The condition of Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, who is undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at a Gurgaon hospital, is stable, according to an official statement Wednesday.

 

Vij, 67, was shifted to Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon Tuesday evening. The minister, who was admitted to Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in Rohtak on Sunday after he complained of discomfort, had tested positive for COVID-19 on December 5.

"Haryana Home and Health Minister Anil Vij, who was admitted to Medanta-The Medicity on December 15 at 9 pm, and is undergoing treatment for COVID-19, is stable and he is maintaining vitals parameters on high flow nasal cannula on oxygen support," the statement said.

In a medical bulletin, Dr A K Dubey, medical superintendent, Medanta, said Vij was transferred from PGIMS Rohtak with COVID pneumonia and was admitted to the ICU. Relevant investigations, including CT scan, have been done and the results are satisfactory.

"He slept well last night and had his meals. He is likely to stay in the ICU for a few days,� the statement quoting the bulletin said, adding that Vij was being monitored by a team of doctors.

On Tuesday, Vij's younger brother Rajinder Vij had told reporters outside PGIMS, "We are shifting him to Medanta because we are not seeing the kind of improvement which we were expecting."

He had said that the doctors at the Rohtak hospital "gave their best treatment" and "provided best facilities", yet there had not been much improvement in the minister's condition.

On Monday, he was examined by a special medical board comprising a team of senior doctors of PGIMS at Rohtak.

A medical bulletin issued by the PGIMS hospital had said that the vital parameters of the minister were normal and he was undergoing convalescent plasma therapy.

The minister had last month got one shot of the two-dose trial of Covaxin after he offered to be a volunteer.

The firebrand BJP leader had offered to be the first volunteer in the phase three trials for Covaxin, an indigenous potential vaccine being developed by Bharat Biotech against COVID-19.

He was administered the dose on November 20 at the Civil Hospital in Ambala Cantonment, about 50 km from Chandigarh.

Bharat Biotech had said that clinical trials of the vaccine are based on a two-dose schedule, given 28 days apart. The vaccine efficacy will be determined two weeks after the second dose, it said.

Covaxin has been designed to be protective two weeks after volunteers receive the second dose. -- PTI

The Election Commission has started its preparations for five assembly polls due some time in April-May next year with two if its senior officials set to visit West Bengal and Tamil Nadu in the next few days.

 

While EC Secretary General Umesh Sinha would be visiting Tamil Nadu next week, Deputy Election Commissioner Sudip Jain would be in West Bengal in the coming days, sources said on Wednesday.

The terms of the legislative assemblies of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry is coming to an end between April and June next year.

A high stake political battle is expected in most of the states. -- PTI

The JEE-Mains for admission to engineering colleges will be held four times a year starting 2021 to offer flexibility to students and a chance to improve their scores, Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank announced on Wednesday.

The first edition of the Joint Entrance Examination-Mains (JEE-Mains) will be held from February 23 to 26, followed by rounds in March, April and May.

"We have examined the suggestions received from students and various quarters, and it has been decided that JEE-Mains will be held in four sessions in February, March, April and May," Nishank said.

The first session will be held from February 23 to 26 and the results will be declared within five days from the last date of exams, he said.

"The move will ensure that students do not miss out on opportunities due to clash of exams or due to the COVID-19 situation at present," the minister said.

Nishank also said that students will be given a choice to answer 75 questions -- 25 each in physics, chemistry and mathematics -- out of 90 in the JEE-Mains paper. In the exam paper of 90 questions, 30 questions each will be from physics, chemistry and mathematics, he said.

The minister informed that a candidate need not appear in all the four sessions.

"However, if a candidate appears in more than one session then his or her best of scores in 2021 will be considered for preparation of merit list or ranking. The question paper will contain 90 questions, in which the candidate will have to attempt a total of 75 questions. In the new paper pattern, there will be no negative marking in the 15 alternative questions," Nishank said.  

"The candidates have to attempt 75 questions out of 90, or 25 questions out of 30 in each section of chemistry, physics and maths," he said.

Enumerating the benefits to students due to this decision, the minister said that conducting JEE-Mains in four sessions will give multiple opportunities to candidates to improve their scores in the examination if they are not able to give their best in one attempt.

"In case a candidate has board examination in a particular month, or is unable to appear due to COVID-19, the candidate can choose a different month to take the JEE," he said.  -- PTI

The Ram temple in Ayodhya will be built using domestic funds collected from the general public through a mass contact programme as its trust doesn't have required approvals for accepting donations from abroad, general secretary of the trust Champat Rai said on Wednesday.

 

Underlining that the Ram temple would actually take the form of a 'rashtra temple', he said,"Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Shetra is going to start the mass contact and contribution campaign across the country for construction of the temple."

Addressing a press conference, Rai said photographs of the proposed new model of the temple will also reach crores of households through this campaign.

"Voluntary donations from Rambhakts will be accepted for which coupons of Rs 10, Rs 100 and Rs 1,000 will be made available," he said.

In order to maintain transparency in the financial dealings and transactions, the trust has printed 4 crore coupons of Rs 10 denomination, 8 crore coupons of Rs 100 and 12 lakhs coupons of Rs 1,000 denomination, he said.

Rai also said for construction of the temple, no foreign funding can be collected as the trust doesn't have enough necessary approvals while CSR funds can be considered for adjoining buildings of the temple.

He further said no target has been fixed for collecting funds and no estimate has been made of expenditure for construction of the temple.

Rai said through this campaign, the public will also be made aware of the historical significance of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. -- PTI

A Sikh preacher supporting the farmers' agitation against the Centre's agriculture laws allegedly committed suicide near the Singhu border in Delhi on Wednesday, police said.

   

A handwritten note in Punjabi, purportedly left behind by the deceased, says he was unable to bear the "pain of farmers".  

 

The note is being verified by police. 

 

An official of the Sonipat police said they had received a call that Sant Ram Singh (65), who hailed from Karnal, allegedly shot himself.

 

The deceased was rushed to a hospital in Panipat where doctors declared him brought dead.

 

The official said the exact spot where the incident took place is being verified and police are in the process of recording statements of the deceased's family members.

 

Shiromani Akali Dal spokesperson and Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee president Manjinder Singh Sirsa expressed grief over the incident and urged farmers to exercise restraint.

  

"A very sad news has been received that Sant Ram Singh, who dedicated his life to the service of humanity, committed suicide by shooting himself," he said on his Twitter handle.

 

According to Sirsa, the victim wrote in his suicide note that he was unable to to bear the "pain of the farmers".

 

"It is a sin to suffer atrocity and witness it, which I cannot see," Sirsa said the cleric wrote in his suicide note.

  

Sirsa appealed to farmers to exercise restraint.

 

"It is a very grave time. I request you as the chief sewadar of the DSGMC to exercise restraint because anybody can do mischief in the farmers' agitation. It is a very sad incident for all of us but we need to be restrained," said Sirsa.

 

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and other state have been protesting near the Delhi borders for the past three weeks, demanding that the Centre's farm laws be repealed. -- PTI 

India dropped one spot to 131 among 189 countries in the 2020 human development index, according to a report released by the United Nations Development Programme.

 

Human Development Index is the measure of a nation's health, education, and standards of living.

Life expectancy of Indians at birth in 2019 was 69.7 years while Bangladesh has a life expectancy of 72.6 years and Pakistan 67.3 years, the 2020 Human Development Report said.

India, Bhutan (129), Bangladesh (133), Nepal (142), and Pakistan (154) were ranked among countries with medium human development, the report said. 

India's HDI value for 2019 is 0.645 which put it in the medium human development category. 

India has been positioned at 131 out of 189 countries and territories, according to the report.

India had ranked 130 in 2018 in the index.

Norway topped the index, followed by Ireland, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Iceland, the report showed.

Talking to reporters, UNDP Resident Representative Shoko Noda said the drop in India's ranking doesn't mean "India didn't do well but other countries did better". 

Noda said India can help other countries too and lauded its commitment to reduce carbon emissions.

According to the report published by the United Nations Development Programme on Tuesday, India's gross national income per capita fell to USD 6,681 in 2019 from USD 6,829 in 2018 on purchasing power parity basis.

Purchasing power parity or PPP is a measurement of prices in different countries that uses the prices of specific goods to compare the absolute purchasing power of the countries' currencies.

The report said evidence from Colombia to India indicates that financial security and ownership of land improve women's security and reduce the risk of gender-based violence, clearly indicating that owning land can empower women.

It further said indigenous children in Cambodia, India and Thailand show more malnutrition-related issues such as stunting and wasting.

"In India different responses in parent behaviour as well as some disinvestment in girls' health and education have led to higher malnutrition among girls than among boys as a consequence of shocks likely linked to climate change," the report said.

The report said that under the Paris Agreement, India pledged to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP from the 2005 level by 33�35 percent by 2030 and to obtain 40 percent of electric power capacity from non fossil fuel sources by 2030.

"As part of the plan, the National Solar Mission aims to promote solar energy for power generation and other uses to make solar energy competitive with fossil fuel based options. Solar capacity in India increased from 2.6 gigawatts in March 2014 to 30 gigawatts in July 2019, achieving its target of 20 gigawatts four years ahead of schedule. In 2019, India ranked fifth for installed solar capacity," the report said. -- PTI

Hours after he resigned as MLA, rebel TMC leader Suvedu Adhikari on Wednesday held a closed door meeting with disgruntled leaders of the party including senior MP Sunil Mandal and Asansol civic body chief

Jitendra Tiwari in Kanksa, sources said.

The closed door meeting began at 7 PM is still on.

The TMC leadership refused to attach much importance to the development and said those who want are free to leave the party.

Adhikari, who had resigned from the state cabinet last month and quit as party MLA on Wednesday, went to Mandals residence at Kanksa in Paschim Bardhaman district.

Mandal, a two-time Bardhaman Purba Lok Sabha MP, welcomed Adhikari and took him inside, the sources said.

He had came out in support of Adhikari in the morning and blamed the party for not addressing the grievances on time as a sense of drift has crept in.

Within a few minutes, Tiwari, who had recently slammed the state government for depriving the industrial town of Asansol of central funds for political reasons, was also seen entering the residence, the sources said.

Tiwari is MLA from Pandabeswar assembly segment.

Few other disgruntled TMC leaders from Birbhum, Bardhaman too had joined the meeting, they added. -- PTI 

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Wednesday fixed January 27 as the next date of hearing on the Hathras rape case after the Central Bureau of Investigation sought more time to conclude its investigation.

   

The CBI informed the court that it will take some more time to conclude the investigation and failed to file any status report of the probe.

 

The Bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Rajan Roy fixed January 27 as the next date of the hearing.

 

The CBI had on November 25 had furnished a status report of the rape case before the Bench and said the probe will be over by December 10.

 

The 19-year-old Hathras victim had died at a Delhi hospital a fortnight after her alleged rape by four men from her village on September 14.

 

She was cremated in the middle of the night in her village.

 

Her family members claimed that the cremation, which took place well past midnight, was without their consent and they were not allowed to bring home the body one last time. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest at the centenary celebrations of the Aligarh Muslim University via video link on December 22, an official statement said.

Modi will attend the online function along with Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, it said.

Extending his gratitude to the PM, AMU Vice Chancellor Professor Tariq Mansoor said the Aligarh Muslim University community is thankful for his acceptance to participate in the celebrations marking 100 years of the university.

"The outreach of the university during this historical year will also immensely help in its growth and development, and in the placement of our students in private and public sectors," he said

Prof Mansoor appealed the university community to put in all efforts for the success of the forthcoming events, and the staff members, students, alumni and AMU well-wishers for active participation.

He also appealed to all concerned to keep the centenary programme above politics like the Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti.

Earlier this month, the university had announced that President Ram Nath Kovind was expected to be the chief guest at the centenary celebrations.

The change of chief guest appears to be a last minute move, according to AMU sources.

Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College became Aligarh Muslim University on December 1, 1920 following a gazette notification. AMU was formally inaugurated as a university on December 17 that year. -- PTI

Actor-politician Urmila Matondkar on Wednesday said her Instagram account has been hacked, following which she has filed an FIR with Maharashtra Cyber, the state police's cyber wing.

 

Matondkar took to Twitter to report that her Instagram profile was compromised after she responded to a direct message (DM) on the photo-video sharing app.

"My Instagram account has been hacked @instagram. First they DM you and ask to follow a few steps and verify the account and then it gets hacked. Really!? #NotDone," the 46-year-old actor wrote on the microblogging site.

In a subsequent tweet, Matondkar said she has filed a First Information Report (FIR) with Maharashtra Cyber about the account hack, adding women must not take "cyber crimes" lightly.

"'Cyber crimes' is not something that women should take lightly.. as I went to file FIR on my @instagram ac hacking met this dynamic DCP #cybercrime @MumbaiPolice Smt. Rashmi Karandikar who enlightened me lot more on the issue. Will surely be working on it in future. @MahaCyber1," she said.

Posts from Matondkar's Instagram account were wiped out, with the display name changed to "Instagram Support".

"This is an automated message sent to you. If you have infringed copyright, you will receive an automated message," the message read on her profile. 

Matondkar, who had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from north Mumbai constituency as a Congress candidate, recently joined the Shiv Sena. -- PTI 

The ongoing farmers' protest at Delhi borders is an "exception" and "limited to one state", Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Wednesday and hoped for an early solution as the government is in talks with farmer unions.

   

"There is an atmosphere of enthusiasm in the country because of the recent reforms in the farm sector," he said while referring to the enactment of three new legislations.

 

"The ongoing protest is an exception and the agitation is limited to one state. We are holding discussions and talks. I believe there will be an early solution," Tomar said at a virtual conference organised by industry body Assocham.

 

The minister noted that while there is an agitation going on one side, there are also lakhs of farmers coming in support of these laws.

 

Tomar highlighted the measures taken by the central government in the last six years to boost farmers' income and make agriculture sector profitable.

 

Thousands of farmers, particularly from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting for more than two weeks against the three farm laws, saying the new legislation will lead to the dismantling of the minimum support price and mandi systems and leave them at the mercy of corporates.

 

Tomar, who is leading the negotiation with about 40 farmer unions along with food minister Piyush Goyal and minister of state for commerce Som Parkash, said the government has taken various initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic for the growth of farm sector, including a Rs 1,00,000 crore fund for creating farm-level infrastructure and setting up of 10,000 FPOs. (Farmer Producer Organisations).

 

These budgetary provisions in agriculture and allied sector will strengthen the rural economy and make farming activities profitable, he said.

 

As the standoff continues between the government and groups of protesting farmers over the three farm laws, Tomar had on Tuesday said the acts have been welcomed in various states and that the Centre was willing to continue its talks with "genuine farm unions" to find a solution with an open mind. -- PTI

BJP's Gujarat unit president C R Paatil on Wednesday alleged that the ongoing agitation by farmers on the Delhi borders was a planned conspiracy by the opposition parties to create anarchy in the country and to destabilise it.

Paatil, a BJP MP from Navsari Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat, said Congress was in favour of these farm sector reforms when it was in power before 2014.

His statement comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a conspiracy is afoot to confuse farmers over the new agri laws and accused the opposition of using farmers' shoulders to fire their guns.

Talking to reporters in Surat, Paatil said, "This agitation is a planned conspiracy by the opposition to destabilise the nation, but the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not let this happen. Since

opposition parties have lost their base, they are trying to create anarchy in the country."

He was addressing the media as part of the ruling BJP's outreach exercise to make people aware of the three farm laws being opposed by some farmers and their organisations.

"The Congress was also in favour of these agricultural reforms when it was in power. But now, the opposition party is spreading falsehood and misguiding farmers. People need to identify such forces and remain cautious about their motives," he said.

"Why are Khalistan flags seen in farmers' agitation? Who is supplying two-months of ration to the protesters? Why are farmers given instructions from Canada to continue the agitation?" he asked, and said that people need to differentiate between farmers and political parties involved in this agitation.

The cultivators have been protesting against the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020. -- PTI

The ruling LDF has gained a clear edge in the village, block, district panchayats, municipal and corporation councils in Kerala.

As per latest trends, the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF is leading in 516 out of the total 941 gram panchayats, according to the State Election Commission figures. The Congress-led UDF was ahead in 375 gram panchayats while NDA is leading in 22 gram panchayats.

Out of the six corporations in the state, the LDF and the UDF were leading in three each.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said, "LDF got a comprehensive victory in local body polls. This is victory of the people of state. This election results are befitting reply to those who are trying to destroy Kerala. Efforts of those who tried to destabilise govt using central agencies have been defeated."

Speaking to ANI, Yechury said that the BJP has been cut to size in local body election and this is the victory of the political life taken by the CPI(M) and the left front and the LDF government in Kerala and alternative policy of BJP and its communal polarisation.

"First of all our congratulation and salute to the people of Kerala for reposing the faith in LDF govt. It is not the BJP's gain any ground despite all its misinformation and mispropaganda and despite the using central agencies in order to defame and character assassination of Chief Minister and all our leaders of LDF. They have failed miserably. They claim was to control and capture the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation at least but they were dismal in the third position," Yechury told ANI. The Kerala local body polls were held in three phases. 

Petitioner Himanshu Shrivastava alleged that Khan termed demon king Ravan as dayalu (kind-hearted) person and justified his battle with Lord Ram as his brother Lakshman had cut the nose of Ravan's sister. 

Khan justified the abduction of Sita and tried to malign her image, the plea said. According to the petition, Khan in the interview on December 6 said "Adipurush will make Ravan humane". 

His statement has hurt religious sentiments, Shrivastava said in the plea, seeking registration of an FIR against Khan, film director Om Raut and others under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (V) fixed December 23 as the next date of hearing. Khan will play the antagonist Lankesh, based on Ravan in the Om Raut directorial Adipurush, which is the screen adaptation of the Ramayana. South Indian star Prabhas will be seen in a role inspired by Lord Ram. After his criticism, Khan had apologised and withdrawn his statement. PTI

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had told the court that during the probe, it was found that there was a larger conspiracy by the ISIS operators in India and abroad for recruitment of resident and non-resident Indians and identity of such associates were being ascertained. NIA had alleged that during interrogation, Naser had disclosed names and mobile numbers of some active members and sympathisers of ISIS and identity of such associates were being ascertained.

Goswami's counsel Aabad Ponda told the HC that the magistrates court at Alibag in the adjoining district earlier in the day took cognizance of the chargesheet filed by the police against his client and two others in the suicide case of an interior designer.

Ponda then sought time from the high court to amend the petition filed by the Republic TV Editor-in-Chief against the FIR registered by the Alibag police in the more than two-year-old case case to also challenge the chargesheet. -- PTI

Raab called on Prime Minister Modi today to discuss India and the UK working together for good and launching the pioneering new vaccines hub, which will share the best practices for regulation and clinical trials, and further foster innovation, according to a press statement from the British High Commission in India.

The new hub will enable British and Indian experts to share knowledge on clinical trials and regulatory approvals and get vaccines to people who need them most in a safe, secure and energy-efficient way, and will protect the UK and India by enhancing cooperation on the development and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines.

"This Serum Institute and Oxford University partnership demonstrates the UK-India relationship at its best: a vaccine developed in the UK and made in India; drawing our brightest minds together to save lives as a global force for good," he said.

The Pune based Serum Institute of India (SII) is poised to make over a billion doses of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, which can be stored in normal refrigerator temperatures, making it easier and cheaper to produce, store and distribute around the world. 

Millions of doses made by SII will be distributed to the world's poorest people through the global COVAX initiative, in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO) and Gavi, the vaccine alliance.

Training programmes for almost 10,000 vaccinators were underway and storage facilities for the doses being set up at strategic locations.

"Even if one vaccinator administers 100 people a day, on an average 10,000 vaccinators can vaccinate 80 lakh people in eight or ten days, a Health department official told PTI. 

The official further said as of now there was no approved vaccine for COVID-19 in the country and preparations were being made to be ready for administering it as and when available. Vaccination will be done at all government health facilities such as primary health centres, district hospitals and teaching facilities. -- PTI

West Bengal legislative assembly: "It was bound to happen. Many MLAs left TMC earlier too and joined our party. There's no democracy or respect for people in TMC. Those who want to join in the change in Bengal and contribute to its development are leaving TMC and joining us."

On whether Adhikari would join BJP during Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to the state, Ghosh said, "There are rumours and people are also hoping for the same. Chain of events is heading towards that. We're waiting, it is up to him to decide what does he want to do."

Mukul Roy, one of the founding members of the TMC, quit the party and joined the BJP in 2017.

This is the first time that the Central Railway (CR) is introducing AC locals on its main line, where services are operated from the CSMT to Kasara and Khopoli.

The CR was operating AC local train services on its Thane-Vashi/Panvel trans-harbour line before the coronavirus- enforced lockdown came into force in March this year. 

Currently, only staff of the essential and emergency services and those authorised by government are allowed to travel in local trains, considered, as the lifeline of Mumbai, which resumed operations in June. Out of the 10 AC local services, two will be operated between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (in Mumbai) and Kalyan (in neighbouring Thane), four between CSMT and Dombivli (Thane) and four between CSMT and Kurla, the CR said in a release on Wednesday. 

The first AC local service on the main line will start from Kurla for CSMT at 5.42 am, while the last AC local will depart from CSMT for Kurla at 11.25 pm, it said.

"These train services will run with air-conditioned rakes from Monday to Saturday and will halt at all stations. Passengers as permitted by the Ministry of Railways and Maharashtra government are only allowed to travel," CR's chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar said.  

Mohan deposed before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, chaired by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. 

The panel had called him on the issue of the citizens' data safety. Mohan was accompanied by Shivnath Thukral, the public policy director of Facebook. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, along with Tharoor, questioned Mohan about a recent Wall Street Journal report on banning the Bajrang Dal on Facebook, sources said. 

The WSJ report suggested that despite an internal assessment calling for a ban on the Bajrang Dal, Facebook has not cracked down on the Hindu nationalist group due to financial considerations and concerns over the safety of its employees. -- PTI

A departmental notice dated December 15, 2020, stated that the cooperation of officers and employees of the Directorate General will be needed during the proposed coronavirus vaccination.

."Everyone working under the health and family welfare department are aware of the fact that Covid-19 pandemic is still affecting the lives of people across the globe and norms, guidelines are being followed to prevent its spread. In this row, Covid-19 vaccination in the months of December 2020 and January 2021 during which cooperation of every official and employee is needed," the notice said."Hence, it has been decided after deliberations that the leaves which were taken by the officers and employees of the Directorate General, including contract workers and daily wage workers are being cancelled," it added.On December 11, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claimed that while a vaccine against Covid-19 was just about a month away, the infectious virus had already been contained in the state. He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 'Healthy Eastern Uttar Pradesh' drive at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Gorakhpur, where he was the chief guest.As per the Union Health Ministry, there are 18,382 active Covid-19 cases in the Uttar Pradesh, 5,41,579 recoveries and the death toll stands at 8,103

Gigantic machines that belt out 1,000-1,200 chapattis in an hour, washing machines and solar panels installed on tractor-trolleys for charging mobile phones -- technology is keeping the protesters camping at this highway-turned-township going.

The chapatti-makers ensure timely meals for the protesters and that 'langar' is served smoothly till midnight. 

"This chapatti-making machine is fully automatic, you just have to put the dough inside. It cuts the dough into circles and in no time you get the chapattis. "We start the machine around 7 am and it runs till 12 am. We serve meals to over 5,000 people every day," Hardeep Singh from Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, which manages one of the 'langars' at the protest site, told PTI.

Living away from the comfort of their homes, another issue faced by the farmers was washing clothes. Initially, some of them bathed and washed their clothes at petrol pumps. But as the temperatures in the national capital dipped and the number of protesters swelled, some farmers and Good Samaritans arranged for washing machines. 

On one of his trips back home to Ludhiana in Punjab to wash his clothes, 30-year-old Prince Sandhu decided to bring two washing machines with him so that he and his fellow protesters didn't have to worry about the chore. Soon after, someone donated another washing machine and the 'laundry sewa' has been going on in full swing ever since.

"Nearly 250 people come here every day to wash their clothes. Many do it on their own. We help out the elderly who don't know how to operate washing machines," said Sandhu, who joined the protest on November 27. "I wake up at 6 am and help people wash their clothes till 8 pm," he said.

Not far from the laundry spot is Pushpinder Singh's phone charging station. Singh, 36, said he knew protesters would face problems in charging their mobile phones and hence decided to install two 100 watt solar panels atop his tractor trolley before he set out from home in Haryana's Karnal. 

"Mobile phones are our only source of knowing what is happening around us. I knew charging them would be a problem. So I bought these two solar panels for Rs 2,400 each before I got here. Not only are they helping us in charging mobile phones but also with lighting," he said. "Now I see many others have also installed solar panels, which is good," he added. -- PTI

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad clarified that the Cabinet approves Auction of spectrum in 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz frequency bands, for validity period of 20 years. A total of 2251.25 MHz is being offered with total valuation of Rs 3,92,332.70 crores.

The Digital Communications Commission, the apex decision making body of the Department of Telecom, in May approved the spectrum auction plan subject to the cabinet approval. 

The DoT is yet to come out with any notification for the next round of auction in which airwaves worth Rs 5.22 lakh crore are to be sold.

According to Jio, spectrum worth Rs 3.92 lakh crore is lying unused with the DoT for auction. The telecom ministry gets an average revenue share of 5 per cent as spectrum usage charge from telecom operators which is calculated based on their spectrum holding and 8 per cent as licence fee from the revenue earned by them from sale of communication services. PTI

Briefing the media after the meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a subsidy of Rs 3,500 crore on exports of 60 lakh tonnes of sweetener and the subsidy amount will directly be given to farmers. The minister said both "sugar industry as well as sugarcane farmers are in crisis" because of high domestic production at 310 lakh tonnes as against the annual demand of 260 lakh tonnes. 

The decision will benefit 5 crore farmers, said Javadekar, who is also Union Environment Minister. In the previous marketing year 2019-20 (October-September), the government provided a lump sum export subsidy of Rs 10,448 per tonne, costing the exchequer Rs 6,268 crore. -- PTI

"When PM Modi implemented demonetisation, Congress said that his countdown has begun. When he implemented GST, people said that his Govt won't come back. But in 2019 elections, people made him PM for the second time with more seats than the last elections," 

Earlier in the day, the Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel claimed those protesting against the Centre's three new farm laws are "middlemen" and not real farmers. 

Talking to PTI, Patel asserted that the new farm rules will give cultivators the real price for their produce and an opportunity to trade, export, and set up food processing units and warehouses.  "Till now, middlemen used to buy crops of farmers at very low prices and sell them to end users at ten times higher rates by grading the purchase as per the quality of crop," Patel said.

"As the three new laws have hit hard the middlemen, who have captured the entire market and given donations to political parties, they are agitating on the issue and demanding their rollback," the minister claimed.

General Chatterjee was then a young officer from the Sikh Light Infantry posted in the Eastern Command in Kolkata.

He had the privilege to accompany Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora, the Eastern Army Commander, to Dacca for the surrender of the East Pakistan forces led by Lieutenant General A A K Niazi, the last governor of East Pakistan and commander of the Eastern Command of the Pakistan army.

General Chatterjee's direct boss was Major General 'Jack' Farj Rafael Jacob, the Chief of Staff of the Eastern Command.

Read the fascinating first-hand account here

At a rally in Jalpaiguri, eastern Bengal, Mamata Banerjee without naming AIMIM said, "To divide minority votes they have caught hold of a party from Hyderabad. BJP gives them money and they are dividing votes. Bihar election has proved it."

"Imagine the audacity of the BJP leaders, they are calling up my state president Subrata Bakshi and asking him to join the party. The BJP doesn't have any political courtesy or ideology. And, there are one or two opportunists who only work for their benefit.

"The old-timers of the party are our real assets. The BJP is trying to coerce TMC leaders to join. It is using moneybags to break opposition parties... But, we will fight and defeat them in the assembly polls," she asserted. 

Her comments come in the backdrop of growing resentment in the TMC with several senior leaders, ministers and MLAs openly speaking up against the party leadership and the state government. PTI 

"This will soon become a national issue and will have to solve through negotiations," Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said as the top court heard petitions on the farmer protests.

The government told the court that it will not do anything against farmers, adding that dialogue will be on "clause to clause basis".

"Different ministers talked to them. But they turned their chairs back and did not talk to them," the government's lawyer said.

The farmers have rejected the government's offer to make amendments to the three new laws enacted in September. They want the laws scrapped altogether and say mere assurances on MSP will not do.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today. Their discussions covered various facets of our strategic partnership.

The 30-scrip BSE Sensex opened at 46,573.31 and was trading at 46,482.16 (at 12:31 pm), up by 218.99 points or 0.47 per cent.BSE Sensex traded at a low of 46,465.18 points and a high of 46,599.02 points so far in the trading session.

Similarly, 50-scrip NSE Nifty was trading at 13,629.35 points (at 12:31 pm), up by 61.50 points or 0.45 per cent. -- PTI

A Bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian grants permission to implead farmer organisations. The matter will be heard in the Supreme Court tomorrow.

Maharashtra government is ready to take back its October 15, 2020 order of land allotment to MMRDA for metro car shed at Kanjurmarg.

In November, the Central government had asked the Maharashtra government to stop the MMRDA from developing a metro car shed.

The Maharashtra government had earlier halted the work of the Aarey metro car shed, over which protests were held by hundreds of people in October last year and announced that the project will be relocated to Kanjurmarg.

According to sources, the 102-acre land at Kanjurmarg comes under the salt commissioner, who reports to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India.

Aarey metro car shed project, stayed by the Maharashtra government, was opposed by environmentalists and others last year in a bid to protect the stretch of forest area considered as the lungs of the city. -- ANI

According to a source close to the film, both Dhawan and Mehta have now recovered and will resume the shoot from December 19 in Chandigarh. Neetu Kapoor, who flew back to Mumbai after her actor-son Ranbir Kapoor made necessary arrangements, tested negative for the virus on December 11. However, there has been no update about Paul's health. -- PTI

A total of 21,893 wards in 1,200 local self-governing bodies including 6 corporations, 941 village panchayats, 14 district panchayats and 87 municipalities, went to polls in three phases in the southern state on December 8, 10 and 14. According to Election Commission figures, a total of 73.12 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the first phase, 76.78 per cent in the second phase and 78.64 per cent in the third and final phase. 

The counting began at 244 centres at 8.00 am and the final results were expected to be out by noon, Election Commission sources said.

He said that post the Galwan Valley incident, bonhomie and mutual trust on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China evaporated, and it will take time for things to stabilise. Lt Gen Chauhan, GoC-in-C Eastern Command, said the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army had undertaken some precautionary deployment during the Ladakh crisis, which is now witnessing a gradual deduction in the eastern sector, due to the onset of winter. 

"However, the Indian Army is prepared to beat any challenge during the winter," he told reporters at the Fort William here on the occasion of Vijay Diwas. -- PTI

"Contrary to the opinion of some, I am not against the publishing of my father's Memoir but I have requested D publisher to allow me to go through its contents before final roll out & I believe my request is quite legitimate & within my rights as his Son," Abhijeet Mukherjee tweeted.

He also requested the publisher to stop publishing "motivated excerpts" to "gain cheap publicity."

"Had my father been alive , he too would have gone through it before the final roll out as he had done in the past too for his other volumes. Till then , & I repeat , till then , the publisher has been requested to stop publishing motivated excerpts to gain cheap publicity," he added in another tweet.

A small excerpt from the memoir 'The Presidential Years' had been released by Rupa Publications last week and was widely reported in the media. Pranab Mukherjee, who was President from 2012 to 2017, had died in August this year. The publication had said that the memoir will be released in the coming January.

The small excerpt contained Pranab Mukherjee's views on the party's drubbing in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and had critical views on the handling of the Congress party and the government by Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"Since my father is no more, I being his son want to go through the contents of the final copy of the book before it's publication as I believe, had my father been alive today, he too would have done the same. Therefore, I being his son request you to immediately stop it's publication without my written consent till I go through its contents! I have already sent you a detailed letter in this regard which will reach You soon! Regards," Abhijit Mukherjee had said on Tuesday.

The book will be the fourth volume of memoirs of the former President. -- ANI

"It is certainly affected. As you know the border is closed. The customers are coming in lesser number than before and so is the supply of goods into the market. There is a lack of supply and also a lack of buyers," vegetable wholesaler, Sumer Singh Saini told ANI when asked whether the business in the market is affected due to the agitation.

Manoharlal, a trader of dates and other consumer goods said, "There is a lack of supply of goods and also lesser numbers of traders are coming here due to fear. There is the problem of goods going out from here due to fear that the borders are closed. Many people who use to come from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are not coming into the market."

He said that due to the protest rates of goods sold in the market are not affected and added that it is only the consumption that has gone down.

Prem Kumar Yadav wholesaler of watermelon and other fruits said, "Due to farmers agitation, customers are coming in a lesser number. Our goods go to Punjab and Haryana and now it is reduced to 25 per cent. Our customers have decreased as well."

Kerala local body poll results: LDF wins in 7 wards, NDA -3 and UDF-1, in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

As per trends, NDA leading in 14 wards, LDF- 21, UDF -4.

S. Pushpalatha, LDF's mayor candidate has lost to NDA candidate by 145. 

Counting of votes polled in the crucial local body elections began on Wednesday morning with the traditional political fronts-CPI (M)-led LDF, Congress-headed UDF and BJP-NDA- keeping their fingers crossed as its result is generally seen as pointer to the upcoming Assembly election. 

A total of 21,893 wards in 1,200 local self-governing bodies including 6 corporations, 941 village panchayats, 14 district panchayats and 87 municipalities, went to polls in three phases in the southern state on December 8, 10 and 14.

Four victory mashaals (flaming torches) will be carried to various parts of India, including to the villages of Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra awardees of the 1971 war, the defence ministry has said. 

"Soil from the villages of these awardees and from areas where major battles were fought in 1971 are being brought to the National War Memorial (NWM)," it said. India celebrates December 16 as Vijay Diwas to commemorate its victory over Pakistan during the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh. -- PTI

"On the occasion of India's historic victory over Pakistan in '71, greetings to the countrymen and salute the valour of the Army. It is a matter of time when the neighbouring countries of India believed in the might of the Prime Minister of India and were afraid of violating the border of our country! #VijayDiwas," Gandhi tweeted (roughly translated from Hindi).

Earlier, the Congress in a tweet said that it bows head to valiant soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces and the "lion-hearted leadership" of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. -- PTI

The results of the computer simulation, published in the journal Physics of Fluids, underscored the importance of the shape of spaces in predicting how virus-laden droplets move through the air. 

While earlier studies highlighted the influence of objects, like glass barriers, windows, and air conditioners on airflow patterns and virus spread, the scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing said these simulations usually assumed large, open indoor spaces. However, the effect of nearby walls, like those that might exist in a narrow corridor have not been considered, the researchers added. 

According to the current study, if a person walking in a corridor coughs, their breath expels droplets that travel around and behind their body, forming a wake in the same way a boat forms a wake in water as it travels. The research revealed the existence of a "re-circulation bubble" directly behind the person's torso and a long wake streaming out behind them at approximately waist height. -- PTI

Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty scaled new highs in opening deals on Wednesday as participants cheered improved domestic macro-economic indicators and positive trends in global markets.

The BSE gauge Sensex surged 288.55 points or 0.62 per cent to trade at 46,551.72; while the NSE barometer Nifty climbed 82.70 points or 0.61 per cent to 13,650.55 in early deals record highs for both benchmarks.

In the Sensex pack, Mahindra and Mahindra, Asian Paints, Tata Steel, Bajaj Finance, ONGC and HDFC were the prominent gainers.

On the other hand, HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, HUL, Bharti Airtel and ICICI Bank were trading in the red.

Both Sensex and Nifty had ended with marginal gains on Tuesday.

Market experts said that Indian equities continued to trade at record-high levels, gaining confidence from improving domestic macro-economic indicators and positive global market outlook. Asian stocks were trading higher on account of US economic stimulus optimism.

S&P Global Ratings on Tuesday raised India's growth projection for the current fiscal to (-) 7.7 per cent from (-) 9 per cent estimated earlier on rising demand and falling COVID-19 infection rates.

Retail inflation declined to 6.93 per cent in November on softer food prices, though it remained above the comfort level of the Reserve Bank, official data showed.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) were net buyers in the capital markets as they purchased shares worth Rs 2,484.09 crore on Tuesday, according to exchange data.   -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute at National War Memorial on the anniversary of the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

He will kickstart the 50th-anniversry celebrations of the 1971 victory today.  -- ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will light up 'Swarnim Vijay Mashaal' at the National War Memorial (NWM) in Delhi on Wednesday and kickstart the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the ministry of defence said.

In an official release on Tuesday, the Ministry said, 'In December 1971, the Indian Armed Forces secured a decisive and historic Victory over Pakistan Army, which led to the creation of a Nation - Bangladesh and also resulted in the largest Military Surrender after the World War - II. From 16 December, the Nation will be celebrating 50 Years of India-Pak War, also called 'Swarnim Vijay Varsh'. Various commemorative events are planned across the Nation.'

Prime Minister Modi will be received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the venue.

The prime minister, chief of defence staff and tri-service chiefs will lay wreath and pay homage to the fallen soldiers.

The prime minister will light up the 'Swarnim Vijay Mashaal' from the eternal flame of NWM on the occasion.

'Four Victory Mashaals (flames) will be lit from the Eternal Flame of NWM. These Mashaals will be carried to various parts of the country including to villages of Param Vir Chakra and MahaVir Chakra Awardees of 1971 War. Soil from the villages of these Awardees and from areas where major battles were fought in 1971 are being brought to the NWM,' read the release.

Various commemorative events will be conducted pan-India wherein war 'Veterans and Veer Naris' will be felicitated and events like band displays, seminars, exhibitions, equipment displays, film festivals, conclave and adventure activities are planned.

Minister of Defence for state Shripad Yesso Naik and other senior civil and military officials of the Ministry of Defence will also be present on the occasion.

Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on December 16 to mark India's triumph in liberating Bangladesh from Pakistan in 1971.

In one of the fastest and shortest campaigns of military history, a new nation was born as a result of the swift campaign undertaken by the Indian Army.

After facing defeat in the 1971 war, the then Army Chief of Pakistan General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with his 93,000 troops, surrendered to allied forces which also comprised of Indian Army personnel. -- ANI

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Wednesday posed various questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over PM CARES Fund, including the receipt of donations to the fund through Indian Embassies.

'The intriguing case of 'foreign donations', including from China, Pakistan and Qatar to PM Cares Fund! Questions to PM: 1. Why did Indian Embassies publicise and receive donation to PM Cares Fund? 2. Why was the Fund advertised on banned Chinese apps?' Surjewala tweeted.

'3. How much money was received from Pakistan and who donated? 4. Which are the two companies in Qatar donating to the Fund and how many Crores were received?' he added.

The Congress leader further posed questions including, 'How many thousand crores were received in Fund from 27 foreign countries and was there a quid pro quo with NISSEI ASB between donation and restarting their factory?'

'Why were the 27 Indian Embassies advertising the Fund through 'Closed Channels, not in Public Domain', when Fund is not a 'Public Authority' within RTI?' Surjewala tweeted.

'Why has the Fund been exempted from the preview of FCRA by the Government? Isn't it the only exception in India for a Charitable trust? Why this Special treatment?' he added.

Why is the Fund then not a 'Public Authority', asked Surjewala.

'Why is Fund not audited by CAG or GOI amd report made public as substantial foreign donations were received?' he added.

Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM -CARES Fund) has been set up following the COVID-19 pandemic in India, to undertake and support relief or assistance of any kind relating to a public health emergency or any other kind of emergency, calamity or distress. -- ANI

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students on Tuesday urged President Ram Nath Kovind to intervene in farm laws issue and demanded that the legislations be revoked.

The students also staged a protest and extended their full support to farmers agitating against the laws at various Delhi border points since the last week of November.

AMU students, including former leaders of the students' union, also observed 'Black Day' at the campus to mark the same day last year when about 50 students protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) had been injured in police action.

They also held a a candle light march and handed over a memorandum to senior university officials, which was addressed to the President, demanding immediate repeal of the farm laws and the CAA.   -- PTI

Polling for the seventh phase of the District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir began on a dull note as freezing weather conditions in the Valley kept most people indoors early on Wednesday, officials said.

Polling for 31 DDC seats -- 13 in Kashmir division and 18 in Jammu division -- began at 7 am.

However, there were little activity around polling stations early on due to sub-zero temperatures in most places of Kashmir Valley and some parts of Chenab Valley.

Officials said voter turnout is expected to pick up later in the day as the polling is scheduled to conclude at 2 pm.

Nearly 6.87 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise at 1,852 polling stations.

Besides the DDC elections, polling is also being held for panch and sarpach posts in the Union Territory.    -- PTI

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that Canada is contracted to receive up to 168,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine before the end of December, pending approval by Canada's health regulator.

  

Trudeau said deliveries could begin within 48 hours of regulatory approval and health officials said they expect to approve use of the Moderna vaccine soon.

Canadians began receiving vaccine shots developed by Pfizer and BioNTech on Monday and Trudeau said Canada expects to receive about 200,000 doses from Pfizer next week. 

Canada received an initial batch of 30,000 this week.

Trudeau said they will have 70 sites ready to administer these doses next week, up from 14 sites this week.

The US Food and Drug Administration said its preliminary analysis confirmed the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health, bringing it to the cusp of US authorisation. 

A panel of outside US experts is expected to vote to recommend the vaccine on Thursday, with a final FDA decision coming soon thereafter.

Moderna's vaccine is the same type as Pfizer's, made with the same technology. 

In scrutinising early results of a 30,000-person study, the FDA found it also worked just about the same.

The Moderna vaccine was more than 94 per cent effective overall at preventing COVID-19 illness, and 86 per cent  effective in people 65 and older. The FDA uncovered no major safety issues.