Chief Executive Adar Poonawalla said in an interview after the shot was approved for emergency use in the world's second-most populous country, that exports might be possible after supplying the Indian government with an initial 100 million doses.

The Indian government just wants to ensure that "the most vulnerable people of the country get it first - I fully endorse and support that decision", he said.

SII is still waiting to strike a formal supply deal with the Indian government, but is expected to do so in the coming days.

(Reporting by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)