moment forever! (sic)."
"And because you taught generations ki ‘Dosti ka ek usool hai, madam .. no sorry, no thank you’...So I’ll just say I love you...Maine Pyar Kiya #YehPremMolLiya..In theatres from 27th Nov 2026," she went on to add.
Himesh Reshammiya, who has composed the track, reacted to the post with red heart, fire, and clap emojis.
Actress Bhumi Pednekar commented, "How lovely", followed by a red heart emoticon.
Abhay Verma added, "Soooo sweet yaaa".
Earlier, Sharvari called her experience of dancing alongside her idol Madhuri Dixit 'surreal' and 'special'.
She uploaded a video of herself dancing on 'Yeh Prem Mol Liya', and spilled her excitement about receiving love from the 'Dhak Dhak' girl.
Sharvari wrote on the photo-sharing app, “So honoured to receive this much prem from one of the OG Rajshri heroines of Sooraj Barjatya sir… the one and only Madhuri Dixit ma’am. Getting to dance alongside my idol feels surreal and soooo special. Thank you ma’am, you are the best!"
Helmed by Sooraj Barjatya and produced by Kamal Kumar Barjatya, Ajit Kumar Barjatya and Mahaveer Jain under Rajshri Productions and Mahaveer Jain Films, 'Yeh Prem Mol Liya' is slated to reach the cinema halls on November 27, 2026.
--IANS
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Lifestyle
Intestines protruding after knife attack; Gujarat doctors save man in 3-hour surgery
Ahmedabad, Nov 14 (IANS) A man whose intestines had protruded from his abdomen after a knife attack was saved by doctors at Ahmedabad's Shardaben General Hospital, who performed a three-hour emergency surgery at 2 a.m. on the night of Gujarati New Year, authorities said on Saturday.
The patient was brought to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation-run hospital in Saraspur late on the night of November 13 with a severe stab wound to his abdomen.
The injury had caused his intestines to come out of his body, leaving him in a critical condition.
The hospital's surgery department team immediately took up the case and performed an emergency operation without delay.
The surgery was carried out by specialist doctors Hemant Leuva, Jainam Shah, Lakir Patel and Prutha Jadav, assisted by resident doctors Nachiket Sakhiya, Jay Patel and Sanyam Bhatt.
"The three-hour procedure was completed successfully, and the patient was brought out of danger. His condition is currently stable," the hospital said.
He (the patient) will remain under close medical observation for another four to five days to ensure his recovery. The surgery was performed amid the Diwali and Gujarati New Year festivities, when several members of the medical team were on duty instead of spending time with their families.
Doctors at the hospital continued to attend to patients through the festive period, including during the late-night emergency.
The incident comes amid a rise in emergency cases across the state during the recent festive period.
The '108' Emergency Medical Services handled 18,513 cases over Diwali, Gujarati New Year and Bhai Beej, a 25.67 per cent increase over the daily average.
Road accident cases rose sharply to 1,541 on Gujarati New Year, 138.54 per cent above the normal daily average of 646.
Ahmedabad recorded the highest number of road accident cases over the three days, at 437.
The service also reported a rise in physical assault and burn-related emergencies during the festivities.
--IANS
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Early detection, lifestyle changes key to tackling diabetes burden: Minister
New Delhi, Nov 14 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh has called for greater focus on diabetes prevention, warning that the disease is increasingly affecting younger age groups and placing a growing burden on public health systems, according to an official statement released on Saturday.
Addressing a World Diabetes Day event at the Indian Embassy in Rome, Singh said lifestyle modification, obesity control, healthy eating habits and regular physical activity remain the most effective measures for preventing and managing diabetes, despite advances in drug therapies.
Referring to this year's theme, "Early Action on Diabetes", the minister stressed the importance of timely diagnosis and intervention to curb the spread of the disease and minimise its long-term complications, according to a statement of the Ministry of Science & Technology.
Singh expressed concern over the changing profile of diabetes patients, noting that a condition traditionally associated with middle-aged and older populations is now being diagnosed more frequently among younger individuals.
He said early onset of the disease can have long-term consequences for health, productivity and quality of life, while increasing the risk of complications affecting the heart, kidneys and eyes.
Highlighting the link between obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease, Singh said tackling metabolic disorders has been accorded priority by the government through a broader preventive healthcare strategy.
He pointed to initiatives such as wellness centres, mass screening programmes and healthcare access measures under Ayushman Bharat, alongside efforts to promote yoga and healthier lifestyles, as part of India's approach to reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases.
The minister also noted that Indians are particularly susceptible to central obesity, which is a significant risk factor for diabetes and related metabolic disorders, underlining the need to strengthen public awareness and preventive healthcare measures.
Singh said India, home to one of the world's largest diabetic populations, has developed extensive experience in managing the condition and is well-positioned to contribute knowledge and expertise to global efforts against the disease.
The event -- held during the minister’s official visit to Italy -- was attended by members of the Indian diaspora, including students, professionals, entrepreneurs and women representatives.
--IANS
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UP drug regulator sends six proposals to Centre for curbing illegal trade of codeine cough syrups
Lucknow, Nov 14 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has sent a set of recommendations to the Centre seeking major reforms in the drug distribution system to effectively curb the illegal trade of codeine-based cough syrups that are increasingly being misused as intoxicants.
An investigation by the department revealed that large quantities of codeine-containing cough syrups were being billed, but many of these products were not reaching the authorised retail market. This raised concerns about their diversion for non-medical use and unauthorised commercial distribution.
Aiming to find a long-term solution, the department has suggested measures to regulate the entire supply chain, from manufacturers to wholesalers.
In a reminder sent to the Union Ministry, FSDA Secretary and Commissioner Dr Roshan Jacob urged an early decision on six major regulatory proposals and requested the issuance of necessary guidelines. The department emphasised that supplies of codeine-based syrups should be routed only through established and authorised distribution channels, and that records of every consignment's movement should be available with the state authorities concerned.
Earlier, an inter-state investigation into the manufacture and supply of codeine-based cough syrups in Uttar Pradesh indicated the existence of parallel distribution networks. The probe found difficulties in tracking the actual movement and final destinations of products arriving from routes linked to Ranchi, Himachal Pradesh, and other locations outside the state. In several cases, the physical stock did not match the billed quantities, and reliable records proving retail distribution were unavailable.
Based on serious irregularities, FIRs were lodged against 161 firms in 36 districts under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Proceedings for cancellation of their licenses have also been initiated.
Among its proposals, the department has urged major companies such as Laboratories, Abbott, 3B, Wings and others to supply their products only through authorised Carrying and Forwarding Agents (CFAs) and legally established stockists within Uttar Pradesh. The practice of creating separate parallel distribution channels involving external individuals exclusively for codeine products should be discontinued. This would improve accountability for every consignment and ensure that medicines reach authorised retail outlets, it said.
The FSDA has also stressed that the focus should not be limited to allocating production quotas to companies. Instead, the actual medical requirement of each state should be scientifically assessed. The required quantity of codeine-based cough syrup for Uttar Pradesh should be determined based on previous consumption patterns, patient needs, and genuine market demand.
Thereafter, companies should transparently supply products to their authorised CFAs within the state and from there to licensed wholesalers. This would reduce unnecessary stockpiling and limit opportunities for diversion.
Further, the drug regulator proposed that manufacturers of codeine-based cough syrups and other controlled medicines must inform the concerned state drug controller before dispatching any consignment. This would enable state authorities to know in advance the quantity, batch details, supplier information, and destination of the medicines. The department has also advocated restricting wholesale-to-wholesale sales while ensuring that supplies move through authorised distribution networks to the retail level.
To prevent diversion, the FSDA has suggested implementing a QR code/barcode-based Track and Trace system for codeine-based syrups, similar to that used for tuberculosis medicines. The system would include batch-level reporting, real-time monitoring, and risk-based alerts, allowing digital tracking of every consignment from the manufacturer to the point of final sale.
Additionally, the drug regulator has proposed the creation of a separate Schedule H3 category for medicines with a higher risk of misuse and the introduction of stock limits based on actual consumption patterns in different states.
According to the department, these measures would help establish effective control over the illegal diversion of codeine-based cough syrups without affecting their legitimate medical use.
Codeine-based cough syrups are neither counterfeit medicines nor completely prohibited drugs, but a legally approved pharmaceutical product prescribed by doctors for severe cough and other specified medical conditions. Patients who genuinely need the medicine should continue to have easy access to it through medical stores.
--IANS
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AI going to complement natural intelligence in coming times: Doctors at Delhi Critical Care Symposium
New Delhi, Nov 14 (IANS) Doctors at the 21st Delhi Critical Care Symposium (DCCS 2026), being held from November 13-15 in the national capital, on Saturday spoke about the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into medicine and critical care, saying that AI is going to complement natural intelligence in coming times.
The Friday's lecture series and workshops took place at Kailash Hospital in Noida while the Main Scientific Conference is currently underway at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.
Speaking to IANS, Dr. Anil Gurnani, Group Director of Critical Care, Kailash Hospital, said that nothing can beat human intelligence, asserting the importance of human intervention in treating patients.
"It's the man behind the machine which is most important. Yesterday we organised six workshops, pre-conference workshops, in various aspects of critical care. That was the actual learning exercise where we allowed the delegates and the people participating in these workshops and conferences to learn hands-on, be it respiratory care, cardiovascular monitoring, hearts monitoring, sick patients, learning about toxicology, proning, nursing excellence, and learning about artificial intelligence," Gurnani added.
Stressing that human intelligence will always prevail over AI, he said: "Because of the software feeded in it, computers will only give an alarm whenever you are going wrong but ultimately human minds have to treat patients. So, in the coming times AI is going to complement natural intelligence."
Dr. Akhil Taneja, Organising Chairperson, spoke about the advancements in critical care medicine.
"Two decades of learning has already taken place. Now, critical care as a specialty, it has grown a lot over the last two decades. Initially, it was only about the organ support; now it is about precision medicine, lot of advancements like ECMO, then point-of-care ultrasound, now AI is entering the medical field," he told IANS.
Taneja added: "We are discussing a lot of things today, but more than that, what the delegates take home and how better they treat their patients after going from here, that is more important."
Dr. Amit Goel, Organising Secretary, said that the idea behind DCCS is to encourage and spread the critical care information and to skill the upcoming generation about the latest critical care medicine.
"It is also about learning, and delivering the best care so that it transforms into the best outcome of the patient," he told IANS.
--IANS
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