Latest LIVE: Core sector output rises by 5.4% in November vs 3.2% YoY

Live news updates: Noting that doubling of tracks and electrification is underway at a record speed, he said that the eastern and western freight corridors will bring revolutionary changes

5:19 PM

Core sector output rises by 5.4% vs 3.2% YoY

Combined Index of Eight Core Industries increases by 5.4% (provisional) in November 2022 compared to November 2021: Government of India

 

2:37 PM

BJP can't win a single seat on its own in Tamil Nadu, asserts Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin has accused the BJP-led Union Government of trying to usurp the rights guaranteed to state governments and also assume the subjects in the Concurrent list to be their own.

 

Alleging that many of the Union Government's actions are in contrast to the Constitutional values, Stalin accused the saffron party of making attempts to run a "parallel government" through the Governors, especially in the states that are ruled by non-BJP dispensations.

 

"The behaviour and approach of 'appointed' Governors trying to control 'duly elected' governments amounts to mockery of our constitution," Stalin told PTI in an exclusive interview.

2:21 PM

Centre receives Rs 903 cr as dividend from Indian Railway Finance Corporation

The Central government has received Rs 903 crore and Rs 78 crore from the Indian Railway Finance Corporation Ltd (IRFC) and RITES Ltd respectively as dividend tranches.

 

Department of investment and public asset management (DIPAM) tweeted the information through the Twitter handle of DIPAM secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey.

2:11 PM

PM Modi attends National Ganga Council meeting via video conferencing

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the meeting of the National Ganga Council in Kolkata, West Bengal via video conferencing

2:02 PM

Commerce Ministry seeks cut in gold import duty in Budget to push jewellery exports

The commerce ministry has sought a reduction in the import duty on gold in the forthcoming budget with a view to push exports and manufacturing of the gems and jewellery sector, sources said.

 

In July this year, the centre hiked gold import duty to 15 per cent from 10.75 per cent to check the current account deficit (CAD) and rising import of the yellow metal. The basic customs duty on gold is 12.5 per cent. Along with the agriculture infrastructure development cess (AIDC) of 2.5 per cent, the effective gold customs duty will be 15 per cent.

 

"As the gems and jewellery industry has recommended the commerce ministry for a cut in the duty, the commerce ministry has urged the finance ministry for the same. The ministry has also asked for tweaking import duty on certain other products to boost manufacturing and exports," the sources said.

1:51 PM

Centre making record investment for railway infra modernisation: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that the Union government is making record investment for railway infrastructure modernisation.

 

In an address after virtually flagging off Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express, the Prime Minister said that railway stations, including New Jalpaiguri, are being developed on the lines of airports.

 

Noting that doubling of tracks and electrification is underway at a record speed, he said that the eastern and western freight corridors will bring revolutionary changes to the country's economy.

 

"Today's Vande Bharat train was launched from the land where 'Vande Mataram' slogan was coined," he pointed out.

 

The Prime Minister added, "The launch date of December 30 is significant as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had hoisted the tricolour in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on this day in 1943."

1:44 PM

Centre makes RT-PCR report mandatory for international arrivals from six countries from Jan 1

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Friday issued revised Covid guidelines for passengers arriving in international flights, ahead of RT-PCR negative test report being made compulsory for travellers from six countries, including China and Thailand.

 

From January 1, 2023, a pre-departure RT-PCR negative test report will be mandatory for passengers coming in all international flights from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan.

 

Airlines are directed to modify their check-in functionalities to incorporate the changes and issue boarding passes only to those international passengers travelling from the six countries who have submitted self-declaration forms on the Air Suvidha portal, the ministry said in a communication.

1:34 PM

Exit from Rajiv Chowk metro station won't be allowed from 9 pm on Dec 31

Passenger won't be allowed to exit from Rajiv Chowk metro station in the heart of Delhi, from 9 pm onwards on the New Year's Eve to manage crowd, officials said on Friday.

 

The Rajiv Chowk metro station, located on the Blue Line, is nestled in the historic Connaught Place area where revellers gather in large numbers every year on New Year's Eve and New Year Day.

 

"As advised by the Delhi Police, to ease overcrowding on New Year's Eve (December 31), exit from Rajiv Chowk Metro station will not be allowed from 9 pm onwards. However, entry of passengers will be allowed till the departure of the last train from the Rajiv Chowk Metro station," the DMRC said in a statement.

12:57 PM

After CRPF, Delhi Police reiterates Rahul Gandhi breached security protocol

Days after Congress General Secretary, K.C. Venugopal wrote a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah claiming lapses in Rahul Gandhi's security in the Delhi leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Delhi Police has also submitted its report alleging that Gandhi was seen breaking the cordon.

 

According to sources, the report submitted to MHA stated that Gandhi did not follow the security protocol, and that there were complete security arrangements.

 

"Delhi Police's security, traffic, and special branch units have submitted their reports," said the sources.

 

"Police had also deployed many policemen in plain uniform, and made a security cordon for Congress MP," said the sources.

12:48 PM

All manufacturing activities of Marion Biotech stopped after inspection

All the manufacturing activities at the Indian Pharma company, Marion Biotech Pvt Ltd, have been stopped following allegations by Uzbekistan that at least 18 children died in the country after consuming the medicine.

 

The manufacturing activities have been stopped after the inspection by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

 

A joint inspection of the manufacturer's Noida facility was carried out by the teams of the Uttar Pradesh Drug Control Department and CDSCO.

12:38 PM

Rishabh is stable and undergoing scans: Jay Shah provides update on wicketkeeper's health post accident

Jay Shah, the Honorary Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), provided an update on wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant after he was injured in a road accident, saying that the left-handed batter is "stable" and is "undergoing scans".

 

Early on Friday morning, Pant, 25, suffered multiple injuries when his car collided with a road divider and caught fire on the Delhi-Dehradun highway. He has been admitted to Max Hospital in Dehradun after being initially taken to Saksham Hospital. Pant was reportedly on his way to his home in Roorkee.

 

"My thoughts and prayers are with Rishabh Pant as he fights his way back to recovery. I have spoken to his family and the doctors treating him. Rishabh is stable and undergoing scans. We are closely monitoring his progress and will provide him with all the necessary support," tweeted Shah.

12:11 PM

Will not compromise on national security for good relations with neighbours: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that India wants to have and maintain friendly relations with its neighbours, but it will not be done at the cost of national security.

 

Speaking at the 90th annual pilgrimage of Sivagiri Mutt here, Singh recalled former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's remark that we can change friends but not our neighbours.

 

"Therefore, we need good and friendly relations with our neighbours. However, we will not compromise on national security to maintain good relations. We do not want good relations with anyone at the cost of our national security," the Defence Minister said.

11:53 AM

Mamata Banerjee refuses to sit on dais at Howrah Station

High drama prevailed at Howrah Station on Friday as a visibly annoyed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refused to get up on the dais from where the Vande Bharat express to New Jalpaiguri will be flagged off.

 

Banerjee seemed upset by the loud sloganeering from a section of the invited crowd at the railway station.

 

Attempts by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Governor C V Ananda Bose to pacify her did not bear fruit, as the chief minister chose to seat on a chair along with the audience.

 

The Vande Bharat Express connecting Howrah and New Jalpaiguri, the gateway to the northeast, as well as several development projects, will be virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.

11:36 AM

Uttarakhand CM promises all possible support to cricketer Pant following his accident

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has promised to extend all the possible support to Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant who met with a serious accident while returning from Delhi to his Roorkee home as his car collided with a divider on the Narsan border of Roorkee near Hammadpur Jhal.

 

"Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami instructed officials to ensure all possible arrangements for the treatment of the injured cricketer Rishabh Pant and to provide an air ambulance if required," as per the CMO statement.

 

Pant, who was alone in the car, suffered injuries on his back, forehead and leg. Pant was driving his car when he met with the accident on the Delhi-Dehradun highway. According to photographs from the site, the car was seen in a badly burnt condition.

11:27 AM

Telecom space set for 5G, to attract Rs 1.5 trn investments in 2023; tariff hikes likely too

From connecting people with 5G services to lowering the cost of operations, the country's revitalised telecom sector is witnessing the bloom of reforms, and is set to attract more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore investments to build up networks in the new year.

 

Once the poster boy of India's growth story, then a debt-laden segment that saw many players withering away and now riding the wave of reforms as well as big-ticket investments, the telecom sector turned a new chapter in 2022.

 

While the Adani group is yet to unveil its full-fledged plan for the telecom business, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has committed Rs 2 lakh crore investment for rolling out a 5G network across the country by December 2023.

 

"It has been an exciting year because of the launch of 5G, a much-awaited technology for 4-5 years. This is a big step forward. We look forward to a robust rollout of 5G next year because this year is just the beginning.

 

"We are all working on use cases. We are telling state governments, ministries, startups and innovators to come out with innovative use cases in the Indian context, which will unlock businesses and will also solve some public problems, some challenges," Telecom Secretary K Rajaraman told PTI.

11:06 AM

Brazil declares three days of mourning for football legend Pele

Brazil on Thursday declared three days of mourning over the demise of football legend Pele, reported Brazilian news portal G1 citing a decree signed by outgoing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

According to G1, the decree signed by Bolsonaro reads, "Official mourning is declared throughout the country, for a period of three days, counted from the date of publication of this Decree, as a sign of regret for the death of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele, a former football player."

Pele passed away on Thursday at the age of 82 after battling cancer.

10:48 AM

Japan tests all China arrivals for COVID amid surging cases

Japan on Friday started requiring COVID-19 tests for all passengers arriving from China as an emergency measure against surging infections there and as Japan faces rising case numbers and record-level deaths at home.

 

Japan reported a record 420 new coronavirus deaths on Thursday, one day after reaching an earlier single-day record of 415 deaths, according to the Health Ministry.

 

The numbers are higher than the daily deaths at the peak of an earlier wave in August, when they exceeded 300. Experts say the reason for the latest increase is unclear but could be linked to deaths from the worsening of chronic illnesses among elderly patients.

10:32 AM

Veteran BJP leader LK Advani condoles passing away of PM Modi's mother

Veteran BJP leader LK Advani expressed his condolences at the demise of Heeraben Modi, the mother of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who passed away at an Ahmedabad hospital early Friday morning.

The senior BJP leader said that PM Modi has often spoken about the special bond he shared with his mother, her simplicity, and her caring persona.

"I am deeply saddened to condole the passing away of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Heeraben Modi. Narendrabhai has often spoken about the special bond that he shared with his mother, about her simplicity and her caring persona. These will always be remembered and missed by all," said Advani.

10:31 AM

Delhi's minimum temp in double digits, relief from cold wave to end soon

Delhi's minimum temperature rose to double digits for the first time in 15 days on Friday, but the respite is predicted to end soon.

The capital had logged a minimum temperature of seven degrees Celsius on Thursday, 6.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, 5.6 degrees on Tuesday and five degrees on Monday.

The relief from cold in north India can be attributed to a western disturbance, a weather system characterised by warm moist winds from the Middle East.

10:17 AM

India logs 243 new Covid infections; active cases rise to 3,609

India recorded 243 new coronavirus infections, raising the tally to 4.46 crore, while the active cases have increased to 3,609, according to Union health ministry data updated on Friday.

 

The total tally of Covid cases was recorded at 4,46,78, 158 and the death toll stands at 5,30,699 with one fatality reported from Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated.

 

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.11 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.16 per cent, the ministry said.

 

It said 2,13,080 tests for detection of Covid have been conducted in the last 24 hours.

10:07 AM

Continuing with work will be befitting tribute to Heeraben: PM Modi's Family

Family members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Hiraben, who passed away on Friday, have thanked everyone for their prayers and requested people to continue with their scheduled work, saying it would be a befitting tribute to her.
 

"We thank everyone for their prayers in these tough times. It is our humble request to everyone to keep the departed soul in their thoughts and continue with their pre-decided schedule and commitments. That would be a befitting tribute to Hiraba," family sources said.
 

Modi will himself attend several development programmes in West Bengal though video-conferencing.

10:06 AM

India's first underwater tunnel in West Bengal to be 45-sec experience for metro passengers

India's first underwater tunnel, being built under the Hooghly River in West Bengal at a cost of around Rs 120 crore as part of the East West Metro Corridor, will be a blink-and-you-miss-it experience for passengers as trains will cross the 520-metre stretch in just 45 seconds. 

 

The tunnel -- the Indian version of Eurostar's London-Paris corridor -- is 13 metre below the riverbed and 33 metre below ground level.

 

The 520-metre tunnel is part of the East West Metro Corridor of Kolkata -- from the IT hub of Salt Lake Sector V in the east to Howrah Maidan in the west across the river.

 

9:56 AM

Amit Shah in Mandya as BJP focuses on Old Mysuru region for 2023 polls

As the BJP prepares for the 2023 Assembly elections in Karnataka, with special focus on the Old Mysuru region, where the party is weak, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will hit the ground running in the poll-bound state with a visit to Mandya on Friday.

Other than official engagements, he will also be engaging in party meetings, where he is expected to review poll preparedness of the BJP and discuss strategy with leaders and booth level workers.

9:45 AM

Congress leaders condole demise of PM Modi's mother

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday condoled the demise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother.

 

"The news of the demise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Heeraba is very sad.In this difficult time, I express my deepest condolences and affection to him and his family members," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

 

"Deeply saddened to hear about the demise of Smt. Heeraben Modi. My heartfelt condolences to Sri @narendramodi ji on the loss of his beloved mother. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family in this hour of grief," Kharge said on Twitter Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel also sent their condolences and prayed for the peace of the departed soul.

9:36 AM

Hostility towards others not Hindu way, Vivekananda's Hinduism all-inclusive: Tharoor

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said hostility towards others was not the Hindu way, pointing out that his favourite Hindu icon Swami Vivekananda's Hinduism was all-inclusive.

 

The author-turned-politician, who has written two books on Hinduism, said on Thursday that many right-wing politicians have been trying to appropriate Swami Vivekananda by selectively quoting him while ignoring "the totality of his message".

9:36 AM

Mother of PM Modi, Heeraben Modi cremated in Gandhinagar

9:30 AM

President Murmu condoles demise of PM Modi's mother

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday offered her condolences at the passing away of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Heeraben Modi.

"The hundred years of struggling life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Heeraba is a symbol of Indian ideals. Modi imbibed the spirit of 'Matridevobhav' and the values of Heeraba in his life. I pray for the peace of the holy soul. My condolences to the family!" the President said in a tweet.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar also expressed grief over the demise of PM Modi's mother.

"Deeply condole the death of mother of Hon'ble Prime Minister, Smt. Heeraben Modi. She exemplified simplicity and sublimity reflecting the virtuosity of motherhood. Pray ALMIGHTY bestow eternal peace on the departed soul," the Vice President tweeted.

9:29 AM

"One wishes a mother to be around forever": Deve Gowda condoles demise of PM Modi's mother

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Friday condoled the death of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Hiraben and said she lived a full life, but one wishes a mother to be around forever.

Hiraben passed away at a hospital in Ahmedabad on Friday. She was 99.

"My heartfelt condolences to PM @narendramodi on the passing away of his mother Heeraben Modi. She was a centenarian who lived a full life, but one wishes a mother to be around, forever, to energise and anchor. May God give Shri. Modi the strength to bear the loss. Om Shanti," Gowda said in a tweet.

9:13 AM

Cricketer Rishabh Pant grievously injured in road accident

Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant has sustained injuries after his car collided with the divider and caughtfire while he was travelling from Uttarakhand to Delhi. Initial reports suggest that Pant was driving his Mercedescar, which met with an accident near Roorkee in Uttarakhand.

Pant has been admitted to a hospital where he is reportedly being treated for a head and leg injury.

9:04 AM

PM Modi carries mortal remains of his late mother in Gandhinagar