---
title: "Covaxin: India's First Indigenous COVID-19 Vaccine"
description: "Covaxin (BBV152) is India's first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech, showcasing the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative in health technology."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/covaxin"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Covaxin (BBV152) is India's first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, an inactivated whole-virion vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech with the ICMR-National Institute of Virology.
- What platform technology does Covaxin use, and how does it differ from Covishield?
- Which institutions developed Covaxin?
- Why was Covaxin's approval controversial?
- Why is WHO Emergency Use Listing significant for Covaxin?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Covaxin (BBV152) is India's first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, an inactivated whole-virion vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech with the ICMR-National Institute of Virology.

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## Timeline

1. 3 January 2021

   India's drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), granted it restricted emergency-use authorisation on , alongside the Serum I…

2. 3 November 2021

   Covaxin received WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) on , which was significant for vaccine diplomacy and recognition of Indian-vaccinated travellers abroad.

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Example

On 3 January 2021, India's CDSCO granted restricted emergency-use approval to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, and on 3 November 2021 the WHO added it to its Emergency Use Listing.

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Lessons

[Biotech Health Vaccines](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/upsc-science-technology-biotech-health-vaccines)[Health Pharma The Biotechnology Mission](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/upsc-science-technology-health-pharma-the-biotechnology-mission)

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