Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Defence of Republic of Korea Suh Wook held bilateral talks and explored new domains in defence cooperation.&nbsp;

"The defence and security engagements between India and RoK have grown exponentially over the last few years. The latest talks explored new domains of bilateral defence cooperation and avenues to strengthen the long-standing bilateral defence partnership," read the official statement. &nbsp;

Both the Ministers exchanged views on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the defence and security engagements as well as best practices followed by the Armed Forces of both nations.&nbsp;

Rajnath Singh lauded the stellar contribution of RoK in the pandemic mitigation efforts. Both sides also expressed satisfaction over the commitment exhibited by diverse agencies of both countries to sustain structured annual dialogues at various levels of leadership through virtual means when travel and physical engagements became increasingly challenging during the ongoing pandemic.&nbsp;

"This has kept up the momentum of bilateral defence engagements. The Armed Forces of both countries hope to approach 2021 with renewed confidence," it stated.&nbsp;

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane, Secretary (Defence Production) Raj Kumar and Secretary Department of Defence R&amp;D and Chairman Defence Research &amp; Development Organisation (DRDO) G Satheesh Reddy formed part of the Indian delegation during the talks, the statement read. &nbsp;

Earlier on Friday, Rajnath Singh and Suh Wook jointly inaugurated the India-Korea Friendship Park in a ceremony to mark the occasion at Delhi Cantonment. The park is a symbol of close relations between both countries and acknowledges the contribution of the Indian Army's Medical Mission during the Korean War.&nbsp;

The presence of distinguished guests from the Korean War Veterans Association during the inauguration ceremony was an acknowledgement of the event. Both the Ministers planted a sapling each to mark the momentous occasion. Suh Wook felicitated the Korean War Veterans Association of India General Secretary Anil Malhotra on the occasion. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Defence of Republic of Korea Suh Wook held bilateral talks and explored new domains in defence cooperation. "The defence and security engagements between India and RoK have grown exponentially over the last few years.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Defence of Republic of Korea Suh Wook held bilateral talks and explored new domains in defence cooperation. "The defence and security engagements between India and RoK have grown exponentially over the last few years. The latest talks explored new domains of bilateral defence cooperation and avenues to strengthen the long-standing bilateral defence partnership," read the official statement. Both the Ministers exchanged views on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the defence and security engagements as well as best practices followed by the Armed Forces of both nations. Rajnath Singh lauded the stellar contribution of RoK in the pandemic mitigation efforts. Both sides also expressed satisfaction over the commitment exhibited by diverse agencies of both countries to sustain structured annual dialogues at various levels of leadership through virtual means when travel and physical engagements became increasingly challenging during the ongoing pandemic. "This has kept up the momentum of bilateral defence engagements. The Armed Forces of both countries hope to approach 2021 with renewed confidence," it stated. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane, Secretary (Defence Production) Raj Kumar and Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) G Satheesh Reddy formed part of the Indian delegation during the talks, the statement read. Earlier on Friday, Rajnath Singh and Suh Wook jointly inaugurated the India-Korea Friendship Park in a ceremony to mark the occasion at Delhi Cantonment. The park is a symbol of close relations between both countries and acknowledges the contribution of the Indian Army's Medical Mission during the Korean War. The presence of distinguished guests from the Korean War Veterans Association during the inauguration ceremony was an acknowledgement of the event. Both the Ministers planted a sapling each to mark the momentous occasion. Suh Wook felicitated the Korean War Veterans Association of India General Secretary Anil Malhotra on the occasion. (With inputs from agencies)

India, South Korea hold talks, explore new domains in defence cooperation

From liberating Bangladesh from the grips of Pakistan to extending financial help in dire times, India has been Dhaka's all-weather ally. WION's Palki Sharma tells you about the changing contours of the India-Bangladesh relationship.

Gravitas | India-Bangladesh bonhomie: forged in the battlefield

India and Bangladesh are entering the new decade with momentum in bilateral ties. But domestic and external forces are trying to sabotage the relationship. How both sides navigate these challenges will determine the Asian age. WION's Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Will China derail India-Bangladesh ties?

Bangladesh declared its independence on March 26, 1971. The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a decisive win for India. What was the role of the Indian Navy? Why was Mukti Bahini formed? Five decades later, we bring you the untold stories on WION Wideangle

WION Wideangle: Bangladesh liberation war: Untold stories

PM Modi will visit Dhaka to participate in the celebration of the 50th Independence Day of Bangladesh. WION is the only network reporting the developments from Dhaka. Our Correspondents Siddhant Sibal & Lakmina Jesmin Soma. WION's Palki Sharma tell you what to expect.

Gravitas: PM Modi to attend 50th anniversary of Bangladesh Independence

India has put a temporary hold on all major exports of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines made by the SII to meet domestic demand as infections rise.

Coronavirus Update: India is facing a a surge in COVID-19 cases

The social media backlash in China against Western clothing brands is ballooning rapidly. This, as the country's ruling Communist Party retaliated for Western sanctions imposed on Chinese officials accused of human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region.

The attacks began on the social media handle of the Communist Youth League, once a cradle for China's leaders. The league's account on Weibo, China's Twitter-like platform, highlighted an H&amp;M statement from March 2020, in which the clothing brand said it would stop buying cotton grown in Xinjiang. The Swedish retailer said it was deeply concerned about reports of forced labour in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). &nbsp;

In the latest development, the Chinese state-backed nationalist tabloid, Global Times, has cited Burberry, Adidas, Nike, and New Balance for critical remarks about Xinjiang cotton two years ago. So much so that Chinese celebrities such as Wang Yibo announced breaking endorsement contracts with H&amp;M and Nike.

On Wednesday, anger erupted on Chinese social media against Nike after netizens stumbled upon a statement from the leading sportswear brand that said it was "concerned" about reports of forced labour in Xinjiang. Nike had stated that it does not use cotton from the region. The Nike controversy soon began trending on Weibo. &nbsp;

The social media frenzy has not only led to nationalistic calls for Western brands such as Nike and Adidas to leave China, but also a call by the netizens to support local brands such as Li Ning and Anta.

Earlier this year, just before its controversial exit, the Trump administration announced an import ban on all cotton and tomato products from Xinjiang over allegations that they are made with forced labour from detained Uighur Muslims. It's important to note that the US would import cotton products from China and not raw cotton. With the US ban imposed and no apparent change of stance by the Biden administration towards China, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would now look at cotton products made in Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Experts believe that the US ban, combined with a boycott by the Western apparel industry, could now result in more demand for raw cotton from India, particularly from the US, Vietnam and Bangladesh, who would have otherwise depended on China.

Let's do some number crunching. For the year 2020, the worldwide cotton market was worth $38.54 billion. That is expected to reach $46.56 billion by 2027, compound annual growth of 2.74 per cent from 2020 to 2027. That's how lucrative the cotton market is.

India is the largest producer of cotton in the world. China, Pakistan and the United States are other major producers.

Now, it is important to understand why Xinjiang matters when it comes to cotton.

Roughly 1 in 5 cotton garments sold globally contains cotton or yarn from Xinjiang. Of the total cotton produced in China, 86 per cent is from XUAR. This amounts to 70 per cent of all cotton yarn in China, the largest share in the dragon's yarn exports.

China and India have been the core cotton consumers for decades. In India, the textile sector reigns supreme, consuming most of the indigenous raw cotton. The domestic consumption of cotton also explains why India is not the largest exporter of cotton, despite being its largest producer. The core importers are China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Turkey and Pakistan.

China's cotton exports in 2019 were $14.1 bn, equalling 26.6 per cent of total global exports, while India contributed 11.8 per cent, worth $6.3 billion and less than half of China's worldwide export. This is the gap that India must aim to fill.

Currently, both Vietnam and Bangladesh are buying a good amount of cotton from India, which is expected to produce at least 49.5 million bales (one bale is around 170 kgs) this season till September 2021, according to the Cotton Association of India. According to Reuters news agency, India's cotton exports are expected to jump 40 per cent&nbsp;in 2020/21 from a year ago to 7 million bales, the highest in seven years.

Now the question is, will India be able to fill the gap created by the boycott of cotton products from Xinjiang? And will India be able to replace the American dependency on Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam and The Philippines?

As India's foreign minister, Dr S Jaishankar aptly pointed out at the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/globalsummit/dubai-2021">WION Global Summit</a>, the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the drawbacks of the global supply chain.

And perhaps that's why now is the time for India to be part of the reset, one that must span across defence, diplomacy, pharma, technology, textiles and trade.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

The social media backlash in China against Western clothing brands is ballooning rapidly. This, as the country's ruling Communist Party retaliated for Western sanctions imposed on Chinese officials accused of human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region.

The social media backlash in China against Western clothing brands is ballooning rapidly. This, as the country's ruling Communist Party retaliated for Western sanctions imposed on Chinese officials accused of human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region. The attacks began on the social media handle of the Communist Youth League, once a cradle for China's leaders. The league's account on Weibo, China's Twitter-like platform, highlighted an H&M statement from March 2020, in which the clothing brand said it would stop buying cotton grown in Xinjiang. The Swedish retailer said it was deeply concerned about reports of forced labour in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). In the latest development, the Chinese state-backed nationalist tabloid, Global Times, has cited Burberry, Adidas, Nike, and New Balance for critical remarks about Xinjiang cotton two years ago. So much so that Chinese celebrities such as Wang Yibo announced breaking endorsement contracts with H&M and Nike. On Wednesday, anger erupted on Chinese social media against Nike after netizens stumbled upon a statement from the leading sportswear brand that said it was "concerned" about reports of forced labour in Xinjiang. Nike had stated that it does not use cotton from the region. The Nike controversy soon began trending on Weibo. The social media frenzy has not only led to nationalistic calls for Western brands such as Nike and Adidas to leave China, but also a call by the netizens to support local brands such as Li Ning and Anta. Earlier this year, just before its controversial exit, the Trump administration announced an import ban on all cotton and tomato products from Xinjiang over allegations that they are made with forced labour from detained Uighur Muslims. It's important to note that the US would import cotton products from China and not raw cotton. With the US ban imposed and no apparent change of stance by the Biden administration towards China, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would now look at cotton products made in Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. Experts believe that the US ban, combined with a boycott by the Western apparel industry, could now result in more demand for raw cotton from India, particularly from the US, Vietnam and Bangladesh, who would have otherwise depended on China. Let's do some number crunching. For the year 2020, the worldwide cotton market was worth $38.54 billion. That is expected to reach $46.56 billion by 2027, compound annual growth of 2.74 per cent from 2020 to 2027. That's how lucrative the cotton market is. India is the largest producer of cotton in the world. China, Pakistan and the United States are other major producers. Now, it is important to understand why Xinjiang matters when it comes to cotton. Roughly 1 in 5 cotton garments sold globally contains cotton or yarn from Xinjiang. Of the total cotton produced in China, 86 per cent is from XUAR. This amounts to 70 per cent of all cotton yarn in China, the largest share in the dragon's yarn exports. China and India have been the core cotton consumers for decades. In India, the textile sector reigns supreme, consuming most of the indigenous raw cotton. The domestic consumption of cotton also explains why India is not the largest exporter of cotton, despite being its largest producer. The core importers are China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Turkey and Pakistan. China's cotton exports in 2019 were $14.1 bn, equalling 26.6 per cent of total global exports, while India contributed 11.8 per cent, worth $6.3 billion and less than half of China's worldwide export. This is the gap that India must aim to fill. Currently, both Vietnam and Bangladesh are buying a good amount of cotton from India, which is expected to produce at least 49.5 million bales (one bale is around 170 kgs) this season till September 2021, according to the Cotton Association of India. According to Reuters news agency, India's cotton exports are expected to jump 40 per cent in 2020/21 from a year ago to 7 million bales, the highest in seven years. Now the question is, will India be able to fill the gap created by the boycott of cotton products from Xinjiang? And will India be able to replace the American dependency on Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam and The Philippines? As India's foreign minister, Dr S Jaishankar aptly pointed out at the WION Global Summit, the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the drawbacks of the global supply chain. And perhaps that's why now is the time for India to be part of the reset, one that must span across defence, diplomacy, pharma, technology, textiles and trade. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Xinjiang cotton boycott: A golden opportunity for India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bangladesh on Friday (26 March), a day when the country will celebrate its 50th independence day.

WION Dispatch: Preparations underway in Dhaka for the key visit of Indian PM Modi

The key role played by India in the birth of Bangladesh cannot be overlooked and since then, despite roadblocks, the two countries have maintained close relations.

On March 26, Indian Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/narendra-modi">Narendra Modi</a> will be visiting Bangladesh on a two-day trip to mark the centenary celebrations of &nbsp;Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/bangladesh-independence-golden-jubilee">50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence</a>&nbsp;from Pakistan.&nbsp;

This will be Modi's first visit abroad since the coronavirus pandemic, and is an example of the importance New Delhi gives to its ties with Dhaka. Recently, India has also sent the largest consignment of coronavirus vaccine doses to Bangladesh as part of its 'vaccine diplomacy'.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-the-india-bangladesh-friendship-372108/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

As the Indian prime minister gets set for his visit, let's look at the history of ties in key areas and what can be expected in this trip.&nbsp;

<h2>Trade</h2>

Bangladesh is currently India's biggest trade partner in the South Asian region. To strengthen and encourage Bangladesh's trade and commerce, India has given several concessions to Dhaka, including duty-free access to Bangladeshi products into the Indian markets. New Delhi is also working continually to reduce Non-Tariff Barriers (NTB). To encourage trade, India is developing the Integrated Check Post in 10 border crossing points to lower NTBs, according to Observer Research Foundation. New Delhi's attempts to boost trade with Bangladesh saw fruitful results, as in 2019 Bangladesh's exports to India witnessed an increase of 43 per cent from the previous year.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-very-lucky-to-host-pm-narendra-modi-for-major-celebrations-foreign-minister-momen-370088">Bangladesh 'very lucky' to host PM Narendra Modi for major celebrations: Foreign Minister Momen</a>

<h2>Connectivity</h2>

This is one area where a lot has been delivered on the ground. A bus service was launched in 1999 that connected Dhaka with the eastern Indian city of Kolkata. Soon, another such service was kicked off between Dhaka with Agartala, which extended the connectivity of India's northeast. An old railway line that remained non-operational for 43 years was restored in 2008 between Dhaka and Kolkata.

Th two nations launched the Maitri (Friendship) Express and several old rail networks have been restored.&nbsp;

In December 2020, Modi met Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during&nbsp;which both leaders agreed to revive the trans-border railway link connecting India's Chilahati and Bangladesh's Haldibari. Many other railway routes are set to be established this year.&nbsp;

<h2>A friend in need</h2>

India has extended its hand of friendship whenever Bangladesh faced crises. India offered lines of credit worth about $10 billion to Bangladesh as part of development assistance, which includes setting up orphanages, cultural centres, educational institutions. India has also simplified the visa process for Bangladeshi tourists and 1.5 million visas were issued in 2019. New Delhi has also come forward during natural disasters in Bangladesh, including cyclone Sidr in 2007 and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. During the coronavirus crisis, India provided medical training to Bangladeshi professionals, test kits and medicines, beside the dispatch of vaccine consignments.&nbsp;

<h2>Security&nbsp;</h2>

The successful security cooperation between the nations resulted in tackling militancy in Bangladesh. India's efforts to contain the militant group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh's activities is an example of engagement on this front.&nbsp;

<h2>Settlement of boundaries</h2>

The resolution of land and maritime boundaries disputes is one of the major highlights of the bilateral ties. After a ruling by the United Nations, India agreed to give up around 19,467 km in the Bay of Bengal without challenging the decision, a move that gave great access to Bangladesh to the resource-rich sea.&nbsp;

The Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) signed between both nations in 2015 facilitated the transfer of 111 enclaves. According to the historic agreement, Bangladesh received more than 17,000 acres from India and gave up over 7,000 acres to India.&nbsp;

<h2>Expectations from Modi's visit</h2>

During this visit, India and Bangladesh are likely to sign three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Masud bin Momen has said the agreements were likely to be in the areas of disaster management and cooperation between institutions of the two nations.&nbsp;

Discussions on the 'India-Bangladesh-Myanmar-Thailand and beyond'&nbsp;belt are also expected to come up along with road connectivity with India and Bangladesh that wound extend up to Nepal.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The key role played by India in the birth of Bangladesh cannot be overlooked and since then, despite roadblocks, the two countries have maintained close relations.

The key role played by India in the birth of Bangladesh cannot be overlooked and since then, despite roadblocks, the two countries have maintained close relations. On March 26, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Bangladesh on a two-day trip to mark the centenary celebrations of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan. This will be Modi's first visit abroad since the coronavirus pandemic, and is an example of the importance New Delhi gives to its ties with Dhaka. Recently, India has also sent the largest consignment of coronavirus vaccine doses to Bangladesh as part of its 'vaccine diplomacy'. Watch | As the Indian prime minister gets set for his visit, let's look at the history of ties in key areas and what can be expected in this trip. Trade Bangladesh is currently India's biggest trade partner in the South Asian region. To strengthen and encourage Bangladesh's trade and commerce, India has given several concessions to Dhaka, including duty-free access to Bangladeshi products into the Indian markets. New Delhi is also working continually to reduce Non-Tariff Barriers (NTB). To encourage trade, India is developing the Integrated Check Post in 10 border crossing points to lower NTBs, according to Observer Research Foundation. New Delhi's attempts to boost trade with Bangladesh saw fruitful results, as in 2019 Bangladesh's exports to India witnessed an increase of 43 per cent from the previous year. Also read | Bangladesh 'very lucky' to host PM Narendra Modi for major celebrations: Foreign Minister Momen Connectivity This is one area where a lot has been delivered on the ground. A bus service was launched in 1999 that connected Dhaka with the eastern Indian city of Kolkata. Soon, another such service was kicked off between Dhaka with Agartala, which extended the connectivity of India's northeast. An old railway line that remained non-operational for 43 years was restored in 2008 between Dhaka and Kolkata. Th two nations launched the Maitri (Friendship) Express and several old rail networks have been restored. In December 2020, Modi met Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during which both leaders agreed to revive the trans-border railway link connecting India's Chilahati and Bangladesh's Haldibari. Many other railway routes are set to be established this year. A friend in need India has extended its hand of friendship whenever Bangladesh faced crises. India offered lines of credit worth about $10 billion to Bangladesh as part of development assistance, which includes setting up orphanages, cultural centres, educational institutions. India has also simplified the visa process for Bangladeshi tourists and 1.5 million visas were issued in 2019. New Delhi has also come forward during natural disasters in Bangladesh, including cyclone Sidr in 2007 and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. During the coronavirus crisis, India provided medical training to Bangladeshi professionals, test kits and medicines, beside the dispatch of vaccine consignments. Security The successful security cooperation between the nations resulted in tackling militancy in Bangladesh. India's efforts to contain the militant group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh's activities is an example of engagement on this front. Settlement of boundaries The resolution of land and maritime boundaries disputes is one of the major highlights of the bilateral ties. After a ruling by the United Nations, India agreed to give up around 19,467 km in the Bay of Bengal without challenging the decision, a move that gave great access to Bangladesh to the resource-rich sea. The Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) signed between both nations in 2015 facilitated the transfer of 111 enclaves. According to the historic agreement, Bangladesh received more than 17,000 acres from India and gave up over 7,000 acres to India. Expectations from Modi's visit During this visit, India and Bangladesh are likely to sign three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Masud bin Momen has said the agreements were likely to be in the areas of disaster management and cooperation between institutions of the two nations. Discussions on the 'India-Bangladesh-Myanmar-Thailand and beyond' belt are also expected to come up along with road connectivity with India and Bangladesh that wound extend up to Nepal.

India-Bangladesh relations: A robust history and optimistic future

Bangladesh and India may be separated by borders but are united by culture, and Rabindranath Tagore.

As Bangladesh marks <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/bangladesh-independence-golden-jubilee">50 years of independence</a>, the two countries rejoice about the shared love and gratitude for the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/george-harrison-ravi-shankar-concert-for-bangladesh-where-history-was-made-in-music-372520" hreflang="en">George Harrison-Ravi Shankar Concert for Bangladesh: Where history was made in music</a>

Bangladesh’s national anthem titled “Amar Shonar Bangla” was penned by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905. The melody of the song was adopted from Gagan Harkara’s song “Ami Kothay Pabo Tare”.

The Bard of Bengal is also the author of the Indian national anthem “Jana Gana Mana”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/readymade-in-bangladesh-a-future-proof-success-story-in-textiles-372290" hreflang="en">Readymade in Bangladesh: A future-proof success story in textiles</a>

“Amar Shonar Bangla” was written by Tagore in 1905 as an ode to Mother Bengal, immediately after Bengal’s first partition. Later, during the Bangladesh Liberation War, the first 10 lines of the song were adopted as the country’s national anthem in 1971.

'Jana Gana Mana', originally written as ''Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata'' in Bengali, was adopted as India’s national anthem on January 24, 1950.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/sam-manekshaw-struggle-for-bangladesh-how-indian-army-destroyed-pak-in-1971-372246" hreflang="en">Sam Manekshaw &amp; struggle for Bangladesh: How Indian army destroyed Pak in 1971</a>

The two national anthems have unknowingly connected the people of two countries in several instances — the majority of them being cricket matches between the two countries. Be it World T20 in 2016 or the 2019 World Cup, the cricket fans of the two countries have rejoiced in the lyrics and melody of the two national anthems, composed by Tagore.

Bangladesh’s national anthem was written with the hope of rekindling the spirit of unity and love between the people divided by a politically-motivated border. The song aimed to invoke the public consciousness against the communal political divide and bring back the unified spirit of Bengal.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-liberation-war-the-story-of-indias-victory-pakistans-surrender-and-the-birth-of-a-new-nation-268445" hreflang="en">Bangladesh liberation war: The story of India's victory, Pakistan's surrender and the birth of a new Nation</a>

The song was first heard in the periodical musical journal Shongeet Biggnan Probeshika in September 1905 when Tagore’s niece, Indira Devi, hurriedly jotted down the musical notation of the song as Rabindranath Tagore hummed the anthem.

“Jana Gana Mann” and “Amar Shonar Bangla” have received equal love as Tagore’s blissful creations from the people on the two sides of the borders.

Bangladesh and India may be separated by borders but are united by culture, and Rabindranath Tagore. As Bangladesh marks 50 years of independence, the two countries rejoice about the shared love and gratitude for the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

Bangladesh and India may be separated by borders but are united by culture, and Rabindranath Tagore. As Bangladesh marks 50 years of independence, the two countries rejoice about the shared love and gratitude for the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Also read | George Harrison-Ravi Shankar Concert for Bangladesh: Where history was made in music Bangladesh’s national anthem titled “Amar Shonar Bangla” was penned by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905. The melody of the song was adopted from Gagan Harkara’s song “Ami Kothay Pabo Tare”. The Bard of Bengal is also the author of the Indian national anthem “Jana Gana Mana”. Also read | Readymade in Bangladesh: A future-proof success story in textiles “Amar Shonar Bangla” was written by Tagore in 1905 as an ode to Mother Bengal, immediately after Bengal’s first partition. Later, during the Bangladesh Liberation War, the first 10 lines of the song were adopted as the country’s national anthem in 1971. 'Jana Gana Mana', originally written as ''Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata'' in Bengali, was adopted as India’s national anthem on January 24, 1950. Also read | Sam Manekshaw & struggle for Bangladesh: How Indian army destroyed Pak in 1971 The two national anthems have unknowingly connected the people of two countries in several instances — the majority of them being cricket matches between the two countries. Be it World T20 in 2016 or the 2019 World Cup, the cricket fans of the two countries have rejoiced in the lyrics and melody of the two national anthems, composed by Tagore. Bangladesh’s national anthem was written with the hope of rekindling the spirit of unity and love between the people divided by a politically-motivated border. The song aimed to invoke the public consciousness against the communal political divide and bring back the unified spirit of Bengal. Also read | Bangladesh liberation war: The story of India's victory, Pakistan's surrender and the birth of a new Nation The song was first heard in the periodical musical journal Shongeet Biggnan Probeshika in September 1905 when Tagore’s niece, Indira Devi, hurriedly jotted down the musical notation of the song as Rabindranath Tagore hummed the anthem. “Jana Gana Mann” and “Amar Shonar Bangla” have received equal love as Tagore’s blissful creations from the people on the two sides of the borders.

Two national Anthems, one author: The India-Bangladesh Tagore connection

Fitch has revised India's GDP growth forecast to 12 .8 % for the fiscal year beginning April 1st from its previous estimate of 11%.

World Business Watch: Fitch raises India's FY22 GDP growth projection to 12.8%

India, China, Brazil are among nations from which leadership will emerge in the post-pandemic world order, but it is too early to tell, according to Youssef Chahed, former chief of government, Tunisia.

"The new leadership will come from many countries like India, Brazil, Europe and China. It is still too early to tell," he said at the WION Global summit in Dubai on Wednesday.

"The country or the force having recognised as safe from the pandemic will gain power. The lesson from Covid-19 is that it doesn't apply to all...We can imagine basic outlines of how the new leadership will be, though&nbsp;it still remains speculative."&nbsp;

The recovery of the economies from the pandemic is likely to depend on the crisis management and the quick containment of the virus. "The speed and amount of the recovery will vary across regions and depend on access to medical facilities, effectiveness of the policy support, characteristics of the companies before the beginning of the crisis," said Chahed.&nbsp;

According to the politician, the response of Asian countries such as China, India, South Korea and&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;to the pandemic contrasted with that of the&nbsp;US and Europe. While we see China and India continue to grow in 2021, the Europe and Latin America will lag behind, he added.&nbsp;

Pointing out that the recovery will also depend on innovation, he said, "In 2008, companies who invested in innovation&nbsp;survived the recession." &nbsp;

He said it is too early to say that multilateral global system has failed. But it is clear that no country played global leadership during the pandemic. Today, China and US have internal challenges. And China will also probably try to continue to promote its model of controlling the virus. &nbsp;

Chahed looked to indicate that the political leaders, who did management mistakes during the pandemic, will pay high political prices as the mistakes have the power to undermine the government or leader.&nbsp;

India, China, Brazil are among nations from which leadership will emerge in the post-pandemic world order, but it is too early to tell, according to Youssef Chahed, former chief of government, Tunisia.

India, China, Brazil are among nations from which leadership will emerge in the post-pandemic world order, but it is too early to tell, according to Youssef Chahed, former chief of government, Tunisia. "The new leadership will come from many countries like India, Brazil, Europe and China. It is still too early to tell," he said at the WION Global summit in Dubai on Wednesday. "The country or the force having recognised as safe from the pandemic will gain power. The lesson from Covid-19 is that it doesn't apply to all...We can imagine basic outlines of how the new leadership will be, though it still remains speculative." The recovery of the economies from the pandemic is likely to depend on the crisis management and the quick containment of the virus. "The speed and amount of the recovery will vary across regions and depend on access to medical facilities, effectiveness of the policy support, characteristics of the companies before the beginning of the crisis," said Chahed. According to the politician, the response of Asian countries such as China, India, South Korea and Vietnam to the pandemic contrasted with that of the US and Europe. While we see China and India continue to grow in 2021, the Europe and Latin America will lag behind, he added. Pointing out that the recovery will also depend on innovation, he said, "In 2008, companies who invested in innovation survived the recession." He said it is too early to say that multilateral global system has failed. But it is clear that no country played global leadership during the pandemic. Today, China and US have internal challenges. And China will also probably try to continue to promote its model of controlling the virus. Chahed looked to indicate that the political leaders, who did management mistakes during the pandemic, will pay high political prices as the mistakes have the power to undermine the government or leader.

Who will lead the post-pandemic order? Leaders debate at WION Global Summit

Relations between India and United Arab Emirates strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic,&nbsp;India's Ambassador Pavan Kapoor told&nbsp;WION Global Summit in Dubai on Wednesday.

During his welcome address to the summit on behalf of the host nation, Kapoor&nbsp;talked about the need for multilateral solutions and international solidarity during times of crises.

"It is natural that disruptions caused by the pandemic have led to a greater distrust about the merits of globalisation," he said. "At the same time, invisible challenges and the pandemic have highlighted more clearly the need &nbsp;for multilateral solutions, or at least working arrangements between countries with converging interests."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-it-happened-wion-global-summit-2021-372686">As it happened: WION Global Summit 2021</a>

He also highlighted the role of India in such difficult times. "As a pluralistic and open society with a market economy, India fits the role well. The choice for a nation to just focus on its own recovery is an easy one. However, the choice to build up its own capabilities including for the benefit of others is a difficult one. I would say, India has taken the latter path," he said.

Talking about Indians stuck in the UAE during the lockdown, he described how India has had to take the difficult decisions to face the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/post-pandemic-world-will-be-a-different-place-than-just-wearing-masks-says-indian-external-affairs-minister-jaishankar-372721" hreflang="en">India's leadership capabilities stood out during pandemic, says Jaishankar</a>

"The decision by India to close its air space last March for 2.5 months even for its own citizens. I can say that the kind of problems that we had trying to explain to our people here, who are present in very large numbers, it was a very difficult decision to explain to them," Kapoor said.

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However, he also added that "this gave the government breathing space to control the numbers and create an impressive health infrastructure and deal with the anticipated surge in cases which proved very helpful subsequently."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wuhan-virus-and-the-travails-of-being-a-pro-china-hong-kong-lawmaker-372793">'Wuhan virus' and the travails of being a pro-China Hong Kong lawmaker</a>

Kapoor said that as soon as India started its massive repatriation mission in early May 2020, some 250,000 people registered for the process within three days of the registration link going live on the website.

He reminisced about May 7, 2020, when the first flight of Vande Bharat Mission took off from Abu Dhabi to Kochi. The Indian government was able to repatriate over 300,000 Indian nationals from UAE within three months of the Vande Bharat Mission, he recalled.

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"The numbers have since crossed over a million and a half, but a very large number of people who travel to India have since also come back, especially after we entered into a bilateral air bubble arrangement, which is still ongoing and supporting the strong people-to-people exchanges between the two countries."

The Indian ambassador also reported that the government is operating over 300 flights a week between the two countries, which is the largest of the air bubble arrangements that India has in place at present.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-global-summit-2021-pavan-kapoors-keynote-address-372777">Watch |</a>

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He also thanked the government of UAE, department of health, civil aviation, interior, and foreign ministry.&nbsp;

"The India-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership has truly emerged stronger since the start of the COVID pandemic," he said. "The constant high-level empathetic exchanges between our leadership have ensured this outcome."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-arab-reset-a-reflection-of-geopolitical-reality-aimed-at-iran-says-former-us-nsa-john-bolton-at-wion-global-summit-372738">Israel-Arab reset a geostrategic shift aimed at Iran: Bolton</a>

He talked about the strengthening relationships between the two countries in the post-pandemic world and increasing cooperation in new areas, brought about by several virtual and physical meetings between the leaders of the two nations.

In addition to the strengthening relationships in the defence area, the two countries have also established stronger bilateral cooperation in areas such as healthcare and food security during the coronavirus pandemic.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/respect-human-rights-and-dignities-taiwans-former-defence-minister-to-china-at-wion-global-summit-372787">Respect human rights and dignities: Taiwan's Former Defence Minister to China</a>

India also made sure that the food supplies to the UAE "remain uninterrupted, despite the lockdown in India," Kapoor said. He also reported that India supplied HCQ tablets to UAE on a priority basis and also facilitated&nbsp;the arrival of many more nurses and doctors from India to support the healthcare service providers in the country.

The South Asian country has also supplied 200,000 doses of the Covishield coronavirus vaccine to the UAE as a part of India's 'Vaccine metri' or vaccine friendship programme in February 2021.

Relations between India and United Arab Emirates strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic, India's Ambassador Pavan Kapoor told WION Global Summit in Dubai on Wednesday.

Relations between India and United Arab Emirates strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic, India's Ambassador Pavan Kapoor told WION Global Summit in Dubai on Wednesday. During his welcome address to the summit on behalf of the host nation, Kapoor talked about the need for multilateral solutions and international solidarity during times of crises. "It is natural that disruptions caused by the pandemic have led to a greater distrust about the merits of globalisation," he said. "At the same time, invisible challenges and the pandemic have highlighted more clearly the need for multilateral solutions, or at least working arrangements between countries with converging interests." Also read | As it happened: WION Global Summit 2021 He also highlighted the role of India in such difficult times. "As a pluralistic and open society with a market economy, India fits the role well. The choice for a nation to just focus on its own recovery is an easy one. However, the choice to build up its own capabilities including for the benefit of others is a difficult one. I would say, India has taken the latter path," he said. Talking about Indians stuck in the UAE during the lockdown, he described how India has had to take the difficult decisions to face the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic. Also read | India's leadership capabilities stood out during pandemic, says Jaishankar "The decision by India to close its air space last March for 2.5 months even for its own citizens. I can say that the kind of problems that we had trying to explain to our people here, who are present in very large numbers, it was a very difficult decision to explain to them," Kapoor said. Pavan Kapoor (@AmbKapoor), Indian Ambassador to the UAE, delivers the welcome note on behalf of the host nation, UAE, at #WIONGlobalSummit in Dubai Follow LIVE updates here: https://t.co/KYZtALCh7N pic.twitter.com/lTc8d1Rx0O — WION (@WIONews) March 24, 2021 × However, he also added that "this gave the government breathing space to control the numbers and create an impressive health infrastructure and deal with the anticipated surge in cases which proved very helpful subsequently." Also read | 'Wuhan virus' and the travails of being a pro-China Hong Kong lawmaker Kapoor said that as soon as India started its massive repatriation mission in early May 2020, some 250,000 people registered for the process within three days of the registration link going live on the website. He reminisced about May 7, 2020, when the first flight of Vande Bharat Mission took off from Abu Dhabi to Kochi. The Indian government was able to repatriate over 300,000 Indian nationals from UAE within three months of the Vande Bharat Mission, he recalled. Also read | Israeli politician hints at peace accords with Oman, Indonesia "The numbers have since crossed over a million and a half, but a very large number of people who travel to India have since also come back, especially after we entered into a bilateral air bubble arrangement, which is still ongoing and supporting the strong people-to-people exchanges between the two countries." The Indian ambassador also reported that the government is operating over 300 flights a week between the two countries, which is the largest of the air bubble arrangements that India has in place at present. Watch | He also thanked the government of UAE, department of health, civil aviation, interior, and foreign ministry. "The India-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership has truly emerged stronger since the start of the COVID pandemic," he said. "The constant high-level empathetic exchanges between our leadership have ensured this outcome." Also read | Israel-Arab reset a geostrategic shift aimed at Iran: Bolton He talked about the strengthening relationships between the two countries in the post-pandemic world and increasing cooperation in new areas, brought about by several virtual and physical meetings between the leaders of the two nations. In addition to the strengthening relationships in the defence area, the two countries have also established stronger bilateral cooperation in areas such as healthcare and food security during the coronavirus pandemic. Also read | Respect human rights and dignities: Taiwan's Former Defence Minister to China India also made sure that the food supplies to the UAE "remain uninterrupted, despite the lockdown in India," Kapoor said. He also reported that India supplied HCQ tablets to UAE on a priority basis and also facilitated the arrival of many more nurses and doctors from India to support the healthcare service providers in the country. The South Asian country has also supplied 200,000 doses of the Covishield coronavirus vaccine to the UAE as a part of India's 'Vaccine metri' or vaccine friendship programme in February 2021.

India-UAE have strengthened relationship during pandemic: India's Ambassador Pavan Kapoor at WION Global Summit 2021

The coronavirus situation in India continues to get worrisome as country recorded 53,476 new COVID-19 cases, 26,490 recoveries, and 251 deaths in the last 24 hours.

This is the highest single day rise so far this year, pushing the nationwide COVID-19 tally of cases to 1,17,87,534, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

Apart from the new infections, 26,490 recoveries were reported, taking the total recoveries to 1.12 crore.

The Health Ministry also announced as many as 251 virus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, which raised the toll to 1.60 lakh.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,12,31,650, while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.36 per cent, the data stated.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

It went past 60 lakh on September 28, &nbsp;70 lakh on &nbsp;October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, &nbsp;90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

According to the ICMR, 23,75,03,882 samples have been tested up to March 24 with 10,65,021 samples being tested on Wednesday.

The 251 new fatalities include 95 from Maharashtra, 39 &nbsp;Punjab, 29 from Chhattisgarh, 12 each from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and 10 from Kerala.

A total of 1,60,692 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 53,684 from Maharashtra, 12,630 from Tamil Nadu, 12,461 from Karnataka, 10,973 from Delhi, 10,312 from West Bengal, 8,769 from Uttar Pradesh and 7,197 from Andhra Pradesh.

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

"Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

(With inputs from agencies)

The coronavirus situation in India continues to get worrisome as country recorded 53,476 new COVID-19 cases, 26,490 recoveries, and 251 deaths in the last 24 hours.

The coronavirus situation in India continues to get worrisome as country recorded 53,476 new COVID-19 cases, 26,490 recoveries, and 251 deaths in the last 24 hours. This is the highest single day rise so far this year, pushing the nationwide COVID-19 tally of cases to 1,17,87,534, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. Apart from the new infections, 26,490 recoveries were reported, taking the total recoveries to 1.12 crore. The Health Ministry also announced as many as 251 virus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, which raised the toll to 1.60 lakh. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,12,31,650, while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.36 per cent, the data stated. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. According to the ICMR, 23,75,03,882 samples have been tested up to March 24 with 10,65,021 samples being tested on Wednesday. The 251 new fatalities include 95 from Maharashtra, 39 Punjab, 29 from Chhattisgarh, 12 each from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and 10 from Kerala. A total of 1,60,692 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 53,684 from Maharashtra, 12,630 from Tamil Nadu, 12,461 from Karnataka, 10,973 from Delhi, 10,312 from West Bengal, 8,769 from Uttar Pradesh and 7,197 from Andhra Pradesh. The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. "Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation. (With inputs from agencies)

India reports 53,476 new covid-19 infections in a day, highest since October 2020

The two-day meeting between India and Pakistan wrapped up on Wednesday, in which New Delhi justified its stand on the two hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

Pakistan raised objections to the designs of Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai hydropower projects.&nbsp;

It also asked for more information on hydropower projects in Ladakh approved by India after the revocation of special provisions of Article 370 which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, sources told news agency PTI.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-to-receive-first-purchase-of-over-1-mn-doses-of-chinese-vaccines-372606">Pakistan to receive first purchase of over 1 mn doses of Chinese vaccines</a>

The meeting was held after a pause of two years when India approved the removal of special status in August 2019.&nbsp;

After the withdrawal of Article 370, New Delhi gave a green signal to many hydropower projects for the region.&nbsp;

Indus river and its tributaries water is important to peoples of both nations and according to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), both nations must hold a meeting on the issue at least once a year alternatively in the two countries.&nbsp;

According to the treaty signed between New Delhi and Islamabad in 1960, the waters of the eastern rivers Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi annually are allocated to India for unrestricted use.&nbsp;

The waters of Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, forming the western rivers have been majorly given to Pakistan.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The two-day meeting between India and Pakistan wrapped up on Wednesday, in which New Delhi justified its stand on the two hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

The two-day meeting between India and Pakistan wrapped up on Wednesday, in which New Delhi justified its stand on the two hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan raised objections to the designs of Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai hydropower projects. It also asked for more information on hydropower projects in Ladakh approved by India after the revocation of special provisions of Article 370 which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, sources told news agency PTI. Also read | Pakistan to receive first purchase of over 1 mn doses of Chinese vaccines The meeting was held after a pause of two years when India approved the removal of special status in August 2019. After the withdrawal of Article 370, New Delhi gave a green signal to many hydropower projects for the region. Indus river and its tributaries water is important to peoples of both nations and according to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), both nations must hold a meeting on the issue at least once a year alternatively in the two countries. According to the treaty signed between New Delhi and Islamabad in 1960, the waters of the eastern rivers Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi annually are allocated to India for unrestricted use. The waters of Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, forming the western rivers have been majorly given to Pakistan.

India, Pakistan meeting on Indus river concludes, New Delhi justifies developing hydropower projects in J&K

Amid the huge spike in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">novel coronavirus cases</a> in India, the health ministry on Wednesday confirmed a new "double mutant variant" found in Delhi, Maharashtra, and some other places.&nbsp;

The Union Health Ministry, however, did not say whether the latest rise is due to the recently discovered variants.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, 771 cases of variants of concern (VOCs) have been reported, out of which 736 were of the UK strain, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Director SK Singh said as reported by news agency PTI.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/people-above-45-years-to-be-vaccinated-from-april-1-says-prakash-javadekar-372539">People above 45 years to be vaccinated from April 1, says Prakash Javadekar</a>

India has designated variants found in UK, Brazil, and South Africa as VOCs.&nbsp;

Other than these, some other strains, including the double mutant one, have been detected in some states and union territories such as Maharashtra and Delhi.

"Till now no linkage has been established to say that the surge that we are seeing in different states is directly because of only mutations," Singh said.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-reports-40715-fresh-covid-19-cases-199-deaths-in-last-24-hours-372467">India reports 40,715 fresh COVID-19 cases, 199 deaths in last 24 hours</a>

Meanwhile, India in the last 24 hours recorded 47,262 fresh Covid-19, the most so far this year, taking the overall caseload to 11,734,058, according to the government data.&nbsp;

The nation's coronavirus death toll jumped to 160,441, with 275 new fatalities, the highest in approximately 83 days.&nbsp;

Amid the huge spike in novel coronavirus cases in India, the health ministry on Wednesday confirmed a new "double mutant variant" found in Delhi, Maharashtra, and some other places.

Amid the huge spike in novel coronavirus cases in India, the health ministry on Wednesday confirmed a new "double mutant variant" found in Delhi, Maharashtra, and some other places. The Union Health Ministry, however, did not say whether the latest rise is due to the recently discovered variants. On Wednesday, 771 cases of variants of concern (VOCs) have been reported, out of which 736 were of the UK strain, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Director SK Singh said as reported by news agency PTI. Also read | People above 45 years to be vaccinated from April 1, says Prakash Javadekar India has designated variants found in UK, Brazil, and South Africa as VOCs. Other than these, some other strains, including the double mutant one, have been detected in some states and union territories such as Maharashtra and Delhi. "Till now no linkage has been established to say that the surge that we are seeing in different states is directly because of only mutations," Singh said. Also read | India reports 40,715 fresh COVID-19 cases, 199 deaths in last 24 hours Meanwhile, India in the last 24 hours recorded 47,262 fresh Covid-19, the most so far this year, taking the overall caseload to 11,734,058, according to the government data. The nation's coronavirus death toll jumped to 160,441, with 275 new fatalities, the highest in approximately 83 days.

India confirms new double mutant coronavirus variant

The UNHRC has adopted a resolution against Sri Lanka's human rights violations. China & Pakistan voted against the resolution. India abstained from voting. WION's Molly Gambhir gets you this report.

Gravitas:  UNHRC adopts resolution on Sri Lanka

India reported 40,715 new COVID-19 cases, 29,785 recoveries, and 199 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday. With this, the total cases mounted to 1,16,86,796 including 3,45,377 active cases and 1,11,81,253 total recoveries.

The death toll has gone up to 1,60,166. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), as many as 9,67,459 samples were tested on March 22.A total of 23,54,13,233 samples had been tested up to March 22, ICMR said on Tuesday.

Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are reporting a surge in daily COVID-19 cases and together they account for 80.5 percent of the total new cases registered in the last 24 hours, informed the union health ministry on Monday.

As of day-66 of the vaccination drive, more than 4.72 Cr COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered. More than 19.65 lakh vaccine doses were given till 7 pm on Monday.&nbsp;

India reported 40,715 new COVID-19 cases, 29,785 recoveries, and 199 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday. With this, the total cases mounted to 1,16,86,796 including 3,45,377 active cases and 1,11,81,253 total recoveries.

India reported 40,715 new COVID-19 cases, 29,785 recoveries, and 199 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday. With this, the total cases mounted to 1,16,86,796 including 3,45,377 active cases and 1,11,81,253 total recoveries. The death toll has gone up to 1,60,166. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), as many as 9,67,459 samples were tested on March 22.A total of 23,54,13,233 samples had been tested up to March 22, ICMR said on Tuesday. Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are reporting a surge in daily COVID-19 cases and together they account for 80.5 percent of the total new cases registered in the last 24 hours, informed the union health ministry on Monday. As of day-66 of the vaccination drive, more than 4.72 Cr COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered. More than 19.65 lakh vaccine doses were given till 7 pm on Monday.

India reports 40,715 fresh COVID-19 cases, 199 deaths in last 24 hours

After US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's visit, Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar is in New Delhi for talks. The US faces the deadline of May 1 to withdraw troops. What is India's role in the peace negotiations? WION's Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Will US troops leave Afghanistan in May?

Historical accounts say Indians have been sailing the South China Sea for 1,500 years. Today, New Delhi has more in common with the region than China. WION's Molly Gambhir tells you what is at stake for India in the region.

Gravitas: What is at stake for India in the South China Sea?

The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted a resolution against Sri Lanka's rights accord. 22 members out of 47 voted in favour of it. 11 members voted against the resolution. India was among 14 countries that abstained from voting.

Your Story: 22 nations voted in favour of UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka

News Alert: UNHRC adopts resolution against Sri Lanka's rights accord

The COVID-19 pandemic is ragging across India. The country has recorded its biggest single-day spike in 4 months with close to 47,000 new infections. Even as it continues to expand its vaccine drive the question remains, is India on the brink of the second COVID-19 wave?

Your Story: India records biggest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases in 4 months

India reported 43,846 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, the biggest daily jump in four months, as its richest state Maharashtra continued to account for more than half of the infections. 
 
Deaths rose by 197, the highest in more than two months, to 159,755, the health ministry reported. 
 
The rise in India’s COVID-19 cases peaked at nearly 100,000 a day in September, and had been falling steadily until late last month.

India reported 43,846 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, the biggest daily jump in four months, as its richest state Maharashtra continued to account for more than half of the infections.

India reported 43,846 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, the biggest daily jump in four months, as its richest state Maharashtra continued to account for more than half of the infections. Deaths rose by 197, the highest in more than two months, to 159,755, the health ministry reported. The rise in India’s COVID-19 cases peaked at nearly 100,000 a day in September, and had been falling steadily until late last month.

India's new daily coronavirus cases hit four-month high

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