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 Page 1


COVID-19 
MANAGEMENT
SECTION-VII
Page 2


COVID-19 
MANAGEMENT
SECTION-VII
COVID-19 
MANAGEMENT
INTRODUCTION
India began its fight against the novel 
coronavirus when the first case was reported 
in January 2020. Soon the world was 
ensnared in the grip of a ferocious pandemic. 
In India, the number of cases peaked in May 
2021. By January 2022, the cumulative case 
count in the country since the first case was 
more than 4 crore. 
As the country continues its battle against the 
virus and its several mutations, a collaborative 
approach, involving the Government, the 
public and the private sectors, is the only way 
to defeat Covid-19. Several milestones were 
achieved this year, the most notable being 
India achieving the 100-crore vaccination 
mark in October 2021. 
On its part, NITI Aayog has been playing a 
crucial role during the Covid-19 pandemic, 
more specifically through the Empowered 
Groups headed by its Member (Health) and 
CEO.
Page 3


COVID-19 
MANAGEMENT
SECTION-VII
COVID-19 
MANAGEMENT
INTRODUCTION
India began its fight against the novel 
coronavirus when the first case was reported 
in January 2020. Soon the world was 
ensnared in the grip of a ferocious pandemic. 
In India, the number of cases peaked in May 
2021. By January 2022, the cumulative case 
count in the country since the first case was 
more than 4 crore. 
As the country continues its battle against the 
virus and its several mutations, a collaborative 
approach, involving the Government, the 
public and the private sectors, is the only way 
to defeat Covid-19. Several milestones were 
achieved this year, the most notable being 
India achieving the 100-crore vaccination 
mark in October 2021. 
On its part, NITI Aayog has been playing a 
crucial role during the Covid-19 pandemic, 
more specifically through the Empowered 
Groups headed by its Member (Health) and 
CEO.
OVERVIEW
The impact of Covid has been largely disruptive in terms of economic activity as well as a loss of 
human lives. With most sectors adversely affected, the economy witnessed a contraction of 7.3% 
during 2020–21. Both the Central and State Governments came out with a series of responses 
to protect lives and livelihoods, improve healthcare facilities, ramp up vaccinations, and undertake 
measures for social protection. Economic reform packages were also announced to quickly bring 
the economy back to the growth path. As a result, GDP growth is expected to rebound to 9.2% in 
2021–22.
NITI Aayog has been playing an instrumental role in enhancing the country’s preparedness and response 
capabilities, providing technical guidance as well as active support by setting up the CovAid portal 
and through partnerships with civil society organizations, the private sector, and multilateral institutions. 
NITI’s contribution through the Empowered Groups, headed by its Member and CEO, has been critical 
for ensuring timely action in combating the virus.
NITI’s involvement ranges from leading and participating in Empowered Group meetings, providing 
trends of the pandemic for informed policymaking, ensuring health system preparedness and vaccine 
management to testing and genomic surveillance, providing guidance on school reopening, and 
setting up a dedicated portal—CovAid—for transparent and faster distribution of all foreign aid to 
end beneficiaries. 
EMPOWERED GROUPS LED BY NITI AAYOG
Empowered Group 1: Medical infrastructure and Covid-management plan, chaired by Dr VK 
Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog. 
Empowered Group 5: Vaccination (including procurement, manufacturing, import, logistics, daily 
supply, utilization, and wastage monitoring), chaired by Member (Health), NITI Aayog. 
Empowered Group 7: Coordinating with private sector, NGOs, and international organizations 
for response-related activities, chaired by Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog.
CONTRIBUTION OF EMPOWERED GROUPS
Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, is heading the Empowered Groups on emergency 
management plan and vaccination, and the National Expert Group on Vaccination Administration for 
Covid (NEGVAC).
Under the leadership of Dr Paul, NITI Aayog also participated in the activities of the National Task Force 
on Covid-19. In addition, NITI’s Health Vertical also contributed to the proceedings of the Empowered 
Groups on the augmentation of manpower (EG 3) and oxygen (EG 4).
Covid Trends for Informed Policymaking
Dynamic trends of the pandemic, at the international, national, State and District levels, were provided, 
as needed, often on a daily/weekly basis to inform the highest offices for shaping policies.
Health Systems’ Preparedness
As many as 50 Empowered Group 1 meetings have been held so far under the Chairmanship of 
Dr Paul. Key decisions taken in consultation with relevant stakeholders and experts during these 
104
Annual Report 2021–22
COVID-19 MANAGEMENT
Page 4


COVID-19 
MANAGEMENT
SECTION-VII
COVID-19 
MANAGEMENT
INTRODUCTION
India began its fight against the novel 
coronavirus when the first case was reported 
in January 2020. Soon the world was 
ensnared in the grip of a ferocious pandemic. 
In India, the number of cases peaked in May 
2021. By January 2022, the cumulative case 
count in the country since the first case was 
more than 4 crore. 
As the country continues its battle against the 
virus and its several mutations, a collaborative 
approach, involving the Government, the 
public and the private sectors, is the only way 
to defeat Covid-19. Several milestones were 
achieved this year, the most notable being 
India achieving the 100-crore vaccination 
mark in October 2021. 
On its part, NITI Aayog has been playing a 
crucial role during the Covid-19 pandemic, 
more specifically through the Empowered 
Groups headed by its Member (Health) and 
CEO.
OVERVIEW
The impact of Covid has been largely disruptive in terms of economic activity as well as a loss of 
human lives. With most sectors adversely affected, the economy witnessed a contraction of 7.3% 
during 2020–21. Both the Central and State Governments came out with a series of responses 
to protect lives and livelihoods, improve healthcare facilities, ramp up vaccinations, and undertake 
measures for social protection. Economic reform packages were also announced to quickly bring 
the economy back to the growth path. As a result, GDP growth is expected to rebound to 9.2% in 
2021–22.
NITI Aayog has been playing an instrumental role in enhancing the country’s preparedness and response 
capabilities, providing technical guidance as well as active support by setting up the CovAid portal 
and through partnerships with civil society organizations, the private sector, and multilateral institutions. 
NITI’s contribution through the Empowered Groups, headed by its Member and CEO, has been critical 
for ensuring timely action in combating the virus.
NITI’s involvement ranges from leading and participating in Empowered Group meetings, providing 
trends of the pandemic for informed policymaking, ensuring health system preparedness and vaccine 
management to testing and genomic surveillance, providing guidance on school reopening, and 
setting up a dedicated portal—CovAid—for transparent and faster distribution of all foreign aid to 
end beneficiaries. 
EMPOWERED GROUPS LED BY NITI AAYOG
Empowered Group 1: Medical infrastructure and Covid-management plan, chaired by Dr VK 
Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog. 
Empowered Group 5: Vaccination (including procurement, manufacturing, import, logistics, daily 
supply, utilization, and wastage monitoring), chaired by Member (Health), NITI Aayog. 
Empowered Group 7: Coordinating with private sector, NGOs, and international organizations 
for response-related activities, chaired by Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog.
CONTRIBUTION OF EMPOWERED GROUPS
Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, is heading the Empowered Groups on emergency 
management plan and vaccination, and the National Expert Group on Vaccination Administration for 
Covid (NEGVAC).
Under the leadership of Dr Paul, NITI Aayog also participated in the activities of the National Task Force 
on Covid-19. In addition, NITI’s Health Vertical also contributed to the proceedings of the Empowered 
Groups on the augmentation of manpower (EG 3) and oxygen (EG 4).
Covid Trends for Informed Policymaking
Dynamic trends of the pandemic, at the international, national, State and District levels, were provided, 
as needed, often on a daily/weekly basis to inform the highest offices for shaping policies.
Health Systems’ Preparedness
As many as 50 Empowered Group 1 meetings have been held so far under the Chairmanship of 
Dr Paul. Key decisions taken in consultation with relevant stakeholders and experts during these 
104
Annual Report 2021–22
COVID-19 MANAGEMENT
meetings proved as crucial guidance for other EGs, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and 
State Governments.
Framework documents were prepared in the early phase of the pandemic, prior to the first wave, 
which aided in planning. The following frameworks were submitted by EG 1:
 $ Requirements and norms for Covid Care Centres in India
 $ Setting up of Covid hospitals in India
 $ Population and State-wise estimates for Level-2 Covid hospital beds in India
 $ District-Readiness Assessment Tool for managing the Covid-19 outbreak
Vaccination
Twenty Empowered Group 5 and 30 NEGVAC meetings have so far been conducted. Key decisions 
involving vaccine manufacturing, availability, procurement, import, logistics, utilization, and ramping up 
of the IT infrastructure were taken in these meetings.
Engagement with State Governments and other key stakeholders, such as the National Technical 
Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), to plan the roll-out of vaccinations was also undertaken. A 
guidance document was prepared on the prioritization and phasing of vaccines during the first phase 
of the immunization drive.
DEVELOPING VULNERABILITY CRITERIA OF DISTRICTS 
NITI Aayog developed vulnerability criteria of Districts for Empowered Group 1 to aid in strategizing 
and guiding efforts for controlling the pandemic. Using easily available data and considering prior 
exposure to Covid and two-dose vaccination coverage, the Districts were categorized into four 
categories. 
Special Focus Assumptions No. of Districts
Category 1
Prior confirmed Covid exposure less than 0.5% and 
vaccination less than 50%
99
Category 2
Prior confirmed Covid exposure between 0.5 to 2.5% and 
vaccination less than 50% or  
prior Covid exposure below 0.5% and vaccination above 
50%
212
Category 3
Prior Covid exposure above 2.5% and vaccination less 
than 50% or 
prior covid exposure between 0.5 to 2.5% and vaccination 
above 50%
299
Category 4
Prior Covid exposure above 2.5% and vaccination above 
50%
104
Note: National average for prior Covid exposure is 2.5% and the second dose of Covid vaccination is 50% as 
on 30 December 2021
Districts in categories 1 and 2 represent a high vulnerability to the Omicron variant. The Ministry of 
Health and Family Welfare shared these criteria with the States and UTs to ensure rapid scale-up 
of the second dose of vaccination in the Districts in categories 1 and 2, in addition to all-round 
health preparedness (beds, ICUs), testing, medicines, oxygen, home-care support, etc.
105
COVID-19 MANAGEMENT
Annual Report 2021–22
Page 5


COVID-19 
MANAGEMENT
SECTION-VII
COVID-19 
MANAGEMENT
INTRODUCTION
India began its fight against the novel 
coronavirus when the first case was reported 
in January 2020. Soon the world was 
ensnared in the grip of a ferocious pandemic. 
In India, the number of cases peaked in May 
2021. By January 2022, the cumulative case 
count in the country since the first case was 
more than 4 crore. 
As the country continues its battle against the 
virus and its several mutations, a collaborative 
approach, involving the Government, the 
public and the private sectors, is the only way 
to defeat Covid-19. Several milestones were 
achieved this year, the most notable being 
India achieving the 100-crore vaccination 
mark in October 2021. 
On its part, NITI Aayog has been playing a 
crucial role during the Covid-19 pandemic, 
more specifically through the Empowered 
Groups headed by its Member (Health) and 
CEO.
OVERVIEW
The impact of Covid has been largely disruptive in terms of economic activity as well as a loss of 
human lives. With most sectors adversely affected, the economy witnessed a contraction of 7.3% 
during 2020–21. Both the Central and State Governments came out with a series of responses 
to protect lives and livelihoods, improve healthcare facilities, ramp up vaccinations, and undertake 
measures for social protection. Economic reform packages were also announced to quickly bring 
the economy back to the growth path. As a result, GDP growth is expected to rebound to 9.2% in 
2021–22.
NITI Aayog has been playing an instrumental role in enhancing the country’s preparedness and response 
capabilities, providing technical guidance as well as active support by setting up the CovAid portal 
and through partnerships with civil society organizations, the private sector, and multilateral institutions. 
NITI’s contribution through the Empowered Groups, headed by its Member and CEO, has been critical 
for ensuring timely action in combating the virus.
NITI’s involvement ranges from leading and participating in Empowered Group meetings, providing 
trends of the pandemic for informed policymaking, ensuring health system preparedness and vaccine 
management to testing and genomic surveillance, providing guidance on school reopening, and 
setting up a dedicated portal—CovAid—for transparent and faster distribution of all foreign aid to 
end beneficiaries. 
EMPOWERED GROUPS LED BY NITI AAYOG
Empowered Group 1: Medical infrastructure and Covid-management plan, chaired by Dr VK 
Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog. 
Empowered Group 5: Vaccination (including procurement, manufacturing, import, logistics, daily 
supply, utilization, and wastage monitoring), chaired by Member (Health), NITI Aayog. 
Empowered Group 7: Coordinating with private sector, NGOs, and international organizations 
for response-related activities, chaired by Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog.
CONTRIBUTION OF EMPOWERED GROUPS
Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, is heading the Empowered Groups on emergency 
management plan and vaccination, and the National Expert Group on Vaccination Administration for 
Covid (NEGVAC).
Under the leadership of Dr Paul, NITI Aayog also participated in the activities of the National Task Force 
on Covid-19. In addition, NITI’s Health Vertical also contributed to the proceedings of the Empowered 
Groups on the augmentation of manpower (EG 3) and oxygen (EG 4).
Covid Trends for Informed Policymaking
Dynamic trends of the pandemic, at the international, national, State and District levels, were provided, 
as needed, often on a daily/weekly basis to inform the highest offices for shaping policies.
Health Systems’ Preparedness
As many as 50 Empowered Group 1 meetings have been held so far under the Chairmanship of 
Dr Paul. Key decisions taken in consultation with relevant stakeholders and experts during these 
104
Annual Report 2021–22
COVID-19 MANAGEMENT
meetings proved as crucial guidance for other EGs, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and 
State Governments.
Framework documents were prepared in the early phase of the pandemic, prior to the first wave, 
which aided in planning. The following frameworks were submitted by EG 1:
 $ Requirements and norms for Covid Care Centres in India
 $ Setting up of Covid hospitals in India
 $ Population and State-wise estimates for Level-2 Covid hospital beds in India
 $ District-Readiness Assessment Tool for managing the Covid-19 outbreak
Vaccination
Twenty Empowered Group 5 and 30 NEGVAC meetings have so far been conducted. Key decisions 
involving vaccine manufacturing, availability, procurement, import, logistics, utilization, and ramping up 
of the IT infrastructure were taken in these meetings.
Engagement with State Governments and other key stakeholders, such as the National Technical 
Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), to plan the roll-out of vaccinations was also undertaken. A 
guidance document was prepared on the prioritization and phasing of vaccines during the first phase 
of the immunization drive.
DEVELOPING VULNERABILITY CRITERIA OF DISTRICTS 
NITI Aayog developed vulnerability criteria of Districts for Empowered Group 1 to aid in strategizing 
and guiding efforts for controlling the pandemic. Using easily available data and considering prior 
exposure to Covid and two-dose vaccination coverage, the Districts were categorized into four 
categories. 
Special Focus Assumptions No. of Districts
Category 1
Prior confirmed Covid exposure less than 0.5% and 
vaccination less than 50%
99
Category 2
Prior confirmed Covid exposure between 0.5 to 2.5% and 
vaccination less than 50% or  
prior Covid exposure below 0.5% and vaccination above 
50%
212
Category 3
Prior Covid exposure above 2.5% and vaccination less 
than 50% or 
prior covid exposure between 0.5 to 2.5% and vaccination 
above 50%
299
Category 4
Prior Covid exposure above 2.5% and vaccination above 
50%
104
Note: National average for prior Covid exposure is 2.5% and the second dose of Covid vaccination is 50% as 
on 30 December 2021
Districts in categories 1 and 2 represent a high vulnerability to the Omicron variant. The Ministry of 
Health and Family Welfare shared these criteria with the States and UTs to ensure rapid scale-up 
of the second dose of vaccination in the Districts in categories 1 and 2, in addition to all-round 
health preparedness (beds, ICUs), testing, medicines, oxygen, home-care support, etc.
105
COVID-19 MANAGEMENT
Annual Report 2021–22
Augmenting Health Resources
NITI Aayog participated and contributed to eight Empowered Group 3 discussions and meetings on 
human resources (HR). The framework document on the setting up of Covid-hospitals in India, which 
also mentions HR needs, was used as a starting point for planning.
A web portal for the registration of volunteer medical doctors was also developed by NITI. Around 
40,000 volunteers registered on this portal. The data was shared with MoHFW and the EG 3 on 
augmenting HR for optimal deployment.
Further, policy options to incentivize healthcare professionals were prepared. These were extensively 
discussed, and final decisions included permitting the deployment of medical interns for Covid-
management duties under the supervision of their faculty, using the services of final-year MBBS and 
PG students, employing BSc/GNM qualified nurses for teleconsultation and monitoring of mild Covid 
cases, and recognizing and incentivizing Covid duty by PGs and residents. All such professionals thus 
engaged were covered under the insurance scheme of the Government for health workers fighting 
Covid. These measures were announced by the Prime Minister on 3 May 2021.
Testing and Genomic Surveillance
EG 1 prepared a scientific document that paved the way for the development of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 
Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). NITI Aayog released the guidelines on ‘Sharing of Biospecimen and 
Data for Research Related to Covid-19’, which helped in the set-up of multiple Covid-19 biorepositories, 
and the subsequent formation of the INSACOG.
Mapping of testing laboratories across the nation during the initial phase of the pandemic was also 
undertaken, for planning the ramping up of capacities.
Oxygen Planning
NITI Aayog participated and contributed to three Empowered Group 4 discussions and meetings on 
oxygen planning.
A guidance document, ‘Preparedness to Meet Oxygen Requirements for Possible Future Surge of 
Covid-19 Cases’, was also prepared by NITI in consultation with DPIIT, Petroleum and Explosives 
Safety Organization (PESO), and MoHFW.
Enabling Availability of Critical Consumables
NITI Aayog supported the MoHFW to coordinate inter-state transportation and delivery of essentials, 
such as medicines, medical devices, and Covid-related emergency supplies, during the lockdowns.
Setting Up Temporary Health Facilities in Hotels
During the second wave, in the face of a huge demand for healthcare facilities, the hotel industry offered 
to help Covid patients by offering beds for self-isolation, accommodation for healthcare professionals, 
and units for temporary treatment centres. NITI Aayog prepared a note on the types of services offered 
by the hotels, along with relevant advisories that were issued by the Ministry of Health and Family 
Welfare. Further, NITI Aayog requested all States and UTs to explore partnerships with hotels in their 
jurisdiction to provide accommodation to healthcare professionals and Covid patients.
Supporting Innovation
Broad-basing laboratories for approving investigational products, technologies, drugs and devices, 
aimed at reducing bottlenecks in the validation process and expediting the approval and availability 
of innovative diagnostic products in the market were also undertaken.
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Annual Report 2021–22
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