MGWire

Oct 01, 2020 ,  8:26AM Country receives above normal rainfall during monsoon season this year @IMDWeather The country has received above normal monsoon during the four-month South West Monsoon season from June to September.   Talking to AIR News, India Meteorological Department scientist R K Jenamani said, this is for the second consecutive year that the country received above normal rainfall.  

Oct 01, 2020 ,  8:19AM New guidelines for opening up more activities in non-containment zones come into force today mha.gov.in Home Ministry has issued new guidelines for opening up of more activities in areas outside the Containment Zones.   These guidelines which come into effect from today further extends the process of re-opening of several activities in the country.   Starting today, States and Union Territories have been directed not to impose any local lockdown outside Containment Zones without prior consultation with the Central Government.   There will also be no restriction on Inter-State and Intra-State movement of goods and persons as well.   All activities have been permitted outside containment zones barring International travel of passengers except as permitted by Home Ministry.   AIR correspondent reports, under the new guidelines , Cinema Halls and theatres have been allowed to re-open with 50 per cent capacity sta...

Oct 01, 2020 ,  8:18AM IPL: Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals by 37 runs in Dubai PTI Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals by 37 runs in IPL cricket in Dubai last night.   Rajasthan Royals (RR) were restricted to 137 for 9 in 20 overs, after being handed a target of 175.   All-rounder Tom Curran (54) was the highest run-scorer, with none of the other batsmen able to make an impact.   Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Varun Chakravarthy accounted for two dismissals apiece.   Shivam Mavi was adjudged the Man of the Match.   Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders posted a total of 174 for 6 in 20 overs after being sent in to bat.   Opener Shubman Gill was the highest run-scorer for the side, scoring 47 runs off 34 deliveries in an innings comprising of five boundaries and a six.   With KKR losing wickets at regular intervals and no batsman really getting set after Gill, Eoin Morgan hit an unbeaten 34 off 23 to ...

Oct 01, 2020 ,  8:16AM India extends ban on international flights till Oct 31 @DGCAIndia Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has extended till October 31 the suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger services to and from India.   However, International cargo flights and passenger flights approved by the government will continue.  DGCA said, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes on case to case basis. The announcement comes after Home Ministry issued fresh guidelines under the Unlock 5 plan in which it mentioned that international air travel of passengers will not be permitted in the current phase of Unlock, except as permitted by government. However, to allow gradual movement of passenger traffic, air bubble agreements have been signed with a number of countries.   Earlier on Wednesday, Civil Aviation  Ministry added more destinations, including Bhutan and Kenya, to the list of countrie...

Oct 01, 2020 ,  8:05AM Notification for 1st phase of assembly elections in Bihar to be issued today File Pic Notification for the first phase of assembly elections in Bihar will be issued today. With the notification, the process of filing of nominations will begin today.   71 assembly constituencies spread over 16 districts will go to polls in this phase on 28th of this month.   Last date of nomination is 8th October and scrutiny of nominations will take place the next day.   Last date of withdrawal of candidature is 12th October.   AIR correspondent reports, in the First phase assembly constituencies of Gaya, Nawada, Aurangabad , Jamui, Rohtas, Kaimur, Patna, Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Bhojpur, Buxar, Arwal and Jehanabad districts would go to the polls.   In the poll bound 71 assembly constituencies most of them are naxal violence affected and sensitive in security point of view.   In view of Covid-1...

Sep 30, 2020 ,  8:19PM Govt extends ITR filing date for Assessment Year 2019-20 till Nov 30 File Pic Government has further extended the last date for filing ITR for Assessment Year 2019-20 till 30th of November this year. Earlier the last date for filing the belated and revised ITRs for Financial Year ending on 31st March 2019 was 30th September. The Income Tax department, in a statement, said that the decision was taken after further consideration of genuine difficulties being faced by the taxpayers due to the Covid-19 situation.

Sep 30, 2020 ,  8:07PM India successfully test-fires BrahMos supersonic cruise missile with several indigenous features @rajnathsingh India today successfully test-fired BrahMos supersonic cruise missile with several indigenous features. The test firing of the missile was carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO from Balasore in Odisha. BrahMos surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile features indigenous Booster and Airframe Section along with many other ‘Made in India’ sub-systems. Defence Ministry said, the BrahMos Land-Attack Cruise Missile was cruising at a top speed of Mach 2.8. It is one more major step in enhancing the indigenous content. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated all the personnel of DRDO and team BrahMos for the spectacular mission. Mr Singh said, today’s successful launch has paved the way for the serial production of the indigenous booster and other indigenous components of the powerful BrahMos We...

Sep 30, 2020 ,  8:06PM India, China decide to implement five point agreement to ensure disengagement at all friction points along LAC File Pic India and China have agreed to sincerely implement the agreement between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries in order to ensure disengagement at all the friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The 19th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) which was held today in virtual mode and was attended by delegation from both the sides reviewed the current situation along the LAC in the India-China border areas.   During the meeting both India and China positively evaluated the outcome of the 6th Senior Commanders meeting held on 21st of this month and emphasized the need to implement the steps outlined so as to avoid misunderstandings and to maintain stability on the ground. In the same context, the need to strengthen communi...

Sep 30, 2020 ,  1:38PM US President Donald Trump & Democratic challenger Joe Biden begin first presidential debate Tweeted by @AIR President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden began the first presidential debate with heated exchanges over health care, the coronavirus and the future of the Supreme Court.   Trump and Biden arrived in Cleveland, Ohio hoping the debate, moderated by Chris Wallace would energize their bases of support, even as they competed for the slice of undecided voters who could decide the election.    Fitting for an edge in their bitter campaign, the two leaders  frequently interrupted each other with angry interjections.   The pandemic's effects were in plain sight, with the candidates' lecterns spaced far apart, all of the guests in the small crowd tested and the traditional opening handshake scrapped.   With just 35 days to go for the election, and early voting already underway in some stat...

Sep 30, 2020 ,  1:22PM MSP & APMC to continue at any cost: Centre reassures farmers @BJP4India Union Government has repeatedly assured farmers that Minimum Support Price and Agricultural Produce & Livestock Market Committees will continue and will not be removed at any cost.   Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday after inaugurating six mega projects in Uttarakhand that those opposing farm reform bills do not want farmers to have the freedom of selling their produce in the open market.   One of the objections raised is against a provision in The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, which provides for the creation of a “trade area” outside APMC Mandis.   The farmers fear that the MSP mechanism would be done away with if the Mandi system comes to an end. However, the Centre has assured farmers that MSP is an administrative decision which is presently there and will remain in the future...

Sep 30, 2020 ,  1:18PM All 32 accused in Babri Masjid demolition case acquitted PTI FILE PIC The CBI Special Court in Lucknow has acquitted all the 32 accused in the Babri Demolition case.   The court said, there was no conclusive proof against the accused.   The case relates to the razing of the disputed structure in Ayodhya on 6th of December 1992.   The 32 accused persons include former Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani, former Union Minister M. M. Joshi, former Union Minister Uma Bharti and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh.    The CBI, which went into the case, produced 351 witnesses and 600 documents as evidence before the court. The court had initially framed charges against 49 accused; 17 accused have died during the course of time.

Sep 30, 2020 ,  1:11PM COVID-19 recovery rate in country reaches 83.33% PTI ( FILE PIC ) India's COVID-19 cases have crossed 62 lakh mark today with 80,472 infections being reported during the last 24 hours.   Health Ministry data said, the number of recoveries surged to 51,87,825 pushing the recovery rate to 83.33 per cent.     The total number of Corona virus cases mounted to 62,25,763, while the death toll climbed to 97,497 with 1,179 people succumbing to the disease in a day.   There are 9,40,441 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 15.11 per cent of the total caseload.   The case fatality rate stands at 1.57 per cent.   According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 7,41,96,729 samples have been tested for detection of Corona virus infection with 10,86,688 samples being tested on Tuesday.

Sep 30, 2020 ,  8:17AM UP govt to establish L2 level Covid hospitals in all districts for better treatment of patients File Pic: PTI Uttar Pradesh government will establish L2 level covid hospitals in each and every district of state for better treatment of Covid patients.   Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate seven hundred bedded L2 level covid hospitals today which will help in strengthening the health services in state.   AIR correspondent reports, these L2 level covid hospitals are in six districts of state which includes Bareilly Sant Kabir Nagar Shamli Amethi Mirzapur and Bhadohi.   These hospitals will increase capacity of 700 beds for the treatment of covid patients in  state.   Out of these 700 beds 300 beds are in Bareilly, 100 each in Amethi, Shamli and Bhadohi and 50 each in Mirzapur and Sant Kabir Nagar.   To provide better health facilities and expert's advice for the serious patients Chief Minister Yo...

Sep 30, 2020 ,  8:14AM Urban slum & non-slum areas have higher prevalence of Corona infection than rural areas, says 2nd Sero Survey report File Pic ICMR's second sero-survey findings released on Tuesday has revealed that one in 15 individuals aged 10 years and above were estimated to be exposed to SARS-CoV2 by August, showing that a considerable population is still susceptible to COVID-19.   Briefing media on Tuesday, DG ICMR Dr Balram Bhargava said, 6.6 per cent of  over 29 thousand people, aged 10 and above, surveyed from 17th August to 22nd September showed evidence of past exposure to COVID-19 and 7.1 per cent of the adult population, aged 18 and above, also showed evidence of past exposure to it.   He said lockdown, containment and behavioural change at the population level have effectively checked the potential spread of SARS-CoV2.   Dr Bhargava said the risk in urban slums was twice than that in non-slum urban areas and four tim...

Sep 30, 2020 ,  8:11AM Centre releases COVID-19 Safe Workplace Guidelines for Industry @drharshvardhan Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar have virtually released a booklet on ‘COVID-19- Safe Workplace Guidelines for Industry’ in the presence of Member (Health) in NITI Aayog, VK Paul. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, these guidelines are commendable and timely and it will help in welfare of the industrial workers.   He said, the guidelines will act as a comprehensive planning guidance for employers and workers to use it to help identify risk levels of Covid-19 at individual workplace settings in their premises and to determine appropriate control measures.   The Minister said, these guidelines consolidate all important measures into a ready reckoner of action points to make the workplace safe based on the bulwark of infection control measures like respiratory hygiene, frequent hand washing, social di...

Sep 30, 2020 ,  8:07AM Full EC to review preparedness for upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar File Pic: PTI In Bihar the full Election Commission team led by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora  will  meet different political parties today.   The team will also hold a review meeting in Patna with DMs and SPs of 26 districts including Saran, Siwan Gopalganj and Muzaffarpur.   The Election commission team is on a three day tour to Bihar to review preparedness for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.   The Chief Election Commissioner is accompanied by Election Commissioners Sushil Chandra and Rajiv Kumar.   The Election Commission team held review meeting with Bihar Chief Electoral Officer and nodal officers on Tuesday.   Bihar is the first state where assembly election is being held amid Covid 19 pandemic.   Tomorrow the EC team will go to Gaya where a review meeting with DMs and SPs of 12 districts inclu...

Sep 30, 2020 ,  8:05AM Govt approves procurement of 14 lakh MT of pulses & oilseeds at MSP in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Haryana @AgriGoI Government has continued to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP) from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes.   Ministry of Agriculture said, based on the proposal from the States, approval has been accorded for procurement of over 14 Lakh Metric Tonnes of Pulses and Oilseeds  for the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Haryana.   It said, for other States and Union Territories, approval will also be accorded on receipt of proposal for Kharif Pulses and Oilseeds. Inaugurating six mega projects in Uttarakhand under the Namami Gange Mission on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured farmers about continuity of guaranteed Minimum Support Price and government procurements of agri produce.   The Prime Minister said major reforms have b...

Sep 29, 2020 ,  9:50PM PM says, two crore families provided with pure drinking water under Jal Jeevan Mission in just one year PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi  today inaugurated six mega projects in Uttarakhand under the Namami Gange Mission through video conference. The projects include construction of a 68 MLD (million liters per day) Sewage Treatment Plant, up gradation of the existing 27 MLD at Jagjeetpur and construction of an 18 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant at Sarai, in Haridwar. The inauguration of 68 MLD Jagjeetpur project marks completion of the first sewage treatment project taken up on hybrid annuity mode of Public Private Partnership. The Haridwar-Rishikesh zone contributes about 80 per cent waste water load into the River Ganga. These plants will play a significant role in keeping the River Ganga clean. In all, 30 projects  are now complete in Uttarakhand to manage the  pollution from 17 towns near river Ganga. This is a landmark achieveme...

Sep 29, 2020 ,  9:45PM PM Modi assures farmers on continuity of guaranteed MSP, govt procurement of agriculture produce PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured farmers about the continuity of guaranteed Minimum Support Price and government procurements of agriculture produce. He was speaking after inaugurating six mega projects in Uttarakhand under the Namami Gange Mission today. The Prime Minister said major reforms have been brought to empower farmers, workers, youth and women of the country. He criticized the opposition for launching agitation against the reforms in labour and farm sectors. Taking a sharp jibe at the opposition, he said their politics is based only on the fundamentals of protest. Mr Modi criticized the opposition for launching agitation against the reforms in labour and farm sectors.

Sep 29, 2020 ,  9:28PM Over 51 lakh patients recovered from Covid-19: Govt PIB Government today said that over 51 lakh patients have recovered from Covid-19 which is highest in the world. Briefing media in New Delhi, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, India's Covid-19 cases per million population is among the lowest in the world. He said, new recoveries have exceeded new cases in recent days leading to widen the gap between new cases and recovered cases. Mr Bhushan said, as on today, 15.4 per cent of the total COVID19 cases are active and 83.01 per cent are Recovered Cases. He said, more than 7.30 crore tests have been conducted and over 77 lakh tests were conducted last week. The Health Secretary however said, ICMR sero-prevalence has revealed that considerable population is still vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2. He said, the country has the capability of conducting over 15 lakh tests a day and we should not be too concerned about the fact that day on day the numbe...

Sep 29, 2020 ,  9:25PM New Delhi says, India never accepted China's unilaterally defined 1959 LAC AIR Pics India has rejected China's position that it abides by its 1959 stand on the perception of the Line of Actual Control, LAC and asked the neighbouring country to refrain from advancing an untenable, unilateral interpretation of the de-facto border. Responding to a query on a media report quoting a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement regarding China’s position on the LAC, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, India has never accepted the so-called unilaterally defined 1959 Line of Actual Control, LAC and this position has been consistent and well known, including to the Chinese side. The spokesperson referred to various bilateral agreements including the 1993 agreement on maintenance of peace and tranquility along the LAC, 1996 pact on confidence building measures in the military field, 2005 Protocol on Implementation of confidence building measures and the 2...

Sep 29, 2020 ,  9:13PM Noted filmmaker Shekhar Kapur appointed president of FTII Society & chairman of FTII Governing Council dd news Noted Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has been named as the President of Film and Television Institute of India, FTII Society and Chairman of Governing Council of FTII. Mr Kapur has directed several films, many of which are critically acclaimed. The Movies include Masoom, Mr. India, Bandit Queen and Elizabeth. Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said, Mr Kapur, who has a vast experience, will add more value to the Institute. He expressed confidence that everybody will welcome his appointment.

Sep 29, 2020 ,  7:26PM Full EC team reaches Patna to review preparedness for upcoming Bihar assembly elections File Pic The full Election Commission team led by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora reached Patna this evening to review preparedness for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The team is on a three day tour to Bihar. The Chief Election Commissioner is accompanied by Election Commissioners Sushil Chandra and Rajiv Kumar. Soon after arrival at Patna, the Chief Election Commissioner is holding a review meeting with Bihar Chief Electoral Officer and nodal officers. Tomorrow, the Election Commission team will hold meeting with representatives of different political parties. The team will also hold a review meeting in Patna with DMs and SPs of 26 districts. On Thursday the EC team will go to Gaya where a review meeting with DMs and SPs of 12 districts will be held. Before returning to Delhi on 1st October the Chief Election Commissioner will hold review ...

Sep 29, 2020 ,  1:59PM Full EC team to reach Patna to review poll preparedness for upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections File Pic The full Election Commission (EC) team led by Chief Election Commissioner  Sunil Arora is reaching Patna Tuesday evening to review preparedness for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.   The team will be on a three day tour to Bihar.   The Chief Election Commissioner will be accompanied by Election Commissioners Sushil Chandra and Rajiv Kumar.    Soon after arrival at Patna the Chief Election Commissioner will hold review meeting with Bihar Chief Electoral Officer and nodal officers. Tomorrow the Election Commission team will hold meeting with representatives of different political parties.   The team will also hold review meeting with DMs and SPs of 26 districts in Patna.   On Thursday, the EC team will go to Gaya where review meeting with DMs and SPs of 12 districts will be held...

Sep 29, 2020 ,  1:54PM India protests announcement of Elections by Pakistan in Gilgit Baltistan mea.gov.in India has protested the announcement of elections to so-called "Gilgit-Baltistan” Legislative Assembly by Pakistan.   External Affairs Ministry today reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of so-called Gilgit and Baltistan are an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947.   It said Pakistan government has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it.   New Delhi has also completely rejected recent actions such as the so-called "Gilgit-Baltistan (Elections and Caretaker Government) Amendment Order 2020” and continued attempts by the Pakistan establishment to bring material changes in areas under its illegal and forcible occupation.   It said action such as these can neither hide the illegal occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh by Pakistan nor the grave h...

Sep 29, 2020 ,  1:53PM PM Modi reassures MSP for crops will continue; Emphasizes farm & labour reforms will empower workers, farmers, youth, women Screen Grab Taking sharp jibe at the opposition today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that their politics is based only on the fundamentals of protest. Speaking after inaugurating six mega projects in Uttarakhand under the Namami Gange Mission, Mr. Modi said that the opposition does not want farmers to be free in this country. Assuring farmers about continuity of guaranteed Minimum Support Price and government procurements of agri produce, he asserted that the opposition should get rid off promoting lies in the public. Prime Minister asserted that it is the fear of losing black money due to weeding out of middlemen which is causing restlessness amidst the opposition parties. He said that the three new farm bills aim at giving freedom to the farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country. AIR correspond...

Sep 29, 2020 ,  8:32AM India, Denmark to work together in addressing global challenges & solutions on green energy transition and climate change File Pic According to a Joint Statement for India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership, the two Prime Ministers confirmed the close partnership in addressing global challenges and solutions on green energy transition and climate change.   India and Denmark also agree to be at the forefront in the global fight against climate change.   Both countries have set very ambitious national targets on climate and energy that will contribute to an ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement.   Together, the two countries will show the world that delivering on ambitious climate and sustainable energy goals is possible. The two Prime Ministers also agreed to join efforts and initiatives to support and promote a rule-based multilateral system.   This includes strong multilateral cooperation to face th...

Sep 29, 2020 ,  8:24AM IPL: Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Mumbai Indians in Super Over @IPL Royal Challengers Bangalore Skipper Virat Kohli hailed young pacer Navdeep Saini's brilliant Super Over that helped his side win the pulsating Indian Premier League Cricket contest against Mumbai Indians at Dubai last night.   RCB defeated Mumbai Indians via Super Over after the original game was tied. Saini bowled the Super Over for RCB conceding only seven runs and Kohli finished the game with a last ball boundary off Jasprit Bumrah.   Chasing the victory target of 202 runs set by RCB, Mumbai Indians made 201 for five wickets in 20 overs. For Mumbai, Ishan Kishan was the highest scorer with 99 runs off 58 balls.   Put in to bat, RCB had also scored 201 runs for three wickets in stipulated 20 overs.  For Bangalore, A. B. De Villiers was the highest scorer with 55 runs off 24 balls coupled with two more fine half centuries by openers Devdutt Padik...

Sep 28, 2020 ,  8:12PM IPL Cricket: Match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru & Mumbai Indians underway @IPL In IPL Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Mumbai Indians at Dubai in a short while from now. The match is scheduled to begin at 7.30 pm. Earlier Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to bowl. Last night, Rajasthan Royals recorded the highest run chase in the tournament history to beat Kings XI Punjab by four wickets in a high-scoring encounter at Sharjah. 

Sep 28, 2020 ,  8:07PM Govt initiates probe into alleged dumping of pharma raw material from China dgtr.gov.in Government has initiated a probe into alleged dumping of a pharma raw material, Ceftriaxone Sodium Sterile, from China.  Nectar Life Sciences and Sterile India have filed an application before the Commerce Ministry's investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) .   The domestic manufacturers sought a probe into matter. The applicants have contended that material injury is being caused to the domestic industry due to dumped imports from China. They requested imposition of anti-dumping duty on the import.   AIR correspondent reports, the directorate will determine the existence, degree and effect of alleged dumping in respect of the product from China. If DGTR finds that there is dumping of the product which is impacting domestic manufacturers, it will recommend the amount of anti-dumping duty.    While DGTR re...

Sep 28, 2020 ,  8:05PM DAC approves proposals for capital acquisition of equipment worth Rs 2,290 crore @rajnathsingh The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved proposals for capital acquisition of various equipment required by the Indian Armed Forces at an approximate cost of Rs 2,290 crore. These include procurement from Domestic Industry as well as Foreign vendors. The DAC meeting was chaired by Raksha Mantri Rajnath today.   Under the Buy Indian (IDDM) category, the DAC approved procurement of Static HF Tans-receiver sets and Smart Anti Airfield Weapon (SAAW). The HF radio sets will enable seamless communication for the field units of Army and Air Force and are being procured at an approx. cost of 540 crore rupees. The Smart Anti Airfield Weapon being procured at an approx. cost of 970 crore rupees will add to the fire power of Navy and Airforce.   Further, to equip the Frontline Troops of the Army the DAC also accorded approval for procure...

Sep 28, 2020 ,  6:39PM PM Modi to inaugurate six mega projects under Namami Gange Mission in Uttarakhand File Pic Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate six mega projects in Uttarakhand under the Namami Gange Mission tomorrow through video conference. The projects include construction of a 68 million liters per day or MLD Sewage Treatment Plant, upgradation of the existing 27 MLD at Jagjeetpur and construction of an 18 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant at Sarai, in Haridwar. The inauguration of 68 MLD Jagjeetpur project also marks completion of the first sewage treatment project taken up on hybrid annuity mode of Public Private Partnership.   Mr. Modi will also inaugurate a 26 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant at Lakkadghat in Rishikesh.   The Haridwar-Rishikesh zone contributes about 80 per cent waste water load into the River Ganga. These plants will play a significant role in keeping the River Ganga clean.   In Muni ki Reti town, the 7.5 ML...

Sep 28, 2020 ,  1:57PM Nation pays homage to revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh on his 113th birth anniversary AIR Nation pays homage to the revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh on his 113th birth anniversary today.   It was on this day in 1907, Bhagat Singh was born in Banga village of Lyallpur district of undivided Punjab province.   He fought against British rule for the country's independence and was hanged in Lahore jail at the age of 23, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev.   Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Bhagat Singh and highlighted his contributions to India's freedom struggle.   In his Mann Ki Baat programme on Sunday, Mr Modi described the great freedom fighter as symbol of bravery and courage. The Prime Minister said another beautiful aspect of Shaheed Bhagat Singh's life was that he very well understood the importance of teamwork, be it dedication towards Lala Lajpat Rai, or his attachment with Chandras...

Sep 28, 2020 ,  1:57PM Impossible to defer civil services exams any further: UPSC submits before SC FILE PIC The Union Public Service Commission -UPSC submitted before the Supreme Court today that it is impossible to defer the civil services exams any further.   A bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar asked the Commission to file an affidavit stating its stand by and posted the matter for further hearing on Wednesday.   The apex court was hearing a plea filed by a group of UPSC aspirants seeking postponement of the upcoming Civil Services-Prelims Exam 2020.

Sep 28, 2020 ,  1:56PM Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launches ICMR's vaccine web portal & National Clinical Registry for Covid-19 @drharshvardhan Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today launched the ICMR's vaccine web portal and National Clinical Registry for Covid-19.   This vaccine web portal will provide information related to the COVID-19 vaccine development in India and abroad.   In addition, National COVID-19 Clinical Registry will collect data regarding clinical and laboratory investigations, treatments, management protocols and outcomes of hospitalized COVID patients in India.   On the occasion, the Minister said, people are very eager and interested to know about the Covid-19 vaccine development.   He said, all the information about the vaccine development must be provided in a simple and transparent manner.    Highlighting the role of proper nutrition and physical activity in our day to day l...

Sep 28, 2020 ,  1:55PM PM Modi & his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen to hold Virtual Bilateral Summit today @DDIndialive Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen will hold a Virtual Bilateral Summit today.   An MoU in the field of intellectual property cooperation between the two countries will be signed on the occasion.   AIR Correspondent reports that during the summit, another major outcome will be the joining of International Solar Alliance, ISA by Denmark.   The Bilateral Summit will give an opportunity to the two leaders to comprehensively review the broad framework of the bilateral relationship in the context of the time-tested friendly ties between the two countries.   It will also give broad political direction for a strengthened and deepened collaborative partnership on key issues of mutual interest.   Bilateral trade in goods and services between India and Denmark has grown by ov...

Sep 28, 2020 ,  8:32AM Centre releases first instalment of over Rs. 19,000 Crore for Paddy procurement in three states under MSP Scheme LOGO National Cooperative Development Corporation, NCDC has sanctioned the first installment funds of Rs. 19, 444 crore to three states for Kharif paddy procurement under Minimum Support Price operations.   These states are Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Telangana.   Agriculture Ministry said, these amounts have been sanctioned to assist the States and State Marketing Federations in undertaking paddy procurement operations in a timely manner through their respective cooperative organizations.   Chhattisgarh gets the highest amount to the tune of Rs. 9,000 crore.   Telangana has been sanctioned Rs. 5,500 crores and Haryana Rs. 5,444 crore.   The Ministry said, this proactive step by NCDC during the COVID pandemic will give the much needed financial support to farmers of these three states who account for...

Sep 28, 2020 ,  8:08AM India's total COVID-19 recovery crosses 50 lakh mark @MoHFW_INDIA India's total recoveries of Covid cases today crossed the landmark milestone of 50 lakh.   In a tweet, Health Ministry said, the rise from one lakh in June this year has been steep.   The last 10 lakh recoveries were added in just 11 days.   The Ministry said, India has witnessed a very high level of more than 90 thousand recoveries every day recently.   Recovered cases have outpaced active cases by more than five times.   Health Ministry said, the commendable feat has been achieved through enhanced medical infrastructure, implementation of Standard Treatment Protocol, full dedication and commitment of Doctors, paramedics and frontline workers.

Sep 28, 2020 ,  8:07AM India still far away from achieving Herd Immunity against Coronavirus: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan File Pic Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has said that India is still far from achieving herd immunity against COVID-19 and people should continue to follow coronavirus norms laid out by the government. He said, even the soon-to-be-released second serosurvey's indications are that we are far from having achieved any kind of herd immunity which necessitates that all of us should continue following COVID-appropriate behaviour. Dr. Harsh Vardhan was answering questions posed by his social media interactors on Sunday Samvaad. Dr Harsh Vardhan said, Indian Council of Medical and Research (ICMR) is actively investigating and researching reports of COVID-19 reinfection. He said, although the number of reinfection cases is negligible at this moment, the government is fully seized of the matter. Dr Harsh Vardhan stressed that plasma therapy and Remdesiv...

Sep 28, 2020 ,  8:06AM Paddy procurement touches all time high of over 32 Lakh metric tonnes in Tamil Nadu @RKamarajofl In Tamil Nadu, the procurement of paddy from farmers by the government has exceeded all previous years' record, despite the pandemic.   The figure has reached about 32.24 lakh metric tonnes so far and is set to go up higher, said the state food minister Kamaraj.   The Koyambedu Wholesale Market in Chennai, considered one of the biggest in Asia, reopened Monday morning, after a gap of about five months. It was closed in early May due to the pandemic.   AIR correspondent reports, the farmers have prevailed over the pandemic as Covid-19 has failed to dampen the agriculture sector.   It is more so in the field of paddy cultivation, as indicated by the latest data.   The state Food Minister Kamaraj told reporters at Tiruvarur in the Delta that the paddy procurement this season so far has exceeded 32.24 lakh metric tonn...

Sep 28, 2020 ,  8:05AM Freedom from Mandi restrictions will benefit farmers: PM Modi File Pic Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that freedom from Mandi restrictions will benefit farmers.   In his Mann Ki Baat program, Mr. Modi said, a large number of farmers have benefited from being allowed to sell their produce outside the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees or mandies.   He said, in 2014, fruits and vegetables were excluded from the APMC Act, which greatly benefited farmers.   Prime Minister cited examples of farmers from Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh who narrated how they had benefited and made higher profits by selling their produce directly to buyers.   Mr. Modi said the farmers will now be outside the clutches of middle men and will get remunerative prices.   Prime Minister lauded farmers for strengthening the country's agricultural sector and said the farm sector played a major role i...

Sep 27, 2020 ,  9:05PM IPL: Rajasthan Royals win toss & choose to field against Kings XI Punjab at Sharjah @IPL In IPL Cricket, Kings Eleven Punjab were 161 for none in 14 overs against Rajasthan Royals at Sharjah when reports last came in. Earlier, Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to field. Kolkata Knight Riders beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi last tonight. 

Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan today said that government is committed to increase the public healthcare spending from the existing 1.15 per cent of the GDP to 2.5 per cent by 2025. He added that the 15th Finance Commission’s high-level group on health has concurred that healthcare spending must be raised substantially in the next five years in view of the present pandemic. Dr. Harsh Vardhan was answering questions posed by his social media interactors on the third episode of Sunday Samvaad. The Minister warned the people against complacency saying mask must be used even at places of worships. He asked everyone to always raise awareness regarding COVID appropriate behaviors and re-emphasized on the need for wearing masks. He said, the Pandemic can only be fought when the Government and society work together in tandem. He further cautioned that ICMR’s Sero survey report should not create a sense of complacency in people. He said, the first sero survey of May 2020 revealed that...

Sep 27, 2020 ,  8:05PM President Ram Nath Kovind gives assent to three farm bills passed by parliament @rashtrapatibhvn President Ram Nath Kovind today gave assent to three farm bills recently passed by the parliament. The bills are Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) bill, 2020. The act aimed at transforming agriculture in the country and raising farmers’ income. The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 permits the electronic trading of farmers’ produce and allows setting up of transaction platforms for facilitating direct online buying and selling of farm products. The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act , 2020 provides for a farming agreement prior to the production or rearing of any farm p...

Sep 27, 2020 ,  2:24PM HM Amit Shah virtually inaugurates 'Destination North East-2020' event @AmitShah Home Minister Amit Shah today virtually inaugurated 'Destination North East-2020', a four-day event to highlight the Northeast region's various potentials like eco-tourism, culture, heritage and business.   Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shah said, the culture of North-Eastern region is unique and the people there have preserved it. He termed the unique culture of North-Eastern region as the ornament of  Indian culture. The Minister said, Narendra Modi Government is focusing on infrastructure development in the region and in future it will be an important point of tourism in the world. He said, peace is crucial for development of the region and the Government focussed on it along with building infrastructure.    In his address, Minister of Development of North Eastern Region, Dr Jitendra Singh said, golden age of north-east will begin po...

Sep 27, 2020 ,  1:47PM WHO Chief thanks PM Modi for his commitment & solidarity in fight against Coronavirus pandemic @DrTedros Director General of World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his speech at the UN General Assembly. In a tweet, the WHO DG said thanked Mr Modi for his commitment and solidarity in fight against Coronavirus pandemic. The WHO Chief said, COVID-19 pandemic can be ended only by mobilizing forces and resources jointly for the common good.

Sep 27, 2020 ,  11:15AM Former Union Minister Jaswant Singh passes away File Pic: PTI Former Union Minister Jaswant Singh passed away in New Delhi this morning following a prolonged illness. He was 82. He was admitted to Army's Research and Reffereal Hospital in Delhi on 25th June. The Hospital said, he was being treated for sepsis with multiorgan dysfunction syndrome and effects of severe brain injury. After a fall at his residence six years ago in 2014, he had suffered a serious head injury and had slipped into coma.   One of the founding members of BJP Jaswant Singh served as Minister of Defence, External Affairs and Finance and also Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission. He was elected to the Lok Sabha four times and to Rajya Sabha five times and served as Leader of Opposition in the Upper House. He was NDA's nominee in the Vice Presidential election in 2012.   President, Vice President and Prime Minister have expressed grief on the demise of Jasw...

Sep 27, 2020 ,  7:59AM PM Modi says, reforms in United Nations is need of the hour File Pic Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that reforms in the United Nations is the need of the hour. Addressing the 75th United Nations General Assembly session last evening  Mr Modi said, India is proud of the fact that it is one of the Founding Members of the United Nations. He said, people of India have been waiting for a long time for the UN reform process to get completed. He expressed Indian people's concern whether this reform-process will ever reach its logical conclusion.   Mr Modi asked where the United Nations is in the joint fight against the Corona virus pandemic. He sought to know where its effective response was. He said, there were several stellar achievements of UN over the last 75 years, but there were also several instances that point to the need for a serious introspection of the work of the United Nations. The Prime Minister informed: Mr Modi sai...

Sep 27, 2020 ,  7:55AM India, Sri Lanka to enhance cooperation in combating terrorism & drug trafficking PTI India and Sri Lanka have agreed to enhance cooperation to combat terrorism and drug trafficking. The Joint Statement on Virtual Bilateral Summit said both countries have decided to continue the fruitful and efficient development partnership in accordance with the priority areas identified by the Government and people of Sri Lanka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa held a Virtual Summit yesterday in which they discussed bilateral relations and regional and  international issues of mutual concern. Mr Rajapaksa commended the strong leadership shown by Prime Minister Modi in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic based on the vision of mutual support and assistance to the countries of the region. Both the leaders agreed that the current situation presented a fresh opportunity to give added impetus to bilateral...

Sep 27, 2020 ,  7:50AM Govt decides to cap prices of medical oxygen to ensure its availability at reasonable rate @nppa_india National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) has decided to cap the ex-factory price of Liquid Medical Oxygen at manufacturers end at 15 rupees 22 paise per cubic meter exclusive of GST. The present situation of COVID-19 has resulted in increased demand of Medical Oxygen in the country. NPPA said, due to absence of price cap on liquid medical oxygen, manufacturers have hiked prices to fillers. During COVID, supply of medical oxygen through cylinders has increased from 10 per cent to around 50 per cent of total consumption. It said, price regulation at this end is imperative for continued availability of medical oxygen across the country.   Chemicals and Fertilizers Ministry said the demand of medical oxygen has gone up almost four times, from 750 metric ton per day to 2800 metric ton per day. NPA said, to further cap the ex-facto...