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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approves new DRDO Procurement Manual

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

New Delhi (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today approved a new DRDO Procurement Manual (PM-2020) to facilitate the indigenous defence industry by simplifying the processes and ensuring their participation in design and development activities.

“Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh has approved a new @DRDO_India Procurement Manual (PM-2020) to encourage more participation of the Indian Industry including startups and MSMEs in Research & Development activity and also to achieve the goal of self reliance in Defence,” the Defence Minister’s Office said in a tweet.

PM-2020 will help towards realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India), Rajanath said in a tweet after the approval.

He also appreciated the contribution of all the officials of DRDO and Finance wing in the Ministry of Defence for their contribution in bringing out the revised PM-2020.

“The PM-2020, will facilitate faster execution of R&D projects/programmes. The modified features the Manual will go a long way to facilitate participation of industry in various R&D projects,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

Bid security declaration option for earnest money deposit, increase of threshold limit for advance payment, placement of order on lowest bidder 2 (L2) in case L1 backs out are some of the salient features of the new manual, which will assist the industry for the speedy execution of projects, MoD said.

Some more enabling measures of PM-2020 are exemption of bid security and performance security up to Rs 10 lakh, no negotiations for commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) items/services wherever price discovery is happening through market forces.

Performance security for service contracts is linked to the payment cycle instead of total contract value. Procurement of stores from development partners, safeguarding of free issue material through insurance cover instead of bank guarantee (BG) are other facilitating measures adopted to help the industry.

In the new PM-2020, the liquidated damage (LD) rate for development contracts has been reduced. The delivery period (DP) extension process has been simplified for faster decision making. Many of the internal procedures have been further simplified for faster engagement with industry. It may be noted that the previous Procurement Manual of DRDO was last modified in 2016, the Ministry said.

Those present on the occasion included Secretary Department of Defence Research & Development and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary (Defence Finance) SmtGargi Kauland other senior officials of Ministry of Defence.

The Defence Ministry and its top research and development arm DRDO have been working on a war footing for indigenous development of defence systems, especially amid tensions with China.

-ARK

PM Modi to address nation at 6 PM today

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing the nation at 6 PM today. He is expected to talk about the coronavirus situation in the country, though he didn’t specify what his address will be about.

Taking to Twitter, PM wrote: “Will be sharing a message with my fellow citizens at 6 PM this evening.”

India today reported less than 50,000 daily Covid-19 cases, for the first time in nearly three months. According to the Health Ministry, there were 46,790 new cases of Covid-19 from across the country, fewer than 47,703 recorded on July 28.

The recovery rate has also improved further to 88 per cent in India. So far, 67,33,329 patients have recovered all over the country, while active cases stands at 7,48,538.

-ARK

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

Fact Check

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India stands at 75,97,064 after 46,791 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry data.

The country’s death toll stands at 1,15,197 after 587 new fatalities were reported during the same period.

In terms of total number of cases, Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected state with 16,01,365 coronavirus cases followed by Andhra Pradesh with 7,86,050 cases, Karnataka with 7,70,604 positive cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 4,126

Andhra Pradesh- 7,86,050

Arunachal Pradesh- 13,643

Assam- 2,01,407

Bihar- 2,05,945

Chandigarh- 13,686

Chhattisgarh- 1,62,772

Dadra Nagar Haveli & Diu – 3,185

Delhi- 3,33,171

Gujarat- 1,60,560

Goa- 40,746

Haryana– 1,51,234

Himachal Pradesh- 19,135

Jammu and Kashmir- 88,369

Jharkhand- 96,842

Karnataka- 7,70,604

Kerala- 3,46,881

Ladakh- 5,647

Madhya Pradesh- 1,61,203

Maharashtra- 16,01,365

Manipur- 15,778

Meghalaya- 8,536

Mizoram- 2,280

Nagaland- 7,953

Odisha- 2,70,346

Puducherry- 33,247

Punjab- 1,28,103

Rajasthan- 1,75,226

Sikkim- 3,607

Tamil Nadu- 6,90,936

Telangana- 2,24,545

Tripura- 29,688

Uttarakhand- 58,360

Uttar Pradesh- 4,56,865

West Bengal – 3,25,028

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 56

Andhra Pradesh- 6,453

Arunachal Pradesh- 30

Assam- 875

Bihar- 1,003

Chandigarh- 208

Chhattisgarh- 1,534

Dadra and Nagar Haveli- 2

Delhi- 6,040

Goa- 549

Gujarat- 3,643

Haryana- 1,648

Himachal Pradesh- 272

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,388

Jharkhand- 842

Karnataka- 10,542

Kerala- 1,182

Ladakh- 66

Madhya Pradesh- 2,786

Maharashtra- 42,240

Manipur- 117

Meghalaya- 75

Nagaland- 27

Odisha- 1,152

Puducherry- 575

Punjab- 4,029

Rajasthan- 1,760

Sikkim- 62

Tamil Nadu- 10,691

Telangana- 1,282

Tripura- 331

Uttar Pradesh- 6,685

Uttarakhand- 933

West Bengal- 6,119

However, a total of 67,33,328 people have been cured and discharged. The total active cases stands at 7,48,538 in the country.

-CHK

WHO urges South-East Asia to continue caution against Covid-19

The South-East Asia region has reported over 8 million Covid-19 cases

New Delhi (NVI): The World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned against any relaxation of response actions after the recent slight decline in COVID-19 cases in the South-East Asia Region.

The WHO said that the pandemic continues unabated and our response only needs to be strengthened further to curtail virus transmission.

Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia Region said, “There should be no complacency in view of the declining numbers in recent weeks. The Region still reports large numbers of COVID-19 cases. We need to continue to do our very best to curtail the pandemic.”

“The upcoming festival season and the approaching winter or cold season threatens to aggravate the situation if we let our guards down,” she added.

The regional director also stated that countries have been making concerted efforts scaling up capacities for timely detection, testing, tracing contacts, isolating the affected and providing hospital care to those who need it. “Our relentless efforts need to continue with more vigor,” she said.

Moreover, the organization said this festive season we must continue to take responsibility as individuals of the need to maintain physical distance, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and wear a mask when and where needed.

Also, people must remember the three Cs – avoid crowded places, avoid closed settings and avoid confined and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation, WHO said.

The UN agency believes that the co-circulation of seasonal influenza and COVID-19 in the winters may present challenges for health systems and health facilities, since both diseases present many similar symptoms.

“Many of the same measures that are effective in preventing COVID-19 are also effective for preventing influenza, including physical distancing, hand hygiene, covering coughs, ventilation and masks,” it added

WHO informed that it is working with countries to take a holistic approach to the preparedness, prevention, control and treatment of all respiratory diseases, including influenza and COVID-19.

The organization noted that for the third week in a row, the WHO South-East Asia Region has registered 6 – 8 per cent decline in the number of COVID-19 cases, mainly due to a decrease in reported cases from India and Bangladesh.

So far, the region has reported over 8 million of the 40 million cases globally, mostly from the most populous countries which also face unique demographic and geographic challenges, the WHO said in a release.

-RJV

Major 7.5 magnitude earthquake triggers tsunami warning in Alaska

New Delhi (NVI): A tsunami alert was issued after a major 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska on Monday, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Residents were evacuated to higher ground as tsunami warnings covered much of the southern coast of the remote US state, including the thinly populated Alaska Peninsula, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

However, the tsunami warning was downgraded to a less-severe advisory, with NOAA stating that affected areas “should not expect widespread inundation”, just over two hours after the quake.

Furthermore, two-foot waves were recorded at the tiny nearby city of Sand Point, some 60 miles (100km) from the epicenter of the quake which struck at a depth of 25 miles (40 km).

The at-risk zone extended hundreds of miles northeast to the entry of the Cook Inlet. But it stopped short of the state’s largest city of Anchorage, located some 600 miles (1,000 km) from the epicenter and at the end of that gulf.

The quake was widely felt in communities along the southern coast, including Sand Point, Chignik, Unalaska and the Kenai Peninsula, according to the Alaska Earthquake Center, which said a magnitude 5.2 aftershock was reported 11 minutes later, centered roughly in the same area.

Several aftershocks, including one with a magnitude of 5.9 and one that was 5.8, struck in the hour after the big quake.

-CHK

Railways to run 392 special festive trains

File photo

New Delhi (NVI): The Indian Railways will run 392 festival special trains from today until November 30, to cater to the rush of travellers on account of the upcoming festive season.

The special trains will be run for destinations such as Kolkata, Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow among others on the growing demand in the following holding period of Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali and Chhatt puja, according to the Indian Railways.

These trains will run for 40 days only in addition to the special trains that have been deployed by the national carrier.

“The fares of these trains will be similar to those applicable for special trains, which means ‘special charges’ will be levied making the tickets costlier by 10-30 per cent as compared to the fares of mail/express trains, depending on the class of travel,” the Ministry of Railways said in a statement.

As per the guidelines issued by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), not wearing masks or maintaining social distancing and boarding train despite being COVID-19 positive could invite fine and imprisonment.

Earlier, the Indian Railways had suspended all its regular services across the country on March 22 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

-RJV

Ireland to become first European country to re-enter lockdown

New Delhi (NVI): Ireland will become the first European country to re-impose a six-week lockdown across the country as it battles to overcome the spread of coronavirus.

Prime Minister Micheál Martin announced the move on Monday night in a television address to the nation following days of behind-the-scenes discussions with his public health experts.

From midnight on Wednesday the country will move to its highest lockdown tier for six weeks till December 1. Visits to private homes or gardens will not be permitted and there are to be no gatherings except for tightly controlled weddings and funerals.

The Prime Minister while issuing a nationwide “stay at home” order, insisted that schools will stay open.

Non-essential shops will close and people are asked to stay at home, with a 5km (3 mile) travel limit for exercise, to curb surging infection rates, according to the government.

A graduated fine system for those who breach the 5km travel limit – with exceptions for work and other purposes deemed essential – will be announced later this week.

In addition to this, people who live alone or are parenting alone can pair with one other household as part of a support bubble. Two households can meet outdoors within the travel limit. Public transport will operate at 25% capacity.

The measures will see all non-essential retail businesses close and bars and restaurants limited to takeaway or delivery service only.

So far, Ireland has reported 50,993 coronavirus infections with 1,852 death since the pandemic outbreak in the country.

Countries across Europe are toughening restrictions to fight the pandemic. Governments are grappling with the challenge of trying to check the outbreak without inflicting lasting damage on their economies, prompting differing approaches.

-CHK

J&K: One more terrorist killed in Shopian encounter; operation underway

Security forces launch search op in South Kashmir's Pulwama
(File/Representational Image)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): One more terrorist has been killed in an encounter that raged between government forces and terrorists in Melhoora area of Zainapora belt in South Kashmir’s Shopian district yesterday, taking the number of slain terrorists to two, officials said today.

A senior police officer said one more unidentified terrorist has been killed and in total two terrorists were killed in the operation. “Search operation is on in the area,” he said.

“Bodies of both terrorists have been retreived. Arms and ammunition have been recovered as well,” the officer said.

On Monday evening, after the killing of one terrorist, operation was halted due to darkness, however, cordon was tightened to ensure that no trapped terrorist can flee and operation resumed on today morning.

Yesterday afternoon, an official said that a joint team of Police, Army’s 55 RR and CRPF had launched a cordon and search operation based on a specific information about the presence of terrorists in the area.

As the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired upon them which was retaliated, triggering an encounter. This year so far 186 terrorists have been killed in various anti-militancy operations.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases surge past 40 million globally

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 40 million people have been infected by coronavirus worldwide, with over 11,17,500 deaths reported, according to Johns Hopkins University tally. At least 27.6 million patients have been cured and recovered from the deadly contagion globally.

In the US, the total number of coronavirus cases have reached more than 8.2 million while the total number of fatalities have surpassed 2,20,000 in the country.

Brazil, remains number one COVID-19 affected country in Latin America with more than 5.2 million cases. The country’s death toll stands at 1,54,176.

Argentina has become the fifth country with more than 1 million coronavirus cases, its Health Ministry said, after an acceleration of cases in the past few weeks. There were 1,002,662 confirmed cases of the virus in the South American country by Monday night.

Mexico’s health ministry on Monday reported 3,699 additional cases of coronavirus and 171 more deaths in the country, bringing the official number of cases to 8,54,926 and the death toll to 86,338.

In Germany, 6,868 new confirmed coronavirus cases were detected in the past 24 hours. The country has recorded 3,73,167 infections overall. The death toll from the virus rose by 47 to 9,836.

Canada’s total infections passed 2,00,000 on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins data.

China has reported 19 new coronavirus cases for October 19, up from 13 cases a day earlier, the health commission said on Tuesday. China has 85,704 confirmed coronavirus cases, according to the health authority. The Covid-19 death toll remains unchanged at 4,634.

-CHK

India’s COVID-19 tally nears 76 lakh, death toll tops 1,15,000

India’s COVID tally tops 10.34 million with 16,505 new cases
(File/ Representational image)

New Delhi (NVI): India registered a single-day rise of 46,791 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the overall caseload to 75,97,064, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

The country’s death toll has gone up to 1,15,197 with 587 new fatalities being reported during the same period.

So far, 67,33,329 patients have recovered all over the country, while active cases stands at 7,48,538. The recovery rate also improves further to 88 per cent in India.

In terms of total number of cases, Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected state with 16,01,365 coronavirus cases followed by Andhra Pradesh with 7,86,050 cases, Karnataka with 7,70,604 positive cases.

The other worst affected states included Tamil Nadu (6,90,96), Uttar Pradesh (4,56,865) and Delhi (3,33,171).

In terms of fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 42,240 deaths followed by Tamil Nadu 10,691, ministry said.

The death toll in the national capital surged to 6,040 while another 3,04,561 patients have been cured so far, healthy ministry data shows.

As per the Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR) data, a total of 9,61,16,771 samples tested for COVID-19 up to October 19. Of these, 10,32,795 samples were tested yesterday.

Furthermore, the Health Ministry also said the trend of daily cases of the coronavirus in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh reveals the various stages of decline of active cases.

-RJV

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