Community service in COVID-19 era, Sikh shrine in Delhi feeds 75,000 people per day. Watch this video to know more.

Community service in COVID-19 era, Sikh shrine in Delhi feeds 75,000 people per day

Pakistan has said that water discharge in Chenab river has come down significantly, a claim that has been termed by India as "baseless narrative".

In a letter to Indian Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Saxena sent on Wednesday, his Pakistani counterpart Syed Mohammed Meher Ali Shah stated that the discharge at Marala Headworks on Chenab, which flows into Pakistan from the Indian side, has unexpectedly reduced to 18,700 cusecs from 31,853 cusecs.

He also asked Saxena to look into the situation and apprise him.

The Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters termed the claim as "another baseless narrative" by Pakistan and said the matter has been examined.

"The discharges at Akhnoor and Sidhra which are the last gauge and discharge sites on Chenab and Tawi rivers respectively in India have been found consistent and show no significant variation during the stated period," Saxena told PTI on Friday.

He added the same response has been conveyed to Pakistan advising it to get the matter examined instead.

The Permanent Indus Commission, formed under the Indus Waters Treaty was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960. Indus commissioners of both the countries act as representatives of the respective governments for the treaty matters.

The treaty provides for both the commissioners to meet at least once every year, alternately in India and Pakistan.

It specifies that the waters of three the eastern rivers namely Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, have been allocated exclusively to India.

Of the total 168 million acre-feet, India's share of water from the three allotted rivers is 33 million acre-feet, which constitutes nearly 20 per cent. India uses 93-94 per cent of water.

The western rivers, namely Indus, Chenab and Jhelum, are allocated to Pakistan with India given some rights like agriculture, navigation, domestic use and also the unrestricted rights to develop hydroelectric power projects within the specified parameters of design and operations.

In March, the annual meeting between Indus Commissioners was postponed after New Delhi proposed deferment of consultations due to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown.

The Indus Commissioners are supposed to hold meeting by March 31 every year, according to the Indus Waters Treaty.

Pakistan has said that water discharge in Chenab river has come down significantly, a claim that has been termed by India as "baseless narrative". In a letter to Indian Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Saxena sent on Wednesday, his Pakistani counterpart Syed Mohammed Meher Ali Shah stated that the discharge at Marala Headworks on Chenab, which flows into Pakistan from the Indian side, has unexpectedly reduced to 18,700 cusecs from 31,853 cusecs.

Pakistan has said that water discharge in Chenab river has come down significantly, a claim that has been termed by India as "baseless narrative". In a letter to Indian Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Saxena sent on Wednesday, his Pakistani counterpart Syed Mohammed Meher Ali Shah stated that the discharge at Marala Headworks on Chenab, which flows into Pakistan from the Indian side, has unexpectedly reduced to 18,700 cusecs from 31,853 cusecs. He also asked Saxena to look into the situation and apprise him. The Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters termed the claim as "another baseless narrative" by Pakistan and said the matter has been examined. "The discharges at Akhnoor and Sidhra which are the last gauge and discharge sites on Chenab and Tawi rivers respectively in India have been found consistent and show no significant variation during the stated period," Saxena told PTI on Friday. He added the same response has been conveyed to Pakistan advising it to get the matter examined instead. The Permanent Indus Commission, formed under the Indus Waters Treaty was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960. Indus commissioners of both the countries act as representatives of the respective governments for the treaty matters. The treaty provides for both the commissioners to meet at least once every year, alternately in India and Pakistan. It specifies that the waters of three the eastern rivers namely Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, have been allocated exclusively to India. Of the total 168 million acre-feet, India's share of water from the three allotted rivers is 33 million acre-feet, which constitutes nearly 20 per cent. India uses 93-94 per cent of water. The western rivers, namely Indus, Chenab and Jhelum, are allocated to Pakistan with India given some rights like agriculture, navigation, domestic use and also the unrestricted rights to develop hydroelectric power projects within the specified parameters of design and operations. In March, the annual meeting between Indus Commissioners was postponed after New Delhi proposed deferment of consultations due to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown. The Indus Commissioners are supposed to hold meeting by March 31 every year, according to the Indus Waters Treaty.

Pak claims water flow in Chenab reduced significantly; India terms it baseless narrative

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/vande-bharat-india-kicks-off-biggest-repatriation-mission-amid-covid-19-crisis-297087">coronavirus</a> pandemic has seen a major shift in public sentiment, and it looks like trust in governments around the world is at an all-time high.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-covid-19-pandemic-china-wages-silent-war-in-international-waters-297079">Also Read:&nbsp;Amid COVID-19 pandemic, China wages 'silent war' in international waters</a>

According to the consultancy Edelman’s Trust Barometer report, individuals have started putting more trust in their government than any other institution for the first time in 20 years.

Governments are now more trusted than businesses, non-profits and the media. It was the only institution trusted by more than 62 per cent&nbsp;of the population.

Edelman has surveyed more than 13,000 people in 11 countries including the U., U., India and China.. The latest report contrasts with their January survey.

The January survey showed businesses as the most trusted institution while government and media tied as the least trusted. As per the new results, &nbsp;trust in government jumped nearly 11 per cent from 54 per cent&nbsp;in January to 65 per cent&nbsp;in April.

Public trust in government was highest in China, India and Saudi Arabia. In India, there has been a 6 per cent&nbsp;rise in people's trust in the government.

The countries where the trust was found lowest are France, the US and Japan.

The countries which witnessed a massive shift in public's trust were the UK, Canada, Germany and South Korea. These countries witnessed a double digit rise in public trust.

In the United States, 46 per cent respondents said that they trusted the federal government. While 66 per cent&nbsp;said they had trust in local or state government. Globally, a large majority of people even said that they wanted government to lead in multiple areas of the pandemic response. This includes containing the pandemic, informing the public and providing economic relief.

Since 2011, mistrust in governments has been on a rise. For the first time in years, the public is relying on the government to protect them in a manner not seen since World War II.

This kind of rise of trust is a classic example of what experts call "rallying around the flag".

The report seems to indicate that people trust strong and decisive leadership - may be even leaning towards authoritarianism. However, this could end up to be a dangerous precedent for the world.

The coronavirus pandemic has seen a major shift in public sentiment, and it looks like trust in governments around the world is at an all-time high. Also Read: Amid COVID-19 pandemic, China wages 'silent war' in international waters According to the consultancy Edelman’s Trust Barometer report, individuals have started putting more trust in their government than any other institution for the first time in 20 years.

The coronavirus pandemic has seen a major shift in public sentiment, and it looks like trust in governments around the world is at an all-time high. Also Read: Amid COVID-19 pandemic, China wages 'silent war' in international waters According to the consultancy Edelman’s Trust Barometer report, individuals have started putting more trust in their government than any other institution for the first time in 20 years. Governments are now more trusted than businesses, non-profits and the media. It was the only institution trusted by more than 62 per cent of the population. Edelman has surveyed more than 13,000 people in 11 countries including the U., U., India and China.. The latest report contrasts with their January survey. The January survey showed businesses as the most trusted institution while government and media tied as the least trusted. As per the new results, trust in government jumped nearly 11 per cent from 54 per cent in January to 65 per cent in April. Public trust in government was highest in China, India and Saudi Arabia. In India, there has been a 6 per cent rise in people's trust in the government. The countries where the trust was found lowest are France, the US and Japan. The countries which witnessed a massive shift in public's trust were the UK, Canada, Germany and South Korea. These countries witnessed a double digit rise in public trust. In the United States, 46 per cent respondents said that they trusted the federal government. While 66 per cent said they had trust in local or state government. Globally, a large majority of people even said that they wanted government to lead in multiple areas of the pandemic response. This includes containing the pandemic, informing the public and providing economic relief. Since 2011, mistrust in governments has been on a rise. For the first time in years, the public is relying on the government to protect them in a manner not seen since World War II. This kind of rise of trust is a classic example of what experts call "rallying around the flag". The report seems to indicate that people trust strong and decisive leadership - may be even leaning towards authoritarianism. However, this could end up to be a dangerous precedent for the world.

Trust in governments rise amid coronavirus outbreak: Study

India on Tuesday increased taxes and duties on petrol and diesel, as the government moves to raise revenues in an economy that has ground to a halt in the coronavirus crisis.

Taxes and duties on petrol and diesel were increased by 10 Rs/litre and 13 Rs/litre, respectively.

The government, however, said in a statement that local pump prices would not be affected.

In the international markets, prices of fuel have declined substantially amid the slump in global crude oil demand.

Some state governments earlier on Tuesday sharply raised taxes on alcohol, which reopened to sales for the first time after March 25 when India entered a nationwide lockdown owing to the coronavirus pandemic. 
&nbsp; 
India has so far reported 49,391 coronavirus cases, and the death toll stands at 1,694.

India on Tuesday increased taxes and duties on petrol and diesel, as the government moves to raise revenues in an economy that has ground to a halt in the coronavirus crisis.

India on Tuesday increased taxes and duties on petrol and diesel, as the government moves to raise revenues in an economy that has ground to a halt in the coronavirus crisis. Taxes and duties on petrol and diesel were increased by 10 Rs/litre and 13 Rs/litre, respectively. The government, however, said in a statement that local pump prices would not be affected. In the international markets, prices of fuel have declined substantially amid the slump in global crude oil demand. Some state governments earlier on Tuesday sharply raised taxes on alcohol, which reopened to sales for the first time after March 25 when India entered a nationwide lockdown owing to the coronavirus pandemic. India has so far reported 49,391 coronavirus cases, and the death toll stands at 1,694.

India hikes taxes on petrol, diesel amid coronavirus crisis

India is working with some Arab Gulf states in an effort to repatriate hundreds of thousands of migrant laborers stranded by the coronavirus pandemic

India's massive repatriation plan to start from May 7

Coronavirus confirmed cases in India surge to 49,391 out of which close to 3000 cases have been recorded in just the last 24-hours. More than 1300 people have lost their lives. watch report.

India coronavirus death toll stand at 1,694 | 49,391 confirmed cases | COVID-19 Pandemic

India is developing a land pool that is almost double the size of Luxembourg. New Delhi is promising easy access to land for companies leaving China. WION's Palki Sharma tells you about India's plans to lure businesses away from China.

Gravitas: How India is planning to attract firms from China

India's COVID-19 count inched close to the 50,000-mark as the states registered 2,958 fresh coronavirus cases in last 24 hours. The deadly novel coronavirus infected 49,391 in India.

Confirmed cases Surge To 49 , 391 In India

United States President Donald Trump has nominated Indian-Americans for key positions in his administration.

AS REPRESENTATIVE TO IBRD

Ashok Michael Pinto has been nominated as a representative to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

Trump had announced his intent to nominate Pinto for this position on April 9.&nbsp;

Pinto currently serves as Counselor to the Under Secretary for International Affairs at the United States Department of the Treasury.

Pinto was on Monday nominated as US Alternate Executive Director of IBRD for a term of two years. He, if confirmed by the Senate, would replace Erik Bethel.

Pinto was Special Assistant and Associate Counsel to President George W Bush during private practice at two international law firms. He was also a law clerk to Judge F A Little, Jr Of the United State District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.

He has also held senior leadership roles in the United States Congress, including Chief Investigative Counsel and Policy Director to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in the Senate, Chief Counsel for Investigations to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in the House of Representatives, and Special Counsel to the Committee on the Judiciary in the Senate.

Bethel has resigned from the post.

AS FEDERAL COURT JUDGE

Trump also nominated an Indian-American attorney to a federal court in New York -- the judge of the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Saritha Komatireddy is a prosecutor and teaches law at the Columbia Law School.

She has clerked under the former judge of the same district, Brett Kavanaugh. 
Komatireddy is currently Deputy Chief of General Crimes in the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.

Previously she was Acting Deputy Chief, International Narcotics and Money Laundering (June, 2018 - January, 2019) and Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Coordinator (2016-2019).

Komatireddy has served as a law clerk to then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She also served as counsel to the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling.

On February 12 this year, Trump had announced his intent to nominate Komatireddy to serve as a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

AS OECD ENVOY

Trump has nominated senior Indian-American diplomat Manisha Singh as his envoy to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Currently Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs at the State Department, Singh will be the US representative to OECD with the rank of an Ambassador.

Paris-based OECD is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 36 member countries to stimulate economic progress and world trade.

On April 27, Trump had announced his intent to nominate Singh for this position. 
Singh.

Singh has previously served as the acting under secretary of Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment and as a deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs at the State Department.

She also previously served as the deputy chief counsel to the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Singh was the Senior Fellow for International Economic Affairs at the American Foreign Policy Council and was a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

United States President Donald Trump has nominated Indian-Americans for key positions in his administration. AS REPRESENTATIVE TO IBRD Ashok Michael Pinto has been nominated as a representative to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

United States President Donald Trump has nominated Indian-Americans for key positions in his administration. AS REPRESENTATIVE TO IBRD Ashok Michael Pinto has been nominated as a representative to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). Trump had announced his intent to nominate Pinto for this position on April 9. Pinto currently serves as Counselor to the Under Secretary for International Affairs at the United States Department of the Treasury. Pinto was on Monday nominated as US Alternate Executive Director of IBRD for a term of two years. He, if confirmed by the Senate, would replace Erik Bethel. Pinto was Special Assistant and Associate Counsel to President George W Bush during private practice at two international law firms. He was also a law clerk to Judge F A Little, Jr Of the United State District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. He has also held senior leadership roles in the United States Congress, including Chief Investigative Counsel and Policy Director to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in the Senate, Chief Counsel for Investigations to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in the House of Representatives, and Special Counsel to the Committee on the Judiciary in the Senate. Bethel has resigned from the post. AS FEDERAL COURT JUDGE Trump also nominated an Indian-American attorney to a federal court in New York -- the judge of the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Saritha Komatireddy is a prosecutor and teaches law at the Columbia Law School. She has clerked under the former judge of the same district, Brett Kavanaugh. Komatireddy is currently Deputy Chief of General Crimes in the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. Previously she was Acting Deputy Chief, International Narcotics and Money Laundering (June, 2018 - January, 2019) and Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Coordinator (2016-2019). Komatireddy has served as a law clerk to then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She also served as counsel to the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. On February 12 this year, Trump had announced his intent to nominate Komatireddy to serve as a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. AS OECD ENVOY Trump has nominated senior Indian-American diplomat Manisha Singh as his envoy to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Currently Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs at the State Department, Singh will be the US representative to OECD with the rank of an Ambassador. Paris-based OECD is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 36 member countries to stimulate economic progress and world trade. On April 27, Trump had announced his intent to nominate Singh for this position. Singh. Singh has previously served as the acting under secretary of Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment and as a deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs at the State Department. She also previously served as the deputy chief counsel to the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Singh was the Senior Fellow for International Economic Affairs at the American Foreign Policy Council and was a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Trump nominates Indian-Americans as US representative to IBRD, federal court judge and OECD envoy

Independent India's largest evacuation effort is all set to begin to get back its citizen stranded abroad due to coronavirus crisis. As many as 1,92,000 people will be evacuated in the first phase of the exercise starting May 7th with the focus being on the gulf.

India's largest overseas evacuation to bring back 1.92 lakh nationals

Every summer buyers in India patiently wait for the king of fruit, mangoes. But after nearly 30 years mangoes await their buyers.

In India, mangoes await their buyers

The total number of coronavirus cases in the country has climbed to 42,533. The death toll has increased to 1,373 as India recorded 72 deaths in last 24 hours.

India records 72 deaths, 2,553 cases in last 24 hours

India has lodged a strong protest against the orders by Islamabad to "bring material change in Pakistan occupied territories" in Jammu and Kashmir. New Delhi also said Islamabad must "immediately vacate them", in the wake of an order by Pakistan's Supreme Court on Gilgit-Baltistan.

India delivered a demarche on Monday to a senior Pakistan diplomat conveying that "the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India" by virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable accession.

Pakistan's government or its judiciary has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it, New Delhi said.

"India completely rejects such actions and continued attempts to bring material changes in Pakistan occupied areas of the Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Instead, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, in a note.

India was reacting to a Pakistan's Supreme Court order that allowed its government to hold elections in September in Gilgit-Baltistan. The order implied Gilgit-Baltistan came within its domain, and that Pakistan could set up a caretaker government during the interim period.

The MEA further said "such actions can neither hide the illegal occupation of parts of Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh by Pakistan nor the grave human rights violations, exploitation and denial of freedom to the people residing in Pakistan occupied territories for the past seven decades."

The Government of India’s position in the matter is also reflected in the resolution passed by the Parliament in 1994 by consensus.

India has lodged a strong protest against the orders by Islamabad to "bring material change in Pakistan occupied territories" in Jammu and Kashmir. New Delhi also said Islamabad must "immediately vacate them", in the wake of an order by Pakistan's Supreme Court on Gilgit-Baltistan.

India has lodged a strong protest against the orders by Islamabad to "bring material change in Pakistan occupied territories" in Jammu and Kashmir. New Delhi also said Islamabad must "immediately vacate them", in the wake of an order by Pakistan's Supreme Court on Gilgit-Baltistan. India delivered a demarche on Monday to a senior Pakistan diplomat conveying that "the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India" by virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable accession. Pakistan's government or its judiciary has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it, New Delhi said. "India completely rejects such actions and continued attempts to bring material changes in Pakistan occupied areas of the Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Instead, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, in a note. India was reacting to a Pakistan's Supreme Court order that allowed its government to hold elections in September in Gilgit-Baltistan. The order implied Gilgit-Baltistan came within its domain, and that Pakistan could set up a caretaker government during the interim period. The MEA further said "such actions can neither hide the illegal occupation of parts of Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh by Pakistan nor the grave human rights violations, exploitation and denial of freedom to the people residing in Pakistan occupied territories for the past seven decades." The Government of India’s position in the matter is also reflected in the resolution passed by the Parliament in 1994 by consensus.

India registers protest against bringing 'material changes' in Pak-occupied areas in J&K

India on Sunday confirmed 2,644 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 39,280.&nbsp;

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also said that 83 deaths are recorded in the last 24 hours.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/68-more-crpf-personnel-test-positive-for-covid-19-overall-total-at-127-296258">68 more CRPF personnel test positive for COVID-19, overall total at 127</a>

With the latest figures updated by the Centre, the total number of coronavirus cases in the country stand at 39,280, including 1301 deaths.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/migrant-worker-cycles-from-maharashtra-to-up-dies-mid-way-296223">Migrant worker cycles from Maharashtra to UP; dies mid-way</a>

At least 10,633 people have either been cured or discharged or migrated.&nbsp;

Of the total deaths, Maharashtra witnessed the maximum with 521 fatalities, followed by Gujarat (262), Madhya Pradesh (151), Rajasthan (65), Delhi (64), and Uttar Pradesh (43). &nbsp;

West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh have recorded 33 fatalities each.

Maharashtra is far ahead in the total number of infections too, 12,296 and is followed by Gujarat and Delhi with 5,064 and 4,122 cases.&nbsp;

India on Friday extended the nationwide lockdown for the second time for two weeks till May 17.

However, the Central government has given some relaxations after classifying the states as "red", "orange", and "green" zones on the basis of the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths.&nbsp;

India on Sunday confirmed 2,644 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 39,280. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also said that 83 deaths are recorded in the last 24 hours.

India on Sunday confirmed 2,644 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 39,280. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also said that 83 deaths are recorded in the last 24 hours. Also read | 68 more CRPF personnel test positive for COVID-19, overall total at 127 With the latest figures updated by the Centre, the total number of coronavirus cases in the country stand at 39,280, including 1301 deaths. Also read | Migrant worker cycles from Maharashtra to UP; dies mid-way At least 10,633 people have either been cured or discharged or migrated. Of the total deaths, Maharashtra witnessed the maximum with 521 fatalities, followed by Gujarat (262), Madhya Pradesh (151), Rajasthan (65), Delhi (64), and Uttar Pradesh (43). West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh have recorded 33 fatalities each. Maharashtra is far ahead in the total number of infections too, 12,296 and is followed by Gujarat and Delhi with 5,064 and 4,122 cases. India on Friday extended the nationwide lockdown for the second time for two weeks till May 17. However, the Central government has given some relaxations after classifying the states as "red", "orange", and "green" zones on the basis of the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Over 2,500 coronavirus cases in 24 hours as India nears 40,000-mark

India's lead counsel on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, Harish Salve, on Saturday said that he might have to move the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to get direction for Pakistan to implement the court's judgement of the case.

India might have to hear to ICJ again

A day after the government extended nationwide lockdown for another two weeks, India reported 2,293 novel coronavirus cases, the highest single-day rise.

With the latest figures released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of infections stand at 37,336, including 1,218 deaths.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-indias-home-ministry-extends-lockdown-by-two-weeks-till-may-17-296127">COVID-19: India's home ministry extends lockdown by two weeks till May 17</a>

A total of 9,950 people have also either cured or discharged or migrated, according to the official data.&nbsp;

Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mumbai-reports-751-cases-delhi-records-223-coronavirus-cases-in-24-hours-296193">Mumbai reports 751 cases, Delhi records 223 coronavirus cases in 24 hours</a>

As per the Central government figures, Maharashtra continues to remain the worst-hit state, both in terms of total infections and deaths with 11,506 cases, including 485 fatalities.

Another western state, Gujarat is the second-worst, both in the total number of cases and fatality count, with 4721 cases, including 236 deaths.

In Madhya Pradesh, at least 145 people have died from coronavirus and is followed by Rajasthan and Delhi with 62 and 61 fatalities respectively. Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajashtan have reported 3,738, 2,719, and 2,666 positive cases respectively. 
 
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday extended the 40-day nationwide lockdown that is scheduled to end on May 3 for another two weeks. &nbsp;

However, the order said that some activities would be allowed in "red", "orange" "green zones", which are classified on the basis of the number of cases reported.&nbsp;

The home ministry also announced that Indian Railways would operate special passenger trains to ferry stranded migrant workers and others back home.

A day after the government extended nationwide lockdown for another two weeks, India reported 2,293 novel coronavirus cases, the highest single-day rise. With the latest figures released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of infections stand at 37,336, including 1,218 deaths.

A day after the government extended nationwide lockdown for another two weeks, India reported 2,293 novel coronavirus cases, the highest single-day rise. With the latest figures released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of infections stand at 37,336, including 1,218 deaths. Also read | COVID-19: India's home ministry extends lockdown by two weeks till May 17 A total of 9,950 people have also either cured or discharged or migrated, according to the official data. Also read | Mumbai reports 751 cases, Delhi records 223 coronavirus cases in 24 hours As per the Central government figures, Maharashtra continues to remain the worst-hit state, both in terms of total infections and deaths with 11,506 cases, including 485 fatalities. Another western state, Gujarat is the second-worst, both in the total number of cases and fatality count, with 4721 cases, including 236 deaths. In Madhya Pradesh, at least 145 people have died from coronavirus and is followed by Rajasthan and Delhi with 62 and 61 fatalities respectively. Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajashtan have reported 3,738, 2,719, and 2,666 positive cases respectively. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday extended the 40-day nationwide lockdown that is scheduled to end on May 3 for another two weeks. However, the order said that some activities would be allowed in "red", "orange" "green zones", which are classified on the basis of the number of cases reported. The home ministry also announced that Indian Railways would operate special passenger trains to ferry stranded migrant workers and others back home.

Coronavirus: Day after India extends lockdown, country witnesses highest single-day rise with 2,293 new cases

India has announced the extension of limited lockdown till May 17. But the curbs may not result in a big economic loss this time as the major economic activities have been allowed, especially in orange and green zones.

"Growth calculations won't change dramatically and a two-week extension can't be a decisive factor for economic growth. In fact, extension will help in the faster economic recovery as any further spread will be avoided", said&nbsp;Arvind Panagariya, renowned economist and former vice chairman of a policy think tank of the Indian government, in an interview to WION's Business Editor Sumit Chaturvedi.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqdCUKdjfHs">Watch the full interview here</a>-

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/coronavirus-day-after-india-extends-lockdown-country-witnesses-highest-single-day-rise-with-2293-new-cases-296221">Coronavirus: Day after India extends lockdown, country witnesses highest single-day rise with 2,293 new cases</a>

The nationwide lockdown in India which has been observed since March 25 has seen a gradual easing of activities. The second extension was announced on May 1.&nbsp;

India is preparing itself for the economic challenges that can be faced after the lockdown gets over. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently held a meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other officials on the ways to attract foreign direct investment into the country.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
India is striving to become an alternative to China as a manufacturing hub in the post-coronavirus world but attracting FDI will be a daunting task. Also Asia has many destinations for competitive manufacturing.&nbsp;

"India's competition is with Vietnam and Bangladesh where labour and land are available at reasonable prices. Global firms are going to smaller Asian nations for cheap manufacturing as business environment is better in other countries. Also bigger special economic zones are required to attract manufacturers and industries. Small SEZs may not attract investments", said Panagariya who is currently professor of Economics at Columbia University and Director, Raj Center at Columbia's School of international and public affairs.

"Also after coming down initially, &nbsp;the economic growth will bounce back in India."

"The vaccine will possibly be out within a year and we can also start normal economic activity. Then 6-7% growth will be possible very quickly. growth will be better in 2021-22", added Panagariya talking on the possibility of Indian economy bouncing back once the pandemic is over.

 
&nbsp;

India has announced the extension of limited lockdown till May 17. But the curbs may not result in a big economic loss this time as the major economic activities have been allowed, especially in orange and green zones.

India has announced the extension of limited lockdown till May 17. But the curbs may not result in a big economic loss this time as the major economic activities have been allowed, especially in orange and green zones. "Growth calculations won't change dramatically and a two-week extension can't be a decisive factor for economic growth. In fact, extension will help in the faster economic recovery as any further spread will be avoided", said Arvind Panagariya, renowned economist and former vice chairman of a policy think tank of the Indian government, in an interview to WION's Business Editor Sumit Chaturvedi. Watch the full interview here- Also read | Coronavirus: Day after India extends lockdown, country witnesses highest single-day rise with 2,293 new cases The nationwide lockdown in India which has been observed since March 25 has seen a gradual easing of activities. The second extension was announced on May 1. India is preparing itself for the economic challenges that can be faced after the lockdown gets over. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently held a meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other officials on the ways to attract foreign direct investment into the country. India is striving to become an alternative to China as a manufacturing hub in the post-coronavirus world but attracting FDI will be a daunting task. Also Asia has many destinations for competitive manufacturing. "India's competition is with Vietnam and Bangladesh where labour and land are available at reasonable prices. Global firms are going to smaller Asian nations for cheap manufacturing as business environment is better in other countries. Also bigger special economic zones are required to attract manufacturers and industries. Small SEZs may not attract investments", said Panagariya who is currently professor of Economics at Columbia University and Director, Raj Center at Columbia's School of international and public affairs. "Also after coming down initially, the economic growth will bounce back in India." "The vaccine will possibly be out within a year and we can also start normal economic activity. Then 6-7% growth will be possible very quickly. growth will be better in 2021-22", added Panagariya talking on the possibility of Indian economy bouncing back once the pandemic is over.

EXCLUSIVE: Lockdown extension will lead to a faster recovery, says top economist Arvind Panagariya

The Indian government on Tuesday criticised the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for placing India among the list of countries which violate religious freedom.

The USCIRF is an independent federal government entity set up by the US Congress to monitor and report on religious freedom in the world. It had designated India as a 'Country of Particular Concern' on religious freedom -- whose governments engage in or tolerate systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom. India was placed along side Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia among others.&nbsp;

"We are seeing impunity for violence by non-state actors committed against religious minorities," USCIRF chair Tony Perkins said about India.

To this end, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said: "We reject the observations on India in the USCIRF annual report."

Describing the USCIRF's comments against India, "biased and tendentious" and "not new", the spokesperson said, "But on this occasion, its misrepresentation has reached new levels. It has not been able to carry its own Commissioners in its endeavour."

The government said that it regards it as "an organisation of particular concern and will treat it accordingly."

The Indian government on Tuesday criticised the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for placing India among the list of countries which violate religious freedom.

The Indian government on Tuesday criticised the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for placing India among the list of countries which violate religious freedom. The USCIRF is an independent federal government entity set up by the US Congress to monitor and report on religious freedom in the world. It had designated India as a 'Country of Particular Concern' on religious freedom -- whose governments engage in or tolerate systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom. India was placed along side Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia among others. "We are seeing impunity for violence by non-state actors committed against religious minorities," USCIRF chair Tony Perkins said about India. To this end, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said: "We reject the observations on India in the USCIRF annual report." Describing the USCIRF's comments against India, "biased and tendentious" and "not new", the spokesperson said, "But on this occasion, its misrepresentation has reached new levels. It has not been able to carry its own Commissioners in its endeavour." The government said that it regards it as "an organisation of particular concern and will treat it accordingly."

India slams US body for accusing it of violating religious freedom

India has slammed US religious panel report which has reached new levels of misrepresentation. The report says that minorities are under increasing assault in India. Watch report.

India snubs US religious panel: India listed along with Pak, North Korea

The world and the world around us has become uncertain. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic will be felt by India both internally and externally. &nbsp;

Internally, a full lockdown cannot continue because the economy needs to be unlocked. Reignited. India needs to start working, even if a real threat of COVID-19 pandemic persists. We cannot surrender our future to a virus. A month lockdown has brought an already slowing economy to a grinding halt. &nbsp;

Externally, the world economies will become inward-looking. The global recession is underway. Liberal economic order is taking a bow as protectionism will now flourish. In the geopolitical order, India will be the middle power between the United States and China. It will have substantial bargaining power in a deepening US-China confrontation. &nbsp;

In the last two months, the pandemic scenario was so dynamic, that it was difficult to reflect upon the impact. An extended lockdown in India, the opaqueness and the revelations concerning China’s role and the abdication of the United States to lead the world in overcoming this crisis has made the picture clearer. &nbsp;

Internal Challenges and Opportunities&nbsp;

There is a prediction of zero percentage GDP Growth for India. India will bear ‘catastrophic consequences’ and 40 crore jobs are at peril, as per an ILO report. A large number of people are already losing their jobs and many small businesses have started bearing the brunt. Unorganised sector — which is already enduring the burden of an unplanned lockdown is hurt the most. Millions are becoming poor. Migrants have still not reached home. Women and children isolated in the houses have become vulnerable owing to a spike in the cases of abuse. Societal fissures have deepened, owing to the complacency of governments in allowing religious congregations in the beginning. Communal harmony is in danger. &nbsp;

The Central government has announced two major packages. First, an ‘economic package’ worth Rs 1.7 lakh crore for the poor, which entails bare minimum cash transfers to women, some minuscule help to health workers, no real help for farmers and zero assistance to the small and medium businesses. Second, an ‘Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package’ worth Rs 15,000 crores has been announced for states. &nbsp;

Health is a state subject. It is the states which are required to take lead in fighting the pandemic. However, no real funding has been given to states. For instance, Punjab has been handed over a pittance sum of Rs 71 crores to fight the pandemic. A big state like Karnataka has been allocated only Rs 395 crores. Kerala which has the second-highest number of cases has been allocated Rs 157 crores. This is too little. The union government should increase this funding so that states can start building the requisite healthcare infrastructure. &nbsp;

Supply chains are still disrupted. People are hungry and are mortgaging their dignity to stand in long queues, to get cooked food either from private bodies. Only 15 per cent&nbsp;of the poor have received the promised pulses under the union government’s package. Around 11 crore poor are estimated to be out of the entitled PDS net and are on the verge of starvation. &nbsp;

Even the most ardent supporters of the market economy feel that this is no time for fiscal prudence and a loosening of purse strings is the need of the hour. Cash transfers to the poor, tax breaks to industry, and deferment of loans, employee retaining packages for the small industries, wrapped in a large stimulus package is the need of the hour. How India deals with its economy would have a direct impact on its external trade and geopolitics at large. A nation’s external policy is shaped by its internal stability. &nbsp;

External Challenges and Opportunities &nbsp;

There is an economic web angle to the current crisis. US Fed’s balance sheet is now at record levels above $6 trillion, after the central bank pumped almost $2 trillion in quantitative easing since late February. The United States, therefore, is running high trade deficits and acting as a consumer market. Closer to home, China is acting as an investor. It wants to put the Yuan on the global currency map. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its numerous infrastructure projects make it an ideal power for smaller countries to gravitate towards itself. 
 
However, there is a constraint. With businesses shut in most of the developed world, who will China export too? After, all Economy 101 is based on supply and demand. With the demand weakening, can China retain its position as a major exporter? &nbsp;

India is in a unique position to bargain. On one side, the US would want India to spearhead its economic and geostrategic potential to counter China. Given that India also has a large sector for vaccination and pharmaceuticals, it would be heavily wooed by the United States. On the other side of the spectrum, China would want India to continue increasing its trade with it, the latter being a massive consumer market for its goods. &nbsp;

The newfound negotiating power of India places it as the middle power between two confrontationist nation-states. Yes, there will be other powers like Russia, Japan, and EU et al which may join either camp. However, traditional Indian foreign policy prefers installing ‘tents’ in either block to joining any ‘camp’ and that position will only get strengthened. &nbsp;

All this will be contingent on how India strengthens its economy — internally. And that should be our only focus, for the time being.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

 
&nbsp;

The world and the world around us has become uncertain. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic will be felt by India both internally and externally. Internally, a full lockdown cannot continue because the economy needs to be unlocked.

The world and the world around us has become uncertain. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic will be felt by India both internally and externally. Internally, a full lockdown cannot continue because the economy needs to be unlocked. Reignited. India needs to start working, even if a real threat of COVID-19 pandemic persists. We cannot surrender our future to a virus. A month lockdown has brought an already slowing economy to a grinding halt. Externally, the world economies will become inward-looking. The global recession is underway. Liberal economic order is taking a bow as protectionism will now flourish. In the geopolitical order, India will be the middle power between the United States and China. It will have substantial bargaining power in a deepening US-China confrontation. In the last two months, the pandemic scenario was so dynamic, that it was difficult to reflect upon the impact. An extended lockdown in India, the opaqueness and the revelations concerning China’s role and the abdication of the United States to lead the world in overcoming this crisis has made the picture clearer. Internal Challenges and Opportunities There is a prediction of zero percentage GDP Growth for India. India will bear ‘catastrophic consequences’ and 40 crore jobs are at peril, as per an ILO report. A large number of people are already losing their jobs and many small businesses have started bearing the brunt. Unorganised sector — which is already enduring the burden of an unplanned lockdown is hurt the most. Millions are becoming poor. Migrants have still not reached home. Women and children isolated in the houses have become vulnerable owing to a spike in the cases of abuse. Societal fissures have deepened, owing to the complacency of governments in allowing religious congregations in the beginning. Communal harmony is in danger. The Central government has announced two major packages. First, an ‘economic package’ worth Rs 1.7 lakh crore for the poor, which entails bare minimum cash transfers to women, some minuscule help to health workers, no real help for farmers and zero assistance to the small and medium businesses. Second, an ‘Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package’ worth Rs 15,000 crores has been announced for states. Health is a state subject. It is the states which are required to take lead in fighting the pandemic. However, no real funding has been given to states. For instance, Punjab has been handed over a pittance sum of Rs 71 crores to fight the pandemic. A big state like Karnataka has been allocated only Rs 395 crores. Kerala which has the second-highest number of cases has been allocated Rs 157 crores. This is too little. The union government should increase this funding so that states can start building the requisite healthcare infrastructure. Supply chains are still disrupted. People are hungry and are mortgaging their dignity to stand in long queues, to get cooked food either from private bodies. Only 15 per cent of the poor have received the promised pulses under the union government’s package. Around 11 crore poor are estimated to be out of the entitled PDS net and are on the verge of starvation. Even the most ardent supporters of the market economy feel that this is no time for fiscal prudence and a loosening of purse strings is the need of the hour. Cash transfers to the poor, tax breaks to industry, and deferment of loans, employee retaining packages for the small industries, wrapped in a large stimulus package is the need of the hour. How India deals with its economy would have a direct impact on its external trade and geopolitics at large. A nation’s external policy is shaped by its internal stability. External Challenges and Opportunities There is an economic web angle to the current crisis. US Fed’s balance sheet is now at record levels above $6 trillion, after the central bank pumped almost $2 trillion in quantitative easing since late February. The United States, therefore, is running high trade deficits and acting as a consumer market. Closer to home, China is acting as an investor. It wants to put the Yuan on the global currency map. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its numerous infrastructure projects make it an ideal power for smaller countries to gravitate towards itself. However, there is a constraint. With businesses shut in most of the developed world, who will China export too? After, all Economy 101 is based on supply and demand. With the demand weakening, can China retain its position as a major exporter? India is in a unique position to bargain. On one side, the US would want India to spearhead its economic and geostrategic potential to counter China. Given that India also has a large sector for vaccination and pharmaceuticals, it would be heavily wooed by the United States. On the other side of the spectrum, China would want India to continue increasing its trade with it, the latter being a massive consumer market for its goods. The newfound negotiating power of India places it as the middle power between two confrontationist nation-states. Yes, there will be other powers like Russia, Japan, and EU et al which may join either camp. However, traditional Indian foreign policy prefers installing ‘tents’ in either block to joining any ‘camp’ and that position will only get strengthened. All this will be contingent on how India strengthens its economy — internally. And that should be our only focus, for the time being. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

India’s position in global order depends on how it restarts the economy post-COVID 19

Expressing gratitude to the people for India of doing whatever can be done in their capacity, PM Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the coronavirus fight in India is people-driven.&nbsp;

"This fight is being fought by the people and the administration together. Every citizen as a soldier is fighting this war," PM Modi said in his monthly radio address "Mann Ki Baat".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/with-1990-new-cases-india-witnesses-highest-coronavirus-cases-in-24-hour-period-294814">With 1,990 new cases, India witnesses highest coronavirus cases in 24-hour period</a>

The prime minister also said that farmers in India are ensuring that no one sleeps hungry in our country. &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MannKiBaat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MannKiBaat</a> | 'The last time we celebrated Ramzan, nobody thought the next time would be during such situations... We should work hard so that we can celebrate Eid as always', says Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> <a href="https://t.co/4oU7cX27C2">pic.twitter.com/4oU7cX27C2</a>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1254288898861043719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-lauds-india-post-postmen-for-their-stupendous-efforts-during-lockdown-294785">PM Modi lauds India Post, postmen for their 'stupendous efforts' during lockdown</a>

"Each person is fighting this war as per their capacity. Some are waiving off house rent, some labourers who are in quarantine at a school are whitewashing the school," he said.&nbsp;

PM Modi also spoke about the government's digital platform: http://covidwarriors.gov.in, where volunteers, people from civil society, and local administration would stay connected. He also said that 1.25 crore people including doctors, nurses, NCC cadets have already joined the platform.&nbsp;

He also said that the Centre, state governments and other institutions are working together to provide prompt relief from the crisis.&nbsp;

The prime minister also touched upon how lives would change post-COVID-19 crisis, saying that people are getting aware of the ill effects of spitting in public and the habit must be done away with.&nbsp;

Masks are becoming a part of our lives and of the civil society and one must wear it to protect himself and others&nbsp;from the virus, PM Modi said.&nbsp;

He also praised the state governments for taking a "proactive" approach to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak.&nbsp;

Expressing gratitude to the people for India of doing whatever can be done in their capacity, PM Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the coronavirus fight in India is people-driven.

Expressing gratitude to the people for India of doing whatever can be done in their capacity, PM Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the coronavirus fight in India is people-driven. "This fight is being fought by the people and the administration together. Every citizen as a soldier is fighting this war," PM Modi said in his monthly radio address "Mann Ki Baat". Also read | With 1,990 new cases, India witnesses highest coronavirus cases in 24-hour period The prime minister also said that farmers in India are ensuring that no one sleeps hungry in our country. #MannKiBaat | 'The last time we celebrated Ramzan, nobody thought the next time would be during such situations... We should work hard so that we can celebrate Eid as always', says Prime Minister @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/4oU7cX27C2 — WION (@WIONews) April 26, 2020 × Also read | PM Modi lauds India Post, postmen for their 'stupendous efforts' during lockdown "Each person is fighting this war as per their capacity. Some are waiving off house rent, some labourers who are in quarantine at a school are whitewashing the school," he said. PM Modi also spoke about the government's digital platform: http://covidwarriors.gov.in, where volunteers, people from civil society, and local administration would stay connected. He also said that 1.25 crore people including doctors, nurses, NCC cadets have already joined the platform. He also said that the Centre, state governments and other institutions are working together to provide prompt relief from the crisis. The prime minister also touched upon how lives would change post-COVID-19 crisis, saying that people are getting aware of the ill effects of spitting in public and the habit must be done away with. Masks are becoming a part of our lives and of the civil society and one must wear it to protect himself and others from the virus, PM Modi said. He also praised the state governments for taking a "proactive" approach to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak.

India's coronavirus fight is people-driven, says PM Narendra Modi in 'Mann Ki Baat'

As many as 1,990 new coronavirus cases were reported in India, the highest surge in cases in the 24-hour period.

With the latest figures confirmed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, coronavirus infections in India stand at 26,496, including 824 deaths. Also, 49 new deaths were reported in India in the last 24 hours.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sonia-gandhi-writes-to-pm-modi-seeks-financial-package-for-msme-sector-294769">Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi, seeks financial package for MSME sector</a>

At least 5,804 people have been cured or discharged or migrated in the country, according to the health ministry figures.&nbsp;

The latest spike in cases comes after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) allowed some businesses to reopen from Saturday, with conditions that social distancing and safety precautions must be taken.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, both in terms of deaths and cases, Maharashtra continues to remain the worst-hit Indian state with 7,628 coronavirus cases and 323 deaths, followed by Gujarat with 3,071 cases and 133 fatalities. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan have recorded 2,625, 2,095, and 2,083 cases respectively. In Madhya Pradesh, 99 people have died from the disease, while Delhi has reported 54 fatalities.&nbsp;

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation today in his monthly radio program "Mann Ki Baat" where he is expected to share some insights on the way forward.

India had earlier extended the 21-day lockdown till May 3 and on April 27, the PM will hold a virtual conference with the chief ministers where discussions would be taken on the status of lockdown.&nbsp;

As many as 1,990 new coronavirus cases were reported in India, the highest surge in cases in the 24-hour period. With the latest figures confirmed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, coronavirus infections in India stand at 26,496, including 824 deaths.

As many as 1,990 new coronavirus cases were reported in India, the highest surge in cases in the 24-hour period. With the latest figures confirmed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, coronavirus infections in India stand at 26,496, including 824 deaths. Also, 49 new deaths were reported in India in the last 24 hours. Also read | Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi, seeks financial package for MSME sector At least 5,804 people have been cured or discharged or migrated in the country, according to the health ministry figures. The latest spike in cases comes after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) allowed some businesses to reopen from Saturday, with conditions that social distancing and safety precautions must be taken. Meanwhile, both in terms of deaths and cases, Maharashtra continues to remain the worst-hit Indian state with 7,628 coronavirus cases and 323 deaths, followed by Gujarat with 3,071 cases and 133 fatalities. Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan have recorded 2,625, 2,095, and 2,083 cases respectively. In Madhya Pradesh, 99 people have died from the disease, while Delhi has reported 54 fatalities. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation today in his monthly radio program "Mann Ki Baat" where he is expected to share some insights on the way forward. India had earlier extended the 21-day lockdown till May 3 and on April 27, the PM will hold a virtual conference with the chief ministers where discussions would be taken on the status of lockdown.

With 1,990 new cases, India witnesses highest coronavirus cases in 24-hour period

India plans to get more than a million personal protective equipment kits from Singapore and has already 100,000 COVID-19 testing kits from the south-east Asian nations in a donation have been received.

India plans to get more than a million personal protective equipment kits from Singapore and has already 100,000 COVID-19 testing kits from the south-east Asian nations in a donation have been received. Speaking to our principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, India's envoy to Singapore Jawed Ashraf spoke extensively on how Indian mission is reaching out to infected Indian workers and stranded Indian nationals. Of the 11,000 cases of COVID-19 positive migrant foreign workers, 25% of them are Indians. It is interesting to know, Singapore's govt is providing all infected foreigner worker full salaries, three meals, full medical support and free wifi to connect them with their families. Also read | COVID-19 death toll touches 779 as number of cases rises to 24,942 in India Sidhant Sibal: What do you think about the Singaporean model to contain the spread of the virus? Jawed Ashraf: The whole situation in Singapore has evolved in three different phases, one is that they were early to start the process of strategizing in containing the spread of the virus once it became evident that there is a new virus spreading in Wuhan, China because of very close economic and cultural and people to people links between China and Singapore. On a given day, there used to be 14,000 arrivals from China. They started very early and the first case was confirmed on January 23, initially itself when social distancing measures were taken, testing was quite rapid, they developed a sound system of contact tracing, very vigorous and quick and were able to contain the spread, until the beginning of March and essentially they were able to stop the ingress from China and were able to stop the spread. After that, sometimes in the middle of March when people were returning, Singaporeans were returning from abroad particularly from Europe, US as the pandemic started spreading throughout the world and then we saw a big spike in the incident and spread and it began to average around 50 a day and then starting at the beginning of April, there has been a steep increase in a number of cases among the foreign workers living in the dormitories. There are about 200,000 construction workers including from India who live in dormitories and another 90,000 who live in smaller dormitories throughout the country and there has been a big spread after that. From about 1,100 at the end of March, we have about 12,000 in the last 25 days. There were some important steps, worth recognizing, having experienced SARS, they have set up a sound system, of dealing with the spread of infectious diseases, in particular, the nature of pandemic, so the healthcare infrastructure is sound and it is very extensive and no capacity constraint, which is why despite the numbers, the mortality rate is extremely low. Till today, we have only 12 cases of death in the course of the past 3 months. The focus was on contact tracing and remember it is a relatively smaller place though it is quite dense, it has 5.6 million resident. These 2 important factors, and the restrictive measures quite incremental unlike in our case and many others, so they have only escalated it in response to the extent of spread of the infection. So they eventually went into lockdown, which is kind of a circuit breaker. A number of essential services were working,, but all places of work have been stopped and socializing has been prohibited. Restaurants have been opened, hawker centres are open, but no one can sit there and eat. In a sense, it is a lockdown but not as strict as in other places. but the important point is it is incremental in nature and it has now been extended. It was instituted for 4 weeks starting April 7 but now has been extended to June 1. The situation in Singapore is they have a very rapid spread in dormitories but the relatively stable situation in the rest of the city. They have been able to create a partition between the 2 but how they treating foreign workers is remarkable in the sense, while they have instituted isolation and social distancing measures in the dorms, the healthy ones are taken out after testing and they have set up an extensive new facility to help foreign workers who are healthy. SS: Talking about the Indian worker, what is the mission doing for them.. JA: We have today, 11000 cases of foreign workers about 25% of them are Indians. So we have 2600 Indians who are infected. What Singapore govt has done that they are paid full salaries, given 3 meals and they are given full medical support, and they have also distributed masks and sanitizers to all the workers, not just those who are sick but to everyone. They cant leave the dorms, they are in isolation, they have been provided with free WIFI in all the dorms, and were wifi was weak they have strengthed it, so that they can speak to families, watch movies, they can download other content. So they have taken very strong welfare measures for all, foreign workers including Indians. PM Lee has said, that we will treat foreign workers, the way we treat Singaporeans. They have set up a very extensive facility for isolation and for recuperation. That is as far as the Singapore govt is doing. As far as the mission is concerned, let us divide it into 2 parts, what is happening with worker and what is happening with others over here. A large number of stranded Indians here, who were here on a short visit, whose jobs had ended and they wanted to go back. As far as workers are concerned, we are working with Singapore govt very closely, in fact, PM Lee had mentioned it to our PM when they had a conversation that we are collaborating very closely, High commission doing a good job. We are working with them very closely, we have gone and visited the dorms and I have recorded a video message in Tamil since most workers are Tamil speakers, we have also engaged with them on Tamil New Year on April 14th. So they have a helpline and we have given a reassurance that Singapore govt will be looking after the healthcare, interest, welfare, salaries but we are present if they need any help of any kind, and second we are working with communities as well. A large number of NGOs who are working with Dorms and we have helped the community at large, connect with them, many of them, for example, are raising resources to supplement efforts in providing soaps, personal hygiene products, sometimes also, providing food to supplement and especially for foreigner workers who are living in smaller establishments at the construction sites etc. Very few of them, they have been looked after, though the NGOs with mobilisation of the communities. If the challenge of food, the accommodation we will directly provide it. The mission is present in all aspects and I have been in touch with ministers over here. The second part of the Indians stranded here, we have about let us say, close to about 2900 people who have registered with us because we have opened the page on our website so that they can register with names and places in India asking passport number. There were those who were here on tourist visas, on business purposes, who got stranded when we had a lockdown and suspended flights. We have people here, visiting family members, means parents visiting children who work here, siblings, so these are social visitors, and many who have lost jobs, who were here on employment and they and families are stranded here. Many students here, but most continue to remain in the hostel, facilities, and a large number of students have registered because you know working way through education. So we are providing accommodation, we are providing dry rations, we have provided food delivery also at the places of residence and we have arranged with a number of Indian restaurants over here. So they go deliver food as and when people request us, so we have instituted a system in which meals are delivered regularly. There are those who are living in little India so that we have connected with restaurants and a couple of temples and mosques who are arranging meals for some of them, so they found it more convenient to walk across these places. So in different ways, food accommodation has been arranged for them. We have also, arranged for medicines and doctors. A lot of people who are stranded here are now short of medicines, chronic illness, diabetes, hypertension, heart conditions other aliments, so we have arranged for 2 ways, we have got who supplies from India but we have also arranged for our own embassy panelled doctors to provide consultations and write prescriptions to procure medicines over here. For students, we have appointed councillors, people who can counsel them, students living alone in isolation, especially those who are young, its a kind of sense of stress. We have got counsellors who can provide support to them and we have got an extreme situation where we had 5 people who died here, not linked to COVID, couple of people who were here for treatment from India for cancer. So they died over here and we arranged for last rites. We had to work with Singapore govt, for the burial of a Muslim lady and 3 who required last rites according to Hindu customs so all this. A number of diverse needs, we even had to look at counsellors, trained professionals. SS: How both countries cooperating to tackle with the crisis? JA: Both Singaporean and Indian PM Modi spoke, it was a very good conversation. Singapore temasek foundation has donated 70,000 COVID test kits for testing, 30,000 additional kits were given through bill gates and Melinda gates foundation and they have given us so far free of charge, 100,000 test kits. That is the first point, number 2, test kits we making in India, supplies of reagents and enzymes from here, some of the labs based here that make the enzymes. They have a massive biotech industry, and labs over here, they have been able to develop and scale up the production of reagents, enzymes for making test kits. They are prepared to supply test kits to India, as and when needed, both in commercial terms. They have done it for a number of other countries. Research and collaboration is very strong because of the proximity. Agency for Science, Technology and Research or A Star, has a large number of Indian scientist and some of the collaborations are getting more intensified particularly in terms of finding cheaper test kits, vaccines, so on and so forth. This is happening across the world, I mean, it is a global movement in which scientist from all parts of the world are collaborating in the race against time and develop cheaper test kits that is available throughout the world. We have also got a large number of commercial offers from here which are being evaluated by Indian companies as well. Science and tech collaboration between Indian and Singapore universities and research labs are always strong, that part will go on and we hope it will succeed somewhere in the world. We are also talking about maintaining supply chain during this period because even as the world is dealing with the pandemic, we have to remember that there are issues of food supplies, issues of medical supplies that world has to work towards maintaining. Another thing we are working with Singapore is that there procurement of food supplies from India which is quite significant continues without any hindrance, we are also talking about collaborating and making masks and other PPE kits. Singapore has come capacity over here and our mission is also part of this network which has been tasked by the government for the procurement of PPE kits because Singapore has a large number of global traders in everything, it is one of the global trading hubs and one of the financial centres, so are working with our ministry and ministry of health and HLL for procurement of more than a million PPE kits though a Singapore based company, and several other suppliers here who source it from different parts of the world and this PPE and we have connected them to govt and private sector in India so that things move parallelly between the govt and private sector. This is an important hub for everyone, for traders who deal with PPE kits. Singapore has placed a request for hydroxychloroquine to buy on commercial terms, we will evaluate it and it will be approved soon. SS: How are Indian diplomats faring in the country? JA: It is much easier for us here to be honest, you see till April 7th there was no lockdown over here, except for social distancing measures, there weren't any measures. If u see my tweets, I have met various ministers as late as April 2nd and 3rd, and we were not doing any major social events but we were doing our diplomatic activities. I was meeting senior officials. Since then we have also started instituting measures in our mission, in the sense that we are allowed to come to work, all these officers come to the mission daily, we are sitting in the mission, because of all the issues of looking after workers and stranded Indians of procurement keeps us busy, the supply chains between the 2 countries. Fortunately in Singapore, they have been successful, other than in the dorms, the spread was relatively stable and we are all observing social distancing fully and we are confident even in cases of the dorms, they have managed to prevent any leakage, so firewall the dorms to prevent any spread to the city, but within the dorms in last 4 days, we have seen the numbers peaking, new cases being constant, so if that is the case, we will start to see a decline in the daily new cases, so that will also come in the control and most of them, in any case, is very mild symptoms and they don't require hospitalization, because they have managed to keep capacity for treatment and intensive case units ahead of the curve, so they distinguishing between those that require hospitalization and those that require isolation and they have done it very well, so we are cautious and we take all precautionary measures, we all have our temperature screening. We have our minimised public contact to nothing but we in the mission continue to come and work over here. Singapore had no problem with the supply of food or any other essential items and our consular services continue to operate on very very skeletal biases, so if there is a death and requires certification, renewal of passport, to revalidate work permits over here. We have continued to work outside the embassy and we are fortunate enough we are in Singapore where the situation is not that difficult, supplies are normal and we can procure everything over here, food and anything we need on regular basis and shops is fully stocked. Hospitals are not overwhelmed over here, in case anyone requires to go for regular or any other cause, we are all over here, we are just here officials and essential India based support staff. Local staff, we have told them to stay at home, work from home, so we are functioning normally. SS: Many stranded Indians are keen to come back, what will you say to them? JA: There is lot of pressure from the stranded Indians to now get back, for all the measures we take over here to look after the welfare, naturally imagine people who are stranded here, came here for a week, 10 days and that has been extended for over a month. Those who have lost jobs and need to go back, we have cases like, a couple here and one 11 years old child from Pune who is here by himself, and cases where someone has come here and stuck here and lost a family member and they can't go home, if you were to leave home for a week or 10 days, you will leave a lot of things to lose and lot of things you will not care, and u suddenly find yourself stranded, so a lot of pressure, as there is in rest of the world and as there is within India for migrants to go back home, so we have to deal with that pressure and that requires one to be patience, requires counselling, we have to be on email, phone with them, we have set up helplines in the mission which are attended round the clock. Those that require special treatment get up the filter to a higher level. I personally answer a lot of mail my self because I feel it should be reassuring and connect with them. My deputy does it, so all of us are trying to give it a personal touch, but yes we dealing with a lot of stress, so that message here, it has been from rest of the world. The thing we explained to them is, look, massive lockdown in India and people not able to move from one house to the next, how do we organise movement in the country and each city may say I have 3000 people, if we look at across the world we might end up with hundreds and thousands of Indians wanting to come back and we also have a situation where people may ask migrant workers are stuck, we have not made arrangement for them to return, and we making arrangements for them. It is a very complex task and this is why we individually engage with people and try to explain to them and make them understand, patience is important in our collective fight beside making arrangement for so many people and testing them is a huge task. When you explain to them they understand what they dealing with and we deal with and risk that exists for so many people travelling in a large group, imagine an aircraft of 200 people and one of them is infected, so people who are safe might find themselves as infected on the way. But human psychology being what it is, it is always there. We doing quite well so far. And let us hope.... but no one really knows where we are on this curve and if 2nd and 3rd waves will come and frankly, it will take a long time for things to return normal because unless.. because when we reopen how do u allow international travel and what kind of protocol you introduce that enable people that those coming in and out for business and work are safe, who does the testing, you do testing after departure or before departure, temperature means nothing, asymptomatic cases are 80%, the issue will have to be worked out because it will be a long haul before we even before we see a semblance of normalcy. SS: Back on sourcing from Singapore, the role played by the mission to get medical equipment sourced JA: As I told you because it is a global trading hub, a lot of international trading firm are based in Singapore, many of them have Indian lineage and like for example olam international is an agro commodity company present in 70 countries and is based out of Singapore, it has been co-founded by Indians and not 5 generations ago, these are Indians who are graduates of IIMs and all. The government essentially looked at let us diversify to different sources and ultimately they procured from various places--it could be Korea, china and it could even be some other places, and one of the sense is always that Singapore based companies always do a lot of due diligence and since they have experience in international trading, they have good logistics and all arranged with them and as I said when we were looking at a quotation for test kits and things, we had so many companies here even for PPEs, so many companies came up with offers, because being a trading hub, they have networks of supply chains that work extremely well, so that is one of the reasons, govt asked us to look at arranging for procurement, a lot of these factories are in china but masks are made in many countries. It is a question of getting the right source because speed is essential and working of supply of china is also necessary.

EXCLUSIVE- We will get a million PPEs from Singapore: Indian envoy

Union Health Ministry on Sunday said that countrywide COVID-19 death toll has reached 826 while the number of cases climbed to 26,917.&nbsp;

1975 new COVID-19 cases and 47 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said.

Among 26,917 positive cases, 20177 active cases, 5914 cured/discharged/migrated and 826 deaths), according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.&nbsp;

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said the coronavirus situation in the country is improving as many hotspot districts (HSD) are moving towards being non-hotspot districts (NHSD).

The minister visited All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre to take stock of the preparedness to overcome COVID-19, a statement from the ministry said.

During his visit, he spoke to some COVID-19 positive people through video calling and enquired about their health. Robots handled the technology at the patients' end, it said.

Vardhan also sought their feedback about the facilities available at AIIMS so that necessary improvements can be made, the statement said.

Through a graded, pre-emptive and pro-active approach, the Government of India is taking several steps along with the states/UTs for prevention, containment and management of COVID-19. These are being regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level,&nbsp;the ministry said.

Union Health Ministry on Sunday said that countrywide COVID-19 death toll has reached 826 while the number of cases climbed to 26,917. 1975 new COVID-19 cases and 47 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said.

Union Health Ministry on Sunday said that countrywide COVID-19 death toll has reached 826 while the number of cases climbed to 26,917. 1975 new COVID-19 cases and 47 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said. Among 26,917 positive cases, 20177 active cases, 5914 cured/discharged/migrated and 826 deaths), according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said the coronavirus situation in the country is improving as many hotspot districts (HSD) are moving towards being non-hotspot districts (NHSD). The minister visited All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre to take stock of the preparedness to overcome COVID-19, a statement from the ministry said. During his visit, he spoke to some COVID-19 positive people through video calling and enquired about their health. Robots handled the technology at the patients' end, it said. Vardhan also sought their feedback about the facilities available at AIIMS so that necessary improvements can be made, the statement said. Through a graded, pre-emptive and pro-active approach, the Government of India is taking several steps along with the states/UTs for prevention, containment and management of COVID-19. These are being regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level, the ministry said.

Countrywide COVID-19 death toll 826, number of cases climbs to 26,917: Union Health Ministry

india

India, News on India, stories on India, articles on India, India stories at Wion, India news, India latest news