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The Wire
a day ago
- Politics
- The Wire
Bihar SIR: Election Commission Asks Political Parties to Help Locate 74 Lakh Names
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India announced in a press release on July 21 that it has asked political parties in Bihar to help locate nearly 74 lakh voters who are at risk of being excluded from the state's electoral rolls, with just four days remaining before the July 25 deadline for its massive re-verification drive. The move comes as the Commission's own data shows that its field officers have been unable to find 43.93 lakh electors at their listed addresses. This figure marks an increase of more than 7 lakh people in the last three days alone. The ECI's decision to enlist political parties in the final hours of its "Special Intensive Revision" (SIR) has drawn sharp criticism. "This is a complete failure of the Election Commission of India, where they're just shrugging off their constitutional responsibilities," said Rahul Bal, an AICC member and national coordinator of the Congress party's data analytics department. In a conversation with The Wire, Bal called the task "mathematically impossible" to complete genuinely and predicted it would result in flawed data. "Does any political party in India have that kind of infrastructure, including BJP?" he asked. "So what will they do? They'll give fake things. And under pressure, there is a high chance ECI will acknowledge those things." The situation on the ground comes as the ECI is also defending the legality of its process in the Supreme Court. In an affidavit filed in response to petitions challenging the SIR, the Commission stated that the Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) cannot be treated as proof of eligibility for inclusion in the roll. It argued that since the SIR is a "de novo," or entirely fresh revision, the Voter ID, which is based on prior rolls, is insufficient. The affidavit also noted that Aadhaar is not a valid proof of citizenship. The Commission's legal position on citizenship proof, however, stands in contrast to its own list of 11 approved documents for the exercise, which includes items like a school certificate—itself not a statutory proof of Indian citizenship. Bal argued that by involving political entities in its primary verification work, the Commission was compromising the neutrality of the electoral process. "They are killing the basic tenets of democracy," he stated. "The basic principle is that the voter role should be neutrally corrected and neutrally judged."
India Today
04-07-2025
- Health
- India Today
Scientifically flawed to link Covid vaccines to sudden deaths: Top immunologist
After Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah suggested a possible link between sudden heart attack deaths in Hassan district and the Covid-19 vaccine, Dr. Vineeta Bal, immunologist and former scientist at the National Institute of Immunology, said that available data does not show any deaths directly caused by the Covid Bal acknowledged that rare cases of anaphylactic shock, a severe allergic reaction, can occur after vaccination, but such an occurrence is not unique to Covid vaccines. 'They can happen with any vaccine, even in the paediatric population,' she told EVIDENCE LINKING VACCINES TO HEART ATTACKS As speculation grows around sudden cardiac deaths and their possible association with vaccination, Dr. Bal made it clear: 'Sudden heart attack deaths being loosely linked to Covid-19 vaccines doesn't have any scientific evidence.'She added that most people in India have not taken Covid booster doses in the last three years, making a direct link to recent incidents medically implausible. "So connecting today's deaths to vaccines taken long ago is scientifically flawed,' she ATTACKS ON THE RISE, BUT WHY?According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India recorded a 12.5% increase in heart attack deaths in 2022. The NCRB's report, Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India, revealed that 32,457 individuals died of heart attacks in 2022, up from 28,413 the previous spike follows relatively stable figures in 2020 (28,579 deaths) and 2021 (28,413 deaths), pointing to a sharp recent Bal stressed the need for context: 'We need baseline data from before 2020 - age, socioeconomic conditions, health status - and compare it with current figures. Only then can we say if deaths have risen.'LIMITATIONS IN VACCINE SIDE-EFFECT REPORTINGIndia does have a system for tracking Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI). Before Covid, this was focused on childhood adult vaccinations began, the government developed a reporting system for Covid vaccine side effects, including deaths, but the infrastructure took time to build and remains incomplete and underdeveloped. India does have a system for tracking Adverse Events Following Immunization. () India also introduced self-reporting mechanisms, allowing citizens to log symptoms like fever or breathlessness. 'It was a step forward, but the system is still far from perfect. Our data is not as strong as what you might find in the US or Europe,' said Dr. DOESN'T MEAN CAUSATIONadvertisementReports of healthy individuals dying after vaccination appears alarming, but Dr. Bal believes this could reflect improved health tracking rather than an actual increase in deaths.'You can't confidently link a current heart attack to a vaccine taken three years ago. That's not how causality works in science,' she if more deaths are occurring, she added, vaccines could be one among many possible causes: 'Maybe 30 or 40 causes. But you can't isolate one without evidence.'MYOCARDITIS: A RARE, MILD SIDE EFFECTIn very rare cases, especially among young men, Covid-19 vaccines could cause myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle. However, these cases are usually mild and extremely experts maintain that for the vast majority, Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective in preventing severe Union Health Ministry recently issued a statement studies the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Centre for Disease Control(NCDC) affirm that Covid-19 vaccines in India are safe and effective, with extremely rare instances of serious side effects. "Sudden cardiac deaths can result from a wide range of factors, including genetics, lifestyle, pre-existing conditions, and post-Covid complications," the statement Serum Institute of India (SII), which manufactured Covishield, also reaffirmed the safety of its vaccine.- EndsMust Watch
Indian Express
21-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
From 2026, Class 1 entry age to be raised to 6 in Delhi schools in line with 5+3+3+4 system under NEP
Starting 2026, a child will need to be at least six years old to be admitted to Class 1 in a Delhi school —a change that could alter how pre-primary education is structured across the Capital. In a circular issued on Friday, the Directorate of Education (DoE), Government of NCT Delhi, announced that the minimum age of admission to Class 1 will be raised to 6 from the academic year 2026–27. This is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which introduced the '5+3+3+4' model for school education and brought early childhood learning into the formal schooling system. This model divides schooling into four stages: foundational (5 years), preparatory (3 years), middle (3 years), and secondary (4 years). 'A child may be admitted to Class 1 only upon completion of 6 years of age from academic session 2026-27 onwards,' the circular stated, adding that 'detailed directions regarding the implementation… will be shared with schools subsequently in due course of time.' Following the introduction of the NEP 2020, the Union government has been urging governments across states and union territories, including Delhi, to implement the structure. Until now, Delhi was among the several states that allowed enrollment in Class 1 to children who were under six. The move is expected to bring long-term benefits, but may cause some disruption in the short term as schools, parents, and early education providers adjust to the new structure. Delhi schools had so far been admitting students aged 3 and above in Nursery, 4 and above in KG, and 5 and above in Class 1. With the latest change, parents will now have to plan for an additional year of preschool. The foundational stage will now include three years of early education: Nursery (Bal Vatika 1) at age 3+, Lower KG (Bal Vatika 2) at 4+, and Upper KG (Bal Vatika 3) at 5+, as per the circular. Only after completing this stage can a child progress to Class 1. Sudha Acharya, Principal, ITL Public School, Dwarka, called the shift 'a much-needed alignment with developmental needs'. She said, 'It gives children more time to grow emotionally, socially, and cognitively before they are pushed into formal academics.' But Acharya also flagged the need for planning and detailed guidelines by the Delhi Education Department. 'Parents need clarity. Schools, especially private ones, will need to prepare for an expanded pre-primary section—more classrooms, more trained teachers. Otherwise, the implementation could become chaotic.' At present, many parents in the Capital send their children to private preschools or Anganwadis before enrolling them in schools. With the restructuring of the foundational stage, schools may see higher enrolments, especially among families that prefer a school-based structure from the start, as per educators. 'This move could lead to more parents enrolling children directly into schools for early learning, rather than Anganwadis, which are seen as less structured,' Acharya noted. If a child is currently under the age of 3, parents will need to plan preschool choices more carefully, as skipping this stage will no longer be an option for enrollment in Class 1. To make the implementation process more 'inclusive', the DoE has invited suggestions from all stakeholders, said officials. As per the circular issued on Friday, 'all stakeholders, including teachers, parents, students, school management committees, educational institutions, school associations, professionals, subject experts, scholars, and members of the general public are cordially invited to share their valuable inputs and suggestions for implementation.' Submissions can be emailed to schoolbranchnep@ on or before July 10. The change also brings Delhi in line with the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009, which guarantees free and compulsory education from age 6 to 14, as students will be enrolled in Class 1 only after 6 years of age, unlike before. As per some studies, starting formal education too early can negatively affect learning outcomes and children's attitudes towards school. Studies, such as those by UK-based Cambridge University's Faculty of Education, have found no long-term academic advantage in starting formal literacy instruction at age 5. Children who start later often show better comprehension and more positive attitudes towards learning.
India Today
06-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
New Covid-19 variants are not serious threats: Top scientist
New Covid-19 variants are not serious threats: Top scientist Jun 6, 2025 Credit: Getty Images As India sees a rise in Covid-19 cases, leading Indian immunologist Dr. Vineeta Bal has said that the new variants currently in circulation are not serious threats. Dr. Bal, former scientist at the National Institute of Immunology, told that new mutations of the virus are spreading, they are not causing alarm like Delta. Several parts of India are reporting an increase in Covid-19 cases, largely due to new sub-lineages of the virus. However, experts believe that this uptick is not linked to a rise in severity of illness or deaths. Most deaths are said to be because of underlying conditions. Dr. Bal explained that the current wave of Covid-19 is very different from what India experienced during the Delta wave in 2021. "Back then, the virus was new to our immune systems, and the population had not been exposed to it before. That led to widespread severe illness and a major public health crisis,' she said. New virus Widespread vaccination and natural infections have helped build community-level immunity across most of the population. Community immunity "We are now continuously managing new variants as they emerge. This doesn't mean the virus is gone or harmless, but the level of threat is quite low," she said. New variants: Mild cases As Covid continues to shift toward an endemic stage, Dr. Bal said that it is unlikely that any new variant now will cause major illness or high fatality rates. The government has advised the public to practise hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and avoid crowded places when unwell. Hygiene protocol
India Today
05-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
New variants are not serious threats: Top Indian scientist amid Covid-19 surge
As India sees a rise in Covid-19 cases, leading Indian biologist Dr. Vineeta Bal has said that the new variants currently in circulation are not serious to Dr. Bal, former scientist at the National Institute of Immunology, while new mutations of the virus are emerging and spreading, they are not causing the kind of alarm seen during earlier waves like parts of India are reporting an increase in Covid-19 cases, largely due to new sub-lineages of the virus. However, experts believe that this uptick is not linked to a rise in severity of illness or deaths. The majority of fatalities being reported now are in elderly patients or those with serious underlying conditions, particularly individuals who are still facing health complications from previous VIRUS TODAY IS NOT THE VIRUS OF 2021Dr. Bal explained that the current wave of Covid-19 is very different from what India experienced during the Delta wave in 2021.'Back then, the virus was new to our immune systems, and the population had not been exposed to it before. That led to widespread severe illness and a major public health crisis,' she told the situation has changed drastically. Widespread vaccination and natural infections have helped build community-level immunity across most of the population.'Most people have either had Covid or received at least one vaccine dose, if not both. That has made a big difference in how the body responds to the virus now,' Dr. Bal IS NOW LIKE THE FLUAccording to her, Covid-19 has entered a phase similar to seasonal influenza, new variants appear from time to time, but serious outcomes are limited to high-risk groups."We are now continuously managing new variants as they emerge. This doesn't mean the virus is gone or harmless, but the level of threat is quite low," she CAUSE FOR PANIC, BUT STAY ALERTDr. Bal highlighted that while the new variants are more transmissible, they are not currently causing large-scale severe disease."A new variant can still be virulent, but because our population has some level of immunity, the impact is much lower," she also stressed the importance of keeping high-risk individuals protected, including those with chronic conditions, seniors, and people who were severely affected in previous WITH AN ENDEMIC VIRUSAs Covid continues to shift toward an endemic stage, Dr. Bal urged people to adjust their expectations and response. "If your community built immunity during 2020 to 2022, either through vaccination or infection, it is unlikely that any new variant now will cause major illness or high fatality rates," she a previous interview with former AIIMS chief and renowned pulmonologist Dr. Randeep Galeria said that Covid is now endemic, meaning the virus is here to stay and will keep changing just like the influenza (flu) Rajiv Bahl, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said last week, that the severity of infections is mild and there was no cause for worry."People do not need to take any immediate action. They should follow normal precautions," he InMust Watch
