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India’s Covid tally rises to 98.57 lakh with 30,254 fresh cases

Covid cases
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): India’s Covid tally rose 98.57 lakh today with 30,254 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry said.

With this, the country has a total of 98,57,029 infections now, the second-highest in the world after the US. The national recovery rate is now at 94.93%.

Apart from that, India reported 391 Covid deaths, taking the total number of fatalities to 1,43,019. The total active cases in the country stand at 3,56,546, which comprises 3.62% of the total caseload.

Maharashtra, the worst affected state in the country, recorded 4,259 fresh cases taking the overall caseload to 18,76,699.

Kerala has witnessed the highest jump in 24 hours with 5,949 cases, taking its Covid tally to 6,64,662.

93,57,464 Covid patients have recovered so far, pushing the national recovery rate to 94.93 per cent. The COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45 per cent.

-ARK

India on track to exceed its Paris Agreement targets: PM at Climate Ambition Summit

Davos Dialogue
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): India is not only on track to achieve its Paris Agreement targets, but to exceed them beyond expectations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said.

Addressing the Climate Ambition Summit, marking five years since the landmark Paris Agreement, PM Modi said, “Today, as we are looking to set our sights even higher, we must also not lose sight of the past. We must not only revise our ambitions, but also review our achievements against targets already set.”

“Only then can our voices be credible for future generations,” PM Modi said.

Modi also outlined India’s achievements in reducing pollution and encouraging clean energy over the past few years.

Our solar capacity has grown from 2.63 GigaWatts (GW) in 2014 to 36 GW in 2020. Our renewable energy capacity is the fourth largest in the world, Modi stated.

Modi also added that India will reach 175 GW before 2022. And, we have an even more ambitious target now – 450 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, he said.

India has pioneered global initiatives like International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, the Prime Minister said.

In his pledge, PM Modi said, “In 2047, India will celebrate 100 years as a modern, independent nation. To all my fellow residents of this planet, I make a solemn pledge today. Centennial India will not only meet its own targets but will also exceed your expectations.”

The Climate Ambition Summit is hosted by the United Nations and the United Kingdom to mark the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement.

-CHK

No pressure on drug regulators for approval of the vaccine: VK Paul

COVID
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): There will be no pressure on the drug regulator on the COVID-19 vaccine approval and the final call on allowing its emergency use approval will be made on scientific principles, VK Paul, Member, NITI Aayog today said.

Speaking at a session on Vaccine Magic and reimagining healthcare in a post COVID world, organized during FICCI’s 93rd Annual Convention, Paul said, “India is fully prepared for a vaccination initiative and is at the threshold of receiving a coronavirus vaccine.”

He stated that globally, 33 vaccines are in clinical trial phase out of which 10 vaccines are in the advanced trial phase.

“3 Indian vaccines are part of the top 10 global players. It is a proud moment to say that the key 3 indigenous players- Bharat Biotech-ICMR, Zydus Cadila and Serum Institute-Astra Zeneca are in clearance phase-2, which has created an Apollo 11 moment for India,” said VK Paul.

This gives us hope for manufacturing the vaccines not just for India but also for the world, he added.

He further shared that the key consideration while prioritizing the population for vaccine inoculation has been accessing to the population with risk to mortality and protection of our healthcare system as well as the COVID-19 response system.

In addition to this, He urged FICCI to work with the state government to increase healthcare spending, enhance the human resources in healthcare by optimizing the training in the private sector, bridge the huge healthcare infrastructure gap and build institutions for optimal disease control system as well as data management system.

He also asked the industry to work towards building mental health capacities in the country. He further called for higher private sector participation in ramping up health infrastructure.

Speaking on the efficacy of the trials and its impact during trial stages, Dr Krishna Ella, CMD, Bharat Biotech International Ltd, said that it has been crucial for the companies to protect the volunteers.

He further said that the trials are completely transparent, and all data are enclosed. All Indian manufacturers are 100 per cent sensitive and completely are to be trusted, he said.

-CHK

Pakistan: Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s statue vandalised in Lahore

New Delhi (NVI): The statue of 19th-century ruler, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, situated in Pakistan’s Lahore city was reportedly vandalised on Friday by some miscreants.

According to media reports, the miscreants were upset over speeches of a few radicals in Pakistan.

In this regard, local police have arrested one teenager identified as Zaheer, a resident of Harbanspura, Lahore.

He along with his companions broke the left arm of the statue installed outside the Haveli of Rani Jindan at Lahore Fort.

The nine-foot-tall statue of Singh, who died in 1839, was unveiled in June on his 180th death anniversary. The statue, made of cold bronze, shows the emperor sitting on a horse, and carrying a sword.

Earlier in August 2019, it was vandalised by two miscreants, Adnan Mughal and Asad, who were reportedly upset with the Indian government’s decision to scrap Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate the state into two union territories.

-CHK

Video shows terror camp in Pakistan

New Delhi (NVI): In yet another glaring proof of how terrorists operate openly in Pakistan, a video has surfaced, showing a training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) being inaugurated by Abdul Rauf Asghar, brother of the outfit’s chief Masood Azhar.

Visibly the opening of the camp is taking place amid chants of slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and frenzied firing from AK rifles by the JeM cadres.

Although the exact location of the camp was not clear, it is purported to be the same place in Balakot which was hit by Indian Air Force fighter planes during aerial strike on February 26, last year. The camp had been destroyed and unspecified number of terrorists had been killed in the strike.

Pakistan had claimed that there was no damage to the terror camp but allowed no independent person to the location for unbiased verification.

The video shows armed cadres at the campus ushering in Asghar, who is now the de facto head of JeM, ostensibly because of ill-health of Masood Azhar who has been proscribed by the UN Security Council.

India had carried out air strike at the JeM camp, which was a major training facility of the terror outfit, in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan, in retaliation to the terror attack on CRPF convoy in Pulwama on February 14. At least 40 CRPF personnel were killed in a gruesome manner when a vehicle laden with explosives was rammed by a suicide bomber into the convoy.

Indian investigators have found involvement of Azhar, Asghar and five others in the attack.

Three Pakistani terrorists Saifullah, Umar Farooq and Kamran had infiltrated into Kashmir to execute the attack. Saifullah and Farooq were killed in encounters with security forces after the Pulwama attack while Ismail is still on the run.

Pak violates ceasefire in Balakote sector of Poonch in J&K

LoC

Srinagar (NVI): Pakistani troops today violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakote sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, defence officials said.

The Pakistani Army resorted to intense shelling and firing with small arms in the area at around 6 pm, officials said.

“At about 1800 hours, Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with Small Arms & intense shelling with Mortars along LoC in Balakote sector in District Poonch (J&K),” the officials said, adding that the Indian Army was retaliating befittingly.

Earlier on December 10, two Pakistani soldiers were killed in cross border firing in Mankote Sector of Poonch district of Jammu region.

-CHK

Two civilians injured in Kashmir grenade attack

Neyaz Elahi

Srinagar (NVI): Two civilian sustained injuries after militants lobbed a grenade towards security forces in north Kashmir’s Sopore town of Baramulla district.

Police sources said that the militants tossed a grenade towards CRPF bunker in Sopore market that missed the target and exploded with a bang.

Two pedestrians sustained injuries. They were shifted to a nearby hospital where their condition is stated to be stable.

They have been identified as Bilal Ahmed and Zaffar Ahmed, both residents of Sopore.

A police official confirmed injuries to two civilians in the grenade attack, saying both are stable.

He said that a search operation was launched after the incident. The operation was in progress till the filing of this report.

-CHK

Startups are going to be backbone of new India: Piyush Goyal

New Delhi (NVI): Startups are going to be the backbone of the new India and the ecosystem of startups in the country is encouraging innovation, promoting and strengthening new young entrepreneurs, businesses with new ideas and ways of doing business, Union minister of commerce and industry Piyush Goyal today said.

Addressing the session, The Building Blocks of the New India, during FICCI’s 93rd Annual General Meeting, Piyush Goyal urged the Indian industry to support startups by providing financial support, handholding, opportunities and mentorship so that they can grow without resorting to dilution of their stakes to foreign companies at very low valuations at the initial stage itself.

On India’s goal of becoming self-reliant, Goyal said, “The scale of manufacturing, coupled with quality and productivity, can truly make India competitive in several sectors and help move towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat which is going to be an important building block of the New India.”

He said that the government will identify areas where India has competitive and comparative advantages, which sectors can become global players and contribute to global trade in a bigger way.

On manufacturing, the commerce minister said that the government has identified 24 champion sectors that will add Rs 200 lakh crore in the next 10 years to the nation’s manufacturing GDP and provide millions of jobs, besides creating the size and scale of manufacturing. Initiatives are being led by industry and sectoral leaders are leading the initiatives and are being encouraged to come up with actionable agenda.

“We are trying to create the first genuine single window in terms of compliances and ease of approval process. We are making every effort towards this effect,” he added.

Furthermore, the government is working on the 3-I principles for nation-building; Inspire, Initiate and Innovate, Piyush Goyal said.

-CHK

All states except Tamil Nadu avail special capital expenditure scheme: Govt

pension
(Representational/file image)

New Delhi (NVI): The Finance Ministry announced that all 27 states, except Tamil Nadu have availed benefits under scheme for special assistance to states for capital expenditure.

The newly announced scheme is aimed at boosting capital expenditure by the state governments who are facing difficult financial environment this year due to the shortfall in tax revenue arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This scheme was announced by the Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman on October 12, 2020, as a part of the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat package.

According to the Ministry of Finance official statement, “Capital Expenditure has a higher multiplier effect, enhancing the future productive capacity of the economy, and results in a higher rate of economy growth.”

Therefore, despite the adverse financial position of the Central Government, it was decided to extend a special assistance to the State Governments in respect of capital expenditure, in financial year 2020-21, it added.

Moreover, the scheme has got very warm response from the state governments. So far, capital expenditure proposals of Rs 9,879.61 crore of 27 States have been approved by the Ministry of Finance, the ministry said.

It added that, an amount of Rs 4,939.81 crore has already been released to the States as the first instalment under the scheme.

The capital expenditure projects have been approved in diverse sectors of economy like, health, rural development, water supply, irrigation, power, transport, education, urban development.

Besides, the scheme has three parts of which part –I of the scheme covers the north-eastern region, the statement further said.

“Under this part, Rs 200 crores is allocated to 7 north-eastern States (Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura). In view of higher population and geographical area, Assam has been allocated Rs 450 crores under the scheme,” it added.

Furthermore, the part-II of the scheme is, for all other states not included in Part-I. An amount of Rs 7,500 crores is earmarked for this part. This amount has been allocated amongst these States in proportion to their share of central tax as per the interim award of the 15th Finance Commission for the year 2020-21.

In addition to this, part-III of the scheme is aimed at pushing various citizen-centric reforms in the states.

Under this part, an amount of Rs 2,000 crores is earmarked. This amount will be available only to those states who carry out at least 3 out of the 4 reforms specified by the Ministry of Finance in its letter dated May 17, 2020 regarding reform linked additional borrowing permissions.

Thus, the four reforms are – One Nation One Ration Card, Ease of doing Business Reform, Urban Local Body/ Utility Reform and Power Sector Reform, the statement noted.

-RJV

 

HECI to become operational from next academic session: Education Secretary

New Delhi (NVI): The single higher education regulatory body, the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), will become operational from the next academic session, said Amit Khare, Secretary, Department of Higher Education.

He made these remarks at the 93rd Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

He said that the benchmarking of educational institutions will be based on the outcome and not the input.

Khare stated, “Currently, the benchmarking is different for different universities for infrastructure and other things. In the National Education Policy 2020, benchmarking will be done based on the same academic and research standards, and not based on governance.”

All the universities including the central private state will be benchmarked with the same criteria, Khare said.

Commenting on the National Research Foundation, which is also a key part of the National Education Policy, Khare said that it will allow all higher educational institutions to become competitive.

Khare stated that subjects like Social Sciences which are generally ignored when it comes to research funding are also added under the NEP and similar opportunities like the National Science Foundation in the United States will be offered.

-CHK

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