Former Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar, who was appointed as Election Commissioner on Friday following the resignation of Ashok Lavasa, will take charge of the office on September 1. "The President is pleased to appoint Rajiv Kumar, IAS (retd) (JH:1984) as the Election Commissioner with effect from the date he assumes the office vice Ashok Lavasa, Election Commissioner who has resigned with effect from August 31," a notification of Law Ministry said. Kumar is a former IAS officer from Jharkhand cadre. Lavasa will take up the position of vice-president at the Asian Development Bank.

India's COVID-19 count reached 27,67,274 and the recoveries crossed the 2 million mark on Wednesday, according to the Union Health Ministry. On Wednesday, the country reported a single-day spike of 64,531 cases and highest ever single day recoveries of 60,091, added the ministry. In the last 24 hours, 1,092 fatalities were reported across the country. The ministry stated that the COVID-19 count includes 6,76,514 active cases, 20,37,871 discharged/migrated patients and 52,889 deaths. Maharashtra continues to be the worst-affected state from the infection with 1,60,413 active cases. 13,165 new C

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said that there is a need to look at the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue from a national security perspective and that Punjab will burn if a decision is taken to go ahead with the link canal. Singh made these remarks during a meeting via video-conferencing with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on SYL canal issue. "You have to look at the issue from the national security perspective. If you decide to go ahead with SYL, Punjab will burn and it will become a national prob

With the highest single-day spike of 66,999 cases, India's COVID count approached 24 lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry on Thursday. The Health Ministry said that India has recorded the highest-ever recoveries of 56,383 in a single day. The total coronavirus cases stand at 23,96,638, of which there are 6,53,622 active cases and 16,95,982 patients have been cured, discharged, or migrated, said the Ministry of Health. In the last 24 hours, 942 patients have succumbed to the virus, taking the death toll to 47,033 in the country.With 8,30,391 samples on August 12, the highest in a s

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condoled the death of party spokesperson Rajiv Tyagi due to a cardiac arrest on Wednesday evening. Tyagi, who developed unease in the chest, was taken to hospital. He would have turned 54 in September. Taking to Twitter, Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi, "Congress has lost one of its tigers today. Congress will forever remember his love for the party and struggles. I pay my homage to him and condolences to his family." Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi said, "The untimely death of Congress spokesperson Rajiv Tyagi is a matter of personal grief for me. His los

Rajasthan former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other senior Congress leaders in the national capital on August 10. While briefing the media about the meeting, Pilot said, "Since past some time some MLAs were in Delhi, there were some issues which we wanted to highlight. I did that. I'd been saying since beginning that all these things were based on principle. I always thought these things are essential to be raised in party's interest". He further added, "Several things were said, I heard a lot of things. I was surprised by a few things that were sa

An official says an Air India Express flight with 191 people on board has skidded off a runway and split in two while landing in heavy rain in southern India.The death toll in the flight crash landing incident at Kozhikode in Kerala rose to 17, the Air India Express informed on Saturday. News reports say several dozen people were injured.A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Ministry says no fire was reported on the Boeing 737 aircraft after it landed.He says details about injuries are not immediately known.The NDTV news channel says 30-40 people have been hospitalized and other passengers have b

The Delhi Police on Thursday evening arrested an accused in connection with the sexual assault and attack on a 12 year old girl in Paschim Vihar in the national capital two days ago, Delhi police said.Earlier in the day, in a statement, it said, "We have scanned CCTV footage and are questioning suspects on its basis."Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal met the victim at AIIMS on Thursday. Speaking to media, he said, "I spoke to the Police Commissioner. The police are trying to nab the accused. The govt will ensure strict punishment for the accused. The govt will provide Rs 10 lakh to her family members."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday assured all possible support to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray regarding the situation prevailing in Mumbai and surrounding areas due to heavy rainfall."PM Narendra Modi spoke to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray regarding the situation prevailing in Mumbai and surrounding areas due to heavy rainfall. PM assured all possible support," Prime Minister's Office said in a tweet. Normal life was disrupted in Mumbai on Wednesday after the city received heavy rainfall at isolated places for the last 12 hours.The India Meteorology Department (IMD) h