RAS question
Covaxin, India's indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, was developed by:
Correct answer: (D) Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR and NIV Pune.
Covaxin, India's indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, was developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR and the National Institute of Virology, Pune.
Explanation
Covaxin, also called BBV152, was developed by Bharat Biotech with ICMR and the National Institute of Virology, Pune. The cited ICMR press release supports the partnership: ICMR and Bharat Biotech International Limited partnered to develop a fully indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, using the virus strain isolated at ICMR-NIV Pune and transferred to Bharat Biotech. The correct answer is therefore not just a private company name; the key exam point is the collaboration between Bharat Biotech, ICMR and NIV Pune. Covaxin is an inactivated whole-virion vaccine, which helps distinguish it from other COVID-19 vaccines asked in current-affairs science questions.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Zydus Cadila is wrong because it developed ZyCoV-D, a DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, not Covaxin.
- (B) Dr. Reddy's Laboratories is wrong because its role was linked to distributing Sputnik V in India, not developing Covaxin.
- (C) Serum Institute of India is wrong because it manufactured Covishield, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, not Covaxin.
Concept
This tests science and technology current affairs, especially vaccine developers and institutional collaborations. RAS repeats such items because indigenous health-technology initiatives connect government research bodies with private manufacturers.