"Our rules and laws for intermediaries remain the same regardless of who owns the platforms," said MoS for electronics and information technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, told Reuters.

Health experts say many cases are going undetected in the state's villages, home to the bulk of its people.

"Other countries which have evinced interest in the light-combat aircraft are: Argentina, Australia, Egypt, USA, Indonesia, and Philippines," junior defence minister, Ajay Bhatt, said.

RDIF has deals with several Indian companies to make nearly one billion doses of Sputnik COVID-19 vaccines, though output has not risen beyond a few million doses.

Over the last few days, daily stocks of all COVID-19 vaccines have exceeded 100 million doses. However, daily vaccinations have dropped to an average of 5 million doses this month and even less in the past week.

'India wants to help out Africa with both vaccines and its COVID operational model,' a source told Reuters.

Beds have been added at facilities around the country, and hospitals are working to ensure ample supplies of oxygen.

Daily inoculations have averaged 2.5 million since hitting a peak of 4.5 million on April 5.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation had earlier declined to approve Pfizer's vaccine without a small local trial on its safety and immunogenicity for Indians.