Latest news with #Agrawal
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Jt director of animal husbandry dept caught taking bribe of 25k
Jhunjhunu: Dr Deepak Agrawal, joint director of animal husbandry department in Sikar, was Saturday caught red-handed by an ACB team from Jaipur taking a bribe of Rs 25,000. Additional SP of ACB Special Unit II Jaipur, Mahavir Sharma, stated that an employee of animal husbandry department had filed a complaint against Dr Agrawal for demanding a bribe. The complainant said Dr Agrawal was harassing him by demanding a monthly bribe and an additional amount for facilitating his transfer to a desired location. Sharma said that Dr Agrawal initially demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000, but the deal was settled at Rs 25,000. After verifying the complaint, the ACB team conducted a trap operation and arrested Dr Agrawal while he was accepting the bribe. Sharma said the complainant had reported that Dr Agrawal used to mark employees absent in the attendance register and subsequently withhold their salaries. He would then demand a monthly bribe to process their salaries. If his demands were not met, he used his influence to transfer employees. Dr Agrawal transferred several employees and was also allegedly given charge as joint director against the rules, Sharma said.
News18
2 days ago
- Health
- News18
Updated Covid Vaccines Not Urgently Needed With Mild Surge: Former CSIR-IGIB Chief To News18
Last Updated: There's no need to panic, said Anurag Agrawal, as Covid-19, in its current form, is expected to stay mild for the majority Updated Covid vaccines may not be necessary at this stage, especially in a country like India, where the younger population is less vulnerable to severe outcomes, Anurag Agrawal, former director of the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), told News18. IGIB is a national laboratory of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR). India is witnessing a Covid-19 surge, with a total of 1,010 active cases as of May 26, 2025. The highest number of active cases is in Kerala (430), followed by Maharashtra (210), Delhi (104), and Gujarat (83). 'The current rise in cases can be attributed to waning antibody levels and minor mutations in the virus's spike protein," said Agrawal. Globally, Agrawal believes the newly updated Covid-19 vaccines are not proving highly effective against emerging strains. 'While mRNA technology allows for rapid updates to match circulating variants, it remains the only platform capable of such flexibility. Other vaccine technologies take much longer to develop and distribute; by the time they are ready, the infection wave often begins to fade," said Agrawal, who is presently dean of the Trivedi School of Biosciences at Ashoka University. advetisement Even with mRNA, he said, there is ongoing debate about its use, hinting towards concerns ranging from long-term safety data to accessibility. 'India is currently seeing cases of the JN.1 strain. However, with a relatively younger demographic and a lower risk of severe disease, there is doubt among experts whether updating vaccines for this specific strain is worthwhile," he said. According to Agrawal, who is also head of the Koita Centre for Digital Health at Ashoka University, many people may be silent carriers of the virus, showing no symptoms. Additionally, actual case numbers could be much higher than reported, as fewer people are opting for Covid-19 testing. Despite this, he maintains that no drastic measures are required beyond surveillance and preparedness. 'The susceptibility to severe illness remains low. For those who are highly vulnerable, such as the elderly or immunocompromised, simple precautions remain the best line of defence," said Agrawal, who is a well-known physician-scientist. 'In short, the message is clear: there's no need to panic. Covid-19, in its current form, is expected to stay mild for the majority. A calm, precautionary approach is all that is needed." About the Author Himani Chandna First Published: May 31, 2025, 07:00 IST
Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
India can spearhead a new era of resilient, equitable, and sustainable commerce: Rajesh Agrawal, Ministry of Commerce & Industry
India is uniquely poised as a trusted global partner, a large and growing market, and a capable producer to lead the effort in building resilient, reliable, and diversified supply chains for the world. This is the time for India, and we must seize the opportunity" stated Mr Rajesh Agrawal, Special Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India at the Annual General Meeting and Annual Business Summit 2025. Mr Agrawal further stated that trade and geopolitics have historically been intertwined, but the emerging global disorder marked by over-concentrated supply chains, rising unpredictability, and the weaponization of markets is compelling businesses to rethink resilience and diversification. In this context, he underscored Indias unique value proposition as both a trusted partner and a growing market economy. Mr Agrawal highlighted that Indias democratic institutions, strategic autonomy, and rising credibility have positioned it as a reliable anchor amidst global turbulence. As the world looks to de-risk supply chains, India offers a compelling alternative, not just as a manufacturing hub, but as a long-term partner for innovation, investment, and inclusive growth. Indias ability to lead the next phase of global trade lies in its capacity to adapt, innovate, and deliver at scale. With the right policy support and industry commitment, the country can spearhead a new era of resilient, equitable, and sustainable commerce. He urged Indian industry to step up and build future-ready capacities that align with global needs, underscoring the private sectors critical role in realising the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Man booked after pet Pitbull attacks 50-year-old woman in Doon
Dehradun: Police in Dehradun's Vikasnagar have registered a case against a man after his pet pitbull allegedly attacked a 50-year-old woman inside her shop in the neighbourhood, leaving her with serious injuries, including a brain haemorrhage. Police said the incident took place on May 23 but came to light only on Wednesday, when the woman's son filed a complaint at Vikasnagar police station. Investigation officer, SI Sanoj Kumar, said that Manish Agrawal, in his complaint, alleged the dog was frequently kept unleashed at the accused owner's home located next to their family shop. "Agrawal alleged that on the afternoon of May 23, his mother, Suman Agrawal, was sitting inside her shop. Within a few minutes, the unleashed dog ran out of the house and attacked her, causing her to fall back on her head. After hearing her screams, Negi's son came and took the dog back home. Agrawal and other family members soon rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she is still undergoing treatment. Following the diagnosis, it was found that she suffered a brain haemorrhage and other serious injuries to her back and legs," said Kumar. He added, "A case has been registered under BNS Section 291(negligent conduct with respect to animals) and 352 (intentional insults) against Negi. A probe is on in the matter."
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
US officials to visit India next week for talks on interim trade deal
India is assessing the impact of a US court ruling against Trump's tariffs. US trade officials will visit next week to discuss a potential trade agreement. Rajesh Agrawal recently visited Washington for talks. Both nations aim to finalize the initial phase of a trade pact by fall. Agrawal highlighted the need to insulate supply chains from weaponization. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads India is reviewing the impact of a US trade court blocking most of President Donald Trump's tariffs in a ruling on May 28, an official said Thursday, adding that American trade officials will visit next week for discussions on the proposed interim trade agreement between the two countries.'We are in the process of reviewing the impact of the US court order,' said the Court of International Trade found the president overstepped his authority by imposing across-the-board duties on imports from US' trading order has come amid India and the US expected to agree on an interim trade agreement by the end of June, with New Delhi pushing for full exemption from the 26% reciprocal tariff on domestic goods.'The US team is coming on June 5 or June 6,' the official chief negotiator for the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the US, Rajesh Agrawal , concluded his four-day visit to Washington last week where held talks with his American counterpart on the proposed and industry minister Piyush Goyal was also in Washington last week to give an impetus to trade talks. He met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick twice during his in the day, Agrawal, who is Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, said the talks are progressing well.'Hopefully, in this tough times also, we will be able to navigate and come out with good outcomes sooner than later. We should be able to work out a trade partnership where there are natural comparative advantages to our businesses on both sides,' he said at the Confederation of India Industry's (CII) Annual Business Summit, 2025.'There are only few areas where we compete. Most of the areas are where we can complement each other. If we can do a good trade deal, this can be a defining partnership in the trade arena and that's what is the intent behind approaching this bilateral trade agreement,' Agrawal said the overall discussion around tariffs and trade deficit is the narrative of the US and those are the challenges they have to meet.'But that, I think, should not come in the way of our trade partnership that we are trying to stitch together,' he US on April 2 imposed an additional 26% reciprocal tariff on Indian goods, but later suspended it for 90 days till July 9. However, Indian goods still attract the 10% baseline tariff. Both countries aim to conclude the first phase of the proposed bilateral trade agreement pact by fall this that the co-existence of some non-market functions in the global trading model is one wrong in the world trading order, Agrawal said: 'We have the WTO…it has failed to provide that oversight and control where the non-market economic functions could have been controlled in the global trade and trading order. In a pure market perspective, there has been a market failure in global trade'.He said there is unpredictability all around which is creating all challenges for businesses also.'That is why I think now geopolitics is also awakening and we are entering into a world where, interestingly, both markets and supply chains are being weaponized,' he said but cautioned that 'we also need to look at insulating our supply chains in a manner that we are not vulnerable to any weaponization of markets or supply chains in future'.He said businesses in multiple geographies have prospered based on state support, subsidies and lack of transparency.'If I am a big market, I am trying to wield my weight in the ecosystem…who controls supply chains. And that is a big challenge for the global trading order today,' he said, adding that other countries are looking at India for not only sending more of their goods here but also as a major investment the CII event, Agrawal also said that with a 1.4 billion people, India cannot afford to be completely import dependent and leverage state support wherever it is required.
