Ranchi Districts, Taking the Total &'( )'*+ the Entire Administration and Ccrossed 240 Mark on the Last Death Toll in the State to 1030

0 ) # " 1 " 1 1 &()!&" *+,- !!" #$%& ' $() # 5 ', < '4'& /= *') 7;' , , 7& *+&)6 ,*,&' ,4*(+& )'*+ 6&7( 8*7, 8*68,&'4(, ),&9' '>' +& &7 *('4 ,+4 ,& +>8 +& ,&+&94 ,&*+ ,+6 *,&)+9,* )'*,)6& *:)',8,) ;+,:(,), 2 $%!-3 &&' - 2, 4 ' , # ./010 +.2+3 +4 & ' ( &'( )'*+ fter successfully conduct- Aing the coronavirus vaccination dry run in four States, a similar mega-drill will be kicked off across the country ,&*+ State –the deaths were report- on January 2. ed from Bokaro, Khunti and This is aimed at preparing ovid-19 cases in the State Ranchi districts, taking the total &'( )'*+ the entire administration and Ccrossed 240 mark on the last death toll in the State to 1030. management of vaccine supply, day of the year, figures compiled Apart from Ranchi (110) he Centre on Thursday storage, and logistics, including by the state health department and East Singhbhum (31), 13 Tannounced the dates for cold chain management, as revealed. The number of people from Bokaro, 1 from Chatra, 5 CBSE Class X and Class XII Covid-19 vaccines are likely to declared recovered and dis- from Deoghar, 26 from board examinations, which will get approval any time soon. charged from health institutions Dhanbad, 3 from Garhwa, 1 be held in May-June 2021 The dry run will be con- stood at 218 on the day. from Godda, 2 from Gumla, 8 against the normal schedule for ducted by all the States and Ranchi district reported at from Hazaribagh, 3 from March every year. UTs in their respective Capitals least 110 cases against 103 Khunti, 1 from Koderma, 6 Union Education Minister in at least three-session sites. recoveries, while East from Latehar, 3 from Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank” Some States will also include Singhbhum district on Lohardaga, 6 from Palamu, 9 said the CBSE board exams for districts that are situated in dif- Thursday reported 31cases from Ramgarh, 5 from Class X and Class XII will be ficult terrain/have poor logis- against 30 recoveries. The num- Saraikela, 1 from Simdega and held between May 4 and June also announce the schedule of tical support and Maharashtra ber of Covid-19 patients 6 persons from West 10, and the results will be Class XII and X examinations and Kerala are likely to sched- reached 796 in Ranchi and Singhbhum were found positive announced around July 15. next week for greater conve- ule the dry run in major cities 1659 in Jharkhand after on the day. “CBSE will conduct Classes nience of students and other other than their Capital, a Thursday's findings. The government tested X, XII board exams from May stakeholders to plan the session senior official from the Union Three persons died of swab samples of 14,446 people 4 to June 10. The Board will and the offline mode of exam- Health Ministry said. COVID-19 on Thursday in the on the day and more than 1.5 announce the results of Classes inations accordingly. Union Health Secretary these beneficiaries is uploaded cine has been taken up across per cent of them were found X, XII board exams by July 15,’’ The Minister told the stu- Rajesh Bhushan chaired a high- in CoWIN. These beneficiaries various States. Around 96,000 infected. So far, the government Pokhriyal said during his dents that the Board has level meeting to review the pre- will also be available at the ses- vaccinators have been trained has collected swab samples of scheduled live session with the reduced the curriculum for paredness at session sites for sion site for the dry run. The for this purpose. 48.09 lakh people and tested students. Class X and XII by 30 per cent. Covid-19 vaccination with States and UTs shall prepare the The official said an impor- 47.99 lakh of them. Health The Minister said that the He also wished the students respective Secretaries (Health), facilities and users to be creat- tant focus of the dry run will be workers on Saturday collected CBSE Board will release the good luck for the upcoming NHM MDs and other health ed on CoWIN application on management of any possi- swab samples of only 11,967 date sheets online at the board’s exams as he concluded the administrators of all States/UTs including uploading the data of ble adverse events following &'( )'*+ Researchers said while people. official website soon. live session. through video conference. healthcare worker beneficiaries. immunisation, besides adher- the results were encouraging, As per government data, “Students should also The announcement of The planning for the vac- The States/UTs also been ence and management of infec- esults from the primary they were limited by the the Covid recovery rate in the check the official CBSE website dates by the Union Education cine introduction will be as per asked to ensure physical veri- tion control practices at the ses- Ranalysis of the ongoing short duration of follow-up State was 97.66 per cent against cbse.nic.in for final 2021 Minister was streamed live on the operational guidelines fication of all proposed sites for sion site to prevent disease phase 3 clinical trial of the US so far. the national average of 96.00 per datesheets for both theoretical his official Twitter handle and issued by the Ministry on the adequacy of space, logisti- transmission. biotechnology company The study found that cent. The growth rate of the and practical board examina- Facebook page. December 20. For each of the cal arrangements, internet con- He said, “The mock drill Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine among over 30,000 partici- virus in Jharkhand was 0.14 per tions,” he said. The CBSE 2021 board three session sites, the medical nectivity, electricity, safety, etc. will include concurrent moni- have shown 94.1 per cent effi- pants randomised to receive cent against the national growth With the CBSE board exam date sheets will be avail- officer in-charge will identify As the vaccine adminis- toring and review at block and cacy in preventing sympto- the vaccine or a placebo, 11 in rate of 0.17 per cent. As per fig- exams announcement, other able for Class X and Class XII 25 test beneficiaries (healthcare trators will play an important district levels, and preparation matic infections, according to the vaccine group developed ures with the NHM, it would boards like States and ICSE will exams separately, containing workers). role in the vaccination process, of feedback. The State Task a peer-reviewed study pub- symptomatic Covid-19 com- take 479.47 days for the cases to now also schedule their exam- date and time of examination The States/UTs have been training of trainers and those Force shall review the feedback lished in The New England pared to 185 participants who double in Jharkhand. The dou- inations accordingly to put in along with other important asked to ensure that the data of who shall administer the vac- and share with the Ministry.” Journal of Medicine. received the placebo. bling rate in India was 413.35 line the next admission process. instructions at the official web- days. Sources in ICSE said that it will site of CBSE.

# ( ! !! " "# ! $# part and, in this regard, we can life has also come into the , take some inspiration from world, there were children s a child who grew up in India’s premier sports team, the born in trains taking migrants - Athe 1990s, like so many men’s Test cricket team which, back home; it has also been a # Indians we saw hope in our after being pummeled to the blessing that the pestilence # / country after the economy was ground in Adelaide, saw each that has overtaken our lives opened up. Things have not and every team member on the has by and large spared young quite panned out according to field and off the field stand up ones. plan over the past three and do his part in achieving a Most of us were very care- decades, but it would be falla- victory a few days ago that no ful in the early days of the lock- cious to argue that India has one — not one commentator or down in the months of March, not progressed. one fan — saw coming. It was April and May, deserted streets We had hoped that by a comprehensive victory, and in major cities made them 2020, India would be standing when we are told that sports is look like ghost towns as if an tall among other nations on but an imitation of life, this Test apocalypse has wiped out earth, yet the natural fault lines victory which might not eclipse humanity, well, thankfully it of caste, religion, creed and sex the dramatic win at Eden had not. still divide us. It is no point Gardens of 2001, is one that Of course, there has also blaming one side over anoth- should teach all of us the power been the indiscretion and stu- " er, as every side is responsible. of resilience and that together, pidity of youth on display of We are told that India is a we can overcome even the late, crowding bars, beaches P young country and that youth toughest situations. and, in Goa right now, the brings us hope, but after a bru- But while many of us will dance floor. Yet, most of !"# tal year in which millions have want to write off 2020 as a lost humanity has stepped up to the lost their income and education cause, we should not do that. plate, microbiologists and vac- # $"% has come to a standstill, India Yes, many of us lost loved ones cine scientists have worked & # faces a challenge like no other during the year, many millions around the clock for the past nation on earth. It is a challenge have died due to the accursed nine months to ensure that a that each and every one of us pandemic, and others lost jobs safe and successful vaccine can " must stand up to and do our and opportunities. But new be developed. ! "# $ % &

,&*+ Housing and Compendium of Innovative Emerging rime Minister Narendra Technologies Shortlisted under PModi will virtually lay the GHTC-India will also be foundation stone for the 1,008 released by Prime Minister Light Houses to be construct- and Chief Minister. ed in Ranchi on Friday. The Officials of the Urban function will also be attended Development department also by Chief Minister Hemant briefed how and what type con- Soren, Governor Droupadi struction will be made under Murmu, Ranchi MP Sanjay the Global Housing Seth, Mayor Asha Lakra, Hatia Technology Challenge-India MLA Naveen Jaiswal, Urban '( )% (GHTC-India). The light house Development and Housing * # will have an area of 315 sq ft Department Secretary Vinay # with a hall, a bedroom, a Kumar Choubey apart from taken at Rajkot in Gujarat, & & " kitchen, a balcony, a bathroom several other dignitaries. Lucknow in UP, Indore in MP, and a toilet. The rooms to be The ambitious Global Ranchi in Jharkhand, Chennai constructed with new tech- Housing Technology in Tamil Nadu and Agartala in project in Ranchi said, “Ranchi nology will be manufactured in Challenge-India (GHTC-India) Tripura. has been selected as a model for factories in a building-block is being launched by the Ranchi MP, Sanjay Seth the construction of the Light form and will be stacked one Ministry of Housing and Urban said, “It is a milestone that House Project, along with five on top to construct a multi- Affairs. The Light House Ranchi has been selected as one cities in the country (Rajkot, storey tower. This technology Projects will showcase the best of cities for the Light House Agartala, Indore, Lucknow and ensures faster and quality con- use of new-age alternate glob- project. The project is a step in Chennai). The 3D Volumetric struction of homes as com- al technologies, processes and direction of PM Modi’s com- Precast Concrete Construction pared to traditional buildings materials in the construction mitment in providing cheap System will be adopted in the with technology along with sector at such a large scale for and affordable houses to lower light house to be constructed in dust and pollution free envi- the first time in the country. and middle income group by Ranchi. It is one of the latest ronment. The project will have The houses will be con- 2024. The Light House project technologies being used in electricity, water, infrastruc- structed under GHTC-India, in Ranchi which consists of India, which has been adopted ture, parking system, elevators, which aims to provide an 1008 units (houses) in an eight for the first time in Jharkhand.” fire fighting, parks etc. ecosystem for holistic adoption storey building.” Jadhav also said that on the The 1008 houses to be of innovative technologies in Director, Urban occasion, a book titled constructed under the the housing construction sec- Administration, Vijaya Jadhav Alternative & Innovative Lighthouse project in Ranchi tor. The Projects will be under- ahead of launch of Lighthouse Construction Systems for will be built at Rs 133.99 crores. ! "# $%# & '(' )*

$ 5 came from Philippines, Ghana, hotel has been completely 1 )*,&8,) hardcoke industry is the non- / South Africa, New Zealand, sealed. District Civil Surgeon availability of adequate quali- Zambia and Ghana to work in Dr. RN Jha, District Additional he hard coke plant owners ty and quantity of coking coal, Tata Steel's Pellet Plant there Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sahir Tof Dhanbad have demand- which is the only raw materi- ,>4*')6 from December 5 to December Pal, District Tuberculosis ed for resumption of fuel sup- al of this industry and BCCL is 8, Samples were taken for Officer Dr. A. K. Lal, Dr. Assad, ply agreement(FDA) with the unable to fulfill the total he district surveillance Covid-19 at Tata Main Hospital Public Health Manager Suman hardcoke plants. Talking to requirement of coal to this Tteam sealed the Fortune out of which 11 people have Kumar Mandal and Karthik media persons after the 87th industry", said Singh while Hotel Centre Point at Bistupur been found to be Covid posi- Mahato and Barun Pal were annual general meeting of the replying to a query. Singh on Thursday evening after 11 tive. In this sequence, 29 present during the sealing. Industries and Commerce alleged that the notice to the foreign nationals tested positive employees of Centre Point The district administra- Association (ICA) an associa- Union Government including of Covid-19. Among the 46 for- Hotel were investigated today tion has sealed the hotel in a tion of over a hundred plant the Prime Minister had no eign employees of Mill Track in which one employee was hurry. All have been quaran- owners, its president BN Singh effect on the Coal India International, some employees found to be Covid positive, the tined in the hotel itself. said, the grievances of these Limited and Bharat Coking industries are not being Coal Limited as the companies addressed either by union or did not consider our request. state government. It's the need of the hour to restore the old The hard coke plant units linkage system or continue the are purchasing imported coal FSA with the hard coke man- through Haldia and ufacturing industry. If this is Vishakhapatanam ports. The not done immediately, hard cost is between Rs.10,000/- to coke manufacturing units will 12,000/- per M. T. besides vanish from the geo-map of transportation charges that are Dhanbad district of Jharkhand much higher than the locally State. produced coal. Singh at same time Units are importing the requested from the State gov- coal due to inability to fulfill ernment to frame a pro-indus- the total requirement of coal try policy so that the hardcoke (total requirement of coal is as well as other allied industries 36,13,027 M.T. per annum a/c. may flourish in the State. hard coke manufacturing units) "Major grievance of the by the Coal Companies. % # & !#"!#!## ! ! #" #& 87,7 sion positively influenced 26 beneficiaries from nine differ- iming to generate liveli- ent Self Help Groups (SHGs). Ahood, Vedanta-Electrosteel While the first three days were (ESL) imparted mushroom cul- dedicated to theoretical train- tivation training to the Siyaljori ing, the remaining four days village resident at Bokaro. The were utilized in practical initiative was organised in asso- lessons on how to grow mush- ciation with a local NGO rooms through several proce- Drishtee Foundation and com- dures, said the official. pleted on Wednesday. Ashish Ranjan, Head – The project was organised Community Relations ESL with the motive of generating Steel Limited said, the training livelihood for villagers by mak- has been extremely successful; ing them independent in terms they are now skilled enough to of understanding and working produce mushrooms indepen- with the members of self-help dently and earn their liveli- groups formed by Jharkhand hood. “Our CSR initiative on State Livelihood Promotion mushroom cultivation training Society (JSLPS), informed ESL’s would not have been possible Public Relations official. without support from Drishtee The JSLPS supported the Foundation and JSLPS. I am training by providing trainers, content with the initiative and refreshment, stationary and a I hope we continue to touch training kit consisting of dif- lives for years to come,” he ferent essential materials added. required for mushroom culti- Dhirendra Singh, BPM, vation. Chandankiyari said, this will ESL Steel provided the benefit villagers in a large way mushroom spawn used in this and help them become finan- training from its mushroom cially independent. We intend resource center spawn pro- to hold more such camps in the ducers. area to train villagers to find The seven-day training ses- alternate means of livelihood. ! ! " !#!$ 87,7

en new ventilator beds were installed at Sadar Hospital Bokaro. TThis new ventilator beds have been completely installed with ultra-modern facilities on the lines of CCU and ICU units which will be helpful for Bokaro residents in the fight against the global pandemic Covid-19, informed Rajesh Kumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner Bokaro.“It will be dedicated to healthcare for the common citizens from the first week of January 2021; this would be a New Year gift for the Bokarites,” added Singh.The residents can avail the facilities of modern ventilator beds at Sadar Hospital for health benefits. “This is the best achievement of my tenure,” added DC.Sadar Hospital Bokaro is the first district in Jharkhand where CCU has been launched. People of the poor section of Bokaro as well as adjoining districts can take advantage of this better health facility along with reduced financial burden, said Dr. Ashok Kumar Pathak, Civil Surgeon Bokaro.

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He CSoren today inspected directed to fix the fire fighting he Ranchi district admin- offices of the Rural system and organise the wiring Tistration will increase secu- Development Department, of electricity and telephone- rity and vigil in and around pic- Tourism, Art Culture, Sports Internet server in the corridor. nic spots in view of pandemic and Youth Affairs Department The CM said that special situation on New Year. There and Transport Department, care should be taken to clean are numerous picnic spots and located in FFP building and the toilets. waterfalls in Ranchi district Education Department located After this, he instructed the which regularly witness heavy at MDI building and Jharkhand temporary shop and stall own- rush of revelers. The Ranchi Bijli Vitaran Nigam Limited ers on the roadside in the # , & district administration to pre- and Jharkhand Urja Utpadan HEC campus to take care of vent any untoward incidents Nigam Limied at Engineering cleanliness. During the inspec- ,&*+ Year from the safety of their Ranchi:State BJP Spokesperson has made elaborate arrange- Building. tion, Chief Secretary Sukhdev homes and if they do step out Pratul Shahdeo today said that ments. The CM reviewed the Singh, Principal Secretary to n the wake of picnickers then wearing masks, use of even at the end of the year, the Police personnel along # & office rooms, corridors, video Chief Minister Rajiv Arun Iheading to popular picnic hand sanitisers and maintain- issue of threatening to kill the with cops in civil dress will be conferencing rooms and meet- Ekka, Secretary of Urban spots to celebrate the New ing social distancing will be Chief Minister has not been deployed at these picnic spots Covid 19 protocol. In the Capital City all ing rooms etc of the various Development and Housing Year, the Ranchi district admin- mandatory,” said SDO Ranchi resolved, putting a question to thwart eve teasers, anti- Sources said that apart police stations have been asked departments running in the Department Vinay Kumar istration has taken necessary Utkarsh Gupta. mark on the system. Pratul said social elements. Police per- from major picnic spots such as to remain vigil as several hotels three buildings. The CM gave Choubey and Secretary of steps to ensure revellers adhere Paryatak Mitras (Tourist that through two emails on 8 sonnel will also be deployed at waterfalls, the Ranchi district are organizing New Year bash. instructions to the concerned Building Construction to the Covid-19 guidelines at Friend) have been alerted at all and 17 July, the Chief Minister major roundabouts and hotels administration has identified Some hotels which are orga- officials to keep the entire Department Sunil Kumar were such places in and around the waterfalls and tourist spots to Hemant Soren, his family hosting the New Year bash. 67 points where police per- nizing New Year bash are BNR, premises of these buildings present. State capital. guide visitors and also ensure members and close officials Ranchi Rural SP, Naushad sonnel will be deployed. Apart Radisson Blu, Capitol Hill and Police personnel have been that no untoward incident were threatened to be mur- Alam Ansari said, “There are from police personnel the dis- others. deputed at tourist places like takes place. They have also dered. A case was registered at several picnic spots in Ranchi trict administration will also City SP Saurabh said, Dassam Falls, Johna Falls, been asked to maintain a the cyber police station in district such as Dasam fall, ensure deployment of magis- “There will be police patrolling Hundru Falls, Hirni Falls, Rock record of all the visitors. Ranchi and the case was then Hundru fall, Jonha fall, Rukka trates at these spots. on major roundabouts and Garden and Tagore Hill Meanwhile, in view of the handed over to the CID. Dam and others. There is a Apart from these all even outside hotels where New amongst others to maintain law pandemic the district admin- Shahdeo said that the heavy rush of New Year revel- patrolling teams have been Year celebration is going on. and order and also ensure that istration has also issued guide- servers for both the emails ers in these picnic spots. As a alerted. There will be patrolling The police apart from keeping no stampede like situation lines for all eateries, hotels and were Germany and security arrangement, opera- on highways too so that anti- a watch on security will also takes place. bars organising New Year cel- Switzerland. Now after about tional forces as CRPF, social elements don’t create ensure that Covid 19 guidelines “Magistrates have been ebrations on December 31 and five and a half months CID has Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP), any nuisance on highways. are followed.” deployed at popular picnic January 1. decided to urge the court to cops from district police will be Ansari said, “Action will be The City SP said that there spots in and around Ranchi to Restaurants and hotels will send a request letter to deployed at these spots.” taken against those who drive will be security on Hatia Dam, keep a close eye and ensure that be required to maintain a reg- Germany and Switzerland. The SP said that the main vehicles under the influence of Rukka Dam and Dhurwa revellers follow social distanc- ister with the name, address, When the research on the task of security personnel will liquor or create nuisance on Dams too which too is fre- ing norms and other Covid mobile numbers of all visitors threat of assassination of the be check eve teasing, brawl, and highways.” Moreover, teams quented by revelers. Moreover, protocols are also strictly along with proper arrange- CM is going on at such a slow other criminal accidents at from fire brigade and ambu- traffic police have been adhered to. They have been ments for availability of masks pace and even after more than picnic spots. Apart from these lances have been alerted to instructed to ensure smooth directed to strictly implement and hand sanitisers. Legal five months, the situation of the police personnel will also remain vigil in wake up of any traffic so that there is no traf- ! $ & % the norms. People are also action will be taken against vio- common people cannot be keep an eye that revelers follow untoward incidents. fic congestion. ( # & being advised to celebrate New lation of guidelines. thought about. PNS ' (, ! # 55 / Anand. below normal. As per the bulletin released Both at Ranchi and by the MET Observatory Daltonanj the minimum tem- Centre, Ranchi on December perature was recorded at 9.8 31 the lowest temperature was degree Celsius which is 0.9 and recorded in Chaibasa at 9 1.1 degrees above normal. degree Celsius which is 2 Jamshedpur was recorded at 11 degrees below normal. Bokaro degree Celsius which is 0.3 was recorded at 9.1 degree notches above normal. Celsius which is 2.5 degrees

- ( - ./.0 & , *? ) ! *? " ">" >) & , ) A5 B 8 4 ) A * ) significant change in the min- "; 9 > A&C''B 4# 9 he residents of Jharkhand imum temperature levels is > A'<>B 4"&" & 8 > A5 B > Tare likely to welcome the being predicted. From January > > 4 "", 8 ; New Year with pleasant weath- 2 there could be partial cloudi- " + # er conditions and mainly clear ness because of which the min- skies. imum temperature is likely to As per the Meteorological increase by a few degrees across ">) "> Centre Ranchi, various parts of the State. There is no warning " * the Jharkhand including the for cold wave or cold day con- & : # " State capital are likely to witness ditions. In the beginning of the mist and fog in the early morn- New Year pleasant weather 6 7 8 75 ing hours. The skies are expect- conditions are likely to prevail,” 5 N) + O > & > ed to clear out later on during said Deputy Director, MET + < C # the day. Centre Ranchi Abhishek " " " + > # , # N O" 6 C (# < , L8C CM # # > < + , 5 < # ) # 9 /- )# $=$=" # & : # " 4 L " 6 C # " L * + # 10 ,&*+ + >" fter completion of hundred $ 22 Adays of joining as Vice $=$= Chancellor of Birsa Agriculture ' University (BAU), Ranchi, " + Omkar Nath Singh set some # priorities for the university for C-H the New Year. Singh's top priority will be over five thousand subscribers improvement in quality of and more than 2.5 lakh view- 9 > ' teaching. He said that teachers ers consisting of students, should consult the latest books teachers, researchers and oth- and research journals and come ers having interest in agricul- to class well prepared.“The ture and allied activities," he # decade old lecture notes will added.Singh said that a docu- ' " not yield desired results. Class ment entitled ‘Basket of > " ' rooms will be equipped with Technologies’ containing all the latest teaching aids and the technologies, varieties, ani- " , IJ fund will not be a limiting fac- mal breeds developed and # HI tor for this purpose. Teachers important recommendations " , will be encouraged to visit made since inception of col- " leading agricultural universities leges under BAU will be and research institutes to have brought out in next 3-4 1 firsthand knowledge of the months. "A proforma has been teaching practices and research circulated to all scientists for laboratories for replicating the submission of important modern practices here. Offices, research findings to be includ- class rooms, laboratories and ed in the proposed document. hostels of the seven new col- Ongoing experiments under leges will be furnished to suit Plan, Non Plan head will be the modern requirements," reviewed and unworthy ones Singh said.The VC said that will be modified, abandoned. during eight months of Scientists have been advised to COVID, over 170 educational incorporate local needs also in videos on UG, PG course cur- the AICRP experiments and set riculum of Agriculture, targets for next 3-4 years about 4 8 9 4 Veterinary and Forestry facul- what can we contribute in the ' + ) *8 ties were prepared and form of technology, varieties, # uploaded on YouTube of BAU. recommendations. I have +47& " 8 "Preparation and uploading of instructed my scientists to 9 # 4 such educational videos will devote adequate time in their K , ; continue in the year 2021 also fields of research trials also; this to see that almost all the impor- will improve the accuracy of $=$= # tant topics are covered and stu- their research data, work effi- & : $=$- " ' dents enrich their knowledge ciency of technical and sup- > sitting at home itself as per their porting staff deployed in the , )# & 4 convenient schedule. The field and ultimately the research ; 4 ) " YouTube channel of BAU has programme," he added. ! "# $%# & '(' )0 R " #() !#' "''#!## ! ! 1 &'( )'*+

ew Year’s revelries will &'( )'*+ tion drive begins; some have taught us this maxim. When Nremain muted by coron- already begun,” the Prime there is any attack on health, avirus strain this year. Where rime Minister Narendra Minister said. it affects the family and the can one take part in public cel- PModi on Thursday said He appealed to the people entire society comes in its ebrations as the clock strikes that preparation for a coron- to refrain as responsible citi- grip.” The Prime Minister also 12 to usher in a New Year? avirus vaccine was in the last zens from forwarding mes- said that it was time to That was the question doing stages and that people will sages on the social media remember on the last day of rounds on Thursday with the soon get vaccines manufac- without checking. the outgoing year the frontline announcement of a night cur- tured in India even as he cau- The Prime Minister said warriors who safeguarded few and imposition of section tioned against rumours about that when India faced any people while risking their 144 in several states and union coronavirus vaccination. problem, the entire nation lives. territories, throwing plans “In 2020, there was a ques- united to help each other. “I pay my humble tributes into disarray for those plan- tion mark from all sides due to “The way in which people to all frontline warriors who ning to celebrate outside their though there was really no curfew in all the municipal Covid-19 pandemic. But 2021 took proper steps is the reason lost their lives in the line of homes. need to. The Hilton Garden areas was imposed from 11 pm Government, through guide- resorts and similar places. is coming with the hope of a why we are in good a situation duty,” Modi said, adding that Amid the scare of the new Inn, Saket, for instance, which to 6 am and will remain in lines and orders, has also pro- Amid concerns over the treatment for Covid-19,” said even amid the pandemic, the country also paid tributes coronavirus strain, was offering a stay for two, force till 5 January. Gatherings hibited parties, and special new, more infectious coron- Modi after laying the founda- despite a 1.3-billion popula- to scientists, workers, doctors Maharashtra, Delhi, Kerala, along with a full-fledged fes- in restaurants, bars and pubs events at clubs, pubs, restau- avirus strain, the Centre on tion stone of a new All India tion. More than one crore involved in the fight against Punjab, Odisha, Rajasthan, tive treat, at a discounted price has not been allowed post-11 rants, and other places that Wednesday issued an adviso- Institute of Medical Sciences people have fought the pan- Covid-19 and those working Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Tamil of Rs 12,500 said many non- pm, Loudspeaker/DJ music attract people in large num- ry to all states and Union (AIIMS) in Gujarat’s Rajkot via demic and won. tirelessly for developing a vac- Nadu and Karnataka have resident’ guests had cancelled. beyond permissible decibel bers without social distancing. Territories to keep strict vigil videoconference. “India’s record is much cine for coronavirus. imposed renewed restrictions The ITC, Maurya, New Delhi, limit and fireworks are also The Kerala Government on New Year celebrations that He said that while he was better than other countries in Later at a webinar, Dr VG ahead of the New Year cele- was giving an array of offers prohibited. The State had set a 10 pm deadline for could be potential “super- hopeful that the way in which the fight against Covid-19.” Somani, Drug Controller brations to help prevent the for the festive meal, including Government has also imposed New Year’s Eve celebrations in spreader” events. A total of 25 India fought unitedly against He said that the numbers General of India, hinted that spread of coronavirus. Hotels, a special ‘midnight buffet’ restrictions on parties in the state in view of the coro- people in the country have the infection, it would similar- of infections in India were approval for coronavirus vac- restaurants, pubs, public places from 12.30 am to 3 am. restaurants, pubs, bars, beach- navirus pandemic situation. tested positive for the new ly work hard to make the vac- going down. “India has cine in the country could and beaches were closed to the But that probably stands es, rooftops, and boats. No public gatherings was United Kingdom variant cination programme successful. emerged as the nerve centre of come soon. public for late-night celebra- cancelled and senior staffers In Delhi, the government allowed. genome of SARS-CoV-2 so far. “The country is preparing global health. In 2021, we “Probably we will have a tions on Thursday. Even the said they are still discussing has been imposed night cur- The Odisha Government In West Bengal, the to undertake the world’s have to strengthen India’s role happy new year, with some- fireworks display was not the order with concerned few beginning 11 pm on also closed all shops, com- Kolkata Police have taken largest vaccination drive in healthcare,” he said. thing in hand,” he said allowed. authorities and would abide by December 31 to 6 am on mercial establishments, offices, measures to ensure that all against the infection,” he said Modi said that ‘dawai bhi Somani also said that the As many as 25 passengers all guidelines imposed by the January 1. For January 2, the institutions and movement of COVID-19 safety protocols while cautioning people to not aur kadaai bhi’ should be our approval process for the vac- all of whom recently returned government. According to night curfew will begin at 11 till 5 am on Saturday. are maintained and there is no get carried away by rumours mantra for 2021. “Earlier, I cines was expedited by pro- were found to be infected Public App, one of India’s pm on January 1 and contin- The Punjab Government large gathering for celebrating against vaccine. said ‘dawai nahi toh dhilai cessing the applications quick- with the new United Kingdom largest location-based social ue till 6 am on January 2. An has imposed night curfew till the New Year eve, as ordered Modi said: “In our coun- nahi’ (no relaxation till no ly and allowing phase 1 and 2 variant genome of SARS-CoV- network, “78.82 per cent” — order issued by DDMA stated January 1, 2021 so that revel- by the Calcutta High Court to try, rumours spread quickly. medicine). Now, I am saying trials simultaneously, without 2 so far. out of over one lakh Delhi res- that not more than five people ers could not be celebrated. check a spike in infections. Different people, for their ‘dawai bhi aur kadaai bhi’ waiting for the complete data. According to hotel indus- idents surveyed — said they will be allowed to assemble at In Tamil Nadu, the Uttarakhand’s Capital personal gains or due to irre- (strictness even with medi- “There has been no compro- try sources, hotels, restaurants would prefer celebrating New public places in Delhi during authorities have barred large Dehradun has banned public sponsible behaviour, spread cine). Our mantra for 2021 is mise on the safety of efficacy and pubs, big and small, said Year at home over any hotel or night curfew to avoid large gatherings beaches and roads celebrations like parties at various rumours. ‘dawai bhi aur kadaai bhi’.” of the data,” he clarified. “The they received many calls can- restaurant. gatherings. and banned midnight parties hotels, bars and restaurants on “Maybe, the rumours will Pointing out that ‘health is only thing is that the regula- celling their pre-bookings even In Maharashtra, a night The Karnataka in restaurants, hotels, clubs, New Year’s Eve and New Year. be spread when the vaccina- wealth’, Modi said: “this year tor has accepted partial data.” 5 # # 1* 2 !" ( ( # &'( )'*+ intends to establish a other myths and miscon- 0!4 1# National Media Rapid ceptions. !$ mid reports of Covid- Response Cell (NMRRC) It also aims to provide A19 vaccine hesitancy under its ambit to ensure information on potential &'( )'*+ a holistic manner. The LHPs as the country gears up for preparedness through risks and mitigate unin- pandemic did not allow the winter are being constructed at Indore vaccination drive, the media monitoring and tended crisis during the session of the Parliament, the gov- rime Minister Narendra (Madhya Pradesh), Rajkot Union Health Ministry social listening to respond introduction and rollout. ernment hopes that the budget PModi will lay the founda- (Gujarat), Chennai (Tamil has prepared a three- in real time. It will also “The strategy also session in January would make up tion stone of Light House Nadu), Ranchi (Jharkhand), pronged strategy to alle- unfold media and public seeks to build trust and for the winter session. Projects (LHPs) under Global Agartala (Tripura) and viate apprehensions about discourse through exten- enable greater confidence In the background of econom- Housing Technology Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh). the vaccine, ensure its sive monitoring of print, in the COVID-19 vaccine ic squeeze caused by the pandem- Challenge-India (GHTC- They comprise about 1000 acceptance and encourage electronic and digital amongst all people by ic, the budget 2021-22 may involve India) at six sites across six houses at each location along uptake. media. employing transparency special economic announcements States on January 1, via video with allied infrastructure facil- Vaccine hesitancy Thirdly, this will be in communication, while for the segments particularly conferencing. PM Modi will ities. refers to delay in accep- achieved by involving also managing any impacted by an year-long lock- also announce winners under These projects will demon- tance or refusal of vaccines community mobilisers mis/disinformation and down. Affordable Sustainable strate and deliver ready to live despite availability of vac- and frontline workers to rumours around it,” it As the Modi-Government had Housing Accelerators - India houses at an expedited pace cine services and various engage with the commu- said. earlier announced some succour to (ASHA-India) and give out within twelve months, as com- studies have shown that it nity at various levels In case of any adverse poor in terms of free ration and annual awards for excellence in pared to conventional brick could be a challenging through community con- effects following immu- loan relief to businessmen, the implementation of Pradhan and mortar construction, and issue for the government sultations, faith leaders nisation (AEFI), the strat- BJP has proposed that some tax Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban will be more economical, sus- to address forthwith. and religious meetings, egy emphasises on sup- relief to middle-class too would (PMAY-U) Mission. tainable, of high quality and In its 88-page docu- engaging youth, civil-soci- porting the mobilisers &'( )'*+ Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday. make a happy economic proposi- During the event, the durability,” the Prime ment released on ety organisations, self-help and health workforce in Talking to The Pioneer, tion. Prime Minister will also release Minister’’s Office said. Thursday, the Union groups, panchayats and managing crisis situations head of rolling of the Union Aggarwal said the Union Budget “The middle-income group is a certificate course on innov- These LHPs demonstrate a Health Ministry has other community-based by appealing to the com- ABudget, the ruling BJP has sug- will be presented on February first feeling a lot of pinch, and they need ative construction technologies variety of technologies, includ- chalked out detailed com- platforms. munity to stay calm while gested tax relief to the middle-class and hoped the suggestions on some support” said Agarwal. named NAVARITIH (New, ing Prefabricated Sandwich munication strategy to “The communication waiting for a proper diag- by increasing standard deductions reducing income tax and raw mate- “Incentivising consumption by Affordable, Validated, Research Panel System in LHP at Indore, support the vaccine rollout strategy that supports the nosis and prevent aggres- and providing benefits to small and rial prices would provide relief to them would also help the indus- Innovation Technologies for Monolithic Concrete in India that seeks to dis- Covid-19 vaccines rollout sive behaviour against medium businesses by lowering the middle class and small business try,”I can say the Budget will take Indian Housing) and a com- Construction using Tunnel seminate accurate and in India seeks to dissemi- health workers. raw material cost. respectively. He pointed to the rise care of the middle class.” pendium of 54 innovative Formwork in LHP at Rajkot, transparent information nate timely, accurate and In an online study BJP specialist in economic in commodity prices. Last time, the Budget had housing construction tech- Precast Concrete Construction by alleviating apprehen- transparent information conducted by Abdul affairs and National Spokesman The middle-class would bene- maintained the status quo without nologies identified through System in LHP at Chennai, 3D sions and ensuring its about the vaccine(s) to Ghafur, Coordinator of Gopal Krishna Agarwal said the fit if the standard deductions are making any major change that GHTC-India. Besides the Volumetric Precast Concrete acceptance. alleviate apprehensions the Chennai Declaration, party has given proposal during broad-based. would have effectively benefited the housing and urban affairs min- Construction System in LHP at The Health Ministry about the vaccine, ensure and infectious diseases meeting with the Finance Minister As unprecedented Coronavirus tax-paying middle-class. ister, chief ministers of Tripura, Ranchi, Structural Steel Frame intends to achieve chal- its acceptance and encour- consultant at Apollo Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, with Light Gauge Steel Infill lenges of vaccine hesitan- age uptake,” it said. Hospital, Chennai, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Panels in LHP at Agartala and cy in three ways. Firstly, According to the doc- among 1424 health pro- Tamil Nadu and Andhra PVC Stay In Place Formwork using the social influence ument, the strategy aims fessionals, only 45 per *" #!& # Pradesh will be present on the System in LHP at Lucknow. or endorsements from at managing and miti- cent said they will take occasion. The LHPs will serve as live lab- experts and official voices gating any potential dis- the COVID vaccine as The Light House Projects oratories for facilitating trans- to spell out the process of appointment expressed soon as it becomes avail- (LHPs) showcase the best of fer of technology to the field immunisation (where, by unmet demand for the able. “Fifty-five per cent !'!# !#+ new-age alternative global and its further replication. how, who, when – date vaccine or ‘eagerness’ will either defer the vac- technologies, materials and This includes planning, design, and time); emphasise on amongst people and cination or are yet to processes in the construction production of components, the safety and efficacy of addressing vaccine ‘hesi- decide what to do. About &'( )'*+ casting centre, clear skies over Delhi- intensified as the mercury fell sever- sector for the first time in the construction practices and test- vaccines and explain the tancy’ that could arise one-tenth of the respon- NCR, multiple western disturbances al notches to settle well below the country at such a large scale. ing for both faculty and stu- decision to conduct the because of apprehensions dents said they will never he cold wave in North India will affecting the Himalayan region and freezing point across the “They are being con- dents of IITs, NITs, other drive in a phased manner. around vaccine safety, take the vaccine,” Ghafur Tcontinue till January 2 and it will the global impact of La Nina were the valley,Srinagar city -- the summer structed under GHTC-India Engineering colleges, Planning Secondly, the ministry efficacy apart from any said, as per a report. get intense from the next week. major reasons behind such low min- capital of Jammu and Kashmir -- which envisages to provide an and Architecture colleges, Parts of northwest and central India imum temperatures. “After December recorded a low of minus 5.9 degrees ecosystem for adoption of builders, professionals of pri- appear set to begin the New Year on 12, western disturbances mostly Celsius, which was over three degrees innovative technologies in the vate and public sectors and / 0 ( a wet note, as isolated rains and thun- affected the western Himalayan below the previous night’s minus 2.2 housing construction sector in other stakeholders. derstorms have been forecast across region, leading to significant snow- degrees Celsius. the region starting Friday, January 1. fall and rain over Jammu and Gulmarg tourist destination in P # The India Meteorological Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh,” north Kashmir recorded 10.4 Department (IMD) has issued a yel- Srivastava said. degrees Celsius as against the pre- & # low watch over Punjab, Haryana, After the wind system with- vious night’s low of minus 11 degrees &'( )'*+ in the medical supplies exported to several coun- Chandigarh, Delhi, and Uttar draws, cold north-westerly winds Celsius. sector in the country, the tries, it said. Pradesh, thereby urging residents to blow from Jammu and Kashmir and The ongoing cold wave condi- 1* he Government on Ministry said pointing There are already ‘be aware’ of their local weather sit- Himachal Pradesh to Delhi-NCR, tions in Haryana and Punjab inten- TThursday said that in out that at the beginning nearly 1,700 indigenous uation and remain wary of the light- bringing the minimum temperature sified at many places, with Hisar reel- &'( )'*+ dent, to be stationed at less than ten months of the pandemic, India manufacturers and sup- ning and thunderstorms. down, he said. ing at minus 1.2 degrees Celsius. A Chandigarh, to oversee India has become self- was almost totally depen- pliers registered on the The IMD also predicted light rain “Uplifted fog” over Punjab and thick blanket of fog again enveloped JP president J P Nadda on Haryana, Punjab, Himachal dependent in the ventila- dent on imported venti- government e-market- in eastern Rajasthan, Delhi, western Haryana made the winds even cold- most places in the two States early in BThursday gave new respon- Pradesh and Chandigarh. tors manufacturing sector lators, PPE kits and N-95 place, with dozens already Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana er, he added. “ The global factor of the morning, reducing visibility lev- sibilities to RSS leaders in the Shiv Prakash, Joint- with at least 36,433 cost- masks. “There were, in certified by the Bureau of between January 2 and January 6. La Nina further contributed to the fall els. The minimum temperatures BJP. General Secretary, is to look affordable ‘Make in India’ fact, no standard specifi- Indian Standards. Immediately after this rain spell, a in temperatures,” Srivastava said. hovered well below normal limits as V Satish, joint general sec- after Madhya Pradesh, ventilators supplied to all cations for these products Nearly 1.7 crore lakh fresh western disturbance—a storm “Dense/very dense fog in some a few places experienced the season’s retary, is to look after Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, the public health facilities which are essential in the PPE kits have been dis- that originates as low-pressure sys- pockets over Punjab, Haryana, coldest night so far. Hisar in Haryana Parliamentary office, ST mor- Andhra Pradesh, Telangana in the country. The Union fight against the pan- tributed free of cost to the tems over the Mediterranean Sea and Chandigarh & Delhi and Uttar recorded the season’s coldest night so cha and ‘vishesh sampark”. and west Bengal. He Will be at Health Ministry said that demic.” states, Union territories pushes moist, high-altitude westerly Pradesh and dense fog in isolated far and the mercury dropped eight Suadan Singh, vice-presi- Bhopal. all public health facilities However, now more and central institutions. winds towards India—is likely to pockets over Bihar, Assam & notches below the normal. in the country had only than adequate availabili- “The buffer stock of affect the north Indian weather from Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Cold wave conditions also per- around 16,000 ventilators ty and supplies of essen- PPE kits available with the January 3 onwards. Mizoram & Tripura during next 2 sisted in many places in %& ( from the Independence tial medical items across central and state govern- The system is expected to bring days and over Uttarakhand, West Punjab.Bathinda reeled under severe till pre-Covid times. the country has been ments has grown from light/moderate scattered to fairly Madhya Pradesh during next 24 chill recording a minimum temper- $ ) The average cost of ensured, according to the about 2 lakh in March to widespread rainfall/snowfall over hours,” the IMD said. ature of 0 degree Celsius, the season’s ventilators now ranges Ministry. more than 89 lakh at pre- the Western Himalayan region from The IMD said a trough in lower lowest so far, while Amritsar and &'( )'*+ Money Laundering Act between Rs 2-10 lakh as In the case of person- sent. The average price January 3-5. level easterlies is expected to bring Faridkot, too, braved the chill at 1.6 (PMLA) and the residential the domestic industry al protective equipment has come down substan- “Cold Day to Severe Cold Day isolated rain and thundershowers degrees Celsius and 1.2 degrees he Enforcement premises of K Subbaraj, chair- took up manufacturing (PPE), India has now tially from nearly 600 to conditions in isolated to some pock- over the plains of northwest India and Celsius, respectively.Pathankot, TDirectorate has seized gold man of Tiruchirappalli-based of the equipment. become the world’s sec- about 200 per kit in 9 ets very likely over Punjab, Haryana, adjoining West Madhya Pradesh on Halwara, Adampur, Ludhiana and and diamond jewellery worth Cethar Ltd, its managing direc- All export restrictions ond-largest manufacturer months,” the Ministry Chandigarh & Delhi, Uttar Pradesh Friday and Saturday, January 1-2. Patiala also recorded below normal over 4 crore after it raided tor K Pothiraj and director of on ventilators have now from a miniscule domes- said. and West Madhya Pradesh during According to the IMD, ground minimums at 2.2, 3.1, 4.8, 4.1 and 4.8 promoters of a Tamil Nadu- NSK Builders Pvt Ltd N S K been removed and ‘Make tic production capacity There were only three next two days and over Himachal frost conditions in isolated pockets degrees Celsius, respectively. Intense based company in a money Kalairaja were covered, it said. in India’ ventilators are in March. There is a pro- suppliers of N-95 masks Pradesh during next 24 hours,” the very likely over Punjab, Haryana, cold conditions prevailed in laundering probe linked to an Gold and diamond jew- being exported. duction capacity of more with a production capac- IMD said. Chandigarh & Delhi and north Rajasthan where over a dozen dis- alleged bank loan fraud. The ellery worth 1.77 crore along The year witnessed than 10 lakh PPE cover- ity of less than 1 lakh According to Kuldeep Srivastava, Rajasthan during next 24 hours. tricts recorded night temperatures searches were conducted under with several property docu- tremendous achievements alls per day and it is also masks per day. the head of the IMD’s regional fore- The cold wave sweeping Kashmir below 5 degrees Celsius. provisions of the Prevention of ments were seized in raid. ! "# $%# & '(' )1 ) ++,! # ! # #-.#++ # two in Jammu — were killed ror outfits and returned. As while fighting terrorism this many as 46 terrorists have year. Singh said that police and been arrested and 76 have security agencies have cracked been killed (among new 55 7*+ down on overground workers recruits). Their shelf life is $#% (OGWs) of terror outfits, who very less,” the DGP said. he Kerala Legislative throw grenades or He said that there is a TAssembly on Thursday saw ,>>6 work as messengers and large scale decrease in the level the ruling LDF and the couriers. of infiltrations this year. Due to Opposition UDF unanimous- ore than 40 top com- “As many as 635 OGWs the strong anti-infiltration grid, ly adopting a resolution con- Mmanders heading were arrested and 56 out of the infiltration is down, he said. demning the Centre for the Pakistan based terror outfits them were booked under the Singh said that Pakistan is try- Farm Bills 2020 enacted by the were eliminated among 225 ter- Public Safety Act (PSA),” he ing to increase the arch of ter- Parliament and expressing sol- rorists in over 100 encounters said. rorism to Jammu region and idarity with the farmers agi- by the joint teams of security During the year, 299 ter- foment communal trouble tating against the legislation. forces across Jammu & rorists and their associates here. The special Session of the Kashmir in 2020, Director were arrested and 12 terrorists “There were a dozen ter- Legislative Assembly was con- General of Police Dilbagh surrendered, he said. rorists active in the Jammu vened by the Governor fol- Singh said on Thursday. The police chief said that region, the number has lowing repeated directive by the Compared to 2019, the 426 weapons, over 9,000 reduced to three now. They are CPI(M)-led LDF Government security forces gunned down ammunition and magazines, in Kishtwar district, we are to convene the House. 65 more terrorists in 2020. A and a huge cache of explosive tracking them,” Singh said. Though the Government total number of 160 terrorists 5 * 78 ( # # material were recovered and The police chief further had asked Governor Arif were gunned down in 2019. * seized during anti-terror oper- said that despite several Mohammed Khan to convene 8 ! )% Meanwhile, the number of ations. attempts by Pakistan, cases of the Session last week, the lat- local recruits inducted by dif- infiltration bids, incidents relat- He said that among the There has been a decrease infiltration this year is the low- ter had declined to do so stat- *' 4'+, 4'44+7& 75 *' '9+4, +;' ferent outfits in its ranks ed to terrorist violence and slain terrorists, 46 were top in the number of civilian est in the last three-four years. ing that there were no situation recorded an upward trend in civilian killings have also come commanders belonging to var- killings this year. “As many as “So, they (Pakistan) had to that mandated a special ,44'>8: (,4 7&;'&') 8: *' 97;'&7 2020. However, the shelf life of down. ious outfits. “Today, all top 38 civilians were killed this year rely on local recruits and they Session. Chief Minister 577(+&9 '', ') )+' +;' 8: *' +A>BC these terrorists was reduced Sharing details DGP said commanders of various outfits as compared to 44 last year,” tried to supply weapons, explo- Pinarayi Vijayan, who was hurt between 3 days to 3 months in “We undertook over 100 suc- have been eliminated,” he Singh said. sive materials and cash to them by the Governor’s stance on the ') )5 97;'&>'& 7 7&;'&' *' *764' 2020. cessful operations in J&K. added. He, however, said that there through drones, most of these issue did not yield an inch and Addressing an annual Press Ninety operations took place in The DGP said 16 Jammu & has been a slight increase in ter- were foiled,” he said. pressed for convening the spe- introduced the resolution gave about Prime Minister Narendra conference in the lawns of the Kashmir and 13 in Jammu. As Kashmir Police personnel — 15 rorist recruitment this year as “The best thing is that the cial session which the a piece of his mind to the Modi despite the demand by Police headquarters in Jammu many as 225 terrorists were in Kashmir and one in Jammu compared to last year. “But 70 trend of local youths joining Governor had to oblige. Governor in harshest term. KC Joseph of the Congress to DGP Dilbagh Singh told killed — 207 in Kashmir and 18 — and 44 security forces per cent of them have either terror group is constantly The Chief Minister who But Vijayan maintained silence rebuke Modi. reporters the total number of in Jammu division.” jawans — 42 in Kashmir and been eliminated or have left ter- decreasing,” he added.

/)0#' *9; &% ! #!!#%# &! & ' '*(" 5% #1 ### $ (!( *) <((!(%(" 1 '!6)R $ ( ) ';%%> *? & < ! # ! #-. %!(%&.%<<?!&&* Lucknow: In an attempt to and UP Governments. The (GHTC India) and distribution Srinagar: Terrorists fired on a 4+&,9,1,>>6 ?'(<%? &%<<?!&&* unprovoked ceasefire violation official sources said. Twenty- bring smiles to the underpriv- remaining amount of 4.76 of houses under Pradhan CRPF company in Anantnag ("(&" !!*<) by firing with small arms and four security personnel were ileged people of the State, lakh will have to be paid by the Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) in district of Jammu & Kashmir akistani troops opened fire >&((%%;&&M intense shelling with mortars among the 36 killed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi allottees of the economically six states of the country. on Thursday, injuring an offi- Pand shelled mortars in " N22.('!! along LoC in Nowshera sector Security forces officials and Chief Minister Yogi weaker section (EWS). Yogi Adityanath will be join- cer, police said. unprovoked violations of a 9>(" 224 in Rajouri district,” a defence said that shelling and firing by Adityanath will lay the foun- The allotment of the flats, ing the event virtually at 11 am The terrorists opened fire ceasefire agreement along the *6>&()%* ('? spokesman said in Jammu. Pakistani troops was “very dation stones of the Light situated off Shaheed Path under on Friday. In the programme, the on the C company of 89 bat- Line of Control (LoC) in M *'*(N Indian Army personnel heavy” in 2020, virtually mak- House Project (LHP) on Friday. Awadh Vihar Yojana, will be PM will also announce awards in talion of the Central Reserve Kupwara and Rajouri districts along LoC in Tangdhar Sector, guarding the LoC retaliated ing the 2003 India-Pakistan Under this project, 1,040 done as per Pradhan Mantri many categories. Police Force (CRPF) at Sangam of Jammu & Kashmir, officials Kupwara by firing mortars and befittingly to the unprovoked border truce “redundant”. urban poor families of Awas Yojana (Urban) and The Union Housing and in Anantnag district, a police said on Thursday. other weapons yesterday ceasefire violations, officials “Pakistani troops repeat- Lucknow would get a flat each District Urban Development Urban Affairs Ministry has official said. The official said In the Tangdhar sector of evening,” the official said. said. edly targeted forwards posts of 415 sq ft area for only 4.76 Authority (DUDA). For this, a chosen Indore in Madhya sub-inspector Hardayal Yadav Kupwara, Pakistani troops In the Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir and villages along the Line of lakh. The State Government lottery will be drawn by the dis- Pradesh, Rajkot in Gujarat, was injured in the firing. specifically targeted mosques Rajouri, Pakistan Army per- recorded 5,100 instances of Control (LoC) and the has set the timeline of a year to trict magistrate of Lucknow. Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Security forces have cor- and houses in border villages, sonnel engaged in heavy firing ceasefire violations by Pakistan International Border (IB) to complete the project. The actu- The Prime Minister will Ranchi in Jharkhand, Agartala doned off the area and an Army official said in and mortar shelling on forward along the LoC in 2020 — the create a fear psychosis among al cost of this flat will be 12.59 virtually attend the foundation in Tripura, and Lucknow in UP launched a search operation to Srinagar. posts. highest in the past 18 years — the people and destabilise the lakh, of which 7.83 lakh will laying event of Global Housing to construct houses under the track down the terrorists, he “Pakistan initiated an “At about 1,515 hours in which 36 people were killed peace along the borderline,” a be given as grant by the Central Technology Challenge India LHP project. PNS added. PTI unprovoked ceasefire violation today, Pakistan Army initiated and over 130 were injured, senior police officer said. # ( 3 ,4 *"#' ,-- ! ! &$##!! . ,5 !& #& Lucknow: A petty dispute over seat arrangement in Bulandshahr *& !1$ turned a classroom into a war room and claimed the life of a class >6>8,+ total number of deaths went up 10 student. According to police, the ordinary classroom fight took P Q from 11,107 to 11,116, while a life when both the boys — aged 14 — fought over seats in the # ' *(7#!# & n a drop in the number of the infected cases rose by 714 class on Wednesday. Police said that one of the classmates was ICovid-19 infections and to trigger a jump in the total so incensed by the heated argument that he got his uncle’s gun , &, personal choice," Kumar told 7, , crossing. So we want the fatalities, Maharashtra record- infections from 2,92,722 to to school and shot his classmate dead on Thursday morning. reporters on the occasion. Government to summon the ed 3,509 infected cases and 58 2,93,436. “The accused went home and stole a licensed revolver belong- ihar Chief Minister Nitish The CM also said that a ith reports of more House immediately and prove deaths on Thursday, even as Meanwhile, the number of ing to his uncle, who is in the army and currently home on leave,” BKumar on Thursday assert- "new industrial policy" was in WTrinamool Congress its majority,” CPI(M) legislative 3,612 people were discharged “active cases” total cases in the a senior police officer, Santosh Kumar Singh, told local ed that efforts were being made place that sought to provide MLAs preparing for a “right party leader Sujan Chakrabarty from various hospitals in var- state dropped from 53,066 to media persons. PNS to economically rehabilitate artisans with platforms where turn” in coming weeks, the Left said drawing severe criticism ious parts of the state after full 52,902. The fatality rate in the those who have returned to they could sell their products to and the Congress have from both the ruling party recovery. state stood at 2.56 per cent. their homes in the State, hav- buyers from other parts of the demanded immediate sum- and the BJP. A day after the state logged Pune district, which con- ,-. . ing lost jobs elsewhere in the country and abroad. moning of the Bengal Congress and the State 3537 infections and 70 deaths, tinued to be the worst-affected wake of the Covid 19-induced "Many such manufacturing Assembly for the Mamata Leader of Opposition Abdul the infected cases dropped city-district in Maharashtra, lockdowns. centres will start functioning in Banerjee Government to clear Mannan said there was the marginally to 3509, while saw the total number of cases / ! Kumar made averments to other districts in the days to a trust motion. “Government is afraid to call a deaths came down to 50. increase from 3,72,103 to the effect during a tour of a come. All facilities will be pro- Speaking to newsmen the Session because it is suffering With 3612 fresh infections, 3,72,655, while the total num- Chennai: Kaanum Pongal fes- Karnataka. Restrictions on town in West Champaran dis- vided. Use of new technology, Left and Congress leaders on from trust deficit … it has no the total infections in the state ber of deaths in Pune rose from tivities next Month would be a international flight services trict, more than 200 km from which reduces the cost of pro- Thursday said that it was the track of TMC MLAs as to climbed from 19,28,603 to 7760 to 7767. subdued affair in the state with will continue except for the here, where he also inspected duction, will be encouraged," Government’s duty to seek a which party they belong to 19,32,112. Similarly, with 58 Thane district remained the Tamil Nadu Government routes allowed by Centre, he a "start up zone" set up as part he added. trust motion against the back- now… Even the Speaker has no new deaths, the Covid-19 toll in the third spot --after Pune announcing that popular said in a statement, adding, the of district industrial innovation Among others, Kumar was drop of wholesale record regarding the MLAs’ in the state from 49.463 to and Mumbai – after the total beaches will be out of bounds restrictions with relaxations scheme. accompanied by his deputy migration of TMC legislators to political loyalty … this is the 49,521. number of infections rose from for people, in a bid to check the will be in place till January 31, Products made by artisans Renu Devi and cabinet col- the BJP. reason we are asking the As 3612 patients were dis- 2,54,074 to 2,54,457, while the spread of Covid-19, as it 2021. who have come back from league Vijay Kumar “Many TMC MLAs have Government to prove its charged from the hospitals total deaths climbed from 5573 announced more relaxations to The State Government had places like Delhi, Punjab, Chaudhary. crossed over to the BJP and majority on the floor of the across the state after full recov- to 5577. Of the 1,27,47,633 the virus-induced restrictions. first imposed a lockdown on Gujarat and foreign The delegation also visited there are reports of many more House and clear the doubts ery, the total number of people samples sent to laboratories, To curb the spread of the March 25, and various relax- countries like Qatar were on the site of construction of a planning to go in the coming from the mind of the people … discharged from the hospitals 19,32,112 have tested positive new strain of the virus, Chief ations have been provided sub- display. road that seeks to improve weeks. Against this backdrop it is only after the Trust Motion since the second week of March (15.16 per cent) for COVID-19 Minister K Palaniswami said sequently. The Government "It has been our resolve to connectivity to Valmiki Nagar, there is a clear lack of clarity on that the House and this year went up to 18,28,546. until Thursday. the e-registration system would has already banned the New ensure that livelihood con- a famous tourist spot in the dis- who is on which side which is the entire people will be able to The recovery rate in the state Currently, 2,81,303 people continue for those entering Year celebrations in restau- cerns do not compel our peo- trict named after the ancient unprecedented in the history of know the number of rose marginally from 94.62 are in home quarantine while the state from other parts of the rants, hotels, clubs and resorts, ple to migrate again. Of course, sage who is said to State legislature…. It is being the MLAs supporting the per cent to 94.64 per cent. 3,578 people are in institutional country, except Puducherry, including beach resorts, on if anybody does so of his or her have composed the original difficult to keep track on floor Trinamool Congress today.” With 9 new deaths, the quarantine. Andhra Pradesh and Thursday and Friday. PTI own accord, it is a matter of Ramayana. !# ! $# R ( 89 2 " /0 * + " 0 ( 2 :! >6>8,+ However, the BMC came last week announced the ban spread of Covid-19, hotels, 8'&9,66 7%99&*(" Gowda (JDS MLC), who is also out with a rider in the same on all celebrations after 11 pm restaurants, bars and pubs will the brother of the departed eeking to pep up the some- tweet: “Covid-prevention at all places, including building shut down at 11 pm. However, arnataka Home Minister ;%? &&&%.(" have expressed apprehensions 8'&9,66 Swhat dampened mood of norms will have to be fol- terraces. if Mumbaikars want to visit KBasavaraj Bommai on ;%? *' & * that the turn of events at the the people of the country’s lowed to ensure Mumbai rings More than a week ago, the friends and family members for Thursday said preliminary ??'9&((! council on December 15 might enior Congress leader commercial capital on the eve in the new year with safety”, a Hotel and Restaurant early morning dinner or go to inquiry into the death of state's have led to Gowda taking such SSiddaramaiah on Thursday of the New Year, the condition that the Mumbaikars Association of Western India markets, they can do so, but Legislative Council Deputy * ? .;%&(9%( 9 a drastic step, as he was 'deeply challenged the ruling BJP in Brihanmumbai Municipal — reconciled as they are to the (HRAWI) had exhorted its there is restriction on the Chairman SL Dharme Gowda *@' &( ;%(& pained' by it. Karnataka to dissolve the Corporation (BMC) on challenging Covid-19 times member-hotels and restaurants assembly of five or more per- was underway and necessary !! @' According to reports, assembly and face elections, Thursday evening sent out an they are passing through – in Mumbai and other major sons at public places”. action will be taken based on Gowda is said to have men- claiming his party will emerge unusual but a welcome message did not mind. cities across the state to gear up Notwithstanding the the report. &%9 (9 tioned the incident that took victorious even if they were held to Mumbaikars: “Don’t Stop Known all along as “a city for early New Year’s eve cele- minor tweaking of “night cur- Speaking to reporters, he place at the Legislative Council, tomorrow. The Party, Mumbai - Just Take that never sleeps”, Mumbai brations coinciding with few”, Mumbai will not be the said, "The police is conducting Chikkamagaluru district early in his purported death note. The Leader of the It Indoors After 11:00!”. and its people will for the first “Thailand Time”. same on the eve of the New a preliminary investigation on Tuesday, with police sources Dharme Gowda was at the Opposition in the state assem- Amid a “night curfew” time will be ushering in New The hotels and restaurants Year. In normal times, hun- regarding the postmortem claiming he died by suicide. centre of December 15's high bly, who had earlier raised triggered by a new strain of the Year without celebrations in in Mumbai and Municipal dreds and thousands people report, death note, circum- Lok Sabha Speaker Om drama in the LC, which saw questions about the longevity of SARS-CoV-2 detected in the restaurants and at public places. Corporation areas in would converge on beaches, stantial evidence.. Based on the Birla on Wednesday called for BJP-JDS and Congress mem- B S Yediyurappa's tenure as the United Kingdom, the BMC The tweaking of the “Night Maharashtra — as per the gardens or waterfronts and findings, further action will be a high-level probe by an inde- bers hurling abuses and push- Chief Minister, maintained the tweaked the rules a bit to per- Curfew” rules by the BMC advice by HRAWI — will ring public places like the Gateway taken." pendent agency into the death ing each other over a row per- CM's chair was shaky. mit restaurants to home deliv- came ten days after the in the New Year as early as at of India, Marine Lines, Bommai said the process is of Gowda. taining to no-confidence "Yediyurappa is day- er food in the metropolis after Maharashtra government on 10.30 pm on December 31 Girgaum and Juhu Chowpatty. on, the procedures regarding "We have taken note of motion against Chairman K dreaming, even if assembly 11 pm. Monday announced the impo- which is 12 midnight as per Given to partying and rev- circumstantial evidence, post- what the Lok Sabha Speaker Pratapachandra Shetty. elections are held tomorrow, No wonder, a tweet put out sition of a “night curfew” from "Thailand Time". In effect, the elry on the New year eve, a large mortem and inquest reports has said, we have taken it seri- During the ruckus, Gowda Congress will win, get majori- by the BMC on its official 11 pm to 6 am between hotels and restaurants will number of Mumbaikars have will require some time. ously, once the preliminary was pulled down from the ty and come back to power," handle: “Don’t Stop The Party, December 22 and January 5 in usher in the year 2021 one- gone out of the metropolis to "Preliminary inquiry is on.. report comes we will see how Chair (Chairman's seat) by Siddaramaiah told reporters Mumbai — Just Take It Indoors the metropolis and other hand-a half hour early. nearby get-away places includ- Once it is over we will know the to go about and take necessary some Congress MLCs, accus- here. He was responding to After 11:00! Restaurants are Municipal Corporation areas in However, State Home ing hill stations, far-away beach exact reason (of the death)," he action," Bommai said in ing him of occupying it as Yediyurappa's assertion that allowed to home deliver food the state, in the wake of the Minister Anil Deshmukh dis- towns, farmhouses, jungle and added. response. Deputy Chairman against he would complete his term. in the city post 11:00pm” came detection of a new strain of the played a bit of leniency when other tourist destinations where Dharme Gowda (64), an Several political leaders rules, as part of the BJP's plan “As his chair has started as a pleasant surprise for SARS-CoV-2 in the United he said on Wednesday: “As part there are no Covid-219 restric- MLC from JD(S), was found including JD(S) leader HD to unseat Chairman Shetty, shaking, he is saying such Mumbaikars. Kingdom. Even the BMC had of efforts to ensure against the tions to ring in 2021. dead on a rail track in Kumaraswamy and SL Bhoje who is from the Congress. things,” Siddaramaiah claimed. ! "# $%# & '(' )2 0 0 # " 1 0 ) " 1 1 *2314*15 1 8& '#'#! !! $## ! # ! - ! !# #" $# # !&#"# #" #!#' % O , # # ( ABA7 , # O ?S anything other than domestic politics. This has resulted in a +>08 superficial understanding of the ( geopolitical complexities sur- S O $ ? rounding the issue of national security at the institutional level. S I The Armed Forces have &%%!/& borne the brunt of this igno- rance, being subjected to neglect s we see off a rather tur- by successive Governments over 3 +>08(7D bulent and difficult year, the years. In all likelihood, it has it would be worthwhile been premised on the belief, Ato review how well the however misconceived, that a military faced up to the nation’s powerful military poses an exis- * ( security challenges and, more tential threat to the political ( 8 ( importantly, where it goes from dispensation in power. It must, %$ here. As has been the case with therefore, be kept in check and the vast majority of peoples and out of decision making. * countries around the world, the However, far more damaging has ( COVID-19 impact has been quite been the political leadership’s ! $ disruptive and debilitating for our belief that the military’s utility has military as well. A situation no been severely constrained, if not doubt further compounded by the rendered irrelevant, as chances of + ( unprovoked aggression by the a conventional conflict have 8 ( Chinese People’s Liberation Army greatly diminished with the (PLA) in Eastern Ladakh along advent of nuclear weapons in the % the Line of Actual Control (LAC), region. A belief which has been 3 ( > ( which undoubtedly caught the given considerable boost by the J 3 ( military by surprise. Army leadership’s almost single- The year had started on an minded focus on counter-insur- J 3 *)$S excellent note with the gency operations; even to the O P( Government finally biting the extent of accepting a gradual Q J 8 bullet and announcing the degradation of our convention- ( < ! appointment of General Bipin al capabilities without protest. Rawat as the first Chief of Defence As to the future, there is lit- +< F !+G Staff, two decades after it was first tle scope for optimism as a few 1 ? officially mooted following the to the Karakoram Pass, includ- on the other foot, as it provides our occupation of the Kailash months from now will herald the # ? % Kargil conflict. It went a step fur- ing the Shaksgam Valley that us a suitable launch pad for a Range was only in response to start of a new campaigning sea- ther by carving out a Department has been illegally ceded to riposte towards Moldo and the the PLA’s transgressions in the son along the LAC as the snow ! ) . of Military Affairs, to be headed China by Pakistan. Our exist- Chinese depth areas, if the sit- vain hope that it would deter melts. Given our defensive mind- $ 8 S by the CDS as its ex officio sec- ing posture threatens the secu- uation so warrants. further attempts at ingress or set, our choices will be wholly retary, to deal with issues pertain- rity of the China-Pakistan However, we should not be escalation. On that occasion, the limited to dancing to the PLA’s ing exclusively to military matters. Economic Corridor (CPEC) misled by the selective rhetoric PLA probably miscalculated our tune. Their options are many; # *)$S While a year is insufficient to passing through this region as which suggests that the Chinese willingness to stand up to their they could, for example, play a 2 comment on the efficacy of these it is vulnerable to interdiction. are on the back foot, the PLA provocative behaviour and was waiting game and do nothing at 2 changes, suffice it to say that Its importance to both China is demoraled and their leader- thus caught off guard by our all for now, having already forced General Rawat has not distin- and Pakistan cannot be overes- ship floundering for a way out robust response. At that time, us to concede territory. On the ( guished himself in his new role. timated given the massive of the impasse without loss of they just did not have the req- other hand, they could exert 2 However, the unilateral and investments made, which could face. While our action does give uisite force levels in place to react pressure elsewhere along the *)$ ( partially successful attempt by be motivation enough for col- us a tactical advantage and has before the onset of winter. LAC to ensure that we respond China to alter the status quo lusive or collaborative action by stabilised the situation, it has by In similar circumstances, a in much the same manner we > along the LAC thrust a wholly the two neighbours. no means robbed the PLA of more determined Government did this year. In fact, their biggest ?S > 8 ( unprepared military into the deep Despite the Army having the inherent advantages it would probably have respond- error would be to escalate the sit- end, pushing all other concerns been caught napping in the ini- enjoys, given the superior eco- ed to such aggression by mirror- uation to teach us a lesson as out of the window. Till the com- tial stages, its speedy and robust nomic strength and its military ing the Chinese and resorted to then Modi would be forced to 9 > mencement of this imbroglio, the response — especially after the size. However, they may be in “salami slicing” actions along the respond in kind, to avoid his rep- 8 2 substantial tract of disputed ter- horrendous loss of lives at for an unpleasant surprise, LAC by occupying disputed utation being tarnished. *)$ AB7D 8 ritory that we claim was regular- Galwan — was commendable. given the extended lines of areas along our claim line where However, if President ly patrolled by our security forces Subsequently, under the ambit communication and difficulties the PLA has no permanent Jinping does not cross that * > as per the mutually accepted pro- of “Operation Snow Leopard”, it of combat at such high alti- presence. This could have then Rubicon, the Modi Government tocols that have been in place for raised the stakes considerably by tudes, apart, of course, from the been used as a bargaining chip will continue to do what it does + * over two decades. Also, make no occupying dominating heights fact that they face an extreme- during negotiations to ensure an best, focus on increasing its > (( mistake, despite all the talk of along the Kailash Range in the ly tough and battle-hardened equitable delineation of the LAC footprint by winning the forth- mutual withdrawal and easing of Chushul and Pangong Tso sub- opposition with ample experi- which, in time, would have coming Bengal elections. ! 8 tensions, there is little doubt that sectors which has negated some ence in mountain warfare. allowed the Prime Minister to Undoubtedly, it will resort to dis- the Chinese have no intention of of the PLA’s earlier advantages. On our part, we have to negotiate and resolve the border simulation regarding the LAC withdrawing from the occupied While these heights are well in accept that our Government issue to our advantage. situation, using every means at areas, especially in the Depsang depth within our territory and has always had a very defensive The Government’s unwill- its disposal to push the narrative * and Galwan sub-sectors, without have never been claimed by the mindset when it comes to ingness to take the initiative is that our borders are quiet, safe making us pay a heavy price. Chinese, they do dominate both China. In fact, the Modi partly explained by its fear of and inviolate. It will then be back The PLA now poses a clear banks of the Pangong Tso as Government has shown exces- Chinese reaction as well as dri- to business as usual and the CDS # .# !# ! !#!'&! !& and present danger to our posi- well as the important Chinese sive restraint at the present time, ven by the fact that it has no illu- could then return to the oner- tions at Daulat Beg Oldi. Its loss administrative base at Moldo. not only refusing to name China sion as to the poor state our mil- ous task of simplifying military #' #" 9## !!#! !!& ' !& 6 in any future conflict would Most importantly, it allows us to but going so far as to try and itary is in; something that can- uniforms and badges of rank. ) * adversely impact our ability to choke off the Spanggur Gap, the delink the Depsang intrusion not be rectified in short order by (The writer is a military vet- continue holding on to the Saltoro area through which the PLA’s from the transgressions else- loosening the purse strings. eran, who is a consultant with the # Ridge, west of the Siachen Glacier. mechanised elements could oth- where in an attempt to justify the Unfortunately, misperceptions, Observer Research Foundation # That would be a serious strategic erwise have advanced towards ongoing negotiations, which lack of clarity and sheer disinter- and Senior Visiting Fellow with # setback as currently our occupa- our positions at Chushul, there- appear to be restricted to troop est in strategic affairs have been The Peninsula Foundation, tion of the Saltoro Ridge allows us by opening up an approach to withdrawals from the Chushul- the hallmark of our political lead- Chennai. The views expressed are to dominate the entire region up Leh. However, the shoe is now Pangong Tso sub-sector. Even ership, which finds little time for personal.) + P Q # * S . 4 5 3 / 0 ($ + & A B 8 12 3 ( > & : # " * C " # # C # # * 2 " QQQ + #" # 64 # #" + O $ * ( " # " # #" # " 3 / (>" < &( '&& &* ( ?(% /%9 *)%! K84 : K; K> 8 K, ( + * ( 3 3 ( 3 4 33 & 534( # + 2 $ ( P Q 45 3 / Sir — The talks between the Sir — The Union Government’s 67 ( Centre and farmers’ unions 6 9 two-day dry run for the Covid- $ 8 12S ( have borne some fruitful 7 # 19 inoculation drive was aimed &+ 9 K 9%*#:; 77 2 results with the Union at end-to-end testing of the vac- Government accepting two + 7 K " + cination process and included < + ) = of the demands. The agree- # & : N " planning and preparations as per 2 # # ments reached are on decrim- + the operational guidelines. It + #C 2 > ? * # inalising stubble burning and involved the creation of facilities ensuring that the subsidies for # & : " and users, session site creation 9 2 electricity remain. + " and mapping of sites, healthcare ? 12 The farmers in Punjab and 4 + + 3=C workers’ data upload, receipt of O= / 2 @ * 9 Haryana had been complaining vaccines and vaccine allocation, of being unfairly targeted over " # " session planning, deployment of 2 / / 2 stubble burning, for which P 9 vaccination teams and logistics # $ ( ( 3 / there are few alternatives. # C # C mobilisation at the session sites. ( The Electricity (Amendment) " , P " C The objective of the dry run Bill that the Centre has in the # " 7;+)C-H is also to undertake and confirm 8 ABAB(ABA7 12 works is another bone of " field implementation and guide 7CD7 % 3 12 contention and the Centre # the way forward prior to the % 3 aims to move the subsidy C # C actual implementation. The offered by the States to farm- P C " exercise was expected to provide 2 7DEE 77 12 $ + ( ers into the Direct Benefit " G David Milton insights on any gaps or bottle- $ Transfer (DBT) mode. # Kanyakumari necks during the actual conduct / However, the key issue of of vaccination. minimum support price and Wednesday, a decisive but rushed when Parliament was gridlocked Now, the Government needs * (/ guaranteed procurement of Sir — After the House of conclusion to a long Brexit story over Brexit. to prioritise its vaccination plan > ( agricultural produce remains. Commons overwhelmingly that has divided Britons and British Prime Minister Boris according to select population P Q ( Though the farmers have con- endorsed the 1,200-page agree- convulsed their politics for more Johnson will now surely enjoy his groups such as healthcare work- firmed that the agitation will ment, the House of Lords has also than four years now. India visit as the deal will lead to ers, frontline workers and senior F 8 $ ? continue, the agreements voted in favour of the British rat- Despite the lack of time for rearrangement of the UK’s for- citizens. 7D66 $ $ $ ABBC + mark some forward motion in ification. The approval of a trade scrutiny, the ease with which the eign economic policy and inter- Bhagwan Thadani ? G 12 talks that have remained deal between the United pact sailed through the House of national relations, which offers a Mumbai deadlocked for weeks. Kingdom and the European Commons was in stark contrast happy opportunity to India too. * / CK Subramaniam Union was hurried through the to many knife-edge votes held Yash Pal Ralhan ( 2 : Mumbai British Parliament in just a day on before last year’s general elections Jalandhar ! (( &(%;% C9!?%9 ! "# $%# & '(' ! )6 0 0 ,(34 . !1-,43(!1-, +D5 $ 0 17 57/ $ 00 P/ E // 5 0/OE / L 5 L / 5 1 8 $#!# "# *

2 3!3%%, 5& !& #&# ! & !& #!## !#' !: !& $ # ! * ABAB # # " ;9!' #* ' $#!#' ! !& <*#'# ! # 7KBB775 ABA7 ( > ( 8 F8G ( F?9G # 3 % 8 # F8#G 4" &3 ( 8#( 3 mid the COVID-19 pandemic and lock- L / down in India, the month of June brought ! FL/!G L ? ! FL?!G Aa rude shock for the country when $ ( Chinese and Indian soldiers confronted each (( ( other in the disputed area on the Galwan river valley. There were casualties on both sides and a violation of decades of mutual faith and under- # standing between the countries on the use of ( firearms. # The Indian perspective: New Delhi main- ( tains that the territorial dispute has been elevat- ( ed by China by claiming that it was related to (8+1 the latter’s sovereignty. Further, Beijing’s nega- 2 8+1 tive comments on the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and terming of the creation of Ladakh as a Union Territory as “ille- gal” have not gone down well with New Delhi. ! O For India, these are all internal issues. It calls for O ( fairness in understanding of the situation as India 8 ? # F8?#G did not react when China reorganised the 3 Tibetan provinces in 1965. India is also con- 3(I * A5@C cerned about the repeated mention of Arunachal F G Pradesh as southern Tibet since 2005. China has also expressed its criticism over 2 India building a feeder line from Daulat Beg Oldi to Darbuk-Shyok in 2019. On the other hand, 57 +&)+, ( 2 8( ( China has continued to build such feeder lines It wishes to arrive at a mutual under- The way forward: According to the clarification of the LAC as a cru- for the last 20 years. Hence, New Delhi does not + +4 +>7 ,& standing first and then build a mutu- the Indian perspective, it is important cial step in dispute resolution, yet, since ( understand the logic behind Chinese objections *, *' al political consensus to demarcate the to respect the previous agreements of 2002, China has been unwilling to con- # to India’s construction activities. It realises that ',)'4*+ )7'4 LAC. Beijing fears that if it agrees to 1993, 1996, 2005 and 2013 and to tinue with exchange of maps with China would not want the Indian Armed &7 the Indian line of thinking, then China ensure disengagement and tranquilli- India. New Delhi says that this has been ( Forces to reach the Line of Actual Control (LAC) 9+;' +& 7 *' would lose a large part of the territo- ty along the border by ensuring the deliberately discontinued by China to F!'G swiftly. '446'4 75 ry. retreat of 60,000 troops in violation of occupy more land under the garb of " However, Beijing wants smooth movement ;' +, 7 In China’s strategic calculations, the previous agreements. ambiguity. 3 ( of Chinese patrol personnel belonging to the *7+R7& , India’s position is that of a rising power There is a need to define and clar- A major concern in India is trying People’s Liberation Army. If China continues '4,, +7& ,&) guided by its increasing national mil- ify the LAC to avoid such incidents to understand why China has been so with such a stance, India believes that the bor- 7& +&6'4 (+ * itary strength. Despite this, for Beijing, again. It is necessary to have new strident in occupying disputed territo- $ # der negotiations would not be very fruitful. India is not a competitor, especially Confidence Building Measures as was ry. India’s position that the Galwan Another area of contention is Chinese &'97 +, +7&4 , after the US has become a strategic decided in the Xiamen BRICS meeting incident was a premeditated action by ( investment in the China-Pakistan Economic *' *+9*'4 challenger for China. Further, its aims of 2017. the Chinese troops is the reason Corridor (CPEC) in the Gilgit-Baltistan area ';'" + >64 to maintain peaceful ties with New However, the Chinese think that behind the comprehensive economic which is a sovereign territory of India and the +&4 + 6 +7&,+4' Delhi because its BRI network has to under no circumstances should either consequences on bilateral relations, for # subject of a long-running conflict between *' 7&5+ pass through India on land and in the side fire in the sky or at each other. example, ban on some mobile applica- Pakistan and India. Beijing has retorted that '476 +7& Indian Ocean. They must reduce frontline deploy- tions, restrictions on infrastructure # # 8 these are commercial investments but India is >'*,&+4> +& In fact, during a webinar conduct- ment of troops unlike the current sit- investments and so on. ?9 " not convinced because China has deployed over 7)' 7 4' ' ed by the RAND Centre for Asia Pacific uation. There has to be an increased This demonstrates an opposing 36,000 security personnel in this area. *' )+46 ' Policy, it was clear that the Chinese coordination of the soldiers at the fron- official position and this has been at the There is a feeling in New Delhi that China 7&' ,&) 57 have refuted the prevailing narrative in tier to avoid confrontation by giving core of non-resolution of disputes. As !' wants to teach a lesson to India because it has the international western media that them authority to resolve tensions. And a reaction, India has increased its mil- decided against joining the Belt and Road , 47 *, China was making use of the pandem- finally, setting up a hotline between the itary capabilities to thwart Chinese 8 !' Initiative (BRI) and instead focussed on improv- 9,(,&C+' ic to become more assertive and two countries is pertinent as China has incursions into its territory and must ( ( ing US-India ties, especially amid the 2+2 dia- +&+)'& 4 )7 aggressive. such a communication channel with continue with its preparedness, espe- ! logue process, foundational defence agree- &7 '6 A renewed vigour in the QUAD the US, Russia and other countries. cially with the change in guard of the 8 ments, Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or ties arising out of concerns of aggres- Conclusion: India and China must Western Theatre Command (WTC) ( QUAD and other such arrangements. Also, sion by China has also been dismissed take a step forward and shed their and appointment of General Zhang because of the asymmetry in power relations, by Beijing, as each of the four countries, nationalistic stand; else the border dis- Xudong. * China is showing its military might to India. India, Australia, Japan and the US pute would remain unresolved. A lot For India, it is important that the ( The Chinese perspective: While the June would not compromise their bilateral of confusion was caused by politics leadership does not give in to the pres- !' event was acknowledged as being unfortunate, relations with it. after the Galwan incident. Therefore, sures of vertical or horizontal escala- the official position of the Chinese leadership The warmth in Indo-US ties has it is important to understand the sit- tion and continues with negotiations was that the Indian side triggered the confronta- also been downplayed by China as uation with a bipartisan view. Perhaps, at the highest level. It must institution- 8 tion, which raised tensions. Unlike New Delhi, “superficial.” According to Chinese they can take lessons from their own alise the conflict resolution mechanism Beijing did not announce the casualties on its analysts, China does not want US recent history, wherein they had in order to settle the dispute once and # ( side in the Galwan clash because of the under- involvement in the dispute. demonstrated their maturity to resolve for all, so that Galwan-like incidents do I standing that the situation would be blown out While there is no need for China border disputes in exchange of peace not recur. If China continues with its +>08(7D of proportion through the media. to make use of its military strength to and tranquility. expansionist autocratic tendencies vis- The fundamental reason that the border con- prevail over India at any time through For instance, India peacefully à-vis India, New Delhi must go to the tinues to be a disputed matter between India and border skirmishes, yet with all clarity resolved its border disputes with International Court of Justice for arbi- China is the asymmetry in the thinking that pre- it subscribes to the notion that the size Bangladesh. China settled border dis- tration of land under dispute. F vails on both sides. While India seeks to verify of the territory is immaterial but what putes peacefully with Russia and (The writer is CEO and Editorial G the LAC first and then engage in discussing ver- holds immense value in its strategic cal- Tajikistan, among other countries. Director, IMPRI. The views expressed are itable solutions, China’s thinking is top-down. culations is honour, interest and fear. While both India and China recognise personal.) <"! ! !#! *#!& # E E

ing them from the biting cold. From set by the Prime Minister. of farmers being small and marginal. “Things might not work out for the panacea but it certainly helps them debt as they take loans from banks or Singhu Border to Panipat, National The “godi media” is abuzz with Most farmers in such a scenario are as farmer even if middlemen are elimi- negotiate a better price. Punjab farm- a local moneylenders-cum-middle- Highway NH44 wears the look of a stories that the people protesting at the good as meagre wage earners. Parties nated. It would then be monopolised ers can afford smartphones as their men to purchase, seeds, fertilisers, pes- makeshift township. Community Singhu Border are anything but farm- may be winning elections but it does by corporates. The farmer would landholding size is more and yield per ticides and diesel. So when the harvest kitchens are busy dishing out food and ers. They maintain that the growers of not mean that farmers are happy. At have no negotiating status vis-à-vis the acre is above average. comes, they have no option but to sell beverages while medical camps are dis- the country are happy with the least 10,281 people involved in the corporates,” he adds. According to an estimate, the the whole crop immediately. They can- tributing medicines and giving first- Government. How else would you farm sector ended their lives in 2019, He fears that corporates might average Indian agricultural household not wait for prices to swing in their aid. And yes, pizza distribution is going explain the recent victories of the BJP accounting for 7.4 per cent of the total monopolise the distribution chain income is 77,124 in a year. Punjab favour. on at Singhu Border, much to the in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and number of suicides in India, says the and reap more profits than all the mid- farmers earn 2,16,708 per annum and Sadly, real issues are swept under 25-%4635 amusement of the social and nation- Goa? Meanwhile, the two sides seem National Crime Records Bureau’s dlemen put together as they would that of Bihar 42,684 or roughly the carpet and farmers become a pawn al media. Milling about in the largely to be digging in their heels. The farm- Accidental Deaths and Suicides in have better resources to hold and 3,500 per month. So forget doubling, in the games political parties play. So rural crowd of growers and Nihangs ers are in for a long haul as the India report for 2019. People commit release the stock when the price suits even quadrupling their income would far the protest is free from any politi- he deadlock between the are people in western outfits as sup- Government wants this agitation to fiz- suicide out of utter helplessness and them. Prices for farmers are almost sta- not be enough. The farmers would still cal influence, consciously or otherwise. protesting farmers and the port pours in from people who do not zle out like others before it. To be hon- despair looms large over Indian agri- tic but inflation is rising and so is the be dangling below the poverty line. It is also non-violent even though TGovernment shows no sign of have any connection with agriculture. est, both sides are not helping their culture, big time. cost of agriculture inputs. The margins Indian agriculture sector needs farmers are dying of cold. In a protest ending even after six rounds of delib- A group of young girls from Ludhiana cause. The farmers asking for total If one looks at the price structure, are thin and if you are a small or mar- funds. It needs investments in cold of this size, things could change erations and concerted efforts to reach is lending support by performing repeal and not negotiating would not it becomes very clear where the prob- ginal farmer you don’t have a choice storage, an efficient transportation sys- instantly. It would, therefore, be in an amicable solution. Consequently, “sewa.” get what they want. The Government lem lies. Everything which comes from but to take a loan. According to the tem, irrigation facilities, research and everyone’s interest to resolve the the protracted protest against the The sit-in so far is peaceful even says the three laws will end the free run the farm sells at a good price to the end National Bank of Agriculture and facilities for scientific practices. Despite impasse soon. Both must talk with an farm laws will drag on. The sit-in of though more than 30 of them are said of middlemen and give growers the consumer. But the farmer gets just 10 Rural Development data, about 52 per big talk about the farmers’ income, the open mind, keeping the arrogance of growers from Punjab and Haryana at to have died during the protest so far. choice to sell their produce anywhere. to 40 per cent of the price that the con- cent of the agricultural households in actual investment in the sector is going power aside. History tells us that the Singhu Border was not by choice The farmers want nothing less than the In this situation, the Government must sumer pays. The reason being that the country were estimated to be down. So the powers that be provide farmers’ protests have always been since they were stopped from enter- repeal of the three farm laws and legal take the initiative to ease the situation, farm produce changes hands four to indebted. At the all-India level, about short-term succour that people can turning points in a nation’s life. This ing Delhi. But it would not be accu- status for the Minimum Support Price as discrediting the protesters doesn’t five times before it is purchased by the 60 per cent of the outstanding loans remember when they go to vote. The isn’t the first protest and it won’t be the rate to call it a sit-in dharna anymore. (MSP). The Government insists that help in mitigating it. end consumer for use. were taken from institutional sources UPA did it and the NDA is doing it last either. But this would define the It is more of a live-in one. The tractor it has no intention of withdrawing One thing is for sure, all is not well “It is pathetic that the producer which included Government (2.1 per now. way farmers resolve their issues. trolleys the farmers came in have MSP and the new laws would help with Indian agriculture. It provides a gets a pittance while the middlemen cent), co-operative society (14.8 per The biggest problem with Indian (The writer is a columnist and doc- become their home, with canopies of achieve the target of doubling the livelihood to 70 per cent of the coun- make money,” says Sahajdeep Singh, cent) and banks (42.9 per cent). agriculture is that by the time it is har- umentary film-maker. The views polythene sheets and blankets protect- income of farmers by 2022, the target try’s 1.3 billion people, with 82 per cent a young farmer from Rajasthan. True, the MSP may not be a vest season, farmers are neck-deep in expressed are personal.) ! )7 ! "# $%# & '(' ")* + , R#. &#'' 6 ;/ 2 $ &*' *#!& 2 // 0 8#*!#! Peshawar: Pakistani police The Supreme Court in have arrested over 30 people, 2014 ordered the Khyber that looks like America, and LGBTQ+ appointees account Beijing: China accused the US its official microblog, adding most of them belonging to a Pakhtunkhwa government to ,= is ready to deliver results for 11 per cent of all White of staging a show of force by that it monitored the ships’ radical Islamist party, after a restore and reconstruct the for working families on day House staff,” it said. sailing two Navy warships passage from the air and sea. Hindu temple was vandalised Hindu shrine. ' one, Biden’s transition team According to the statistics through the Taiwan Strait on “The Chinese People’s and set on fire by a mob The order was issued over said. released by the Biden transi- Thursday morning. Liberation Army at all times protesting its renovation in a petition of a Hindu lawmak- The Biden-Harris admin- tion, almost 20 per cent of The Navy said the Arleigh maintains a high level of alert northwest Pakistan. er who had claimed that the Washington: Sixty-one per istration will prioritise diversi- appointees are first-genera- Burke-class guided missile and can respond at any time to A central leader of radical shrine had been occupied by an cent of the new White House ty of ideology and background, tion Americans and about 40 destroyers USS John S. McCain any threat or provocation and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, influential cleric of the area. appointees are women and 54 and foster talent to address the per cent of White House and USS Curtis Wilbur “con- resolutely defend national sov- Rehmat Salam Khattak, is According to police offi- per cent are people of colour, nation’s most complex chal- senior staff have children at ducted a routine Taiwan Strait ereignty and territorial integri- among those arrested in police Abbasi has said. cials, a meeting of clerics was President-elect Joe Biden’s tran- lenges, it said. home. transit” in accordance with ty.” While China claims Taiwan raids following the attack on The Samadhi of Shri held at Shanki Adda in Teri, sition team has said, asserting The White House staff rep- “From the beginning, Vice international law. as its own territory, the busy Terri temple and Samadhi of Paramhans Ji Maharaj is con- Karak before the attack. that the Biden-Harris admin- resents a small percentage of President-elect Harris and I Their movement “demon- Taiwan Strait is generally con- Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj in sidered very sacred by the The enraged people were istration will prioritise diversi- the total number of Biden- have sought to build an admin- strates the US commitment to sidered an international water- Karak area of Khyber- minority Hindu community raising slogans, vowing they ty of ideology and background, Harris appointees that will istration that looks like a free and open Indo-Pacific,” way. Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on in Pakistan. It is dedicated to would not permit any con- and foster talent to address the serve across the federal gov- America. Building a diverse the Navy said in a statement on China fiercely opposes any Wednesday, police said. Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj struction work at the shrine. country’s most complex chal- ernment, said the transition team will lead to better out- its website. signal of US military support for The mob, led by some and was built where he died in The protesters were peace- lenges. team. comes and more effective solu- China’s Defence Ministry Taiwan, a self-governing repub- local clerics and the supporters 1919 in Teri village of Karak. ful in the initial stage but on the On Wednesday, President- “The first 100+ White tions to address the urgent called the move a “show of lic that relies on Washington for of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party The controversy over the provocation of some clerics, elect Biden and Vice President- House appointees, including crises facing our nation. force” and a provocation that defensive weapons and political (Fazal ur Rehman group), Samadhi of Shri Paramhans Ji they turned violent and elect Kamala Harris surpassed those announced today, repre- The appointees named “sent the wrong signal to the backing in the face of Chinese protesting the expansion work Maharaj erupted many decades attacked the shrine, police said. their goal of naming 100 mem- sent America in the following today will draw from their Taiwan independence forces threats to annex the island by of the shrine, demolished the ago. According to the details Meanwhile, the country’s bers of their incoming admin- ways: 61 per cent are women, expertise and life experiences to and seriously endangered peace force. Taiwan’s Defence Ministry newly constructed work along- submitted to the Supreme Supreme Court on Thursday istration. 54 per cent are people of colour, help us build the country back and stability in the Taiwan issued a statement saying it had side the old structure. Court in 2014 in a case about took notice of the attack on the These accomplished indi- AAPI appointees represent better. Moving forward togeth- Strait area.” observed the passage of the Over 350 people have been it, the Hindus had been visit- temple and ordered the local viduals join a historic and bar- more than twice their share of er, there’s nothing we can’t “We firmly oppose this,” the ships passage and that “the sit- named in the FIR, Provincial ing the shrine till 1997 when it authorities to appear before the rier-breaking administration the national population, accomplish,” Biden said. PTI ministry said in a statement on uation is normal.” AP Police Chief KPK Sanaullah was dismantled by the locals. court on January 5. PTI .10 0 2R &#'# 0 + 0 3 6# &'!1# 25 167+ Hong Kong: Hong Kong !7, + ) media tycoon Jimmy Lai has had his bail revoked after pros- " ! # '& Lahore: Pakistan’s former for- 14-day remand of Asif, the close ecutors succeeded in asking the eign minister and opposition aide of deposed prime minister citys highest court to send him Beijing: A Uighur Muslim “Gulshan Abbas has been Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz Sharif who condemned back to detention. doctor has been jailed on ter- sentenced according to the law Nawaz (PM-N) stalwart the arrest. “The arrest of Lai had been granted bail rorism charges, Beijing con- by Chinese judicial organs for Khawaja Muhammad Asif was Khawaja Asif is a result of the on Dec 23 after three weeks in firmed on Thursday, a day taking part in organised ter- on Thursday remanded in the nexus between the selectors custody on charges of fraud after her family told US politi- rorism, aiding terrorist activi- custody of the anti-graft body (army and ISI chiefs Gen Qamar and endangering national secu- cians she had been sentenced ties and seriously disrupting for 14 days in the assets beyond Javed Bajwa and Gen Faiz rity. His appeal hearing is slat- to 20 years. social order,” foreign ministry means case. Hameed) and the selected ed for Feb 1. Gulshan Abbas vanished spokesman Wang Wenbin told Asif, 71, was arrested by the (Imran Khan). Such belittle acts The court said on into detention two years ago, reporters. National Accountability Bureau reflect the Government’s state of Thursday that it was “reason- but her relatives told a US con- He did not give further (NAB) on Tuesday in Islamabad panic, but it is moving even clos- ably arguable” that the previous gressional committee details of her alleged crimes. in connection with the charges er to its end through such judge’s decision was erroneous Wednesday that the 58-year- “We urge US politicians to of possessing assets beyond his actions,” Nawaz said in a tweet and that the order of granting old had been sentenced to 20 respect facts, stop fabricating known sources of income. from London where he has bail was invalid. years in prison because of lies to smear China, and stop The Accountability Court been living in self-exile after the Lai was charged with fraud activism on behalf of Uighurs. using the Xinjiang issue to ,2 < $ $ (1# - ( (# 0 Lahore on Thursday accepted Khan Govt declared him on Dec 3 for allegedly violating Rights groups say an esti- interfere in China’s domestic the plea of NAB and granted it absconder. PTI the lease terms for office space mated one million Uighurs affairs,” he added. for the Next Digital, the media and other Turkic minorities Various Western countries company he founded. He was languish in detention camps in and organisations including 5/ 80 5 9!& later charged again on Dec. 12 China’s northwestern Xinjiang the US, EU and UN have crit- &*#! ' under the sweeping national region in prison-like condi- icised China’s policies in / 3 <$ security law imposed by Beijing tions. China insists they are Xinjiang, most recently high- on suspicion of colluding with “vocational training centres”, lighting alleged forced labour $# # !&! + foreign forces and endangering but activists say inmates face practices involving Uighur 0 2 7>%># national security. AP torture and forced labour. Muslims. AFP $ ++ / 9 & # (/ ! 7 / 3 5# 8 ! "# '!# '!# Minneapolis: Police in Kabul: More than 3,00,000 said. Sanaa (Yemen): Yemen’s prime " * > , Minneapolis shot and killed a children in war-ravaged “Their families dont have minister renewed accusations on man during a traffic stop on the Afghanistan face freezing win- the money to buy winter cloth- Thursday that the country’s # " # ! !#! !& #!# city’s south side on Wednesday ter conditions that can lead to ing. Instead children are forced Shiite rebels and Iran were night, stirring anxiety about illness and death without prop- to huddle at home to escape the responsible for the deadly explo- 5%*%# , 8 Washington: US President their citizens who violated tions” if the Homeland Security renewed protests following the er winter clothing and heating, bitter cold.” sion at the airport in the south- ' 6 Donald Trump has indefinite- American laws. Department determines a first police-involved death in a humanitarian organisation Schools are closed until ern Yemeni city of Aden the pre- > 8 ly extended the visa sanctions “In light of the ongoing country not accepting the city since George Floyd’s said on Thursday. March in the coldest parts of vious day that killed at least 25 # on countries refusing to repa- COVID-19 pandemic and the returnees is delaying or imped- death while being arrested in The ongoing military con- Afghanistan, where the tem- people and wounded 110. # # triate their citizens who vio- continuing public health risk it ing operations “necessary to May. flict in Afghanistan has perature can plummet to as low The explosion took place as 5 " lated laws in the United States. poses to Americans,” Trump respond to the ongoing pan- Police said the man died in destroyed many homes and as minus 27 degrees Celsius Cabinet members were disem- 4 # The visa sanctions on such said in a memorandum issued demic”. an exchange of gunfire, and forced thousands of children to (minus 16 degrees Fahrenheit). barking from a plane that had countries were set to expire on on Wednesday that his April 10 The April 10 memoran- Chief Medaria Arradondo said shelter in camps for the home- Save the Children has pro- landed in Aden just minutes ear- L M December 31. “memorandum shall continue dum noted that countries witnesses said the man fired less. There they are at risk of vided winter kits to more than lier on Wednesday. AP footage 5 " Trump issued a memo- in force until terminated by the “denying or unreasonably first. He said the officers’ body not only hunger and disease, 100,000 families in 12 of from the scene showed many 7 H# randum on April 10 which president”. delaying” the repatriation of cameras were turned on and including COVID-19, but also Afghanistans 34 provinces. The ministers rushing back inside empowered the Secretary of According to the April 10 their citizens would be deemed promised to release the video death from freezing tempera- kits include fuel and a heater, the plane or running down the # State and the homeland secu- memorandum, the secretary of to be causing “unacceptable on Thursday. tures. blankets and winter clothes stairs, seeking shelter. None of C 4 " rity secretary to deny visas to state is authorised to “initiate a public health risks for “I want our communities Chris Nyamandi, for children including coats, the Cabinet members were hurt. countries refusing to accept plan to impose the visa sanc- Americans”. PTI to see that so they can see for Afghanistan country director socks, shoes, hats. Hours after the blast, the " themselves,” he said. Until then, for Save the Children, said in “The situation is bleak for country’s internationally recog- ')#5 Arradondo said, “Please allow a statement Thursday that early children forced to live in camps nised government said the Iran- 6 , # ' me, the (state) investigators, snow in northern Afghanistan in places like Balkh province. backed Houthi rebels had fired C allow us the time, let us get the has impacted children partic- It is already very cold in this four ballistic missiles at the air- evidence, get the facts, so we ularly badly. northern province with port. Rebel officials have so far - I/= can process this.” “The most vulnerable chil- overnight temperatures as low not responded to requests from & : ' # Police spokesman John dren are those whose schools as minus ten. But it will get comment and there has been no Elder said the incident hap- have shut because of the wors- much colder before March,” claim of responsibility for an air- AP AP AP )# pened about 6:15 pm. ening winter conditions,” he Nyamandi said. port attack. " ! "# $%# & '(' $ )8

)0>$ # ' #!# !' R / 02 5;,'#! !+4+ 02 + = 9"*! &'( )'*+ iting interest into the members’ cent interest rate. But, it had account for the last financial spilt the rate of return into two &'( )'*+ 1-December 31, 2020),” the &'( )'*+ the sectors’ output dropped by In October, the output of etirement fund body EPFO year. components of 8.15 per cent ministry said in a notification. 11.4 per cent as compared to a these eight key sectors had con- Rhas retained 8.5 per cent Labour Minister Santosh (from debt income) and 0.35 he Government on Accordingly, the interest ontracting for the ninth growth of 0.3 per cent in the tracted by 0.9 per cent, while interest rate on employees’ Gangwar said, “We had said per cent (from capital gains) TThursday kept the interest rate for the five-year Senior Cconsecutive month, the same period of the previous there was a 0.1 per cent dip in provident fund (EPF) for 2019- that it would be our endeavour from the sale of ETFs rates on small savings schemes, Citizens Savings Scheme has output of eight core infra- year. September this year. 20 for its over six crore mem- to provide 8.5 per cent interest (exchange-traded funds), sub- including PPF and NSC, been retained at 7.4 per cent. structure sectors dropped by The output of crude oil, Aditi Nayar, Principal bers as decided earlier, and also rate on EPF for 2019-20. We ject to their redemption by unchanged for the January- The interest on the senior cit- 2.6 per cent in November, natural gas, refinery products, Economist, ICRA, said that in began crediting the same into have issued a notification to December 31, 2020. March quarter amid moderat- izens’ scheme is paid quarter- mainly due to decline in pro- steel and cement declined by (- line with the core sector per- their accounts on Thursday. provide 8.5 per cent rate of The EPFO had earlier ing bank deposit rates. ly. Interest rate on savings duction of natural gas, refinery )4.9 per cent, (-)9.3 per cent, (- formance, the pace of growth A large number of the interest on EPF for 2019-20. planned to liquidate some of its Public Provident Fund deposits has been retained at 4 products, steel and cement. )4.8 per cent, (-)4.4 per cent, of many other indicators members of the Employees’ We have also began the process investment in ETFs to provide (PPF) and National Savings per cent annually. The girl The production of eight and (-)7.1 per cent, respectively, slipped in November, reflecting Provident Fund Organisation to credit the said rate of inter- 8.5 per cent interest for the last Certificate (NSC) will contin- child savings scheme Sukanya core sectors had recorded a in November this year. a combination of the base (EPFO) would be able to see est into subscribers’ account.” financial year. However, it ue to carry an annual interest Samriddhi Yojana will offer 7.6 growth of 0.7 per cent in On the other hand, coal effect, fewer working days on their updated EPF accounts The minister added that he could not do so because of the rate of 7.1 per cent and 6.8 per per cent rate during the fourth November 2019, data released and electricity sector output account of a shift in the festive with credit of 8.5 per cent has asked to ensure that all choppy market conditions cent, respectively. Interest rates quarter of the current fiscal. by the commerce and industry grew by 2.9 per cent and 2.2 per calendar, and a potential step- interest for 2019-20, from those members who are retir- amid the lockdown, induced by for small savings schemes are The annual interest rate on ministry showed on Thursday. cent during the month under down in production following Friday, a senior official told ing on December 31 also get the COVID-19 pandemic. The notified by the finance ministry Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) has Barring coal, fertiliser and review. Fertiliser sector growth the satiation of pent-up PTI. 8.5 per cent rate of interest for official said the market condi- on a quarterly basis. “The rates been retained at 6.9 per cent. electricity, all sectors -- crude stood at 1.6 per cent as against demand. “Based on the avail- The official further said 2019-20. The process for cap- tions are more than favourable of interest on various small sav- Term deposits of one-five years oil, natural gas, refinery prod- 13.6 per cent in the same able information, we expect the the labour ministry has already ital gains for a payment of 0.35 these days. Earlier in the day, ings schemes for the fourth will fetch interest rate in the ucts, steel and cement -- month last year. IIP to revert to a temporary but sent the direction to credit the per cent interest for 2019-20 Gangwar approved the 8.5 per quarter of 2020-21 ending on range of 5.5-6.7 per cent, to be recorded negative growth in The eight core industries unpalatable 2-5 per cent con- 8.5 per cent interest on EPF for has also been completed, he cent interest rate for last finan- March 31 shall remain paid quarterly, while the inter- November 2020. account for 40.27 per cent of traction in November 2020,” 2019-20 to the EPFO, and the added.The EPFO in September cial year after receiving the unchanged from those notified est rate on five-year recurring During April-November, the IIP. she said. body has already started cred- 2020 decided to retain 8.5 per finance ministry’s concurrence. for the third quarter (October deposit is pegged at 5.8%.

1 $ / 4 & $=$= ,! 9+1:9 0 5 0 first time, touching a record tumultuous 2020 which was ,*9 . ; intra-day peak of 14,024.85. filled with deep market cor- $3 +D The 50-issue index pared gains rections and unexpected &'( )'*+ curb the spread of coronavirus 2020-21, compared with 45.5 =/; to close at 13,981.75, down by rebounds. However, the I/"=I had significantly impacted per cent of BE (2019-20) dur- just 0.20 points. European markets lost steam he Union Government’s business activities and, in turn, ing the corresponding period a >6>8,+ The indices, however, fin- on the final trading day owing Tfiscal deficit soared to contributed to sluggish revenue year ago. ished the year 2020 with over- to the pandemic and reports 64 10.75 lakh crore, or 135.1 per realisation. Non-tax revenue was 32.3 # quity benchmarks Sensex all gains of around 15 per cent. regarding an increased tariff on cent of the 2020-21 Budget The fiscal defict, or gap per cent of BE. During the cor- Eand Nifty closed almost The Sensex gained 15.7 per EU products by the United >6>8,+ Estimates (BE), at the end of between the expenditure and responding period of the last Jaipur:The State Government flat on the last trading day of cent while the Nifty jumped States. November 2020, mainly on revenue, had breached the fiscal, it was 74.3 per cent of BE has created 603 new posts in 2020 on Thursday, capping off 14.9 per cent in the year. “Despite the havoc creat- ising for the sixth straight account of low realisation of annual target in July this year. 2019-20. clerical grade II recruitment a tumultuous year with hand- HDFC was the leading ed by the COVID-19 pandem- Rsession, the rupee spurt- revenue due to disruption in The government’s total During the corresponding giving gifts to the unemployed some gains of around 15 per gainer among Sensex stocks on ic, the economy is expected to ed 24 paise to end at a near- business activities amid the receipts stood at 8,30,851 period last fiscal, the total in the new year. The result has cent. Thursday, rising by 1.65 per recover in 2021 giving a boost ly four-month high of 73.07 coronavirus pandemic. crore (37 per cent of BE 2020- receipts were 48.6 per cent of also been released today by the In choppy trade, the 30- cent, followed by Sun Pharma, to the equity markets in addi- against the US dollar on the The fiscal deficit at the 21) till the end of November 2019-20 BE.According to the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board share BSE Sensex inched up by ICICI Bank, Asian Paints, Titan tion to upgrades in corporate last day of the year on end of November 2019 had 2020. This included 6,88,430 data, over Rs 3.34 lakh crore after selecting these candi- 5.11 points 0.01 per cent to its and Infosys. earnings,” said Vinod Nair, Thursday, supported by a stood at 114.8 per cent of crore tax revenue (net to cen- were transferred to state gov- dates. These include 345 posts new closing record of TCS was the biggest loser, Head of Research at Geojit weak American currency and 2019-20 BE. tre), 1,24,280 crore of non-tax ernments as devolution of of general category, 223 of 47,751.33. shedding 1.33 per cent. Financial Services. rise in risk appetite.Traders In absolute terms, the fis- revenue and 18,141 crore of share of taxes by the other backward classes and 35 After opening on a firm Ultratech Cement, Bharti Sector-wise, BSE realty, said market sentiments cal deficit stood at 10,75,507 non-debt capital receipts. Non- Government of India up to posts of scheduled tribes. Now footing, the index hit its all- Airtel, Kotak Bank and Tech consumer durables, metal and improved on hopes of global crore at the end of November debt capital receipts consist of November 2020. The CGA including these posts, for the time high of 47,896.97 during Mahindra were among the healthcare gained up to 1.18 economic recovery following 2020, according to the latest recovery of loans and disin- data said the total expenditure recruitment of clerical grade II, the day. other major laggards. per cent, while telecom, FMCG the rollout of COVID-19 vac- data released by the Controller vestment proceeds. incurred by the government 12 thousand 601 candidates The broader NSE Nifty “Markets reached an all- and energy closed in the red. cines and extraordinary fiscal General of Accounts (CGA). The tax revenue collection stood at 19,06,358 crore or 63 have been sent by the Staff crossed the 14,000 level for the time high on the final day of a and monetary stimulus. The lockdown imposed to was 42.1 per cent of BE of per cent of BE. Selection Board for the recruitment of 12 thousand 601 candidates and 726 candidates for !"# 8 %S the total 13 thousand 327 posts :); '3 , > in the scheduled area. It is worth mentioning that 0/0+ .? ' "!#$%&'"#() # --"/S ) OC-J after the administrative reforms department sent the meaning #& ####- >6>8,+ food credit grew 5.6 per cent for recruitment to the posts of 2 2003 ;@A;( compared to a growth of 8.3 clerical grade II, the Rajasthan >6>8,+ popularly known as Operation ank credit grew 6.05 per per cent in the same month of Staff Selection Board had sent New Delhi:Markets regulator from January 1, 2021 to < : Twist, involves purchasing the Bcent to 105.49 lakh crore, the previous year.Growth in a recommendation for 10 thou- Sebi on Thursday extended February 28, 2021. A 15-day he RBI on Thursday securities of longer maturities while deposits rose 11.33 per loans to agriculture and allied sand 763 posts in non-sched- timelines for compliance with period after February 28 will be &'( )'*+ Tannounced it will conduct and selling an equal value of cent to 144.82 lakh crore dur- activities accelerated to 7.4 per uled areas and 1278 posts in certain regulatory requirements given to clear the backlog. simultaneous purchase and securities of shorter maturities. ing December 5-18, RBI data cent in the month from 7.1 per scheduled areas in February by trading members and clear- Stock exchanges and clear- oreign direct investment sale of government securities On January 7, the RBI will showed. cent last year. 2020. ing members in view of the ing corporation have been F(FDI) equity inflows into under Open Market purchase three government In the fortnight ended prevailing situation due to the asked to direct their members India grew 21 per cent to USD Operations (OMO) for Rs securities (G-Sec) of different December 20, 2019, bank cred- coronavirus pandemic. The to clear the backlog, if any, by 35.33 billion during April- 10,000 crore each on January 7, maturity dates aggregating to it stood at 99.47 lakh crore deadline for maintaining call January 31, 2021, with regard October period of the current 2021 Rs 10,000 crore and sell two and deposits at 130.09 lakh recordings of orders or instruc- to KYC application form and financial year, according to an The decision was taken securities aggregating to the crore. tions received from clients has supporting documents of the official data. In the year-ago after a review of current liq- same amount using the multi- In the fortnight ended now been extended till clients to be uploaded on sys- period, FDI equity inflows uidity and financial condi- ple price auction method. December 4 this year, bank February 28, 2021.As per the tem of KRA by the members. stood at USD 29.31 billion, as tions, the Reserve Bank said in The RBI further said it credit grew 5.73 per cent to norms, KYC (Know Your The decision to extend time- per the data of the Department a statement. reserves the right to decide on 105.04 lakh crore and deposits Customer) application form lines for compliance with reg- for Promotion of Industry and Simultaneous purchase and the quantum of purchase/sale by 11.34 per cent to 145.92 and supporting documents of ulatory requirements has been Internal Trade (DPIIT). sale of G-sec under OMOs, of the securities. lakh crore. In October, non- clients need to be uploaded on taken in view of the prevailing a system of KRA (KYC situation due to the COVID-19 Registration Agency) within 10 pandemic and representation days. In this regard, Sebi said received from stock exchanges, 9 ') 8+ the period of exclusion will be Sebi said in a circular. PTI , 5 5)+ 5'>, &'( )'*+

n a significant development related to war Ibetween e-commerce giants and traders of India, the Union Government has directed the Enforcement Directorate and Reserve Bank of India to take necessary action against Amazon and Walmart-owned-Flipkart. The Centre has taken strong cognizance of various complaints made by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) for blatant violation of FDI Policy and Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) by these companies. CAIT National President B.C. Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal informed that on several complaints made by the CAIT to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in the recent past against Amazon & Walmart-owned- Flipkart, the Department of Promotion of Industries and Internal Trade (DPIIT) of the Ministry of Commerce in its letter issued on December has asked both Enforcement Directorate and Reserve Bank of India to take necessary action against Amazon and Flipkart. 94 / -$"H= + # New Delhi:GST investigation officers have arrested three persons for fraudulently claiming Rs 12.90 crore input tax credit by issuing fake invoices, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday. “The Directorate General of GST Intelligence, Gurugram has arrested three persons -- Alok Bhargava and his sons Akul and Atin Bhargava, owners of M/s Delhi Foils, M/s Abinox Industries and M/s Matalax Industries, Wazirpur, New Delhi,” it said in a statement. These firms had cumulatively taken input tax credit of Rs 12.90 crore fraudulently, involving invoice value approx- imating 72 cr on the strength of invoices issued by non-existent firms without the actual receipt of material with an ulterior motive to defraud the government exchequer, the ministry said. PTI 9) ! "# $%# & '('

n 2021, probably for many for driving, pull your car out untouched, changes in toileting Imore than a year after pandem- of the garage and sit for awhile. habits. # . ● ● ic restrictions, most workers and If you don’t drive, find anoth- Destructive behaviour. students will return to campus- er venue to create space. ● Acting abnormally frantic es, offices and other workplaces. Q 7 ● If you feel your pets will find when you return home. Left behind will be pets who have it hard to adjust, consult your become accustomed to humans Begin from now veterinarian to make a plan. What to do if the pets are able O staying home with them. ● Start practicing to give them to adjust Here are some tips on how to a routine and sense of pre- Signs for concern after ● Call your veterinarian before $ !$P prepare them and signs of distress dictability, taking small steps returning to workplace things get worse. to watch for. incrementally. ● Changes in eating or drinking ● Use baby-type monitors to + The Purdue University pro- ● Provide them with toys and habits. check on your pets remotely. # C fessor has studied and taught treats to focus on while you ● For cats, common signs of dis- ● Have a friend or paid dog- about animal behaviour for some work in a different room. tress are inappropriate urina- walker stop by. two decades and consults with ● Take walks without them; tion or defecation outside the ● Leave on soft music playing or # many veterinarians and others don’t take them on every car litter box. TV talk shows (not the kind who work with household ani- ride. ● For dogs, excessive whining where they yell at each other). 9" ● mals. Even if the weather isn’t good and barking, leaving treats —AP " L+ # !3%,!13,%3Q481 3-%5 46&+ 4' *+ 5)+ 5 +'' ,)+&O + M 4" # " 8 ',> ;+;, * L4 he clothes that I prefer are He says, “French designers in the garments that I invent N5'&* )'4+9&'4 the 70s and the 80s were known Tfor a lifestyle that does not +& *' I=4 ,&) *' to be very unapproachable and yet exist, the world of tomorrow,” only believed in dealing with the said late French couturier Pierre J=4 ('' &7(& rich and famous customers. But Cardin once. As the year ends Cardin appealed to the masses by with the sad news of his demise 7 8' ;': making his products in the pret at 98, we look back at how Cardin 6&,7,*,8' line and at an affordable price.” brilliantly possessed an inventive ,&) 7&: 8'+';') Sethi believes that he had a lot artistic sensibility balanced with to offer to the Indian fashion # C a perfect sense of business. +& )',+&9 (+ * *' industry when he first got popu- He has been the only veteran larised here in the 70s. “Europe # in fashion who felt more proud +* ,&) 5,>764 was abuzz with his creations in the "M while stating how he earned more 64 7>'4" 86 60s itself. However, in India he through a pair of stockings than became popular only in the 70s a haute-couture gown or an ,)+& ,',') 7 and the 80s. People across the O5 . ensemble with a six-figure price *' >,44'4O world had started to know his sen- . tag. The entrepreneurial design- sibilities already. Even though we er, who passed away on Tuesday, didn’t know much about his fash- $ understood the important role his hub and for its consumer poten- ion, we were able to recognise his exclusive haute couture shows tial. He was present in Japan aspirational design brand, espe- played in stoking consumer desire starting in the early 1960s, and in cially through his other products " : and became an early pioneer of 1979 became the first Western like his writing instruments and . licensing. His name emblasoned designer to stage a fashion show perfumes. Even to this date, his $ ;"..!.: hundreds of products, from in China. pens are the most-owned prod- apparel, accessories, pens, per- Well, as much as the vision- ucts in India. I’d say he was one $ $ fumes to other home goods. He ary had a mark on the rest of the of the few designers who held !# ! said in an interview in 1970, world, his influence on the Indian such a sensibility even such a long “Fashion is always ridiculous, fashion industry too was deep. It time ago.” : P seen from before or after. But in was his belief in the Indian audi- Designer Archana Jaju $ P ": the moment, it’s marvellous.” ence that he expanded his busi- extends my deepest condolences Designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, nesses here. He said, “With the to the family and friends of the $ P who made his debut in Cardin’s opening of the Indian economy, I legendary designer. She says, “His #! .: maison, paid tribute to his men- have believed that the potential for avant-garde style is unparalleled $ P tor on Twitter, “Thank you Mister growth here is greater than almost and has inspired a revolution in Cardin to have opened for me the anywhere else in the world.” Well, the industry. I will always fondly $ doors of fashion and made my Cardin himself referred to India remember him as one of my first $ ! dream possible.” as the “Paris of Asia!” role models. Along with an acute The 1970s saw a huge Cardin The country welcomed the understanding of the craft, Pierre’s > !! expansion that brought his outlets priest of fashion, launching his market wisdom was one to admire "! :P to more than 100,000, with about ready-to-wear garments and as well. When the world was L # $ as many workers producing under accessories outlet in New Delhi in obsessed with haute couture, he the Cardin label worldwide. He 1994. perceived the need of the hour was in the vanguard in recognis- Sunil Sethi, President of the er when he came to showcase in fraternity, I was invited to his show in 1994.” For the show, he fash- and shifted to designing pret-a- , ing the importance of the Asian Fashion Design Council of India, India. “Even when I was not an in New Delhi, which was in the ioned garments out of various porter. The industry has truly lost market, both as a manufacturing recalls his stint with the couturi- active part of the Indian fashion backdrop of the Hauz Khas ruins, Indian weaves and fabrics. a stalwart.” $=$-" * efore I start with which cars I enjoyed driving Bthrough the year, I would like to wish all auto- + , motive enthusiasts and readers a very Happy 2021! 5 > I sincerely hope that all of you can enjoy driving in 9 & the coming year and also get the vaccination as soon ).* ) 4 4 as possible. Of course, driving in 2020 was a lot less >+ , R''OO # hectic than one presumed. And despite a few launch- * # C es early in the year, the Hyundai Aura and the Kia Carnival followed by the Auto Expo 2020, which will + , $=$= go down in recent history as the last big bash of the # industry, we never saw this coming. I remember 7 9 C going out on March 29, 2020 and driving through " central Delhi, stunned looking at the empty roads , L+ # of the capital. Having spent most of my life here, I had never seen Delhi like this. " 4 Not that empty roads were an excuse to drive O + # C like a maniac but that brings me to the car that " accompanied me for a majority of the lockdown — " + the Hyundai Elantra petrol. While it was launched late last year and now plays in the large sedan seg- O ment by itself after Honda withdrew the Civic, it is #"M a lovely car. And that is not just because it looks good. A strong naturally aspirated engine, great rear seats and boot space, it really advertises the fact that you 3 '# P do not need a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). It is fast, !" $ " handles well and does everything it says on the label. But we live in times where the SUV is king, 4 which brings me to the more influential launches # # # 8 of the year — the Hyundai i20 & the Kia Sonet. Both these vehicles are a demonstration of what the > Hyundai Motor Group is doing in the Indian mar- 7;+)C-H " ket — loading small cars up with a host of tough- , * to-beat features and a commanding customer interest. Both Hyundai and Kia are not playing the price game anymore and that shows in the cars that they produce. Truth be told, splitting the i20 and the Sonet #" is like splitting hair. The third-generation i20 L+ # makes its predecessors proud and is the only pre- mium hatchback in the market that you should buy, + frankly speaking. But as I said earlier, we live in the era of SUVs # and as far as the market is concerned, and looking at the most influential new car of 2020, it has to be """ C the Kia Sonet, which is my car of the year. This is 8 in no way denigrating the new second-generation all the boxes both as a car that you can drive and Skoda Karoq — sold out in weeks displaying that national driving trip this year, I drove the X5M and > Hyundai Creta but the Sonet is in a price bracket be driven around in. The next-generation Mahindra the Indian customers are willing to pay for good, X6M, both vehicles that completely defied logic and that has never seen such stunning quality — a seven- Thar, all legal issues concerning the grille aside, is high-quality products in the 20-25 lakh bracket. physics and were utterly crazy. Mercedes-Benz was- speaker Bose audio system while now coming on all a vehicle that surprises you with the stunning There was the BMW 2-series Gran Coupe which n’t far off too, the GLE and GLS came into the mar- new Hyundai-Kia cars was unbelievable in such a improvements made. Mahindra has done a stunning despite being front-wheel drive, a reminder that ket and both were great to drive and knowing that segment. job on the Thar, and I can’t wait to take it on a long BMWs can put a smile on your there is a bit of India on every Mercedes-Benz In terms of fit, finish and performance, all while road journey even though Maruti-Suzuki will face like no other car sold today, thanks to the work that bringing price into the equation, the Sonet barely launch the Jimny next year (will they resurrect the brand can. In Mercedes-Benz Research and shades it against the i20 and Creta from its sister Gpysy brand?). my only Development India (MBRDI) in company. But this is solely my opinion. When it While not a vehicle that I might enjoy driving inter- Bengaluru does on the MBUX + comes to awards such as the Indian Car Of The Year is something that the market sorely needed, Kia is platform is wonderful. Audi 2021 (ICOTY 2021) where I am proud to say I am likely to bring in a smaller MPV this year. There was a bit quiet this year but a juror, I cannot second-guess my fellow jurors. We is also the Tata Altroz, a car that shows how far the RSQ8 made sure that come from different publications and angles, some Tata has come in the past few years. The Nissan it was heard and 2021 will like the SUVs and others like the hatchbacks, some Magnite will definitely blur the distinctions be a big year for them as like me look at the infotainment system and plas- between hatchbacks and SUVs thanks to its well. M tic, others obsess about handling dynamics. This is entry-price. I’m really looking " what makes the ICOTY special. You can keep a tab When it comes to pricier segments, the forward to 2021 and I over who wins via icoty.org. vehicle that genuinely surprised me this year was hope you guys are too. Make no mistakes, this does not discount other the Volkswagen T-Roc. Sure, as an import, it is Thanks for reading and launches. The new fifth-generation Honda City ticks expensive but both cars — the T-Roc and the have a superb year ahead! ! "# $%# & '(' 99

ever before in the recent tions of a place, they tend to evolve history of mankind was and shift a few inches with every the advent of a new year generation. Vikrant Batra, Owner, Nas anticipated and wel- Cafe Delhi Heights says, “We are a come as 2021. The faith-laden year country of strong regional prefer- will, no doubt, continue to influence ences, despite a widening palate all aspects of our lives for many when it comes to food. Indians have years to come, and the food seg- historically valued pure, freshly ment is no exception to this. Right cooked and homemade meals, thus from unique experiential dining at borrowing the eating out trends home to mindful and healthy eat- from the west. Therefore, dishes that ing to sustainable cooking and are cooked from scratch with an ori- reduced human interaction, food gin of its own is trending today. Back trends of 2021 will take a leap ahead to basics Indian Food will be the key of what 2020 has shown us. Here’s trend.” a list: Classic and original recipes from the past are likely to bring back I 5 nostalgia. Our generation has unique fondness for original secret Year 2021 is all prepped up to recipes, which take them back in witness the new food trends. Says time and make them experience the Avantika Sinha Bahl, owner at taste of another era. Hence, Amit Kampai, “If the lockdown has says that this will be a major trend. taught people anything, it’s the “We at Daryaganj have done the value of spending time at home with same by recreating the secret orig- loved ones. While people were inal recipes of 1947 of late Kundan forced to be at home, a lot of them Lal Jaggi, the inventor of Butter took to the kitchen and used the chicken and Dal Makhani,” adds he. time to sharpen their cooking skills. Restaurants, hotels and cloud 5 kitchens were forced to re-strategise 7 and come up with unique and cre- Nisha says, “It’s going to be in ative ways of providing experiential trend because it’s a wholesome dining at home for people who were meal, easy to cook and provides all finding it hard to step out. nutritional values. Immune boost- Customers now appreciate interest- ing ingredients high in Vitamin C, ing experiences at home. Brands E, and Zinc etc must be included in will need to continue innovating in your diet.” this area.” Sagar Bajaj, Culinary head, 7 First Fiddle Restaurants and This year will be an opportuni- founder, Salsa Kitchen says, “Our ty to implement and complete what focus will return on comfort and was missed during 2020. Chef Amit simplicity — home style cooking Nisha Agarwal, Co-founder, Kumar, L’opera says, “Thus, the that reflects a heritage experience Oishii Wok says that even before new year will see the continuation will give us a sense of normalcy, COVID-19, customers were show- of trends observed over the last which we all had been looking for- ing interest in innovative, healthy decade which are shaping our eat- ward too.” cuisine. “Last year, menu trends ing habits, namely search for qual- embraced plant-based dishes, bioac- ity and healthy products combined 55 $ tive ingredients like mushrooms, with a continuing globalisation of This year will focus on fresh, +2*'** and probiotic rich fermented foods. eating habits. This trend will mean clean lean dishes. Farm to table con- With the pandemic still present in more natural and less sweet prod- cepts and locally procured ingredi- our communities, we can expect to ucts, a return to more traditional ents are going to be the trend. see a rise in menus that focus on recipes which by definition used less Zorawar Kalra, founder and direc- “food as wellness,” adds she. processed ingredients, more aesthet- tor, Massive Restaurants says, One can not forget the new ics and a newcomer, home baking. “Glocal (globally local) is the new norm of reduced human interaction Consumers will continue to become wave. The times to come will wit- which will be the continued trend more health conscious and look for ness use of many international 2+2*1% of 2021. “There will be lesser human more natural products containing ingredients in Indian dishes and interaction due to safety. Buffets, less refined sugar and more of many Indian spices/ingredients in sharing platters, etc may take a back products such as honey, fruit sirups, international favourites, not just seat. Pouring your own wine, serv- etc. within the culinary boundary of 0#? # !### !& !# ing your own food, maintaining dis- As for breads, the healthier India, but overseas as well. This tance between tables and so on may alternatives containing cereals and trend is a result of diners becoming continue,” adds Avantika. whole wheat will continue their more adventurous; while there is a & !& !# ! ++*#'& People are eating healthier for ascent. Consumers will look for segment that still prefers the tradi- that matter even the choice of bev- more traditional recipes such as the tional cuisine, the newer generation #' ; R # ! erage is shifting towards the health- lemon tart, Paris-Brest, Mille Feuille, is ready to experiment in order to ier choices. Says Zorawar, Chocolate and Coffee Éclair. These find newer and finer flavours. “Immunity boosting ingredients products may possibly become Regional good will yet again reign “More proactive approach to nour- like turmeric are the go to ingredi- lighter whilst maintain their taste. supreme.” ishing mind and soul will be the rul- ent this year and kitchens and bars Aesthetics will continue to be of Sagar says, “The use of local and ing trend. The desire to influence are making some very innovative major importance with new geomet- seasonal will be predominant this health and wellness through foods dishes with the same.” ric and simple forms experimented, season. One can expect lot of fusion and beverages is creating new keeping in mind that the products foods from across countries with a opportunities for nutrient-dense / 5$ 0 $ are only one click away from the blend of local ingredients and taste. products with functional health Instagram pages of the patrons. And Local produce is far healthier, benefits aimed at supporting Restaurant industry has under- obviously, customers who spent cheaper and safer considering the immune systems, enhancing mood gone a lot of changes and transfor- months in some form of confine- current times.” and sustaining energy.” mations in the last few months and ment at home and discovered home COVID has affected our per- one such major change is the way we baking will continue to pursue their /5 5 ceptions of health. Hence, Sagar look at delivery of food. Chef newly discovered passion for bak- believes that immunity boosting Harangad says, “In 2021, food deliv- ing and will perfect their new skills As people around the world are recipes enriched with super foods ery services will be in demand. Both in 2021.” getting more conscious of their diet and nutritionally dense products fresh and frozen will be relished at Vikrant adds that as people are and health, this trend will contin- and ingredients will be a rage. home.” becoming more conscious, healthy ue to grow in 2021. Avantika says, Chef Harangad Singh, founder, Amit Bagga, Co-founder and bakes will be the most preferred “Cleaner and immunity boosting Parat, Cloud Kitchen says, “‘Hemp’ CEO of Daryaganj Restaurant says, choice of 2021. ingredients will play an important will create a mark in global culinary “Breaking the monotony of usual role. Mindful eating will be markets as plant based alternatives. packaging, the unique packaging 0 embraced. The another trends of Gourmet will be re-discovered for trends will emerge as the pivotal Chef Amit Singh, Ophelia, says, sustainable cooking is here to stay home dinings. Blast chillers will be players in 2021.” “To meet consumer demand, it will — waist free cooking, sustainable in trend, more than ever. People will be more important than ever for use of ingredients, proper dispos- be more nutrition conscious. Vegan 7 7 5 brands to up their transparency als and so on will continue to grow food will see a different boom, as An integral part of every culture, from clean label ingredient to eth- in importance. There is a growth in more people are moving towards diversity & region, food has its own ical and responsible ingredient plant based foods and veganism as healthy eating. Chefs will be very unique language. Deeply rooted in sourcing.” well.” Adding to it, Chef Anas creative with additions of vegan the traditions, lifestyles, religions, Hence, the year will turn out a Qureshi, Head chef, Molecule says, dishes in the menu.” climates and agricultural condi- blend of need and taste both. ' (

-1P4-2#%:65 0 ● 4 7 9 -$:7 %= ● -O ● 7 , $ -2 2- ( !&& #> 1 &"#7 ew Year’s Eve has than ever. While your cele- one. before. Ajay Nayyar, Brand it easy on the couch watch- always been the bration may look and feel This time around, Ambassador at Diageo ing holiday classics, these ● , # biggest party of the slightly different from the explore something new by India, curates eight cele- cocktails made with seem- N season as everyone gets traditional parties we have trying your hand at curating bratory drinks for you to ingly simple ingredients together to bid farewell to a been used to, the evening a DIY cocktail. ring in the new year with. from your kitchen, can turn " year gone by and prepares to continues to be a momen- Leave it to the pros to Whether you’re planning to into some brilliant combina- ) # P bring in a new year. In tous occasion and should guide you, if you’ve never live it up through a virtual tions when coupled with " 9 " 2020, this holds truer more definitely be a memorable tried making one yourself get-together or you’re taking the right spirit.

3-%3359 1!!%3&12 81--%-5%2## ,3 4# 4 -&1# 0 0 0 ● ( 8 # ● 8 < ( ● O= 3O %= ● 9 /= ● 5 7 %= ● A B ● * $= !&& # ● > 1( ● -O ● # /= 9 ● 4 ● 4 A B &"#7 !&& #*# ● -O &"#9 19 !&& #*# &"#7 ● + # ● + # #" #" 9 " ● + # 9 " #" 9 " 9* ! "# $%# & '(' ( !$" #. + 6 K 4 &'( )'*+ about the brilliant progress efforts. shown by T Natarajan, we Another aspect that India acer Umesh Yadav was on mustn't forget he has played would like to address ahead of )68,+ 115th position. after just five Tests, following his Chandimal's knocks of 85 and PThursday ruled out of the only one first class match for the Third Test is a long tail New Zealand captain Kane hauls of three for 35 and two for 25 have lifted him three places remainder of the series against Tamil Nadu. And Shardul has that has affected the team. ndia captain Virat Kohli held Williamson, meanwhile, ended 35 in Tauranga. to 38th while Dhananjaya de Australia due to the calf injury been a seasoned domestic red Shardul has six first class Ion to his second position the year at the top position after For Pakistan, Fawad Alam's Silva (up nine places to 34th) he sustained during the ball pacer for Mumbai,” the half centuries and during his while stand-in skipper Ajinkya he dethroned Australia's Steve valiant second-innings century and Kusal Perera (up four places Melbourne match and the source added. stint with the national team in Rahane broke into the top 10 Smith, who slipped to the third has lifted him 80 places to to 60th) have also made notable Indian team management is “Shardul was really unfor- white ball games, he has after gaining five places in the spot after managing scores of 0 102nd position while wicket- gains among batsmen. likely to prefer Shardul Thakur tunate that his Test debut proved to be a decent bats- latest ICC men's Test batting and 8 in the two innings at keeper Mohammad Rizwan's Left-arm fast bowler over left-arm pace sensation T against West Indies ended man. ranking released on Thursday. MCG. scores of 71 and 60 have helped Vishwa Fernando has gained Natarajan for the third Test. abruptly due to injury even “Obviously the next few Rahane climbed to the sixth Williamson, who had him advance 27 places to a two slots to reach 45th position According to sources, before he could bowl an over. training sessions will be spot after scoring 112 and 27 briefly occupied the top spot career-best 47th position. after his three-wicket haul. senior pacer Yadav, who He has been shaping up well important and that’s why the not out to inspire India's eight- towards the end of 2015, was Left-arm fast bowler In the ICC Test team rank- missed the third Test due to a and might replace Umesh in final call is likely to be taken wicket series-levelling win in the rewarded for his player of the Shaheen Afridi has moved from ings, New Zealand are in line to calf muscle tear, is heading the playing XI.” in Sydney,” the source said. As second Test against Australia in match effort in the first Test 35th to 33rd after grabbing wrest the top spot from home for rehabilitation. The final call will be taken far as Yadav is concerned, he Melbourne. It is just one below against Pakistan in Tauranga, four wickets in the first innings. Australia, who remain frac- The third Test begins in by the head coach Ravi is expected to head off to his career-best ranking of fifth which New Zealand won by 101 In Centurion, a knock of tionally ahead since the Test Sydney from January 7. Shastri, stand-in skipper National Cricket Academy in attained in October last year. runs. 199 by Faf du Plessis saw him team rankings are updated only “Umesh will have to go for Ajinkya Rahane and bowling Bengaluru for extensive rehab Off-spinner Ravichandran Williamson gained 13 rat- not only win the player of the at the end of each series. an extensive rehab. He has left coach Bharath Arun after programme. Ashwin, too, was rewarded for ing points for his effort of 129 match award but also gain 14 Even a draw in the second for India,” a BCCI source privy reaching Sydney. The 33-year-old had hob- his five-wicket haul at the MCG and 21 to go 11 points clear of places to reach 21st position, Test against Pakistan could see to developments in Australia Shardul has so far played bled off the field after suffer- as he gained two places to the Kohli, who is on paternity leave, one behind team-mate Dean New Zealand take the top spot. told PTI on Thursday. 62 first class games and has ing the injury during the third seventh spot, while pacer Jasprit and 13 ahead of Smith. Elgar, who too gained four “While people are excited 206 wickets to show for his day of the Boxing Day Test. Bumrah rose to the ninth posi- Ross Taylor (up three places spots after a knock of 95. tion. to 14th) is another New Zealand Lungi Ngidi gained four Ravindra Jadeja, who batsman to move up, while 26- places and is 56th among scored a crucial 57 and captured year-old fast bowler Kyle bowlers. three wickets in the second Test, Jamieson reached the top 30 For Sri Lanka, Dinesh remained at number three but reduced the gap with Jason Holder to seven points in the allrounder's ranking. He, however, gained 11 and four positions to reach a career best-equalling 36th and 14th positions in batting and bowling respectively. MCG debutants Shubman Gill and Mohammad Siraj made notable entries in 76th and 77th positions in the list for batsmen and bowlers, respectively. Gill scored 45 and 35 not out opening the innings, while Siraj finished with five wickets in the match. India's batting mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara's lack of form saw him lose two spots to slip to the 10th place. Australia left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc's four wickets in the match helped him reach a career best- equalling fifth position. Matthew Wade's scores of 30 and 40 as opener helped him reach 50th among batsmen from 55th, while Cameron Green gained 36 slots to reach

Ranchi Districts, Taking the Total   &'( )'*+ the Entire Administration and Ccrossed 240 Mark on the Last Death Toll in the State to 1030

Ranchi Districts, Taking the Total &'( )'*+ the Entire Administration and Ccrossed 240 Mark on the Last Death Toll in the State to 1030