The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has begun a nationwide inspection of cough syrup manufacturing units after over 20 child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan due to kidney failure linked to contaminated syrups.

The CDSCO has instructed all states and union territories to provide details of cough syrup manufacturers within their jurisdiction. It also noted that none of the states have fully implemented the Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) guidelines meant to ensure the safety and quality of pharmaceutical products.

In connection with the deaths, G. Ranganathan, the owner of Shri Shant Pharmaceuticals, which produced the Coldrif syrup, was arrested in Chennai with the help of Tamil Nadu Police. Two senior drug inspectors in Tamil Nadu have been suspended for negligence.

Three cough syrup brands — Coldrif, Respifresh TR, and Relief — have been recalled from the market and halted in production, according to CDSCO. The organization clarified that these products were not exported to any foreign country. The World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier sought detailed information from India regarding these medicines following the child fatalities.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is preparing to introduce a new unified platform that will bring together all digital currencies used in the country. The RBI has released a new wallet system that allows smoother transactions across digital forms of money.

The initiative aims to enable users to send money using only mobile numbers, even if the receiver does not have a bank account. Initially, the service will be rolled out through Punjab National Bank on a pilot basis. By integrating the digital rupee with UPI apps like BHIM, the RBI seeks to make the digital currency more accessible and popular among the public.

New Delhi: Starting January next year, passengers will be able to change the date of their train journey without cancelling their booked ticket, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced. Under the current system, passengers must cancel tickets and rebook, losing part of the fare as a cancellation fee. The new feature eliminates this fee, though seat confirmation on the new date is not guaranteed. Passengers will need to pay the fare difference if the new ticket costs more. Presently, cancelling a ticket 48–12 hours before departure incurs a 25% deduction, with higher penalties for later cancellations, and no refund after the reservation chart is prepared.