India`s economic outlook has weakened again, albeit slightly, with worst-case scenario forecasts suggesting the toll from the coronavirus pandemic could be much deeper, stoking fears the job crisis may worsen over the coming year, a Reuters poll found. 
 
Renewed restrictions to curb the current coronavirus wave have stalled economic activity, leaving many millions out of work and pushing economists - who have broadly been bullish - to downgrade their views for the second time since early April. 
 
The May 20-27 poll showed the outlook for the current quarter was lowered to 21.6% annually, and to 9.8% on average for this fiscal year, down from 23.0% and 10.4% respectively a month ago. The economy was then forecast to grow 6.7% next fiscal year, compared to 6.5% predicted previously. 
 
While the consensus pointed to healthy growth figures later this year, all 29 economists, in response to an additional question, warned the outlook was either "weak and prone to further downgrades" or "fragile, with a limited downside". 
 
None expected a "strong recovery, followed by an upgrade". 
 
"Recovery in India was strong in the months before the second wave. This leads us to believe the recovery can rebound quickly after the number of new infections have come down. But vaccination implementation needs to pick up pace in order to have an effect this year," said Wouter van Eijkelenburg, an economist at Rabobank. 
 
"Therefore new surges of the virus hang above recovery like the sword of Damocles. Until a large share of the population is vaccinated there remains this downside risk of new waves and subsequent lockdowns hampering the recovery." 
 
Underscoring concerns that a slow vaccine rollout may make a bigger dent in the economy, the consensus showed in a worst-case scenario the economy would average just 6.8% growth this fiscal year after its deepest ever recession last year. 
 
"Let`s hope (the situation) doesn`t go there. If it does and we do have another wave ... after this one, maybe the government will learn some lessons - that it is better to lock down the economy sooner, rather than later," said Gareth Leather, senior Asia economist at Capital Economics. 
 
"The threat of further waves will hang over the economic outlook so long as India`s vaccination progress remains lacklustre." 
 
India`s unemployment rate soared to a near one-year high of 14.73% in the week ending May 23, according to the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), reflecting the impact of the economic slowdown. 
 
When asked if there was a risk that India`s unemployment situation could worsen over the coming year, more than 85%, or 25 of 29 respondents, said it was high, including four who said very high. The remaining four said the risk was low. 
 
"There is going to be a significant demand shock to the economy, some of that could be permanent demand destruction, thereby pushing more out of the jobs market and keeping the unemployment rate elevated over the coming year," said Prakash Sakpal, senior Asia economist at ING. 
 
The Reserve Bank of India has kept its monetary policy loose, including several liquidity measures, and was expected to stay on an easy course for this fiscal year. 
 
While calls have increased for more fiscal stimulus to speed up the economic healing, the government has limited space to respond to challenges posed by the health crisis. 
 
"If the Indian government increases spending ... it will probably prevent a loss in economic output in the short term, but this simultaneously puts more pressure on the sustainability of debt in the longer term, essentially mortgaging their future," said Rabobank`s Eijkelenburg. 
 
"India`s policymakers find themselves between a rock and a hard place when it comes to decisions on additional fiscal stimulus."

India`s economic outlook has weakened again, albeit slightly, with worst-case scenario forecasts suggesting the toll from the coronavirus pandemic could be much deeper, stoking fears the job crisis may worsen over the coming year, a Reuters poll found.

India`s economic outlook has weakened again, albeit slightly, with worst-case scenario forecasts suggesting the toll from the coronavirus pandemic could be much deeper, stoking fears the job crisis may worsen over the coming year, a Reuters poll found. Renewed restrictions to curb the current coronavirus wave have stalled economic activity, leaving many millions out of work and pushing economists - who have broadly been bullish - to downgrade their views for the second time since early April. The May 20-27 poll showed the outlook for the current quarter was lowered to 21.6% annually, and to 9.8% on average for this fiscal year, down from 23.0% and 10.4% respectively a month ago. The economy was then forecast to grow 6.7% next fiscal year, compared to 6.5% predicted previously. While the consensus pointed to healthy growth figures later this year, all 29 economists, in response to an additional question, warned the outlook was either "weak and prone to further downgrades" or "fragile, with a limited downside". None expected a "strong recovery, followed by an upgrade". "Recovery in India was strong in the months before the second wave. This leads us to believe the recovery can rebound quickly after the number of new infections have come down. But vaccination implementation needs to pick up pace in order to have an effect this year," said Wouter van Eijkelenburg, an economist at Rabobank. "Therefore new surges of the virus hang above recovery like the sword of Damocles. Until a large share of the population is vaccinated there remains this downside risk of new waves and subsequent lockdowns hampering the recovery." Underscoring concerns that a slow vaccine rollout may make a bigger dent in the economy, the consensus showed in a worst-case scenario the economy would average just 6.8% growth this fiscal year after its deepest ever recession last year. "Let`s hope (the situation) doesn`t go there. If it does and we do have another wave ... after this one, maybe the government will learn some lessons - that it is better to lock down the economy sooner, rather than later," said Gareth Leather, senior Asia economist at Capital Economics. "The threat of further waves will hang over the economic outlook so long as India`s vaccination progress remains lacklustre." India`s unemployment rate soared to a near one-year high of 14.73% in the week ending May 23, according to the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), reflecting the impact of the economic slowdown. When asked if there was a risk that India`s unemployment situation could worsen over the coming year, more than 85%, or 25 of 29 respondents, said it was high, including four who said very high. The remaining four said the risk was low. "There is going to be a significant demand shock to the economy, some of that could be permanent demand destruction, thereby pushing more out of the jobs market and keeping the unemployment rate elevated over the coming year," said Prakash Sakpal, senior Asia economist at ING. The Reserve Bank of India has kept its monetary policy loose, including several liquidity measures, and was expected to stay on an easy course for this fiscal year. While calls have increased for more fiscal stimulus to speed up the economic healing, the government has limited space to respond to challenges posed by the health crisis. "If the Indian government increases spending ... it will probably prevent a loss in economic output in the short term, but this simultaneously puts more pressure on the sustainability of debt in the longer term, essentially mortgaging their future," said Rabobank`s Eijkelenburg. "India`s policymakers find themselves between a rock and a hard place when it comes to decisions on additional fiscal stimulus."

COVID-19 toll on Indian economy deepens, jobs crisis to worsen

The lockdown in Maharashtra will be extended by another 15 days beyond April 30, state Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday.

He said all members of the cabinet, who participated in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, pitched for such extension.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-over-5-million-people-vaccinated-so-far-says-government-381045" hreflang="en">Tamil Nadu: Over 5 million people vaccinated so far, says government</a>

"It (the lockdown) will be extended by 15 days," Tope said.

In view of the alarming rise in the COVID-19 cases, the Maharashtra government on April 4 announced a weekend lockdown and restrictions on the movement of people in the night during the weekdays till April 30.

The government had also clamped other restrictions like the closure of private offices, theatres, and salons to curb the unprecedented surge in the cases.

Currently, the weekend lockdown is in force from 8 pm on Fridays and lasts till 7 am on Mondays.

The state government later directed groceries, vegetable shops, and dairies to remain open only for four hours, between 7 am and 11 am and banned home delivery after 8 pm till May 1.

The lockdown in Maharashtra will be extended by another 15 days beyond April 30, state Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday. He said all members of the cabinet, who participated in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, pitched for such extension.

The lockdown in Maharashtra will be extended by another 15 days beyond April 30, state Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday. He said all members of the cabinet, who participated in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, pitched for such extension. Also read | Tamil Nadu: Over 5 million people vaccinated so far, says government "It (the lockdown) will be extended by 15 days," Tope said. In view of the alarming rise in the COVID-19 cases, the Maharashtra government on April 4 announced a weekend lockdown and restrictions on the movement of people in the night during the weekdays till April 30. The government had also clamped other restrictions like the closure of private offices, theatres, and salons to curb the unprecedented surge in the cases. Currently, the weekend lockdown is in force from 8 pm on Fridays and lasts till 7 am on Mondays. The state government later directed groceries, vegetable shops, and dairies to remain open only for four hours, between 7 am and 11 am and banned home delivery after 8 pm till May 1.

COVID-19: India's Maharashtra state to extend lockdown by 15 days beyond Apr 30

Masks, sanitizers, gloves- little did we think, a year ago, that purchasing these simple items would become the most important thing in our 2020 to-do-lists. At this very second, the coronavirus has confined all of us everywhere, within the four walls of our homes.&nbsp;

Netflix India's, 'Home Stories' is a collection of four short films that give us a glimpse of the few complications that have arisen due to the lockdown. Full points on relatability here, as there are high chances that one of them might be your story or of someone close. This is also the first time we will be seeing narratives based on this year's coronavirus outbreak in Indian cinema.&nbsp;

Directed by four filmmakers- Sahirr Sethi, Anubhuti Kashyap, Tanvi Gandhi and Ashwin Laxmi Narayan, these short films have been written, shot and produced during the lockdown. Is there anything left which we Indians have not been able to accomplish in a work from home scenario? The viewers also get to see a behind-the-scenes towards the end of the anthology.

The first film titled 'Out With It', stars 'Made in Heaven' actor Arjun Mathur and dwells on the theme of mental health during the pandemic. The protagonist, Angad experiences anxiety and stress every time he decides to step outside the door. It's so extreme, that even to pick up the carton of eggs, he stops his breath first or tries to drag it with a long stick. In the midst of this, there is an anonymous voice that encourages him to step out, socialise and reunite with his friends and family. But, everyday Angad puts on his clothes, repeats "I will go out today," but ultimately sticks to his daily plan of staying under house arrest. It's ironic that when he finally gets the courage to step into the outside world, the country itself comes under lockdown. The whole film is carried by this one actor, who with very few dialogues, manages to speak volumes through his expressions.

'Will You Be My Quarantine?'&nbsp;is the second film and revolves around a couple that is forced to live under lockdown together. Vaishnavi (Saba Azad) and Rehaan's (Imaad Shah) one-night stand gets converted to a 3 weeks standoff after the Prime Minister's announcement of a nationwide lockdown. Irritated and frustrated with each other, they initially start off by playing a game of cat and mouse. But, over the course of a few days or actually arguments they develop a soft corner for each other. While Vaishnavi helps out by giving Rehaan her laptop during a work crisis, Rehaan plans her an impromptu birthday party. This unlikely duo, make the best of the situation and ultimately become good friends.&nbsp;We also get to see a small cameo by Little Things actors&nbsp;Mithila Palkar and Dhruv Sehgal.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<img alt="This unlikely duo, make the best of the situation and ultimately become good friends" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f43034f5-9329-4975-bab9-d3f8a74c98e2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/image6%20.jpg" />
'Delivering Smiles'&nbsp;was the most heartwarming story in this anthology. It tries to convey an important message of being empathetic towards delivery executives. This is the story of Prakash (Tanmay Dhanania) who records his entire day as he goes around the city doing his daily job in the middle of the lockdown. While we sit safely in our houses, the delivery executives make sure we get all our necessities and cravings by risking their own lives. The short film shows the kind of customers a delivery guy like Prakash would meet during the coronavirus lockdown. From an over paranoid customer who treats the delivery executive with disrespect to an old lady who offers him a glass of water, Prakash meets a variety of people. His optimism is a force to reckon with, as whatever life throws at him, he simply smiles and says "have a good day, have a good life!" Tanmay Dhanania's acting is on point and he fits into the character of Prakash effortlessly.
<img alt="'Delivering Smiles' was the most heartwarming story in this anthology." data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="86a291ea-af27-402f-8197-25acb1846c85" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Image%202.png" />
'Web Ne Bana Di Jodi' shows the journey of Ashu (Veer Rajwant Singh) and Jia (Apoorva Arora), who had to settle for an online Shaadi. After a disastrous Haldi ceremony conducted on a video call, Jia receives flak from her father, who always envisioned a grand wedding for his daughter. He even threatens not to attend the rest of the ceremonies. However, the couple's positive attitude and love for each other prevails as they not only conduct a 'viral' sangeet, but are also able to persuade Jia's father to attend the wedding. If you or any of your close ones are set to be married during the lockdown, watch this film for an idea of what a roller coaster ride it will be!

From predicting if the Prime Minister&nbsp;will end the lockdown in the next speech to the time when we were told to go on balconies and bang utensils to show our support to corona warriors, these memorable moments have been captured well through these films. You will get a sense of deja vu for sure! All four films have an interesting storyline, and each portrays their themes beautifully.

So till we finally get rid of corona and reclaim the outdoors once again, watch 'Home Stories' to get a flashback on what these previous months have been like for all of us. Until then, stay indoors, stay safe!

Masks, sanitizers, gloves- little did we think, a year ago, that purchasing these simple items would become the most important thing in our 2020 to-do-lists. At this very second, the coronavirus has confined all of us everywhere, within the four walls of our homes.

Masks, sanitizers, gloves- little did we think, a year ago, that purchasing these simple items would become the most important thing in our 2020 to-do-lists. At this very second, the coronavirus has confined all of us everywhere, within the four walls of our homes. Netflix India's, 'Home Stories' is a collection of four short films that give us a glimpse of the few complications that have arisen due to the lockdown. Full points on relatability here, as there are high chances that one of them might be your story or of someone close. This is also the first time we will be seeing narratives based on this year's coronavirus outbreak in Indian cinema. Directed by four filmmakers- Sahirr Sethi, Anubhuti Kashyap, Tanvi Gandhi and Ashwin Laxmi Narayan, these short films have been written, shot and produced during the lockdown. Is there anything left which we Indians have not been able to accomplish in a work from home scenario? The viewers also get to see a behind-the-scenes towards the end of the anthology. The first film titled 'Out With It', stars 'Made in Heaven' actor Arjun Mathur and dwells on the theme of mental health during the pandemic. The protagonist, Angad experiences anxiety and stress every time he decides to step outside the door. It's so extreme, that even to pick up the carton of eggs, he stops his breath first or tries to drag it with a long stick. In the midst of this, there is an anonymous voice that encourages him to step out, socialise and reunite with his friends and family. But, everyday Angad puts on his clothes, repeats "I will go out today," but ultimately sticks to his daily plan of staying under house arrest. It's ironic that when he finally gets the courage to step into the outside world, the country itself comes under lockdown. The whole film is carried by this one actor, who with very few dialogues, manages to speak volumes through his expressions. 'Will You Be My Quarantine?' is the second film and revolves around a couple that is forced to live under lockdown together. Vaishnavi (Saba Azad) and Rehaan's (Imaad Shah) one-night stand gets converted to a 3 weeks standoff after the Prime Minister's announcement of a nationwide lockdown. Irritated and frustrated with each other, they initially start off by playing a game of cat and mouse. But, over the course of a few days or actually arguments they develop a soft corner for each other. While Vaishnavi helps out by giving Rehaan her laptop during a work crisis, Rehaan plans her an impromptu birthday party. This unlikely duo, make the best of the situation and ultimately become good friends. We also get to see a small cameo by Little Things actors Mithila Palkar and Dhruv Sehgal. 'Delivering Smiles' was the most heartwarming story in this anthology. It tries to convey an important message of being empathetic towards delivery executives. This is the story of Prakash (Tanmay Dhanania) who records his entire day as he goes around the city doing his daily job in the middle of the lockdown. While we sit safely in our houses, the delivery executives make sure we get all our necessities and cravings by risking their own lives. The short film shows the kind of customers a delivery guy like Prakash would meet during the coronavirus lockdown. From an over paranoid customer who treats the delivery executive with disrespect to an old lady who offers him a glass of water, Prakash meets a variety of people. His optimism is a force to reckon with, as whatever life throws at him, he simply smiles and says "have a good day, have a good life!" Tanmay Dhanania's acting is on point and he fits into the character of Prakash effortlessly. 'Web Ne Bana Di Jodi' shows the journey of Ashu (Veer Rajwant Singh) and Jia (Apoorva Arora), who had to settle for an online Shaadi. After a disastrous Haldi ceremony conducted on a video call, Jia receives flak from her father, who always envisioned a grand wedding for his daughter. He even threatens not to attend the rest of the ceremonies. However, the couple's positive attitude and love for each other prevails as they not only conduct a 'viral' sangeet, but are also able to persuade Jia's father to attend the wedding. If you or any of your close ones are set to be married during the lockdown, watch this film for an idea of what a roller coaster ride it will be! From predicting if the Prime Minister will end the lockdown in the next speech to the time when we were told to go on balconies and bang utensils to show our support to corona warriors, these memorable moments have been captured well through these films. You will get a sense of deja vu for sure! All four films have an interesting storyline, and each portrays their themes beautifully. So till we finally get rid of corona and reclaim the outdoors once again, watch 'Home Stories' to get a flashback on what these previous months have been like for all of us. Until then, stay indoors, stay safe!

'Home Stories' Review: Based on the coronavirus pandemic, these lockdown tales will surely give you a deja vu

The sparkle has returned to the Yamuna river flowing through India's capital of New Delhi, residents say, after decades of filthy and stinking waters, matted with garbage and polluted with toxic effluent from industry.

In a feat that eluded years of government cleanliness efforts, a nationwide lockdown against the coronavirus has brought about the transformation of a river many Hindus consider holy, with a halt in industrial activity since late in March.

Sanjay Gir, a 55-year-old Hindu monk who spends his time on the riverbank, said he could not remember when he had last seen the river so clean.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/coronavirus-crisis-can-trigger-collapse-of-25-trillion-fossil-fuel-industry-303280">Also read:&nbsp;Coronavirus crisis can trigger collapse of $25 trillion fossil fuel industry</a>

"Ever since the lockdown, we can take Mother Yamuna's water in our hands and offer it for prayer, as well as drink it," said the bearded Gir, clad in traditional white dhoti.

"Because everything is closed right now - all the factories, industries are shut...their waste is not coming into the river."

From its source among Himalayan peaks, the river meanders 1,376 km (855 miles) through a clutch of northern states to join the river Ganges in the city of Allahabad, where Hindu tradition says the two merge with a third, the mythical Saraswati.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-misplaced-trust-to-loss-of-faith-in-humanity-sketchers-react-on-elephants-murder-303202">Have a look:&nbsp;From misplaced trust to loss of faith in humanity, sketchers react on elephant's murder</a>

One of the world's toughest lockdowns against the coronavirus, which has caused nearly 217,000 infections and more than 6,000 deaths in India, kept out most of the industrial waste that normally clogs the Yamuna.

That was the key reason for the better water quality, said Anshuman Jaiswal of city research body the Energy and Resources Institute.

"The industrial discharge which was going into the Yamuna actually stopped and that, for sure, has reduced the pollution load," he added.

But the waters will deteriorate again, Jaiswal warned, as the lockdown lifts and industries re-open.

Nevertheless, while it lasts, a clean, revitalised Yamuna also augurs well for the environmental condition of the Taj Mahal, India's famed monument to love that stands on the riverbank in the northern city of Agra.

The sparkle has returned to the Yamuna river flowing through India's capital of New Delhi, residents say, after decades of filthy and stinking waters, matted with garbage and polluted with toxic effluent from industry.

The sparkle has returned to the Yamuna river flowing through India's capital of New Delhi, residents say, after decades of filthy and stinking waters, matted with garbage and polluted with toxic effluent from industry. In a feat that eluded years of government cleanliness efforts, a nationwide lockdown against the coronavirus has brought about the transformation of a river many Hindus consider holy, with a halt in industrial activity since late in March. Sanjay Gir, a 55-year-old Hindu monk who spends his time on the riverbank, said he could not remember when he had last seen the river so clean. Also read: Coronavirus crisis can trigger collapse of $25 trillion fossil fuel industry "Ever since the lockdown, we can take Mother Yamuna's water in our hands and offer it for prayer, as well as drink it," said the bearded Gir, clad in traditional white dhoti. "Because everything is closed right now - all the factories, industries are shut...their waste is not coming into the river." From its source among Himalayan peaks, the river meanders 1,376 km (855 miles) through a clutch of northern states to join the river Ganges in the city of Allahabad, where Hindu tradition says the two merge with a third, the mythical Saraswati. Have a look: From misplaced trust to loss of faith in humanity, sketchers react on elephant's murder One of the world's toughest lockdowns against the coronavirus, which has caused nearly 217,000 infections and more than 6,000 deaths in India, kept out most of the industrial waste that normally clogs the Yamuna. That was the key reason for the better water quality, said Anshuman Jaiswal of city research body the Energy and Resources Institute. "The industrial discharge which was going into the Yamuna actually stopped and that, for sure, has reduced the pollution load," he added. But the waters will deteriorate again, Jaiswal warned, as the lockdown lifts and industries re-open. Nevertheless, while it lasts, a clean, revitalised Yamuna also augurs well for the environmental condition of the Taj Mahal, India's famed monument to love that stands on the riverbank in the northern city of Agra.

Delhi: Yamuna river sparkles again as factory waste reduces amid lockdown

The Delhi High Court on Thursday disposed of a plea challenging the sealing of the borders of national capital for a week while directing Delhi government to highlight the order whereby citizens can avail of e-pass in case of medical emergency to enter Delhi.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan disposed of the petition filed by advocate Kushagra Kumar.

The court also took note of the consequential order dated June 1, wherein it has been clearly stated in para 6 that in case of a medical emergency, any person can apply for an e-pass and avail of the same to enter Delhi.

The court has also directed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) to upload this order of June 1 on the government websites in a prominent manner and have it highlighted and blinking for easy access to citizens by today itself.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/employers-and-employees-to-negotiate-themselves-for-wages-during-lockdown-sc-303247">Also read:&nbsp;Employers and employees to negotiate themselves for wages during lockdown: SC</a>

HP Sharma, Senior Advocate who appeared on behalf of the petitioner Kumar, argued that non-residents of Delhi are not allowed to avail medical facilities in centrally-funded hospitals in Delhi because of the unpublished order passed by the Delhi Government sealing the borders of Delhi.

Appearing for Delhi government, Advocate Sanjoy Ghose and lawyer Urvi Mohan, submitted that the present petition was in the nature of a publicity interest litigation and had been filed without any homework or fact-checking by the petitioner.

The petition filed by Kushagra Kumar against the sealing of the borders of Delhi said that the order of Delhi government is an illogical, irrational, unreasonable and unconstitutional order. Advocate Kumar said that this order is violative of Article 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-rejects-plea-to-change-indias-name-to-bharat-302982">Also read:&nbsp;Supreme Court rejects plea to change India's name to 'Bharat'</a>

"Delhi, being the national capital of the country, the centrally funded hospitals like AIIMS etc are in Delhi. By sealing the borders, the Delhi government is taking away the rights of those working in Delhi and staying in the National Capital Region (NCR) like Noida and Gurugram to avail the health facilities of Delhi. In addition, the citizens in other states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are also denied the basic right to access the central hospitals in Delhi," the petition said.

The petitioner said that "in India, we do not have dual citizenship. Everyone is a citizen of this country and everyone has the right to reside in any place and avail the medical facilities in any place(s) which she/he can afford. It is unconstitutional to deny the citizens of this country working in Delhi and staying in NCR and citizens residing in any other states the right to treatment," the petitioner added.

According to the petitioner, the order of the Delhi government is inhuman and illegal."Instead of creating medical infrastructure and working to ensure medical facilities, it is sealing the borders and thereby stopping people to avail medical facilities in Central hospitals in Delhi," the petitioner said.&nbsp;

The Delhi High Court on Thursday disposed of a plea challenging the sealing of the borders of national capital for a week while directing Delhi government to highlight the order whereby citizens can avail of e-pass in case of medical emergency to enter Delhi.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday disposed of a plea challenging the sealing of the borders of national capital for a week while directing Delhi government to highlight the order whereby citizens can avail of e-pass in case of medical emergency to enter Delhi. A Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan disposed of the petition filed by advocate Kushagra Kumar. The court also took note of the consequential order dated June 1, wherein it has been clearly stated in para 6 that in case of a medical emergency, any person can apply for an e-pass and avail of the same to enter Delhi. The court has also directed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) to upload this order of June 1 on the government websites in a prominent manner and have it highlighted and blinking for easy access to citizens by today itself. Also read: Employers and employees to negotiate themselves for wages during lockdown: SC HP Sharma, Senior Advocate who appeared on behalf of the petitioner Kumar, argued that non-residents of Delhi are not allowed to avail medical facilities in centrally-funded hospitals in Delhi because of the unpublished order passed by the Delhi Government sealing the borders of Delhi. Appearing for Delhi government, Advocate Sanjoy Ghose and lawyer Urvi Mohan, submitted that the present petition was in the nature of a publicity interest litigation and had been filed without any homework or fact-checking by the petitioner. The petition filed by Kushagra Kumar against the sealing of the borders of Delhi said that the order of Delhi government is an illogical, irrational, unreasonable and unconstitutional order. Advocate Kumar said that this order is violative of Article 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution. Also read: Supreme Court rejects plea to change India's name to 'Bharat' "Delhi, being the national capital of the country, the centrally funded hospitals like AIIMS etc are in Delhi. By sealing the borders, the Delhi government is taking away the rights of those working in Delhi and staying in the National Capital Region (NCR) like Noida and Gurugram to avail the health facilities of Delhi. In addition, the citizens in other states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are also denied the basic right to access the central hospitals in Delhi," the petition said. The petitioner said that "in India, we do not have dual citizenship. Everyone is a citizen of this country and everyone has the right to reside in any place and avail the medical facilities in any place(s) which she/he can afford. It is unconstitutional to deny the citizens of this country working in Delhi and staying in NCR and citizens residing in any other states the right to treatment," the petitioner added. According to the petitioner, the order of the Delhi government is inhuman and illegal."Instead of creating medical infrastructure and working to ensure medical facilities, it is sealing the borders and thereby stopping people to avail medical facilities in Central hospitals in Delhi," the petitioner said.

Delhi High Court disposes plea challenging sealing of borders

Tamil Nadu has the third highest number of coronavirus cases in the country, and has observed a constant high rise in the number of cases, with Chennai being the state's epicenter.

Considering the same, the Tamil Nadu government has announced an extension of the lockdown for the state. The lockdown will continue till the end of June, but will have few relaxations.

"To prevent the spread of coronavirus, the curfew is being extended till June 30 under the State Disaster Management Act and as per the Union Home Ministry's notification," Palaniswami said in a statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/nokia-shuts-india-plant-in-chennai-after-covid-19-case-301250">Also read:&nbsp;Nokia shuts India plant in Chennai after COVID-19 case</a>

Chief Minister K Palaniswami announced an extended lockdown on all religious places and inter-state&nbsp; bus transport and Metro and suburban train services. All hotels, excluding the COVID 19 facilities, will stay closed, along with all entertainment venues.

Public transport will resume with reduced buses from June 1 barring in Chennai and adjoining Tiruvallur.

Offices will be allowed to reopen, but with limited capacity. All employers will have to make sure that all norms of social distancing are followed, and a regular check on employees' health will have to be maintained. However, any offices in the containment zone will not be allowed to reopen.

The major relaxation, resumption of public transport, will be implemented from Monday onwards in six of the eight zones, formed by combining nearby districts, with a slew of guidelines in place.

All schools and colleges will remain shut.

There would be no need for people to apply for e-pass to travel within the zones, and all kinds of vehicles can ply in these select routes. However, e-pass will be compulsory for inter-zone and inter-state travel, Palaniswami said.

Hotels and restaurants can start dine-in services from June 8 in line with the Centre's guidelines, as against takeaways so far, but only 50 per cent of the seats should be occupied. So would be the case with tea shops. 
Grocery and vegetable shops can function from 6 am to 8 pm.

All standalone shops can reopen. However, malls will remain shut till further notice.

&nbsp;

Tamil Nadu has the third highest number of coronavirus cases in the country, and has observed a constant high rise in the number of cases, with Chennai being the state's epicenter.

Tamil Nadu has the third highest number of coronavirus cases in the country, and has observed a constant high rise in the number of cases, with Chennai being the state's epicenter. Considering the same, the Tamil Nadu government has announced an extension of the lockdown for the state. The lockdown will continue till the end of June, but will have few relaxations. "To prevent the spread of coronavirus, the curfew is being extended till June 30 under the State Disaster Management Act and as per the Union Home Ministry's notification," Palaniswami said in a statement. Also read: Nokia shuts India plant in Chennai after COVID-19 case Chief Minister K Palaniswami announced an extended lockdown on all religious places and inter-state bus transport and Metro and suburban train services. All hotels, excluding the COVID 19 facilities, will stay closed, along with all entertainment venues. Public transport will resume with reduced buses from June 1 barring in Chennai and adjoining Tiruvallur. Offices will be allowed to reopen, but with limited capacity. All employers will have to make sure that all norms of social distancing are followed, and a regular check on employees' health will have to be maintained. However, any offices in the containment zone will not be allowed to reopen. The major relaxation, resumption of public transport, will be implemented from Monday onwards in six of the eight zones, formed by combining nearby districts, with a slew of guidelines in place. All schools and colleges will remain shut. There would be no need for people to apply for e-pass to travel within the zones, and all kinds of vehicles can ply in these select routes. However, e-pass will be compulsory for inter-zone and inter-state travel, Palaniswami said. Hotels and restaurants can start dine-in services from June 8 in line with the Centre's guidelines, as against takeaways so far, but only 50 per cent of the seats should be occupied. So would be the case with tea shops. Grocery and vegetable shops can function from 6 am to 8 pm. All standalone shops can reopen. However, malls will remain shut till further notice.

COVID 19: Tamil Nadu shifts to lockdown 5.0, instead of unlock 1.0

Some students, who were to appear for class 10 and 12 CBSE board examinations, had traveled back to their hometown as inter-state travel resumed in India amid the lockdown.&nbsp;

After the travel resumed, CBSE announced that the left exams for classes 10th and 12th will take place from June. While students welcomed the move, as they think this will finally help them resume their educational plans, some students were worried that &nbsp;they might have to travel back to their school states.

However, HRD minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, on Thursday morning announced that CBSE will be making an announcement soon to help students.

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📢Attention! 
Students who are currently not in the same district as their board examination centre, we have a major announcement coming their way this evening. 
Stay tuned! <a href="https://t.co/QtuDNsRiK0">pic.twitter.com/QtuDNsRiK0</a>
— Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrRPNishank/status/1265521014945054723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amid-rising-covid-19-cases-domestic-flight-services-resume-after-two-months-300820">Also read: Amid rising COVID-19 cases, domestic flight services resume after two months</a>

Later in the evening, through Twitter, he announced that all students who are not in the same district as their school will be allowed to appear for the exam in a school in their hometown.&nbsp;However, students, themselves, have to reach out to the officials and inform them about this needed switch.

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📢Students, who are currently not in the same district as their board examination centers due to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lockdown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lockdown</a>! 
 
I have advised <a href="https://twitter.com/cbseindia29?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cbseindia29</a> to shift your examination center to your current district. Kindly get in touch with your respective schools for further information.
— Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrRPNishank/status/1265628712663425024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid_19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Covid_19</a> संकट के कारण हजारों बच्चे अपने गृह प्रदेश में चले गए थे, ऐसी स्थिति में सीबीएसई की बोर्ड परीक्षाओं में शामिल हो रहे विद्यार्थियों की समस्या को ध्यान में रखते हुए <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CBSE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CBSE</a> ने यह फैसला लिया है कि ऐसे विद्यार्थी अपनी बोर्ड परीक्षा अपने गृह जिले में ही दे सकते हैं।<a href="https://twitter.com/DDNewslive?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DDNewslive</a> <a href="https://t.co/3UFkbISIPm">pic.twitter.com/3UFkbISIPm</a>
— Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrRPNishank/status/1265612302054600704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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HRD minister, with this announcement, hopes that students will be able to take a sigh of relief and focus on their preparations instead now. He also expressed that he understands the mental pressure the students have right now due to the pandemic, and hopes that students will do their best.

As the lockdown was initiated in mid March, few board exams were postponed till further notice. Students, in the meanwhile, had traveled back to their hometown and had expressed concern over this issue to the ministry.

Some students, who were to appear for class 10 and 12 CBSE board examinations, had traveled back to their hometown as inter-state travel resumed in India amid the lockdown.

Some students, who were to appear for class 10 and 12 CBSE board examinations, had traveled back to their hometown as inter-state travel resumed in India amid the lockdown. After the travel resumed, CBSE announced that the left exams for classes 10th and 12th will take place from June. While students welcomed the move, as they think this will finally help them resume their educational plans, some students were worried that they might have to travel back to their school states. However, HRD minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, on Thursday morning announced that CBSE will be making an announcement soon to help students. 📢Attention! Students who are currently not in the same district as their board examination centre, we have a major announcement coming their way this evening. Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/QtuDNsRiK0 — Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) May 27, 2020 × Also read: Amid rising COVID-19 cases, domestic flight services resume after two months Later in the evening, through Twitter, he announced that all students who are not in the same district as their school will be allowed to appear for the exam in a school in their hometown. However, students, themselves, have to reach out to the officials and inform them about this needed switch. 📢Students, who are currently not in the same district as their board examination centers due to #lockdown! I have advised @cbseindia29 to shift your examination center to your current district. Kindly get in touch with your respective schools for further information. — Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) May 27, 2020 × #Covid_19 संकट के कारण हजारों बच्चे अपने गृह प्रदेश में चले गए थे, ऐसी स्थिति में सीबीएसई की बोर्ड परीक्षाओं में शामिल हो रहे विद्यार्थियों की समस्या को ध्यान में रखते हुए #CBSE ने यह फैसला लिया है कि ऐसे विद्यार्थी अपनी बोर्ड परीक्षा अपने गृह जिले में ही दे सकते हैं।@DDNewslive pic.twitter.com/3UFkbISIPm — Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) May 27, 2020 × HRD minister, with this announcement, hopes that students will be able to take a sigh of relief and focus on their preparations instead now. He also expressed that he understands the mental pressure the students have right now due to the pandemic, and hopes that students will do their best. As the lockdown was initiated in mid March, few board exams were postponed till further notice. Students, in the meanwhile, had traveled back to their hometown and had expressed concern over this issue to the ministry.

CBSE students can take board exams in their home districts: Ramesh Pokhriyal

As the aviation industry gets ready to start services from Monday, state governments are implementing all possible precautions for the incoming passengers.

Keeping the same in mind, Karnataka and Punjab governments have announced that the incoming passengers will have to go through a&nbsp;quarantine period.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-will-increase-international-flights-in-coming-days-union-civil-aviation-minister-300560">Also read:&nbsp;We will increase international flights in coming days: Union civil aviation minister</a>

Karnataka government's DGP announced through Twitter that the passengers entering will have to go through compulsory institutional seven-day institutional quarantine, followed by home quarantine

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All incoming persons will need to remain in home quarantine for 14 days if they come from states other than Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharasthra: Karnataka Govt <a href="https://t.co/s7l5odufVL">https://t.co/s7l5odufVL</a> <a href="https://t.co/oZAQILhVAw">pic.twitter.com/oZAQILhVAw</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1264183011521597440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Following the suit, Punjab government, too, announced a compulsory 14-day quarantine period for incoming passengers from Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

The civil aviation minister, few days ago, announced that domestic travel will resume for the Indians stranded away from home. The domestic flights will resume from May 25, Monday.

All passengers will have to compulsorily wear face masks and gloves, and maintain and follow all social distancing guidelines laid out by the experts. Several other measures have been taken by the Airport Authority of India and airlines to make sure that there is no spread of infection.

All passengers who do not pass the required temperature check, and are unable to prove that they belong to a non-containment zone will not be allowed to enter the airport premises.&nbsp;

web check-in has been made compulsory to decrease the physical contact. Older people, babies and past COVID-10 patients, who are classified as vulnerable, have been advised to avoid travelling.&nbsp;

As the aviation industry gets ready to start services from Monday, state governments are implementing all possible precautions for the incoming passengers. Keeping the same in mind, Karnataka and Punjab governments have announced that the incoming passengers will have to go through a quarantine period.

As the aviation industry gets ready to start services from Monday, state governments are implementing all possible precautions for the incoming passengers. Keeping the same in mind, Karnataka and Punjab governments have announced that the incoming passengers will have to go through a quarantine period. Also read: We will increase international flights in coming days: Union civil aviation minister Karnataka government's DGP announced through Twitter that the passengers entering will have to go through compulsory institutional seven-day institutional quarantine, followed by home quarantine All incoming persons will need to remain in home quarantine for 14 days if they come from states other than Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharasthra: Karnataka Govt https://t.co/s7l5odufVL pic.twitter.com/oZAQILhVAw — ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2020 × Following the suit, Punjab government, too, announced a compulsory 14-day quarantine period for incoming passengers from Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The civil aviation minister, few days ago, announced that domestic travel will resume for the Indians stranded away from home. The domestic flights will resume from May 25, Monday. All passengers will have to compulsorily wear face masks and gloves, and maintain and follow all social distancing guidelines laid out by the experts. Several other measures have been taken by the Airport Authority of India and airlines to make sure that there is no spread of infection. All passengers who do not pass the required temperature check, and are unable to prove that they belong to a non-containment zone will not be allowed to enter the airport premises. web check-in has been made compulsory to decrease the physical contact. Older people, babies and past COVID-10 patients, who are classified as vulnerable, have been advised to avoid travelling.

COVID 19: Karnataka and Punjab to quarantine incoming passengers

As the lockdown was extended for the second time, a lot of people were worried about their railway bookings. While it has been made clear that refunds and re-schedulings will be processed by the officials, Railway Ministry, on Saturday, requested people to not book tickets till May 17.

In a tweet, the Ministry said, "This is to clarify that cancellation of all regular passenger trains including suburban trains is extended till 17th May 2020."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-discusses-covid-19-crisis-with-thai-pm-296255">Also read:&nbsp;PM Modi discusses COVID-19 crisis with Thai PM</a>

The Ministry is urging people to not visit any railway stations till the lockdown ends.

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Extended cancellation of passenger train Services 
 
This is to clarify that cancellation of all regular passenger trains including suburban trains is extended till 17th May 2020 
 
No one should visit any Railway Station for the purpose of booking tickets or performing train journey <a href="https://t.co/PpzEnrElgF">pic.twitter.com/PpzEnrElgF</a>
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/RailMinIndia/status/1256478823425728512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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It is believed that the announcement was made keeping in mind the incident that happened last time in Mumbai when the lockdown was extended. So, in order to make sure people, especially migrant workers, do not flock to railway stations, the Ministry tweeted a word of caution.

Railways is also operating special trains from one designated point to another to help stranded migrant workers reach their hometowns. The step was taken after numerous state government requested the central government to bring back these stranded workers.

As the lockdown was extended for the second time, a lot of people were worried about their railway bookings. While it has been made clear that refunds and re-schedulings will be processed by the officials, Railway Ministry, on Saturday, requested people to not book tickets till May 17.

As the lockdown was extended for the second time, a lot of people were worried about their railway bookings. While it has been made clear that refunds and re-schedulings will be processed by the officials, Railway Ministry, on Saturday, requested people to not book tickets till May 17. In a tweet, the Ministry said, "This is to clarify that cancellation of all regular passenger trains including suburban trains is extended till 17th May 2020." Also read: PM Modi discusses COVID-19 crisis with Thai PM The Ministry is urging people to not visit any railway stations till the lockdown ends. Extended cancellation of passenger train Services This is to clarify that cancellation of all regular passenger trains including suburban trains is extended till 17th May 2020 No one should visit any Railway Station for the purpose of booking tickets or performing train journey pic.twitter.com/PpzEnrElgF — Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) May 2, 2020 × It is believed that the announcement was made keeping in mind the incident that happened last time in Mumbai when the lockdown was extended. So, in order to make sure people, especially migrant workers, do not flock to railway stations, the Ministry tweeted a word of caution. Railways is also operating special trains from one designated point to another to help stranded migrant workers reach their hometowns. The step was taken after numerous state government requested the central government to bring back these stranded workers.

'Do not visit railway stations': Ministry clarifies on running of special trains

<p content="BANGALORE, India, April 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- To simplify the process of issuing e-passes for essential goods and service providers during lockdown, eGov foundation has launched COVID e-Pass system. The platform is expected to reduce the operational burden of government officials and help in ensuring a seamless supply of essential goods and services during the lockdown." data-reactid="12" type="text">To simplify the process of issuing e-passes for essential goods and service providers during lockdown, eGov foundation has launched COVID e-Pass system. The platform is expected to reduce the operational burden of government officials and help in ensuring a seamless supply of essential goods and services during the lockdown.

<p content="BANGALORE, India, April 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- To simplify the process of issuing e-passes for essential goods and service providers during lockdown, eGov foundation has launched COVID e-Pass system. The platform is expected to reduce the operational burden of government officials and help in ensuring a seamless supply of essential goods and services during the lockdown." data-reactid="12" type="text">The COVID e-Pass system is an application where the state nodal officers will approve one-time registration requests from the companies along with setting the daily quota of passes for each company. The designated authority from the company will then be allowed to generate bulk passes for company employees/partners, within the set quota. The companies will be able to do this&nbsp;on their own, without having to reach out to the district administration for inter-city movement. The pass will be delivered to the applicant in a PDF format and an SMS. Carrying a photo identification card will be compulsory for all the applicants.

<p content="The COVID e-Pass system is a trust-based application where the state nodal officers must approve one-time registration requests from the companies along with setting the daily quota of passes for each company. The designated authority from the company is then allowed to generate bulk passes for company employees/partners, within the set quota, on their own without having to reach out to the district administration for inter-city movement. The pass is delivered to the applicant in pdf and SMS with an instruction to carry a valid photo ID. State Nodal Officers will work with police authorities for verification and validation of the e-Pass during the commute." data-reactid="13" type="text"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/wion-edit-coronavirus-pandemic-is-this-a-world-war-in-disguise-294597">Also read:&nbsp;WION Edit: Coronavirus pandemic - is this a world war in disguise?</a>

<p content="The COVID e-Pass system is a trust-based application where the state nodal officers must approve one-time registration requests from the companies along with setting the daily quota of passes for each company. The designated authority from the company is then allowed to generate bulk passes for company employees/partners, within the set quota, on their own without having to reach out to the district administration for inter-city movement. The pass is delivered to the applicant in pdf and SMS with an instruction to carry a valid photo ID. State Nodal Officers will work with police authorities for verification and validation of the e-Pass during the commute." data-reactid="13" type="text">State Nodal Officers will work with police authorities for verification and validation of the e-Pass during the commute.

<p content="This easy to use and intelligent system has already been up and running in Delhi, Haryana, Telangana, Odisha, Punjab, Puducherry &amp;amp; Karnataka State nodal officer for Karnataka, Shri Kapil Mohan (IAS), Principal Secretary Infrastructure Development, expressed satisfaction with the working of the system and stated that the solution will provide relief to companies for inter-district and inter-state movement of personnel for managing nationwide supply chains." data-reactid="14" type="text">This easy-to-use and intelligent system has already been up and running in Delhi, Haryana, Telangana, Odisha, Punjab, Puducherry and Karnataka.

<p content="This easy to use and intelligent system has already been up and running in Delhi, Haryana, Telangana, Odisha, Punjab, Puducherry &amp;amp; Karnataka State nodal officer for Karnataka, Shri Kapil Mohan (IAS), Principal Secretary Infrastructure Development, expressed satisfaction with the working of the system and stated that the solution will provide relief to companies for inter-district and inter-state movement of personnel for managing nationwide supply chains." data-reactid="14" type="text">State nodal officer for Karnataka, Shri Kapil Mohan (IAS), Principal Secretary Infrastructure Development, said he is very much satisfied with this system as it provides relief to companies for inter-district and inter-state movement of personnel while managing nationwide supply chains.

<p content="This easy to use and intelligent system has already been up and running in Delhi, Haryana, Telangana, Odisha, Punjab, Puducherry &amp;amp; Karnataka State nodal officer for Karnataka, Shri Kapil Mohan (IAS), Principal Secretary Infrastructure Development, expressed satisfaction with the working of the system and stated that the solution will provide relief to companies for inter-district and inter-state movement of personnel for managing nationwide supply chains." data-reactid="14" type="text"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ramzan-in-the-times-of-coronavirus-294615">Also read:&nbsp;Ramzan in the times of coronavirus</a>

<p content="The e-Pass platform has also been integrated with Aarogya Setu, government's COVID-19 contact tracing app which has an estimated one million new users registering every hour, and a total of 70 million registrants. The first phase of this integration will allow the e-Pass system to poll Aarogya Setu to check the health indicator of the individuals before generating the ePass. The copy of the ePass is also deposited in the individual's Aarogya Setu app for easyaccess and verification." data-reactid="15" type="text">The e-Pass platform has also been integrated with Aarogya Setu, government's COVID-19 contact tracing app. The first phase of this integration will allow the e-Pass system to poll Aarogya Setu to check the health indicator of the individuals before generating the ePass. The copy of the ePass is also deposited in the individual's Aarogya Setu app for easy access and verification.

<p content="'The creation of the National e-Pass platform in less than a week is a beautiful moment. Firstly it manifests how digital infra like eGov's DIGIT platform can be leveraged to create highly contextual solutions at scale and speed. It also brings out the power of co-creation that foundations like ours are uniquely placed to catalyze - we collaborated with volunteers from iSpirit, Aragoya Setu team at MeitY, State Governments, AWS and Consumer products companies to build this solution. And finally, this is a testament of the team that worked on this initiative - the team got together in an instant to respond to a real problem India faced. The team put the mission ahead of themselves and put in an extreme amount of hard work, while going through the same stresses of managing groceries, worrying about their loved ones'- Viraj Tyagi, CEO, eGov Foundation Hiren Doshi, VP, eGov Foundation stated 'Ensuring the availability and seamless supply of essential items across the nation, we are working with States and have developed a simple mechanism for them to issue the permits digitally with ease. Noting that the availability of essential goods take place through consumer product companies, organized retail stores and e-commerce companies, this platform will allow companies to generate digital passes for their employees and ensure smooth supply of daily use essentials, amidst this lockdown.' About eGov Foundation eGov Foundation was established in 2003 by Nandan Nilekani and Srikanth Nadhamuni to partner with city administrators in their drive to leverage the transformative power of technology for a better quality of life in our cities and to make them sustainable." data-reactid="16" type="text">"The creation of the National e-Pass platform in less than a week is a beautiful moment. Firstly, it manifests how digital infra like eGov's DIGIT platform can be leveraged to create highly contextual solutions at scale and speed. It also brings out the power of co-creation that foundations like ours are uniquely placed to catalyze - we collaborated with volunteers from iSpirit, Aragoya Setu team at MeitY, State Governments, AWS and Consumer products companies to build this solution. And finally, this is a testament of the team that worked on this initiative - the team got together in an instant to respond to a real problem India faced. The team put the mission ahead of themselves and put in an extreme amount of hard work, while going through the same stresses of managing groceries, worrying about their loved ones," said&nbsp;Viraj Tyagi, CEO, eGov Foundation.

<p content="'The creation of the National e-Pass platform in less than a week is a beautiful moment. Firstly it manifests how digital infra like eGov's DIGIT platform can be leveraged to create highly contextual solutions at scale and speed. It also brings out the power of co-creation that foundations like ours are uniquely placed to catalyze - we collaborated with volunteers from iSpirit, Aragoya Setu team at MeitY, State Governments, AWS and Consumer products companies to build this solution. And finally, this is a testament of the team that worked on this initiative - the team got together in an instant to respond to a real problem India faced. The team put the mission ahead of themselves and put in an extreme amount of hard work, while going through the same stresses of managing groceries, worrying about their loved ones'- Viraj Tyagi, CEO, eGov Foundation Hiren Doshi, VP, eGov Foundation stated 'Ensuring the availability and seamless supply of essential items across the nation, we are working with States and have developed a simple mechanism for them to issue the permits digitally with ease. Noting that the availability of essential goods take place through consumer product companies, organized retail stores and e-commerce companies, this platform will allow companies to generate digital passes for their employees and ensure smooth supply of daily use essentials, amidst this lockdown.' About eGov Foundation eGov Foundation was established in 2003 by Nandan Nilekani and Srikanth Nadhamuni to partner with city administrators in their drive to leverage the transformative power of technology for a better quality of life in our cities and to make them sustainable." data-reactid="16" type="text">Hiren Doshi, VP, eGov Foundation stated "Ensuring the availability and seamless supply of essential items across the nation, we are working with States and have developed a simple mechanism for them to issue the permits digitally with ease. Noting that the availability of essential goods take place through consumer product companies, organized retail stores and e-commerce companies, this platform will allow companies to generate digital passes for their employees and ensure smooth supply of daily use essentials, amidst this lockdown."

To simplify the process of issuing e-passes for essential goods and service providers during lockdown, eGov foundation has launched COVID e-Pass system. The platform is expected to reduce the operational burden of government officials and help in ensuring a seamless supply of essential goods and services during the lockdown.

To simplify the process of issuing e-passes for essential goods and service providers during lockdown, eGov foundation has launched COVID e-Pass system. The platform is expected to reduce the operational burden of government officials and help in ensuring a seamless supply of essential goods and services during the lockdown. The COVID e-Pass system is an application where the state nodal officers will approve one-time registration requests from the companies along with setting the daily quota of passes for each company. The designated authority from the company will then be allowed to generate bulk passes for company employees/partners, within the set quota. The companies will be able to do this on their own, without having to reach out to the district administration for inter-city movement. The pass will be delivered to the applicant in a PDF format and an SMS. Carrying a photo identification card will be compulsory for all the applicants. Also read: WION Edit: Coronavirus pandemic - is this a world war in disguise? State Nodal Officers will work with police authorities for verification and validation of the e-Pass during the commute. This easy-to-use and intelligent system has already been up and running in Delhi, Haryana, Telangana, Odisha, Punjab, Puducherry and Karnataka. State nodal officer for Karnataka, Shri Kapil Mohan (IAS), Principal Secretary Infrastructure Development, said he is very much satisfied with this system as it provides relief to companies for inter-district and inter-state movement of personnel while managing nationwide supply chains. Also read: Ramzan in the times of coronavirus The e-Pass platform has also been integrated with Aarogya Setu, government's COVID-19 contact tracing app. The first phase of this integration will allow the e-Pass system to poll Aarogya Setu to check the health indicator of the individuals before generating the ePass. The copy of the ePass is also deposited in the individual's Aarogya Setu app for easy access and verification. "The creation of the National e-Pass platform in less than a week is a beautiful moment. Firstly, it manifests how digital infra like eGov's DIGIT platform can be leveraged to create highly contextual solutions at scale and speed. It also brings out the power of co-creation that foundations like ours are uniquely placed to catalyze - we collaborated with volunteers from iSpirit, Aragoya Setu team at MeitY, State Governments, AWS and Consumer products companies to build this solution. And finally, this is a testament of the team that worked on this initiative - the team got together in an instant to respond to a real problem India faced. The team put the mission ahead of themselves and put in an extreme amount of hard work, while going through the same stresses of managing groceries, worrying about their loved ones," said Viraj Tyagi, CEO, eGov Foundation. Hiren Doshi, VP, eGov Foundation stated "Ensuring the availability and seamless supply of essential items across the nation, we are working with States and have developed a simple mechanism for them to issue the permits digitally with ease. Noting that the availability of essential goods take place through consumer product companies, organized retail stores and e-commerce companies, this platform will allow companies to generate digital passes for their employees and ensure smooth supply of daily use essentials, amidst this lockdown."

eGov Foundation Launches COVID e-Pass Platform to make transportation of essential goods easier

Sources told WION that India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is considering on extension of lockdown in India after having an important video conferencing with states & UT's Chief Ministers.

Source: PM Modi considering lockdown extension in India, after video conferencing with Chief Ministers

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