Month: January 2022

India reported 3,33,533 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the active caseload to 21,87,205, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday.
While the daily positivity rate and weekly positivity rate stand at 17.78 per cent and 16.87 per cent respectively, the recovery rate stands at 93.18 per cent. The active cases account for 5.57 per cent of the total cases.
With this India’s tally of cases rises to 3,92,37,264.

The new infections were 4,171 less than that reported on Saturday. India had reported 3,37,704 new COVID-19 cases and the daily positivity rate stood at 17.22 per cent yesterday. As many as 525 fatalities were registered in the last 24 hours, taking the country’s death toll to 4,89,409.

The total recoveries climbed to 3,65,60,650 with 2,59,168 people recovered in the past 24 hours, the ministry said.
The country conducted 18,75,533 tests in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative testing to 71,55,20,580.

With the administration of 71,10,445 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 1,61,92,84,270 as per provisional reports till 7 am today.

A total of 80,10,256 precaution doses have been administered to eligible beneficiaries. Of these, 27,07,857 were given to healthcare workers, 26,22,380 to frontline workers and 26,80,019 to those above 60 years of age with comorbidities.

In the vaccination drive for those aged between 15-18 years, which was started on January 3 this year, 4,06,33,023 vaccine doses have been given so far. (ANI)

Farmer unions under the banner of Punjab Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) held a meeting on Saturday and decided to mark January 31 as “Betrayal Day” to protest against the Central government for not fulfilling the promises it made to farmers during the agitation.

The meeting took place under the chairmanship of Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Gurmeet Singh Mahima and Hardev Singh Sandhu at Barnala, Punjab.
“The government had given a written promise to the SKM during the agitation that all cases registered against the farmers during the agitation would be withdrawn and the martyred farmers would be compensated. A committee will be formed on MSP. But no promise has been fulfilled by the government,” the SKM said.

After a year-long agitation, the three farm laws were repealed after the requisite bills were passed during the winter session of Parliament last year.

Apart from this, the farm union also stated that Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Tanni has not been sacked and arrested even after the Lakhimpur Khiri incident.

“Due to all these developments, the farmers will celebrate the day of betrayal against the central government on January 31 in which protests would be staged at district headquarters and tehsils all over the country,” Punjab SKM said in a press note.

In the meeting, BKU Ugrahan, Krantikari Kisan Union, Kirti Kisan Union Punjab, BKU Krantikari, Azad Kisan Committee Doaba, Jai Kisan Andolan, Punjab Border Area Kisan Union, BKU Lakhowal, BKU Khosa, Majha Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, BKU Mansa and other farm unions held a meeting today over the phone.

Farm Unions also warned that if their demands are not fulfilled, they will go to Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to launch “No vote to BJP” campaign. (ANI)

A total of 21 tableaux, 12 of various states and Union Territories, nine of ministries will be showcased at Republic Day parade this year at Rajpath in New Delhi, said Nampibou Marinmai, Public Relations Officer, Defence said while briefing about on tableaux taking part in the parade.

12 tableaus of States and Union Territories like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, etc will participate in the parade, he added.
The tableau of Meghalaya will showcase 50 years of statehood and its tribute to women led to cooperative societies and self-help groups. The tableau showcases bamboo and cane handicrafts. The popularity of these products is testimony to the relentless efforts of women-led cooperative society and their contribution to the state economy, he stated.

While the tableau of Gujarat will showcase tribal revolutionaries of Gujarat, Goa’s tableau is based on the theme ‘symbols of gone heritage’ showcasing various historical and natural attractions, the PRO Defence informed.

Haryana Tableau is based on the theme–‘Harayana Number One in Sports’. Occupying 1.3 per cent geographical area in the country and accounting for 2.9 per cent of the population of the country. Harayana has brought laurels to the country by bringing the maximum number of medals out of the total medals won by the country in national and international sporting events including Olympics.

Uttarakhand’s state tableau is based on the theme ‘Pragati Ki Or Badhta Uttrakhand’. It is inspired by the progressive development and projects in the area of connectivity and religious sites.

Based on the theme ‘Anglo Abor Adiverse’, Arunachal Pradesh’s tableau highlights the resistance of indigenous people of the state particularly of Siang region formally known as abors by the British who have bravely fought against the imperial policy of expansion of British rule in India.

Karnataka’s tableau will showcase the tableau on the theme ‘Credo of Traditional Handicrafts’.

Jammu and Kashmir’s tableau will highlight changing face of Union Territory in the developmental scenario while Chattishgarh’s tableau is based on ‘Godhan Nayay Yojna’ of the state.

Uttar Pradesh’s tableau is based on achievements achieved through skill development and employment through ODOP (One District One Product) programme.

Punjab’s tableau for the Republic day parade for 2022 is based on the immense contribution of the state to India’s independence struggle while Maharashtra’s tableau is based on biodiversity and bio symbols of the state. (ANI)

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Election Commission of India on Saturday extended the ban on physical rallies and roadshows till January 31.

The decision came after the Election Commission of India held a meeting earlier in the day with the Union Health Secretary and the Chief Health Secretaries of the five poll-bound states to review the ban on holding physical roadshows and rallies by political parties ahead of Assembly elections.
The Election commission had put a ban on election rallies and roadshows until January 15 first and later extended till January 22. The progress on vaccination will be a key factor in allowing relaxations.

The apex poll body has given relaxation for physical public meetings of political parties or contesting candidates for Phase 1 allowed from January 28 and for Phase 2 from February 1.

It said that limit of five persons for door to door campaign has been enhanced to 10 persons, excluding security personnel and video vans for publicity permitted at designated open spaces with COVID restrictions. Other instructions on door to door campaigns will continue.

The Election Commission of India today held a review meeting with the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India through virtual mode.

The Commission also held virtual meetings with Chief Secretaries, Chief Electoral Officers and Health Secretaries of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

Since contesting candidates for Phase 1 elections will be finalised on January 27, the Commission has decided to allow physical meetings of concerned Political parties or contesting candidates in designated open spaces with a maximum of 500 persons or 50 per cent of the capacity of the ground or the prescribed limit set by SDMA, whichever number is lesser, from January 28 till February 8 (excluding the silence period).

Since contesting candidates for Phase 2 elections will be finalised on January 31, the Commission has decided to allow physical meetings of concerned political parties or contesting candidates with public in designated open spaces with a maximum of 500 persons or 50 per cent of the capacity of the ground or the prescribed limit set by SDMA, whichever number is lesser, from February 1 till February 12 (excluding the silence period).

As of today, India reported 3,37,704 fresh COVID cases (9,550 more than yesterday) and 2,42,676 recoveries and 488 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total 21,13,365 active cases are in the country with a daily positivity rate of 17.22 per cent.

Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa are heading into Assembly polls.

The Election Commission’s aim is to have maximum voters vaccinated before the elections held in these particular states. (ANI)

Delhi reported 11,486 new COVID cases and 45 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Official data says that this is the highest number of deaths in a single day in the national capital after June 5 last year. As many as 68 deaths occurred due to COVID in Delhi on June 5, 2021. The new fatalities pushed the COVID death toll in the national capital to 25,586.
According to the health bulletin of the Delhi government, adding the new cases, the active number of COVID patients in the city reached 58,593. Meanwhile, 14,802 people recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours.

Of the total active COVID cases in Delhi, 44,415 patients are in home isolation and 2,423 are admitted to hospitals.

Among the total hospitalized COVID patients, 823 are in ICU and 160 on the ventilator. A total of 876 hospitalized COVID patients are on oxygen support (including patients on the ventilator).

The cumulative number of reported COVID cases in Delhi has gone up to 17,82,514 of which 16,98,335 people have recovered so far, said the official data.

With 70,226 tests conducted in 24 hours, the positivity rate of COVID cases in Delhi remained 16.36 per cent on Saturday. Currently, there are 43,457 containment zones in the city.

During the last 24 hours, 75,837 doses of COVID vaccines were administered, out of which 37,531 beneficiaries got their first dose while 27,440 people received their second dose of the vaccine. As many as 10,866 beneficiaries were vaccinated with precaution dose in the last 24 hours, taking the total beneficiaries of such doses in the national capital to 2,00,149.

During the last 24 hours, 19,086 beneficiaries aged 15-17 years got their first dose of the vaccine, taking the total count of beneficiaries in the aforementioned age bracket who have received their first dose to 7,26,962. (ANI)

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season will be held in India itself, top sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed.

Sources in the know of developments confirmed to ANI that if the COVID-19 subsides in the country, then the board will go ahead with hosting the IPL 2022 in India.
“IPL 2022 will be held in India and the tournament will be staged without crowds in attendance. Likely venues for IPL 2022 are Wankhede Stadium, Cricket Club of India (CCI), DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai and if needed, we can look at Pune as well,” the source said.

The IPL player registration closed on January 20 and a total of 1,214 players (896 Indian and 318 overseas) have signed up to be part of the 2022 player auction.

The two-day mega auction will see 10 teams bidding for some of the finest talents in world cricket. The players’ list incorporates 270 capped, 903 uncapped, and 41 Associate players.

The detailed list is as follows: Capped Indian (61 players), Capped International (209 players), Associate (41 players), Uncapped Indians who were a part of previous IPL seasons (143 players), Uncapped International who were a part of previous IPL seasons (6 players), Uncapped Indians (692 players), and Uncapped Internationals (62 players).

The IPL auction is set to be held on February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru. (ANI)

On the occasion of late Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor’s 42nd wedding anniversary on Saturday, the latter took to Instagram and penned a heartfelt post.

Neetu Kapoor uploaded a few images of her sharing a laugh with Rishi Kapoor. The images were from the couple’s appearance on ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’ a few years ago.
“In remembrance,” she captioned the post, adding a red heart emoji to it.

Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor’s daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni also took to Instagram to wish the couple. She shared a picture of the couple and captioned it as, “love.”

Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor got married in 1980. Unfortunately, on April 30, 2020, Rishi Kapoor passed away after battling cancer for two years. (ANI)

All educational institutions in Uttar Pradesh will remain closed till January 30 to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the state. However, the online classes will continue as usual, informed Additional Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh Avnish Kumar Awasthi.

The Uttar Pradesh government has extended its previous order that required schools and colleges to remain shut till January 23, 2022.
Earlier on January 16, Uttar Pradesh government ordered that all schools and colleges will remain closed till January 23, 2022.

There are currently 95,866 active COVID-19 cases in the state. The total number of recoveries recorded so far in the state stood at 17,97,728. The cumulative death toll stood at 23,022. (ANI)