#2021Recap: National News
COVID-19: India's Oxygen Crisis
The demand for hospital beds, oxygen, and medicines skyrocketed in April, causing India's health system to disintegrate.
During a devastating second wave in April and May, hospitals around the country ran out of oxygen, with daily reports of people dying from a shortage of oxygen.
However, the Union Health Ministry claims that the states have not submitted any data on Covid patients who died in hospitals due to a lack of oxygen.
Air India returns to Tata after 70 years
Tata Sons regained control of Air India - nearly 70 years after its nationalisation - with the government picking up the salt-to-software conglomerate as the winning bidder for the debt-laden state-run airline.
The deal completed a full circle as Air India was founded in 1932 under the name Tata Airlines by family scion and aviation enthusiast Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata.
Farmers protests
2021 also witnessed what has been termed as a historic and history’s largest protest gathering in India. In November 2021, farmers protesting against the three farm laws introduced by the Centre, completed a year. The protests ultimately culminated in victory as the Centre withdrew the three contentious farm laws.
Killing of 14 civilians by army in case of mistaken identity
On 4 December 2021, the unit of 21st Para Special Forces, of the Indian Army killed nearly 14 civilians in Mon district of Nagaland. The Army termed these killings as a case of ‘mistaken identity’. Since then, there have been strong protests against the incident and demands for repeal of AFSPA in the state, an act which gives more powers to the army in particular states. Nagaland CM has also pushed for this demand.
India reaches 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses administered mark
India administered 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccination on 21 October 2021.
Winter session 2021
The winter session of the Parliament ended a day earlier than scheduled. Through the session, 12 opposition MPs of the Rajya Sabha remained suspended. During the session, 13 Bills (12 in the Lok Sabha and one Bill in the Rajya Sabha) were introduced, while 11 Bills were passed by both Houses of Parliament.