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New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) India’s MoUs with Nigeria on sharing digital technology provide the African nation with an opportunity to emulate the successful experiment already carried out in a 1.4 billion strong country in delivering social welfare services, education and the creation of jobs.

The MoUs were signed in New Delhi when Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, agreed on two key frameworks: one with India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and another with the Central Square Foundation, an Indian EdTech‑focused organisation.

“For millions of young Nigerians who dream of building the next African tech giant, or for parents who simply want their children to access better education and services, the digital‑technology partnership Nigeria signed with India in 2023 was not just a dry diplomatic agreement; it was a quiet but powerful turning point,” according to an article in India Narrative written by Chukwudi Okeke, a Startup Mentor and co-founder of Nigeria Innovation Hub in Lagos.

India did not just build a digital economy; it rewired how a billion people interact with government, banks, and schools. Nigeria, with its own vast population, youthful energy, and struggling infrastructure, now has a rare opportunity to learn from that experience, adapt it to local realities, and turn digital transformation into tangible progress for ordinary Nigerians, the article states.

The MeitY agreement focuses on sharing digital‑solutions, particularly in e‑governance, digital‑identity, and public‑service delivery, while the Central Square pact targets technology‑enabled education and digital‑learning infrastructure in Nigeria’s public schools and training institutions.

Together, these agreements lay the groundwork for structured technology transfer, joint pilot projects, and institutional exchanges between Nigerian and Indian agencies. Nigeria’s ambition is clear: we want to create one million digital‑economy jobs by 2025 and raise digital‑literacy levels among our youth.

Choosing India as a partner is deliberate, because India’s experience shows that digital transformation can be done at scale if it is planned, funded, and executed with political will, the article points out.

India’s digital‑state architecture offers Nigeria a near‑ready‑made template for how to build public‑tech infrastructure without reinventing the wheel. India’s Aadhaar‑based digital‑identity system, combined with India Stack and its Unified Payments Interface (UPI), has turned a paper‑based economy into one where hundreds of millions of people can open bank accounts, receive government payments, and make real‑time payments from a mobile phone, the article states.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) Three Indian pharmaceutical companies have launched generic versions of semaglutide injections, after the drug’s patent expired, offering lower‑cost options for patients managing Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

The companies, namely Sun Pharma, Zydus Lifesciences, and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, launched their variants a day after Hyderabad-based Natco Pharma launched its generic semaglutide injection in India, priced at Rs 1,290 per month.

Sun Pharma launched semaglutide under the brand names Noveltreat and Sematrinity, where former is indicated for chronic weight management, and offered in five dose strengths, while latter targeted Type 2 diabetes not properly controlled and is available in two dose strengths.

The weekly therapy costs range from approximately Rs 900 to Rs 2,000 for Noveltreat, and Rs 750 to Rs 1,300 for Sematrinity, according to reports.

Zydus Lifesciences launched its semaglutide injection in a reusable multi‑dose pen device. The drug is marketed as SEMAGLYN, MASHEMA and ALTERME for both Type 2 diabetes and obesity, at an average monthly treatment cost estimated at Rs 2,200, reports mentioned.

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories announced Obeda, which it described as India’s first DCGI‑approved generic semaglutide for Type 2 diabetes. The drug is sold in 2 mg and 4 mg pre‑filled disposable pens for once‑weekly use priced at Rs 4,200 per month for both strengths.

Semaglutide belongs to GLP-1 receptor agonists class, with a globally proven track record of improving glycaemic control and supporting weight management.

India’s pharmaceutical exports grew by 9.4 per cent in 2024–25 to reach $30.47 billion, and the industry is now preparing to achieve double-digit growth in 2026–27 with strong government support, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said last month.

The pharmaceutical sector, currently valued at around $60 billion, is projected to grow to $130 billion by 2030, the ministry said.

The country ranks third globally in terms of volume of medicines produced and exports its pharmaceutical products to more than 200 countries.

—IANS

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New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) India’s pharmaceutical industry has evolved into a globally integrated and policy-supported system, ranking third globally by volume and 11th by value, with more than 3,000 companies and 10,500 manufacturing units, an official factsheet showed on Saturday.

The domestic pharmaceutical market, valued at $60 billion, is projected to reach $130 billion by 2030.

According to the Economic Survey 2025-26, in FY25, the sector’s annual turnover reached Rs. 4.72 lakh crore, with exports growing at a CAGR of 7 per cent over the last decade (FY15 to FY25).

“India is the largest global supplier of generic medicines, accounting for around 20 per cent of global supply, manufacturing about 60,000 generic brands across 60 therapeutic categories,” according to the fact sheet.

Strong manufacturing capabilities, rising exports, growing foreign investment, and targeted government schemes have collectively strengthened domestic production, reduced import dependence, and expanded global market presence.

At the same time, initiatives promoting affordable access, innovation, quality assurance, and regulatory oversight have reinforced public health outcomes and international confidence.

Moreover, the proposed and recently concluded trade agreements with the European Union, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand are expected to further strengthen India’s pharmaceutical and medical devices sector.

“These agreements will expand market access and deepen India’s global trade linkages in the sector. Together, these elements position India’s pharmaceuticals on a stable, forward-looking trajectory, supporting sustained growth, global engagement, and long-term resilience,” said the factsheet.

Notably, India hosts the highest number of manufacturing plants approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) outside the US, reinforcing international confidence in the safety and quality of Indian pharmaceuticals.

There are about 500 active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturers, accounting for nearly 8 per cent of the global API industry.

India is also the global leader in the supply of Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DPT), Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), and measles vaccines.

The country manufacturers provide about 60 percent of vaccine supplies to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), meet 40-70 per cent of global demand for DPT and BCG vaccines, and account for 90 per cent of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) measles vaccine demand.

This highlights the robustness of Indian pharmaceutical exports and their substantial integration within global healthcare supply networks.

In 2024-25, pharmaceutical exports stood at $30.5 billion, a nearly 16-fold increase from $1.9 billion in 2000-01.

—IANS

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New Delhi, March 20 (IANS) India’s production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes for pharmaceuticals have driven cumulative investments of Rs 41,943 crore in both brownfield and greenfield projects, the Parliament was informed on Friday.

The investments substantially exceed the targeted committed investment of Rs 17,275 crore over the six-year period of the scheme, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Anupriya Patel, said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

The incentive scheme generated Rs 3,35,036 crore in sales from 1,988 products, the statement from Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said.

The total sales figure includes exports worth Rs 2,15,248 crore, it said, adding that 726 Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), Key Starting Materials (KSMs), and Drug Intermediates (DIs) are now being manufactured under the scheme, including 191 produced for the first time in the country.

Sale of these APIs or KSMs or DIs have resulted in cumulative domestic sales worth Rs 28,067 crore, which contributed to import reduction in the sector.

PLI scheme for Pharmaceuticals, approved in 2021, aims to boost India’s manufacturing capabilities by increasing investment and production in the pharmaceuticals sector.

The scheme intends to incentivize production of high value medicines, complex generics and active pharmaceutical ingredients, while the PLI scheme for Bulk Drugs, approved in 2020, targets critical KSMs, DIs and APIs to reduce dependence on single sources.

Under the PLI scheme for Bulk Drugs, Rs 4,814 crore has been made in greenfield projects against a commitment of Rs 4,329.95 crore over six years, the statement further said.

Total capacity amounting to 91,077 metric tonnes per annum is committed for 33 products against the originally envisaged capacity of 82,270 metric tonnes per annum for 41 products identified under the scheme, it said.

Under this scheme, six new manufacturing units have been commissioned in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam, an aspirational district.

—IANS

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New Delhi, March 20 (IANS) India has achieved tremendous progress in building AI‑ready public data infrastructure, with many platforms improving access to official statistics and supporting AI deployment across health, weather, agriculture and other public services, according to an official statement on Friday.

e‑Sankhyiki, launched in 2024 as India’s official statistics data platform, currently hosts 21 statistical products with over 136 million records, enabling users to query data directly, connect datasets to analytical systems and automate statistical reporting.

It also enables users to access multiple datasets through a unified interface. This is expected to reduce time spent on data retrieval and improve efficiency in analysis and decision-making, the government said.

Further, National Data and Analytics Platform currently aggregates datasets from multiple government agencies, 52 ministries and 31 sectors. It presents them in a coherent format and provides tools for analytics and visualisation, the official fact-sheet said.

In the health sector, the government has launched the Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health (BODH) in February 2026 to enable systematic evaluation of AI models using diverse and anonymised real-world health datasets.

"The platform assesses AI systems for performance, robustness, bias, and generalizability before large-scale deployment, helping establish benchmarking standards that improve reliability and clinical relevance in line with national public health priorities," the statement said.

It provides an environment where developers can train and evaluate AI systems on diverse datasets, and regulators can undertake structured third-party assessments with stronger statistical confidence.

The government also mentioned meteorological agencies applying AI and machine‑learning tools for short-range global forecasts, precipitation downscaling, fire location prediction and fog forecasting, etc.

Overall, India’s official statistical platforms are increasingly moving toward AI-enabled data access systems that improve how users interact with public datasets, it said.

India’s experience demonstrates how AI can be integrated at scale to strengthen public digital capabilities enhancing practical use in responsive governance and sector-specific decision-making, the statement noted.

—IANS

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Kolkata, March 20 (IANS) In a shocking case, a man died after being trapped in an elevator in the controversial state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Friday.

The relatives and friends of the deceased person were protesting within the R.G. Kar premises at the time the report was filed. The deceased person had been identified as Arup Bandopadhyay, a resident of Dum Dum in the northern outskirts of Kolkata.

It is learnt that he was trapped in the elevator of the hospital building housing the trauma care centre, and he died in the elevator. “His son is admitted to the trauma care centre of the same hospital. This morning, he was trying to reach the trauma care centre, which is housed on the fifth floor of one of the hospital buildings, and then he got trapped in the elevator,” said one of the aggrieved relatives of the deceased person.

The relatives and friends of the deceased person alleged that there was no elevator operator while the mishap took place. “The deceased person was trapped in the elevator, which got stuck in the midway, for over an hour, and during that period, no hospital staff or elevator operator was available to reactivate the elevator,” the aggrieved relative added.

The hospital authorities have claimed that the complaints in the matter will be addressed, and a thorough investigation into the matter will be carried out.

At the time the report was filed, the hospital authorities had not come forward with any explanation on the possible reasons behind the death. Already, a huge police contingent from the local Tala Police station had arrived at the hospital premises, and the police are trying to persuade the aggrieved relatives and friends of the deceased persons to withdraw from the hospital premises.

To recall, R.G. Kar has been in the national headlines over the ghastly rape and murder of a woman doctor of the hospital within the premises on the morning of August 2024.

Later, an investigation also started over the massive financial irregularities at the hospital, and there is a large-scale perception that the tragedy with the victim was because she became aware of those financial irregularities.

The erstwhile controversial principal of R.G. Kar, accused of being the mastermind of the financial irregularities, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and is still behind bars.

--IANS

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Gwalior, March 19 (IANS) Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia's wife Priyadarshini Raje Scindia, on Thursday, visited the large-scale free health camp, including for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccines, to girls for prevention of cervical cancer, organised in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district.

During the visit, Priyadarshini Raje Scindia inspected the registration process at the reception and urged the organisers and medical staff to ensure that every patient receives timely medical attention without any inconvenience.

She interacted with medical staff and patients, especially women, to know their response and information regarding the various medical services available at the camp.

Shivpuri is the family bastion of the Scindia family and the part of Guna Lok Sabha constituency, which is currently being represented by Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Meanwhile, Priyadarshini Raje Scindia also honoured the doctors for their services at the camp and expressed her appreciation for their dedication.

Addressing the gathering, she remarked that such camps not only extend healthcare services to the common people but also reinforce the spirit of service and empathy within society.

She also inspected other facilities available at the camp, specifically checking the quality of the food being served to the doctors, staff, patients, and their attendants.

She personally tasted the food to ensure its quality.

Union Minister Scindia also distributed food to the patients and urged the concerned officials to ensure that there were no shortcomings whatsoever in the services provided.

Priyadarshini Raje Scindia also requested the volunteers to maintain cleanliness and hygiene within the camp to ensure that patients face no difficulties.

She had inaugurated the HPV vaccination facility at Gwalior district hospital on Wednesday and interacted with patients to understand their concerns and encouraged young girls to get vaccinated, thereby ensuring that this initiative moves forward effectively in the dual directions of both health security and awareness.

The Madhya Pradesh government claimed that the state has stood first in the country in administering the highest number of HPV vaccines to girls for prevention of cervical cancer.

The vaccination for more than one lakh 14-year-old girls was done after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide campaign from Rajasthan's Ajmer on February 28.

--IANS

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Dumka (Jharkhand), March 19 (IANS) People in Jharkhand's Dumka district are purchasing medicines at affordable rates from a pharmacy centre operating under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana, bringing significant relief to poor and underprivileged patients.

Beneficiaries buying medicines under the scheme expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making essential drugs available at much lower prices.

The Narendra Modi-led Union government launched the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana to ensure that quality medicines are accessible to economically weaker sections at affordable rates.

The initiative has proved to be a major relief for the poor, with medicines available at Jan Aushadhi centres often priced at less than half of what they cost in the open market.

The effectiveness of these medicines has also strengthened public confidence in the scheme.

Many people visiting the centre say the initiative is particularly beneficial for low-income families as it helps them save money while ensuring access to quality treatment.

Earlier, the high cost of medicines often made treatment difficult for many patients, as buying expensive drugs from private medical stores was not feasible.

With the opening of Jan Aushadhi centres in Dumka, affordable medicines have now become easily accessible.

Rajesh, who visited the centre to purchase medicines for his son, told IANS that earlier he had to spend a large amount on medicines from private pharmacies.

“Now the same medicines are available at less than half the earlier price at the Jan Aushadhi centre,” he said.

He added that the medicines are proving effective as well.

“This scheme launched by Prime Minister Modi is very helpful for poor people. Earlier, many could not buy medicines due to financial constraints, but now they can afford them," Rajesh said.

Another beneficiary, Vishwajeet, said medicines at the centre are much cheaper than those sold in the market.

“Earlier we had to spend a lot at private medical stores, but now medicines are available at lower prices. This scheme is very beneficial for the poor,” he said.

Sharmila Kumari, who runs the Jan Aushadhi centre, said the scheme has benefited a large number of people in the area.

"In my opinion, the scheme has been very successful. Medicines that cost thousands of rupees in the market are available here for around Rs 200,” she added.

She said that many people visit the centre daily to buy medicines and the number is increasing as awareness about the central scheme grows.

--IANS

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Jaipur, March 19 (IANS) Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur are developing next‑generation flexible semiconductor devices designed for continuous health monitoring, early disease detection and physiological assessment in demanding environments.

The work is being carried out at the HESTECH (Hybrid Electronic Sensor Technologies) Lab, led by Dr Akshay Moudgil, Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering. The research focuses on soft, flexible and intelligent semiconductor devices capable of monitoring key physiological and biochemical signals from the human body in real time.

These wearable sensors are designed to track parameters such as heart rate, muscle activity, body temperature and skin pressure, while remaining comfortable for prolonged use.

According to Dr Moudgil, the motivation for this work is to address a critical gap in accessible, continuous health monitoring. He said that many health conditions in India and globally are detected too late because continuous monitoring remains limited outside specialised settings.

The goal is to develop semiconductor devices that can continuously monitor body signals comfortably, enabling early detection and timely intervention.

A key component of this research is the Organic Electrochemical Transistor (OECT), a class of semiconductor devices suited for interfacing with biological signals and fluids. Unlike conventional rigid electronics, OECT‑based platforms enable both electrical and biochemical sensing in flexible formats.

The HESTECH Lab is developing low‑power wearable sensors using biocompatible hybrid semiconductor materials that can be fabricated on thin, flexible substrates. This makes them ideal for skin‑conformal devices that enable continuous, non‑invasive monitoring.

Dr Moudgil explained that the team is exploring whether a single semiconductor platform can capture both the electrical activity of the body and biochemical signatures linked to disease.

Using OECT technology, they are building compact, flexible devices to monitor heart activity, muscle response and disease‑related biomarkers.

One major application area is early disease screening. The team is developing biochemical sensors capable of detecting clinically relevant biomarkers in biofluids such as saliva, serum and blood.

In the future, such portable systems could support point‑of‑care diagnostics in dental clinics, rural health camps and mobile healthcare units.

In parallel, the lab is working on wearable sensors for physical health monitoring, including soft ECG patches for cardiac assessment, EMG sensors for muscle activity tracking and pressure and temperature sensors to detect early signs of pressure ulcers in at‑risk patients.

The technology also holds significant promise for defence and extreme‑environment applications. Flexible semiconductor sensors could be integrated into uniforms or wearable patches to monitor physiological stress indicators, such as cardiac load, dehydration, fatigue, heat stress, and muscle strain, during training or field operations.

Dr Moudgil noted that in defence environments, such devices could enable real‑time physiological monitoring of personnel, supporting better decision‑making, reducing stress‑related injuries and enhancing mission readiness.

He added that IIT Jodhpur aims to ensure that innovation translates into real‑world impact, and semiconductor‑based wearable technologies could create a future where health monitoring is continuous, comfortable and intelligent.

With continued research and translational development, this technology has the potential to significantly improve access to diagnostics, enable preventive healthcare and deliver advanced monitoring solutions for both civilian and defence applications.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Thursday said that India’s bioeconomy has expanded significantly to over $195 billion in 2025, from around $10 billion in 2014.

Addressing the 14th Foundation Day of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) here, the minister said the sector has witnessed strong growth, registering an annual expansion of around 17-18 per cent in the past year alone.

He noted that biotechnology is emerging as a key pillar of India’s growth story, contributing to advancements in healthcare, agriculture, climate solutions, and sustainable manufacturing.

Dr Singh said India is steadily moving towards its target of a $300 billion bioeconomy by 2030, supported by a growing base of scientists, startups and entrepreneurs.

Highlighting the role of BIRAC, he said the organisation has been instrumental in bridging the gap between research and industry, helping translate innovations into market-ready solutions.

Referring to policy initiatives, the minister spoke about the BioE3 Policy aimed at strengthening bio-based industries and promoting sustainable biomanufacturing. He said the policy will support innovation in areas such as biotherapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture and bio-based chemicals.

Dr Singh also highlighted the government’s Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund with an outlay of Rs 1 lakh crore, under which the BIRAC will play a key role in supporting biotechnology ventures and scaling up innovations.

During the event, the India Bioeconomy Report 2026 and the BIRAC Impact Report were released, which showed that the sector has more than doubled since 2020 and now contributes around 4.8 per cent to the country’s GDP.

The report also highlighted that India has over 11,800 biotech startups, reflecting the rapid growth of the innovation ecosystem, the government said.

The minister also emphasised the need to nurture young talent, particularly from smaller cities, and called for greater collaboration between industry, academia and policymakers to drive innovation and economic growth.

--IANS

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