The central government has decided to extend the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, till Diwali this year, the Prime Minister announced on Monday. "Over 80 crore people in the country will receive free food grains now till Diwali under the scheme, which was launched last year during the Covid-19 induced lockdown.During this pandemic, the government is with the poor. Over 80 crore of our population will get ration till November. Nobody should sleep hungry," PM Modi said today in his address to the nation. "Last year, when we had to impose lockdown due to COVID-19, then under PM Garib Kalyan Yo

Track legend Milkha Singh, who was on Thursday admitted to the ICU in COVID hospital of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), is stable and is being closely monitored by a team of three doctors.The former Indian sprinter had tested positive for coronavirus two weeks ago and was in isolation at his home in Chandigarh before he was admitted to the ICU on Thursday."Former Indian sprinter Milkha Singh, being unwell due to COVID 19, was admitted here yesterday. On the basis of all the medical parameters today, his condition has been observed better and more stable than

Amid the increased political activity within Punjab Congress, Bholath MLA and former Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira along with two rebel AAP MLAs Pirmal Singh and Jagdev Singh Kamalu joined the party on Thursday.Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh inducted three legislators--Khaira along with Bhadaur MLA Singh, and Maur MLA Kamalu--into the party fold in a low-key event at his residence before his visit to Delhi to meet the party's three-member panel (constituted to resolve factionalism in Punjab Congress)."Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh before leaving for Delhi to

India will continue to ensure that fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi is brought back to the country, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said here on Thursday."India remains steadfast in its efforts that fugitives are brought back to India. He is currently in the custody of Dominica with some legal proceedings underway. We will continue to ensure he is brought back to India," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said during a briefing. Choksi had gone missing from Antigua on May 23 after going out for dinner and was soon caught in Dominica after Antigua police launched a manhunt for Mehul Choksi

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Central government to submit complete data on its purchase history along with administration of doses of all the COVID-19 vaccines - Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V - till date. "The data should clarify the dates of all procurement orders placed by the Centralgovernment for all three vaccines, the quantity of vaccines ordered on each date, and the projected date of supply," the Court said in its order. The Apex Court also directed the Central government to file an affidavit on COVID-19 management, data on the percentage of the population (both rura

The government on Tuesday decided that class XII board exams of CBSE would not be held this year in view of the uncertain conditions due to COVID-19 and the feedback obtained from various stakeholders. The government said that CBSE will take steps to compile the results of class XII students as per a well-defined objective criteria in a time-bound manner. It was also decided that like last year, in case some students desire to take the exams, such an option would be provided to them by CBSE, as and when the situation becomes conducive. The decisions were taken at a review meeting chaired by Pr

As the country is battling the second wave of COVID-19, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party led NDA government at the Centre for the mismangement in tackling the pandemic and said that 97 per cent Indians have witnessed depreciation in their income due to the arrogance of the Central leadership.He also mentioned that the various mutants of Coronavirus is the second reason for the economic devastation.The Congress leader shared a report that stated that lockdowns imposed in various parts of the country to contain the second wave has left 97 per cent of Indi

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on World No Tobacco Day informed that risk of fatal outcome from COVID-19 is 40-50 per cent higher in people who smoke. "People who smoke tobacco have a 40-50% hig her risk of fatal outcomes due to COVID. This causes not only diseases like lung, heart and cancer but also affects every part of the body," said Dr Harsh Vardhan.

The national capital reported about 900 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. This is the first time the daily figure went below the 1,000 mark during the second COVID-19 wave, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday."Around 900 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Delhi in the last 24 hours. This is for the first time (during second wave) that we have reported cases below 1,000," Kejriwal told reporters after inaugurating a drive-through vaccination centre in the city. He further said he was hopeful about unlocking more activities in the city as cases decrease further. "I a