India News Roundup| Women’s T20 World Cup '24 team, Nabanna March, 1st Indian space tourist & more

India’s team for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 announced, students led 'Nabanna Abhijan’ in Kolkata, India’s first civilian space tourist returns to Delhi, and more. Find out what's happening in the country with this India News Roundup.

The Indian Women’s cricket team for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, set to begin on October 3, has been officially announced. Harmanpreet Kaur retains her role as captain, with Smriti Mandhana serving as vice-captain.

India has made only one change from the squad that participated in the Women's Asia Cup last month. Wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia has been included in place of Uma Chetry, pending fitness clearance.

Gopichand Thotakura, India's first civilian space tourist, was warmly welcomed in Delhi upon his return from space. Thotakura, an Indian-born aviator and commercial pilot, participated in Blue Origin's New Shephard-25 (NS-25) mission, led by Jeff Bezos's space company.

His journey marks a significant milestone as he becomes the first Indian to experience space as a tourist.

Bharat Biotech announced the successful late-stage trial of its new oral cholera vaccine, Hillchol, which is set for a global launch. With plans to produce up to 200 million doses annually, the vaccine arrives as the world faces an escalating cholera outbreak and a shortage of treatments.

India's drug regulator has approved Hillchol, and Bharat Biotech is now seeking pre-qualification from the World Health Organization to supply the vaccine to major global health organizations like UNICEF.

The Central Government has issued new guidelines aimed at speeding up the resolution of public grievances. The time frame for addressing grievances on the CPGRAMS portal (www.pgportal.gov.in) has been shortened from 30 days to 21 days.

For cases requiring more time, citizens will receive an interim reply, as per the guidelines from the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG). The updated portal serves as a single, user-friendly platform for lodging complaints.

On Tuesday, the student organization Paschimbanga Chattro Samaj led a protest march, dubbed 'Nabanna Abhijan’ towards the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna. The demonstrators called for the resignation of Chief Minister and the arrest of those involved in the RG Kar Hospital incident. 

The protest saw hundreds clashing with police in Kolkata. In anticipation of the march, security around Nabanna was significantly heightened, with the deployment of vajra vehicles, water cannons, Riot Control Forces, and roadblocks using containers.