Is India Winning the War Against Rising Non-Communicable Diseases? The latest health statistics paint a concerning picture: diabetes, heart disease, and cancer rates are climbing, impacting millions across the country. From rural healthcare access to the burgeoning urban health crisis, challenges remain significant. This week, we delve into the crucial initiatives underway – government policies, technological advancements in telemedicine, and the rising role of preventative healthcare – that aim to address this national health emergency. Experts weigh in on the effectiveness of current strategies and the critical need for increased public awareness campaigns targeting lifestyle diseases. Are these efforts enough? Explore Abtak.com's in-depth coverage on healthcare in India and discover the vital information you need to protect your well-being and the future of public health. Stay informed; stay healthy.
Mumbai, April 1: The ongoing conflict in West Asia could begin to impact condom supply, as disruptions in the flow of key raw materials raise concerns over potential production slowdowns and rising costs. Industry observers warn that if the situation persists, it may eventually affect availability and pricing in retail markets. Supply stable for now While retail supply, especially in Mumbai, remains unaffected for now, concerns are growing about the long-term impact if the conflict continues. Prasad Danave, President of the Retail and Dispensing Chemist Association (RDCA), said there is currently a buffer in the system. "At present, we are receiving products that were likely manufactured a couple of months ago, so there is no immediate disruption in the supply chain," he noted, adding that there is roughly 90 days' worth of stock from manufacturers to retailers. However, the association cautioned that prolonged disruption could lead to supply constraints and price increases. Raw material challenges Although condoms are primarily made from natural latex, their production depends on several supporting inputs such as silicone oil for lubrication and ammonia for preserving latex. These materials are linked to oil and gas supply chains centred in West Asia. With shipping disruptions and tighter exports from the region, manufacturers are already experiencing delays and rising input costs. Major condom manufacturers have indicated increasing cost pressures, with ammonia prices expected to surge significantly. Smaller manufacturers, already operating on thin margins, are likely to be hit harder. Impact on public health and exports The industry produces billions of condoms annually, catering to both domestic family planning programmes and international markets. Any disruption in production could therefore have wide-reaching implications. Public health experts warn that higher prices or reduced availability could affect access to affordable contraception, particularly in government distribution schemes and among low-income populations. The situation also raises concerns about export commitments, as supply constraints may impact deliveries to countries that depend on low-cost contraceptives. While companies are exploring alternative sourcing strategies, such shifts will take time. In the short term, analysts expect cost pressures to persist, underscoring the vulnerability of essential healthcare products to global geopolitical shocks.
Mumbai: The birth of three penguin chicks at Mumbai's Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo has sparked an unexpected row not over their care, but their names. BJP functionary Nitin Bankar from the Byculla Assembly constituency has objected to the chicks being given English names, insisting they be named in Marathi instead. The BMC is expected to respond by June 10, after which Bankar will decide his next move. Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Bankar said, "When penguins were brought from abroad, we accepted that their names would be in English. But these chicks were born on the soil of M ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 6 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reaffirmed India's commitment to fighting terrorism, stating that India stands firm and resolute in its collective fight against this threat in the backdrop of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed optimism about strengthening ties with Central Asia, following the 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue and posted on X, 'Delighted to meet with the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. India deeply che ...Read More >
Mark Carney declined to answer if he believed Indian PM had a role in murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar Canada's prime minister Mark Carney has defended his decision to invite India's prime minister Narendra Modi to the upcoming G7 summit in Alberta, despite Canada's federal police's conclusion that the murder of a prominent Sikh activist in British Columbia was orchestrated by the "highest levels" of the Indian government. Carney declined to answer reporters' questions over whether ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Fintech firm BimaPay Finsure on Thursday said it has entered into corporate insurance financing and aims for Rs 20 crore in premiums in 2025-26. Launching the pilot phase with insurance partners, BimaPay said the initiative will allow businesses to pay premiums in easy equated monthly instalments (EMIs) instead of bearing the burden of full upfront costs. Also Read | Who Is Pinaki Misra? From Age to Family Background and Net Worth, Here's All About BJD Leader With Whom Mahua Moitra Reportedly Married. The company aims to finance over Rs 20 crore worth of premiums by t ...Read More >
Hyderabad: In a significant boost for 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbharta' in the aerospace and defence sector, and Hyderabad's growing stature as a global aerospace hub, the complete fuselage of the Rafale fighter jet will now be made in India at Hyderabad. This move marks the first time that these Rafale components will be manufactured outside France for the Indian as well as global markets.French aerospace major Dassault Aviation has signed four production transfer agreements with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) for manufacturing key sections of the Rafale fighter jet, including the lateral ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing from all angles, including sabotage, in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that killed 274 people on board and on the ground last month, Minister of State (MoS) For Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said. Mohol said the black box of the Air India flight AI 171 that has been recovered is in AAIB's custody and will not be outside the country for a thorough assessment. The MoS was speaking at the Pune chapter of the Emerging Business Conclave. "It (plane crash) was an unfortunate incident. The AAIB has begun a full investig ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 6 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reaffirmed India's commitment to fighting terrorism, stating that India stands firm and resolute in its collective fight against this threat in the backdrop of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed optimism about strengthening ties with Central Asia, following the 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue and posted on X, "Delighted to meet with the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. India deeply che ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 8 (PTI) Engineering solutions provider DEE Development Engineers Ltd is planning to diversify into hydrogen production as it expects good business opportunities in the sector. DEE Development Engineers Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Krishan Lalit Bansal said, "We have very recently put our foot in the production of some small gas/chemical plants. We have acquired a 70 per cent stake in a company called Maldives Design Ltd, which is specialised in the manufacturing of nitrogen and oxygen plants, hydrogen purification plants, and ammonia crackers." Also Read | Bodoland Lot ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 8 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, instead of introspecting on the defeat in the 2024 state assembly polls, has been repudiating the mandate given by the people because they rejected him. The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha is preparing his excuses for future defeats in the upcoming assembly elections, including Bihar, Fadnavis said in his articles published in the Indian Express and Marathi daily Loksatta. On Saturday, Gandhi, in an article published in several newspapers and in posts on X, claimed the 2024 Maharas ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
India will observe National Doctor's Day on July 1. The day acknowledges doctors' dedication. The 2025 theme is 'Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers?'. It highlights the mental health of doctors. The day commemorates Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. He was a physician and former Chief Minister of West Bengal. Events will include ceremonies and campaigns. India marks National Doctor's Day on July 1 every year to recognise the tireless service, dedication, and compassion of the country's medical profess ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
New Delhi: Rare earth magnets, essential for EV motors, have become the latest flashpoint in India's growing electric mobility ambitions. These magnets power the core of Brushless DC (BLDC) and Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM), which drive most electric vehicles today, particularly two-wheelers. With China tightening export controls, Indian automakers now face serious supply-side disruptions. If the situation continues, industry experts warn that EV prices could rise, production could slow and expansion plans may take a hit. In April this year, China imposed an export curb on rare- ...Read More >
Kolkata, June 28: A political slugfest has erupted in West Bengal after a woman accused Padma Shree awardee monk Kartik Maharaj, who is posted with the Murshidabad unit of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, of allegedly raping her 12 times for six months in 2013. As per the police complaint lodged by the woman, Kartik Maharaj raped her multiple times 12 years ago promising her a job at a local school. The ruling Trinamool Congress is highlighting the issue in a major way and accusing the BJP of being silent on it since the accused monk had been reportedly close to the saffron party. The woman accusin ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Ravada A Chandrasekhar took charge as the new State Police Chief on Tuesday. He succeeds Shaik Darvesh Saheb, who retired on June 30. His tenure will run until July 1, 2027. A 1991-batch IPS officer currently serving as Special Director with the Intelligence Bureau, Chandrasekhar is on central deputation. He was selected over Nitin Agarwal, who topped the official list of probables. The appointment order, issued by Kerala Chief Secretary Dr A Jayathilak on behalf of the Governor, was released soon after a cabinet meeting held on Monday. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh's Godav ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jul 1 (PTI) Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded in early trade on Tuesday after falling in the previous trading session, amid a rally in global markets. Moreover, buying in blue-chip stocks -- Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank -- also added to the markets optimism during the initial trade. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 177.79 points to 83,784.25 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty went up by 51.2 points to 25,568.25. From the Sensex firms, Asian Paints, Bharat Electronics, UltraTech Cement, Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank and HCL Tech were among the gainers. How ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday took strong action against the police officers allegedly responsible for the Bengaluru stampede, suspending several high-ranking officials, including the city's police commissioner. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced a one-man commission to probe the lapses that triggered the deadly stampede. "Cubbon Park Police Station police inspector, station house master, station house officer, ACP, Central Division DCP, cricket stadium in-charge, additional commissioner of police, commissioner of police have been susp ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 6 (ANI): The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) on Friday released vehicle retail data for May, which revealed a modest rise of 5 per cent as compared to the same month last year. Segment-wise, two-wheeler was the best category, which performed, registering a rise of 7.3 per cent on a year-on-year basis, followed by three-wheeler (rise of 6.2 per cent), and the tractor segment registered a gain of 2.7 per cent on yoy basis.On the flip side, the Passenger Vehicle segment, Construction Equipment, and Commercial Vehicle declined by 3.1 per cent, 6.3 per c ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 6 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reaffirmed India's commitment to fighting terrorism, stating that India stands firm and resolute in its collective fight against this threat in the backdrop of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed optimism about strengthening ties with Central Asia, following the 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue and posted on X, 'Delighted to meet with the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. India deeply che ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday warned educational institutions that cases would be booked against them if drugs were found in their premises. The CM announced that the state's Anti-Narcotics Bureau would henceforth be known as Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) and was tasked with curbing the menace of narcotics in the state. Speaking at an event marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2025 at Shilpakala Vedika here, Reddy placed an onus on educational institutions to ensure their campuses were free of drugs. "It is the ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 30 (PTI) Gold prices fell Rs 200 to Rs 97,470 per 10 grams in the national capital on Monday due to continuous selling by stockists, according to the All India Sarafa Association. The precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity had closed at Rs 97,670 per 10 grams on Friday. Extending the losses for the seventh straight day, gold of 99.5 per cent purity slipped Rs 150 to Rs 97,050 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes). It had settled at Rs 97,200 per 10 grams in the previous market session. "Gold continues to face downward pressure as both geopolitical and economic uncertainties e ...Read More >
Tata Steel is bolstering its iron ore supply for its planned 40 MTPA steel production by 2030. With four mine leases expiring in 2030, the company is operationalizing two new mines and negotiating with NMDC and OMC for additional ore. These strategies aim to secure the over 60 MT of iron ore required for the expanded steel capacity.Tata Steel has initiated discussions with state-run miners NMDC and Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) to secure future iron ore supplies as the company ramps up its dome ...Read More >
PUNE: Automobile dealers clocked a modest rise of 5 per cent year-on-year to 22.12 lakh units in the retail sale of total vehicles in May, buoyed by healthy two- and three-wheeler sales. However, passenger vehicle (PV) sales bucked the trend, slipping 3.1 per cent as rising inventory and cautious consumer behaviour signalled a pause in demand recovery, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations or FADA data showed on Friday. The PV registrations last month stood at 3,02,214 units, as compared to 3,11,908 units in May 2024. FADA said that customers delayed purchases in several states d ...Read More >
Kolkata, Jun 27 (PTI) The country's engineering exports conceded a marginal fall of 0.82 per cent year-on-year to USD 9.89 billion in May due to a higher statistical base and geopolitical tensions in West Asia, EEPC India said in a statement. According to EEPC, the share of engineering goods in the country's overall merchandise exports increased to 25.53 per cent during this period. India's engineering exports to the US, a top destination among major exporting countries, remained positive in May 2025 with total shipments growing 4.6 per cent to USD 1.74 billion year-on-year. Engineering shi ...Read More >
Srinagar, July 1: In 2025, National Doctors' Day will be observed on July 1. This day provides an opportunity for everyone to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work and commitment of doctors. The tradition of National Doctors' Day in India began on July 1, 1991, in honor of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, a distinguished physician and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal. Dr. Roy's remarkable contributions to medical education and public health have left a lasting impact on the healthcare system in India. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) played a crucial role in establishing this observance ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 1 (ANI): India's manufacturing sector ended the first quarter of the financial year on a high note, as shown by the HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which rose to 58.4 in June from 57.6 in May. According to HSBC, this is the highest level in 14 months and well above the long-term average of 54.1, indicating a strong improvement in business conditions. One of the key highlights in June was a sharp rise in international orders. Export demand increased at the third-fastest pace since the survey began in 2005, with the United States mentioned fre ...Read More >
India's electric vehicle (EV) sector is staring at a potential supply chain crisis as China's tightening export controls on rare earth magnets threaten to disrupt the production of critical EV components, according to a recent Jefferies report. The report highlights that several Indian companies are struggling to import magnets -- crucial for EV motors -- from China, which dominates over 90 per cent of the world's magnet supply. With existing inventories depleting fast, Indian manufacturers fear a severe disruption in motor production, potentially stalling the growth of the EV sector. "Indust ...Read More >
New Delhi: India's engineering exports have come down marginally by 0.82 percent to $9.89 billion in May 2025. However, in the April-May period, it recorded a surge of over 4 percent to $19.40 billion from the previous fiscal year. The reason for the shortfall is attributed to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and West Asia region, said the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) report. Exports of "aircraft, spacecraft, and parts" went down 85 per cent, whereas the exports of "ships, boats, and floating structures" declined 25 per cent in the corresponding month from th ...Read More >
New Delhi: India's economy remains on firm footing, but persistent global headwinds, ranging from trade frictions and policy uncertainty to ongoing geopolitical tensions, could weigh on future growth, the Finance Ministry said in its latest Monthly Economic Review released on Friday. "These external challenges could potentially impact India's growth trajectory and warrant close and continuous monitoring," added the May edition of the review. Despite these risks, the ministry maintained a largely optimistic tone. "Overall, the outlook for the Indian economy remains positive, demonstrating re ...Read More >