With the COVID-19 onslaught driving the attention of the publics around the world to the science manifested in the viral pandemic, it would be interesting to find out how, if at all, this experience has changed public perceptions about science and scientists.

CSIR has always taken up challenges and developed technologies to fulfil and suit the country’s requirements during different periods of its independent journey, notching up several firsts to its credit.

Digitization of health records and creating an environment for telemedicine form an essential part of strengthening the health infrastructure in the country.

The struggle to really halt and eliminate the virus also rests on the shoulders of the aware, enlightened and responsible populace of the country.

During the past four months, as the SARS-CoV-2 virus continued its rampaging run through most parts of the world infecting millions and causing fatalities in the lakhs, health and healthcare have come into sharper focus and come to occupy the highest pedestal like never before.

Very few of those living today would have experienced, ever in their lifetime, the trying conditions and circumstances thrown up by the Coronavirus outbreak.

The coronavirus pandemic has made its presence known the world over as no other event in recent history.

It is rarely that an issue that has been dealt with earlier in this column remains significant enough through the month to warrant yet another mention.

The death toll in China due to the coronavirus outbreak has crossed 2000, as per recent reports.

Excitement is building up in India’s space programme. A crucial and very important milestone would be reached in 2022, two years from now, when India launches its Human Spaceflight Programme (HSP).