Study finds over half of truck drivers suffer from vision issues, high BP
A pilot study conducted across six states—Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu—revealed that over 55% of truck drivers suffer from compromised vision, while 57% have elevated blood pressure levels. The study, conducted under "Project Abhay" by IIT-Delhi’s Centre for Rural Development & Technology (CRDT) in collaboration with Foresight Foundation, screened 50,713 drivers over the past year.
The report, released by Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, highlighted that 53.3% of drivers required distance vision correction, while 46.7% needed near-vision correction. Immediate on-site distribution of spectacles ensured that 93.7% of drivers with refractive errors received corrective eyewear, reducing potential road accidents.
Gadkari emphasized the government's commitment to improving driver welfare and road safety, while also addressing India’s truck driver shortage—currently at 22 lakh drivers. He reiterated plans to transition 80% of the truck fleet to CNG or LNG to lower logistics costs and environmental impact. He noted that inadequate driver shifts and manpower shortages contribute to road accidents, with truck-related fatalities accounting for approximately 10,000 deaths annually.
Health screenings also showed that 44.3% of drivers had borderline or above Body Mass Index (BMI), while 18.4% displayed high blood sugar levels. Counseling on lifestyle changes, dietary improvements, and stress management was provided, with urgent cases referred for medical evaluation. Additionally, mental health counseling desks were set up, with resources like Tele-MANAS offering 24x7 tele-mental health support.
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Rupee falls 28 paise to 94.77 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated 28 paise to 94.77 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday as market sentiment took a dramatic turn after reports emerged that the US and Iran are discussing a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at reducing tensions and reopening negotiations.
Forex traders said Brent oil prices, which had fallen to USD 98 on the US-Iran peace deal, edged slightly higher to USD 101 per barrel after investors weighed the prospects for a Middle East peace deal.
Moreover, factors such as unabated foreign capital outflows amid rising geopolitical uncertainties further dented investor sentiment.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 94.77 against the US dollar, registering a fall of 28 paise over its previous close.
On Wednesday, the rupee appreciated 69 paise to close at 94.49 against the US dollar.
"Markets are currently focused on the critical 48-hour window during which the US expects Tehran’s formal response through Pakistani mediators," said CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened Iran with more bombing if it doesn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz, amid a report that the warring sides were nearing an agreement to end the war.
US media outlet Axios reported, quoting US officials and two other sources, that the US and Iran were getting close to a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations.
The US expects Iranian responses on several key points over the next 48 hours, Axios reported, adding that nothing has been agreed yet. This was the closest the parties had been to an agreement since the war began.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading at 98.01, down 0.01 per cent.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 0.65 per cent at USD 101.83 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share benchmark index Sensex declined 160.24 points to 77,798.28 in early trade, while the Nifty was down 30.25 points to 24,300.70.
Foreign Institutional Investors offloaded equities worth Rs 5,834.90 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.
On the domestic macroeconomic front, the country's goods and services exports rose 4.6 per cent to an all-time high of USD 863.11 billion during 2025-26, up from USD 825.26 billion in 2024-25, despite global economic uncertainties, according to revised commerce ministry data.
Merchandise exports grew 0.93 per cent to USD 441.78 billion in the last fiscal year from USD 437.70 billion in 2024-25, the data showed.
