As Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 76, five elements of his publicly discussed routine offer a look at his disciplined and active lifestyle. Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 76 on September 17, 2026, while continuing to manage a schedule that includes official meetings, national events, public programmes and international travel. His ability to remain active despite a demanding workload has often drawn attention to his daily routine.

Health Ministry issues stem cell therapy advisory The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued an advisory directing all states and Union Territories to strictly enforce the rules governing stem cell research and therapy. The advisory, dated September 16, 2026, asks healthcare establishments, medical professionals and regulatory authorities to prevent unapproved stem cell interventions from being offered as established treatments. The Ministry has clarified that stem cell therapy can be used as routine clinical care only for diseases and indications included in its approved list. Any treatment outside those approved uses must be regarded as experimental and cannot be promoted as a standard or commercially proven medical service. Key points: Only stem cell therapies approved by the Health Ministry may be offered as routine clinical care. Experimental stem cell interventions cannot be advertised or promoted as proven cures. Hospitals, clinics and doctors must comply with the applicable research and treatment regulations. State and district authorities have been directed to monitor clinical establishments and investigate reported violations. Stem cell therapy for autism remains experimental The advisory specifically addresses claims that stem cell therapy can treat Autism Spectrum Disorder. The government has made it clear that the therapeutic use of any type of stem cell for autism is not approved as routine or standard clinical treatment. Stem cell interventions involving autism may be undertaken only as part of duly approved clinical trials. These studies must follow the National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, 2017, jointly issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Department of Biotechnology. Important conditions include: Stem cell therapy for autism must remain restricted to authorised clinical trials. The clinical trial must receive all necessary regulatory and ethics approvals. Clinics cannot market experimental autism interventions as routine medical services. Doctors cannot claim that stem cells are an established cure for autism. Parents and caregivers should confirm a trial’s official registration and approvals before considering participation. The advisory does not prohibit legitimate research but requires it to be conducted under approved clinical-trial safeguards. NMC warns doctors against unauthorised practices The National Medical Commission has reinforced the regulatory position through its advisory dated September 5, 2026. It has warned registered medical practitioners against administering, prescribing, recommending, promoting or advertising stem cell therapies for unapproved indications. The NMC has stated that involvement in unauthorised stem cell treatment could amount to professional misconduct. State Medical Councils have been advised to examine complaints and initiate disciplinary proceedings when violations are established after due process. The NMC directions cover the following actions: Administering stem cell therapy for an indication that has not been approved. Prescribing an experimental intervention as standard treatment. Promoting unproven therapies through websites, social media or advertisements. Making unsupported claims about guaranteed recovery or a permanent cure. Commercially offering stem cell therapy outside an authorised clinical trial. Failing to properly explain the experimental status and potential risks to patients. Supreme Court judgment prompted stronger enforcement The Health Ministry’s advisory follows the Supreme Court’s January 30, 2026 judgment in Yash Charitable Trust and Others versus Union of India and Others. The ruling emphasised that failure to comply with the statutory framework governing stem cell therapy must result in appropriate consequences. The advisory reminds authorities that the existence of scientific research into stem cells does not permit clinics to sell unapproved interventions. Every therapeutic use must comply with the approved framework, and experimental research must remain within regulated clinical trials. The judgment and subsequent advisory underline that: Unapproved stem cell interventions cannot be treated as ordinary medical services. Regulatory violations must result in meaningful action. Medical professionals can be investigated for professional misconduct. Clinical establishments may face penalties or loss of registration. State authorities are responsible for enforcing the rules at the local level. Penalties for violating stem cell therapy rules Doctors found responsible for unauthorised stem cell therapy may face professional-misconduct proceedings under Regulation 7.22 of the Indian Medical Council Regulations, 2002. Any disciplinary action must be taken after examining the evidence and following the required legal process. Clinical establishments may separately face action under Sections 32 and 40 of the Clinical Establishments Registration and Regulation Act, 2010. Depending on the nature of the violation, this can include financial penalties and cancellation of registration. Possible consequences include: Professional-misconduct proceedings against registered medical practitioners. Disciplinary action by State Medical Councils. Investigation of hospitals and clinics offering unauthorised treatments. Penalties under the Clinical Establishments Act. Cancellation of a clinical establishment’s registration in applicable cases. Action against misleading promotion or advertisement of unproven therapies. What patients and families should verify Patients should not assume that every treatment described as “stem cell therapy” is approved, safe or clinically effective. Before agreeing to any such intervention, they should consult a qualified specialist and verify whether the proposed treatment is authorised for their medical condition. Patients and families should check: Whether the proposed stem cell treatment is approved for the diagnosed condition. Whether it is being offered as standard treatment or as part of a clinical trial. Whether the clinical trial has valid regulatory and ethics approvals. Whether the trial is officially registered and provides proper informed-consent documents. Whether the treating doctor and clinical establishment are appropriately registered. Whether the clinic is making unsupported claims of guaranteed improvement or cure. Whether the risks, possible benefits, alternatives and experimental status have been clearly explained. The advisory’s central message is that stem cell science may hold research potential, but unproven interventions must not be sold as established treatment. Patients should rely on approved medical care and independently verify regulatory claims before making decisions.

Early screen time linked to later learning concerns Children with higher screen exposure during infancy and the early school years may be more likely to have weaker working memory and lower academic performance later, according to a new study involving children in Singapore. The research, conducted by scientists from Inserm and the National University of Singapore, examined screen exposure at different stages of childhood instead of looking only at total screen h

Hyderabad, Telangana — An ICMR-NIN laboratory study found that lead and amyloid-beta together caused greater stress and damage in human nerve cells. Lead Exposure Worsens Nerve Cell Damage, NIN Study Finds Exposure to lead may make it more difficult for nerve cells to clear damaged material when it occurs alongside amyloid-beta peptides, according to a laboratory study by researchers at the ICMR-Na

New Delhi: H1N1 infections are rising across Delhi-NCR, with doctors reporting severe respiratory symptoms and falling oxygen levels in some patients. Delhi-NCR is witnessing a noticeable rise in H1N1 influenza, commonly known as swine flu, along with other respiratory infections as humid and changing monsoon weather continues across the region. Doctors have reported an increase in patients with fever, cough, body aches and breathing difficulties, while some cases h

Moderna and Merck announced positive late-stage melanoma trial results on Wednesday, August 19. The Phase 3 study involved 1,137 patients with surgically removed high-risk stage IIB to IV melanoma. Moderna Cancer Vaccine meets key Phase 3 melanoma goals Moderna and Merck have reported a major clinical milestone for their personalised mRNA cancer therapy after the Phase 3 INTerpath-001 trial met its primary and key secondary endpoints in patien

BENGALURU: Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized spurious medicines worth more than Rs 5 crore from an unlicensed facility near the Bidadi toll gate. Officials said the drug-control wing found medicines being repackaged and relabelled to resemble products sold by multinational pharmaceutical companies. The premises were allegedly operating without a valid licence. Karnataka FDA Busts Alleged Fake Drug Repackaging Racket Officials said t

China is testing a brain-computer interface that can reach the brain through neck blood vessels, potentially avoiding skull-opening surgery and cutting implant time to about 10 minutes. China Tests Brain Implant Through Blood Vessels China is developing an experimental brain-computer interface that could potentially be placed in the brain without opening the skull. Instead of conventional neurosurgery, researchers are testing a technique that uses

Fresh from her historic Japan Open Super 750 triumph, badminton star PV Sindhu joined the Andhra Pradesh Government's Jeevandan organ donation drive in Visakhapatnam, urging people to embrace organ donation awareness and describing it as a priceless gift that gives countless patients a second chance at life. PV Sindhu Supports Jeevandan Organ Donation Drive Indian badminton icon PV Sindhu participated in an organ donation awareness progr

Why AI Cannot Replace Doctors’ Clinical Judgement Artificial intelligence is helping doctors review research, organise records, and improve patient communication. However, clinical judgement, empathy, and treatment responsibility remain with medical professionals, making AI a support tool rather than a replacement for doctors. Technology Is Becoming a Medical Assistant Artificial intelligence is helping doctors review resea

Why a Family Physician May Be the Right First Doctor Choosing the right doctor at the start can reduce confusion and fragmented care. A family physician evaluates the broader health picture, manages routine concerns, and coordinates specialist referrals, while emergencies require immediate treatment.   Family Physician for First Consultation: Why Start Here New Delhi, July 22, 2026: Choosing a family physician

India Approves QDENGA Dengue Vaccine for People Aged 4–60 India has approved Takeda’s QDENGA as its first authorised dengue vaccine for people aged 4–60. The live-attenuated vaccine targets all four dengue virus serotypes and is administered in two doses, three months apart. India has approved QDENGA, making it the country’s first authorised vaccine for preventing dengue. The Drug Controller General of India has granted market authorisation for its use am

Kadapa Covid Cases Prompt Increased Health Surveillance in Andhra Pradesh Updated: July 15, 2026, Andhra Pradesh has strengthened Covid-19 surveillance after two people who tested positive for the virus died and eight active cases were reported in YSR Kadapa district. State health officials have described the infections as sporadic and said the situation should not be treated as evidence of a fresh outbreak. Rapid response teams hav

Nashik Teen Death After Td Vaccine: Batch Suspended, Probe Ordered Nashik, June 26, 2026: A 17-year-old girl died after collapsing shortly after receiving a Td vaccine dose at a municipal immunisation camp in Nashik, with officials suspending the vaccine batch as a precaution and ordering a detailed AEFI probe. Officials have not confirmed any direct link between the vaccine and

International Day Against Drug Abuse 2026: Theme, History And India’s Anti-Drug Efforts The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2026, also known as World Drug Day, is observed on June 26 to raise awareness about drug abuse, addiction, prevention, and illegal drug trafficking. The day highlights the need for stronger action by governments, communities, s