India approves Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine

India has authorized the restricted emergency use of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Indian regulators have approved the use of the Russian

Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, the health ministry said in a statement on Monday.

"India, the world’s 2nd most populous nation, became the 60th country to register #SputnikV after positive results of local Phase 3 clinical study. Sputnik V is now authorized in 60 countries with a population of over 3 [billion] people," a tweet from Sputnik V’s official account read.

India's Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) was deliberating on an application by pharmaceutical company Dr Reddy's Laboratories, that had sought the authorization for Sputnik V.

"After detailed deliberation the SEC recommended for grant of permission for restricted use in emergency situations subject to various regulatory provisions," the health ministry's statement read.

The recommendation comes as the South Asian nation battles an uptick in cases of the