+ ;%) $ 8' $ 8' 8 VRGR '%&((!1#VCEB R BP A"'!#$#1!$"$#$%T utqBVQWBuxy( +-.$+"/01& 4&5&45 6 84, 9 14 -7 ) -%-44%,4 *,,-/4&03@,-)"+@&6, ,047,@5@ %4+-+5&6@ "@)+"5"4,0 )@+--&+&+,,A0*40, 0&-0-)50 &%-30 437)B,,54C&+ 43+%@%-, %40%5 7%40"%/-.7% <+& ()$*=!++," >= < , 4 '' ' 2 324/5 /6 Q R R ! the guidelines issued by the 4%4+- #$% Centre in view of Covid-19. The Chief Secretary in the fresh challenge has recent statement underlined Aemerged in the war against 4%4+- 1.37 per cent. that the Government will coronavirus with the Health “About 88 per cent of all adhere to the SOP and court Ministry on Wednesday dis- he Covid-19 fatality rate is Covid-19 deaths in the coun- directives and has made the closing that a new “double Thighest in patients in age try are taking place in the age negative Covid-19 report com- mutant variant” of the deadly group of 45 and above, the group of 45 years and above, ! pulsory for Kumbh. virus has been found in 18 Union Health Ministry said on making them the most vul- Meanwhile, Uttarakhand States. Many other variants of Wednesday, a day after the nerable group that needs to be %40%5 reported 200 new Covid-19 concern (VOCs) have also Government opened up vacci- protected,” he said, adding that cases on Wednesday, a chunk been detected, the Ministry nations for all those in that age this is the reason behind allow- he Uttarakhand High of them from Haridwar, which said. bracket from April 1. ing their vaccination from TCourt on Wednesday made is in the final stages of prepa- However, the Government The Union Government April 1. it clear that a negative report of rations to host the Kumbh said it would be premature at also said that the Covishield Speaking about the new RT PCR test would be required Mela from April 1. this stage to say that the new vaccine is safe and there is “no SARS-CoV-2 variants, National for pilgrims participating in the While no fatality due to the variant was behind the second signal of concern” regarding it Centre for Disease Control “shahi snans” at the Kumbh restrictions, the new disease was reported in a day, wave of cases across India. as of now. The Centre asserted Director SK Singh said 771 Mela in Haridwar. The report Uttrakhand CM Teerath Singh the State is witnessing a surge “Though VOCs and a new this on Wednesday amid variants of concern (VOCs) should not be older than 72 Rawat had invited “everyone” in infections. double mutant variant have from Maharashtra has revealed India recorded 47,262 fresh reports of possible side-effects have been detected in 18 States hours. to the Kumbh without RT PCR Haridwar reported the been found in India, these that compared to December coronavirus cases in a day, the of the Oxford-AstraZeneca’s and Union Territories, which Confirming the order of report. highest number of 71 new have not been detected in 2020, there has been an highest single-day rise so far Covid-19 vaccine and its sus- include 736 samples that were HC, Uttarakhand Chief Soon after taking over as cases, followed by Dehradun numbers sufficient to either increase in the fraction of sam- this year, taking the nationwide pension in some European positive for viruses of the UK Secretary Om Prakash said Chief Minister, Tirath Singh with 63, Nainital 22, Udham establish or direct relationship ples with the E484Q and L452R Covid-19 tally to 1,17,34,058. countries. (B.1.1.7) lineage. that the Uttarakhand High Rawat had said it was not Singh Nagar 14, eight each in or explain the rapid increase in mutations. Such mutations the Health Ministry said. Placing the fatality figure in Till now, no linkage has Court (HC) has said those vis- compulsory to bring a negative Pauri, Rudraprayag and Tehri, cases in some States. Genomic confer immune escape and States like Maharashtra, that age group to 88 per cent of been established to show that iting Haridwar during Kumbh RT-PCR test report to attend five in Pithoragarh and one in sequencing and epidemiologi- increased infectivity. These Punjab, Madhya Pradesh are all Covid-19 deaths in India, the surge being witnessed in should bring a negative report Kumbh. It is a religious event Almora, a Covid-19 control cal studies are continuing to mutations have been found in reporting a high number of Health Secretary Rajesh some States is directly because which should not be older that comes once in 12 years and room bulletin said. further analyse the situation,” about 15-20 per cent of samples cases. National capital Delhi is Bhushan told the media the of only virus mutants. There than 72 hours or they should devotees can attend it freely, he However, no fresh cases the Ministry said in a state- and do not match any previ- also witnessing a spike in cases case fatality rate in the age are various reasons behind a bring the report of their vacci- had said. were detected in Bageshwar, ment. ously catalogued VOCs,” the after a brief downward trend. group is 2.85 per cent as against surge. nation done against the disease. However, Rawat later Chamoli, Champawat and The analysis of samples statement said. Continued on Page 2 an overall national average of Continued on Page 2 However, despite the ordered strict compliance with Uttarkashi districts. ! &' ( P *& $ !+, O "#$!%& -./" * + " ! % % ')0 " $ $ 6.-0))++78 4%4+- criminal misconduct by public -05/++9640+: % & % R servant under the Prevention of ! he CBI has detected a mas- Corruption Act. major political controver- " "$ %& '() Tsive scam in home loan dis- The case was registered Asy has erupted over the ' bursement by Dewan Housing on March 15 on the basis of alleged harassment of nuns ( )*+ 4%4+- Finance Corporation (DHFL) source information and the belonging to a Kerala-based , " under the Pradhan Mantri alleged crime was committed in congregation in Jhansi in Uttar --*, $ hina is developing infra- Muraleedharan said India is The Minister also said that Awas Yojana (PMAY) to the Delhi, Mumbai and other Pradesh. With political tem- Cstructure in the border also focusing on improving in the last few years, the tune of 1,887.20 crore. places. perature already soaring in the !! regions opposite India in Tibet infrastructure in the border Government has increased the The agency has registered The PMAY is a scheme of poll-bound Kerala, Chief % and Xinjiang autonomous regions to facilitate economic budgetary allocation for con- a case against DHFL directors the Union Ministry of Housing Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took " "$ &.-. , regions, the Government has development as also to meet struction of roads and bridges Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan and Urban Development. up the issue with the Centre " said. the country’s strategic and in the border areas. This, he for allegedly creating 2.60 lakh Under the Scheme, loans are and Home Minister Amit Shah in Odisha. ,&( . The Ministry of External security requirements. said, has helped provide con- “fake and fictitious” home loan granted to Economically promised strong action. On his visit to Kerala for /0 Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday “The Government is aware nectivity to the local population accounts amounting to over Weaker Sections, Low and According to officials in poll campaign, Shah said, “I ' admitted this in the Lok Sabha that China is developing infra- and better logistical support to 14,046 crore and availing Middle Income Group mem- Jhansi, the nuns were detained want to assure the people of $ and said that it keeps constant structure in the border regions the armed forces. interest subsidy under the bers for buying land and con- on March 19 after local Bajrang Kerala that the culprits behind watch on all developments opposite India in Tibet and “Government gives careful PMAY of 1,887.20 cr. struction of houses, develop- Dal activists complained that this incident will be brought to having a bearing on country’s Xinjiang Autonomous Regions. and special attention to The CBI has booked ment of dwelling units under two women were allegedly justice at the earliest.” & ' ' security and takes all the nec- The Government continues to improvement of infrastructure DHFL and its directors under slum development schemes being taken forcibly for reli- The issue was raised before " "$ & essary measures to safeguard its keep constant watch on all for the development of border Indian Penal Code Sections and housing units purchased gious conversion, news agency Shah by BJP’s Kanjirappally ' sovereignty and territorial developments having a bearing areas, in order to facilitate the relating to criminal conspiracy, from private and public sector PTI reported. Assembly candidate and party’s 12 integrity. on India’s security and takes all economic development of these criminal breach of trust by pub- housing companies and are The police said there was Christian face KJ Alphonse, + * Replying to a written ques- the necessary measures to safe- areas as also to meet India’s lic servant, cheating, forgery for eligible for credit linked inter- no basis in the complaint and also his former ministerial col- , 3 tion in the Lok Sabha, Minister guard its sovereignty and ter- strategic and security require- cheating and use of forged est subsidy. all four women later took the league in the Union Cabinet. '+ ,$ of State for External Affairs V ritorial integrity,” he said. ments,” he added. documents as genuine besides Continued on Page 2 next train to their destination Continued on Page 2 '( ) -(.() / (" Q+) R, 0,( *1( 2& + % users and the market. *5*"- Vaze, who was arrested on 3 The fair trade regulator 4%4+- Reddy granted liberty to Singh, March 13 in connection with % noted that WhatsApp has who withdrew from the top n twin developments relating the gelatine sticks laden 4%4+- updated its privacy policy and he Supreme Court on court his plea seeking direction Ito the arrested police officer Scorpion recovery case, was terms of service for users.