Covid LIVE: India resumes vaccine exports as domestic stocks build up

Live news updates: India allows domestic flights to fly at full capacity; IMF maintains growth projection for country.

12:16 AM

Nine crore people in Maharashtra got at least one dose of Covid vaccine so far: Govt

As many as nine crore people in Maharashtra have received at least the first dose of anti-coronavirus vaccines so far, which is the highest in the country, the state government said on Wednesday.

 

"Till Wednesday evening, Maharashtra has been able to vaccinate nine crore people. The number of those, who have received both the doses is as high as 2.76 crore. These figures are the highest as compared to other states in the country," state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said.

 

The state government is trying hard to vaccinate more number of people at the earliest, he added.

11:25 PM

Isolated populations in India vulnerable to Covid-19, says study

Isolated populations in India are vulnerable to Covid-19, says a joint study by researchers from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), the Banaras Hindu University and some other universities.

 

The researchers called for high priority protection and utmost care for the isolated populations in the light of this study.

 

Dr Kumarasamy Thangaraj from the CSIR-CCMB, who is presently director of the CDFD, Hyderabad, and Prof Gyaneshwer Chaubey of the BHU, jointly led the genomic analysis of several Indian populations.

 

Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has impacted various ethnic groups all over the world. Recent studies suggest that the indigenous groups in Brazil have been massively affected by Covid-19.

10:45 PM

Covid curfew further relaxed in Andhra Pradesh

The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday extended the COVID-19 curfew till October 31, but limited it to only five hours from 12 midnight. Accordingly, the curfew will now be in force from 12 midnight to 5 AM only. So far the curfew hours were 11 PM to 6 AM.

 

The government also eased restrictions on public gatherings, including marriages, permitting a maximum of 250 persons. Previously only 100 persons were permitted in such gatherings.

 

Cinema halls too can now run to full capacity as the government has dispensed with the alternate seating arrangements, according to an order issued by Principal Secretary (Health) Anil Kumar Singhal.

9:33 PM

Mumbai adds 481 COVID-19 cases, three deaths

Mumbai reported 481 new coronavirus infection cases and three fatalities on Wednesday, taking the caseload to 7,49,074 and toll to 16,167, a civic official said. This is for the fourth day in a row the metropolis has recorded less than 500 daily cases. On October 6, the city had logged 629 cases, the highest after July 14 when it had witnessed 635 cases.

 

The metropolis reported a marginal rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths as compared to Tuesday, when it had logged 425 cases and two fatalities.

 

With 31,638 tests being conducted in the last 24-hours, the cumulative test count climbed to 1,08,20,708, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said.

9:26 PM

Over 1 lakh people vaccinated in Jharkhand capital through mobile vans

More than one lakh people were vaccinated against Covid-19 through mobile vans in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi creating a record in the state, an official said on Wednesday.

 

Ranchi also tops among all 24 districts in the state so far as the inoculation coverage is concerned.

 

"Ranchi has done one lakh Covid-19 vaccinations through mobile vans. Kudos to the district health team for working tirelessly even during holidays," Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Chhavi Ranjan said.

 

Vaccination through mobile vans started in Ranchi on May 28 with two vans. The district authorities now have 11 such vehicles at present.

9:15 PM

Over 96 crore Covid vaccines administered in India: Govt

The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 96 crore with more than 32 lakh jabs administered on Wednesday, the health ministry said. This is according to the 7 pm provisional report. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night, the ministry said.

 

Cumulatively, 38,99,42,616 first doses have been administered to individuals in the 18-44 age group across states and union territories and 10,69,40,919 second doses have been given in the same age group since the start of phase-3 of the vaccination drive, according to health ministry data.

 

The ministry further said that cumulatively 69,09,35,778 first doses have been administered while 27,68,72,767 second doses have been administered.

 

On Wednesday, 32,36,997 doses were administered as the vaccination coverage reached 96,78,08,545, the ministry said.

 

The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level, the ministry underlined.

8:44 PM

India resumes Covid vaccine exports as domestic stocks build up: Officials

India has resumed a small amount of exports of Covid-19 vaccines and will increase exports significantly in the next few months as domestic stocks build up and most of its own large population is inoculated, officials said on Wednesday.

One million shots of Covaxin produced by Indian company Bharat Biotech were shipped to Iran last week, the Indian embassy in Tehran said.

 

Vaccines have also been sent to Nepal, a government source said, adding that the effort is focused on neighbouring nations.

7:25 PM

Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh admitted to AIIMS, Delhi

7:00 PM

Coal availability to power plants likely to improve gradually in Oct: ICRA

Domestic rating agency Icra on Wednesday said it expects the availability of coal to power plants to improve gradually during the current month with expected augmentation in both coal production and dispatch levels.

While energy demand grew sharply with at 12.7 per cent Y-o-Y in the first half of FY'22, coal supply position was constrained due to monsoon impact on coal production and dispatch activity in August/September 2021, fuel supply regulation by Coal India to few state generating utilities post payment delays as well as lower off-take of costlier imported coal.

6:14 PM

Lakhimpur case: Ashish Mishra denied bail, one more sent to police custody

Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra, was denied bail by a court here on Wednesday in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.

Ashish Mishra, who was arrested on October 9 by the special investigation team after 12 hours of questioning, had been sent to three days in police custody from Tuesday.

 

The court also remanded Shekhar Bharti, arrested on Tuesday, in police custody for three days.

5:35 PM

President Ram Nath Kovind to visit Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on Oct 14 & 15

5:14 PM

Met supply target given by Power Ministry today, says Coal Minister

4:27 PM

China objects to Vice President Venkaiah Naidu’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh

3:59 PM

Top JeM terrorist commander killed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama

3:01 PM

Govt removes curbs on UK citizens

2:47 PM

BCCI introduces the new jersey of Indian cricket team

2:43 PM

Lakhimpur violence: Cong delegation meets President, demands sacking of MoS

A delegation of Congress leaders, including former party president Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday met President Ram Nath Kovind demanding the immediate dismissal of Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra over the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

The delegation of senior Congress leaders also presented a memorandum of facts about the Lakhimpur Kheri incident to the President.

 

2:13 PM

Lakhimpur Kheri violence 'absolutely condemnable': FM Nirmala Sitharaman

The Lakhimpur Kheri violence, in which four farmers were killed, is absolutely condemnable, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said, emphasising that there are issues of such nature happening in other parts of India equally which should be raised "when they happen and not when it suits others" because there is a BJP government in Uttar Pradesh.

1:55 PM

6 mn ZyCoV-D vaccine doses are ready, says report

1:27 PM

Indian Railways earns nearly Rs 1,000 cr more by ferrying imported coal

The Indian Railways has earned close to Rs 1,000 crore more by ferrying imported coal in 6 months to September 2021. According to official data, cumulative freight earnings from imported coal stood at Rs 4,598.88 crore during the period, up from Rs 3,682.32 crore till September 2020. This was during the period when there was a perceived coal shortage in the country and power plants struggled to meet their requirements.

 

The highest earnings from imported coal during the financial year were reported in April 2021 at Rs 840.28 crore, up from Rs 445.69 crore in April 2020.

 

Total imported coal loaded during the six-month period stood at 45.87 mt, up from 37.24 mt during the same period of the previous financial year. Read on...

12:42 PM

Lakhimpur Kheri violence: l Congress leaders call on President Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan

12:40 PM

No shortage of anything; reports of coal crisis baseless: FM Sitharaman

Amid reports of the ongoing coal shortage in the country, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stressed that there is no shortage and termed these as absolutely baseless, saying India is a power surplus country.

 

Sitharaman said that Power Minister R K Singh went on record just two days ago when he said absolutely baseless information is floating around that there is probably shortage of coal, shortage of other inventories which will lead to a sudden gap in the supply demand situation in the energy consumption.

 

"Absolute baseless! There is no shortage of anything. In fact, if I recall the minister's statement, every power producing installation has the next four days' stock absolutely available within their own premises and the supply chain has not broken at all, Sitharaman said here at Harvard Kennedy School on Tuesday.

12:32 PM

PM Modi says taxpayers' money was insulted in past due to delays in developmental project

PM Modi says taxpayers' money was insulted in past due to delays and a lethargic approach to development work

12:21 PM

Development not possible without quality infrastructure, says PM Modi at launch of PM Gati Shakti

Development not possible without quality infrastructure, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi at launch of PM Gati Shakti

12:14 PM

GatiShakti plan: Know the key highlights of the plan

— PM GatiShakti to break departmental silos and institutionalize holistic planning for stakeholders across major infrastructure projects

— All departments to now have visibility of each others’ projects through a centralized portal

— Multi-modal connectivity to provide integrated and seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods and services

— PM GatiShakti to generate multiple employment opportunities, cut down of logistics cost, improve supply chains and make local goods globally competitive

12:13 PM

This National Master plan will give impetus to 21st century India: PM Modi

PM Gatishakti National Master Plan is going to take India's self-confidence, self-confidence, to the resolve of self-reliance. This National Masterplan will give impetus to 21st century India: PM

 

12:09 PM

We planned well & introduced 'gati' in development projects: PM Narendra Modi

Earlier, we used to see 'work in progress' boards everywhere & people started to believe that it will never be completed. It showed distrust of people. But we changed it. We planned well & introduced 'gati' in development projects: PM Narendra Modi

12:00 PM

Gati Shakti Master plan launch: We are laying a foundation for the next 25 years, says PM Modi

We are laying a foundation for the next 25 years. This national master plan will give 'gatishakti' to development plans of the 21st century & will help in the timely completion of these plans: PM Narendra Modi in Delhi

11:59 AM

PM Modi speaks at the launch of PM GatiShakti - National Master Plan

11:58 AM

Prime Minister Modi launches PM GatiShakti - National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity

Prime Minister  Modi  launches PM GatiShakti - National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity