28.47 lakh beneficiaries vaccinated across the country
13 days into the vaccination drive, more than 29 lakh healthcare workers have been vaccinated in the country. India has identified 3 crore beneficiaries for vaccination under Phase I. The government further plans to vaccinate 30 crore Indians by August 2021. As per the Ministry of Health, India has become the fastest country to administer 20 lakh doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
As on 28th January, India had vaccinated 28,47,608 beneficiaries.
India had approved two vaccines — Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin — on January 3rd for emergency use in the country.
Source: Quartz India | Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Less than 100 cases for Delhi after nine months
On 27th January, 96 new cases of COVID-19 and nine deaths in Delhi were reported in the last 24 hours. This is the lowest case count reported (new COVID-19 cases) in the last nine months in the national capital. The lowest number of new COVID-19 cases (76) ever was last reported on 30th April 2020. The total number of cases in Delhi stands at 6,34,325 out of which 6,21,995 have recovered, taking the overall recovery rate to 98 %. Moreover, the positivity rate which was 15 percent earlier is now 0.32 percent.
Source: NDTV
Farmers’ protest: Unrest at key protest sites
After the violence on 26th January, a group of around 200 people has reportedly vandalized tents and other arrangements that were in place at the Singhu border on 29th January. The Singhu border has been the epicenter of the ongoing protests. Following these events, security has been tightened at other sites including the Tikri and Ghazipur border.
On 28th January, farmers protesting at Haryana’s Karnal were told to leave by a group of people. The group also gave the farmers an ultimatum of 24 hours and also said that the protest is causing them lot of inconvenience.
On the other hand, the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh government has ordered the police to remove the farmers who have been camping at various places outside the national capital.
Source: NDTV
Mumbai local trains to resume services from Feb 1
Having been suspended since March 2020, Mumbai’s local trains, its lifeline, are set to get back on track from February 1st. The trains will operate during fixed time slots, informed Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Mumbai local has remained an essential mobility service for lakhs of residents, especially among the economically weaker sections. Trains will be allowed to run from first service till 7 am, from noon to 4 pm and 9 pm to the last service again. Between these slots, frontline workers and healthcare staff, single women travellers and those with a special pass from the state government – will only be allowed to travel.
Source: NDTV
Government readies for Budget release, Finance Minister shares Economic survey
On the occasion of the start of the budget session of the Parliament, PM Narendra Modi focused on the union budget which is scheduled to be released on 1st February 2021. PM Modi has said that budget 2021 will be a follow-up of 3 to 4 mini budgets that were presented by the Finance Minister in 2020. He also talked about making the optimum utilization of the session for discussing the budget and the nation’s economic growth and development.
On the other hand, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman released the annual Economic Survey and presented it in the Parliament. The survey has projected a high recovery rate of 11% for the fiscal year 2021-22. The survey also highlighted that the economy has contracted by 7.7% in the ongoing fiscal year, which will end on 31st March 2021.
Source: NDTV
HRERA takes big action against violators
Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HRERA) has taken major action against the violators for not registering the projects under the Real Estate Regulation Act (RERA). Three builders have been charged a fine of Rs. 2.25 crore and it has ordered for the demolition of unauthorized constructions by the Municipal Corporation Gurugram.
The order was passed by the Chairman of HRERA K.K. Khandelwal. The major allegations against these builders were that they were engaged in online advertisement of their unregistered projects, which is not allowed under the RERA, and also indulged in some unauthorized construction.
Source: The Times of India
Maharashtra government starts jail tourism in Pune
In a unique initiative, the Maharashtra government has kicked off jail tourism in Pune’s Yerawada Central Jail. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was present at the prison premises on the occasion of 72nd Republic Day. Maharashtra CM highlighted the historical importance of the jail premise. The dreaded terrorist Ajmal Kasab was also executed in the Yerawada jail. The jail also saw the execution of the famous Chapekar brothers.
The jail has also been home to many freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Motilal Nehru, Sarojini Naidu, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Source: Hindustan Times
[Compiled by Rishabh Shrivastava]