India’s Ambassador to China Vikram Misri interacted with representatives of Indian industry in Shanghai yesterday. He will also launch India@75 celebrations today in Shanghai. The event was attended by more than 30 representatives representing 8 sectors such as textiles, pharma, electronics, manufacturing, chemicals, IT, banking etc. AIR correspondent reports, Ambassador Misri discussed the issues related to business risk in the fluid current geopolitical scenario. He also discussed the general issues faced by the businesses such as flights and visa for their Indian employees who want to come back to China. Amid a geopolitical tussle including tensions in technology and trade, with the western countries led by the US, Chinese companies and businesses are facing sanctions on various counts. China has also announced tit for tat sanctions, affecting the whole business environment.
 
Amid the border tensions in Ladakh, India had tightened regulatory requirements last year for investments from China and banned more than 200 Chinese apps which were considered “prejudicial to sovereignty, security of state and public order”. Also, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global trade flows have been slowed, although there has still been strong demand for medical equipment and supplies which has largely contributed to China becoming India’s top trade partner in 2020.

The  Central Board of Secondary Education ( CBSE) has decided not to reduce the syllabus for the students of classes 9 to 12 for academic year 2021-22.

The board has released the new syllabus in which the chapters and topics that were removed in the last academic year have been restored for the upcoming academic session 2021-22. Official sources said the reduction in the syllabus was a one-time measure only for the 2021 board exams.

Last year, CBSE had rationalised the syllabus by up to 30 per cent for classes 9 to 12 for the year 2020-21 to reduce the course load of students in view of COVID-19 pandemic. The students who studied the reduced syllabus will appear in exams in May-June this year.

India’s biggest floating solar power plant with a capacity of 100 MW will be set up at Ramagundam in Telangana. The project expected to be opened in May, is being set up at Ramagundam thermal power plant reservoir. The solar project is commissioned by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). The project, which is estimated to cost around 423 crore rupees, will have 4.5 lakh photovoltaic panels.

The solar panels will cover 450-acre area of the reservoir and can be expanded in the future. NTPC’s efforts to set up floating solar power projects is aimed at reducing its carbon footprints and accelerate its green energy production to 30 per cent of its capacity.

The world’s largest solar power plant with 600 MW capacity is being set up on Omkareshwar Dam on Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh. The project costing 3,000 crore rupees is expected to start power generation only by 2022-23.

Indian Railways has logged highest ever electrification of sections covering over six thousand route kilometer in a single year during 2020-21. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, it has surpassed the previous highest of over five thousand route kilometer achieved in 2018-19. Indian Railways has given a lot of emphasis on electrification in the recent years to reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum-based energy.

More than five times electrification was achieved in the last seven years as compared to 2007-14. It has also commissioned a record 56  Traction Sub Stations during 2020-21, as against previous best of 42, which shows an improvement of 33 percent. Some of the Major sections electrified by the Indian Railways over the years include Mumbai-Howrah via Jabalpur, Delhi-Darbhanga-Jaynagar and Chennai-Trichy.

Ministry of Railways said that Railways has planned to fully electrify its tracks by December 2023. Total Rail electrification would contribute to the goal of “net zero” emissions by 2030 by drawing its entire electrical load from renewable energy sources.

Campaigning for the next phase of assembly election in West Bengal reached its feverish peak as senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trinamool Congress leader and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will address rallies in the same districts today. AIR correspondent reports that Bharatiya Janata Party is leaving no stone unturned to oust the decade-old Trinamool Congress government from power in West Bengal and it is evident from the back-to-back campaigning schedules of the topmost leaders of the party.

After Home Minister Amit Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the state again within a short span. He will be addressing two rallies in Hooghly and South 24 parganas this afternoon.

Star campaigners like Yogi Adiyanath, Jyotiraditya Schindhia and Goutam Gambhir are also expected to take part in campaigns in favour of party candidates. Ruling Trinamool Congress is mostly banking on the charisma and popularity of party Supremo Mamata Banerjee, usually addressed as DIDI, to remain in power. Ms Banerjee has been seeking votes on behalf of TMC candidates in 291 seats. She will be addressing three rallies in South 24 Parganas and another one in Hooghly along with a roadshow in Howrah.

Star campaigner of the party Abhishek Banerjee will also be taking part in meetings and roadshows in the same districts. On the other hand, leaders of Sanjukta Morcha, the alliance of left parties, congress and ISF will be attending road shows at Chanditala and Singur of Hooghly in support of CPIM candidates while Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury will be addressing a rally at Basirhat and a road show at Panihati in North 24 Parganas. Madhuparna Dhar Chowdhuri,

All eyes are on the Baruipur Paschim assembly segment of South 24 Pargana district in the assembly elections. Polling on this seat will be held in the third phase on 6th April. Senior Trinamool Congress leader and speaker of West Bengal assembly Biman Banerjee is toiling hard for his third consecutive victory. Baruipur Paschim was created in 2011 following multiple fragmentation of erstwhile Baruipur assembly constituency. It comprises a size of two lakh fifty-three thousand (2.53 Lakh) voters.

In this year’s assembly elections BJP and CPM have pitted new candidates against the Trinamool nominee. Debopam Chattopadhyaya is the fresh face from BJP whereas CPM has exuded it’s confidence in 39 years old Md. Lahek Ali. A high polling turnout constituency Baruipur Paschim has a previous trend of direct contest of winner and first runner up. On the other hand side-lining the rest of the contestants.

In 2016 assembly elections over 90 percent of total polled votes went to the kitty of winner and first runner up. Biman Chatterjee had defeated CPM candidate Saifuddin Khan by a comfortable margin of more than 36 thousand votes. Apart from other issues, rising unemployment is a major concern for the voters of this constituency.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an election rally at Tamulpur in Assam today. Congress leader and Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel will attend couple of meetings today at Barpeta and Bongaigaon districts.

In Assam, East Kokrajhar has become one of the most attractive constituency with the arrival of several star campaigners. This seat is likely to see a straight fight between the NDA and Mahajath. Prime Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Modi has recently addressed an election rally at Kokrajhar.

After the creation of the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts and now Bodoland Territorial Region, Kokrajhar has become one of the most important place of political importance. Polling will be held on 6th of this month.

AIR correspondent reports, senior BPF leader and minister in the Sonowal government, Pramila Rani Brahma is representing the East Kokrajhar seat for the last 30 years. In 2016, she defeated her nearest rival with a margin of 40 thousand votes. This time, BPF is in coalition with Congress. The NDA has fielded former student leader Lawrance Islary in UPPL ticket. The close associate of UPPL Chief Promod Bodo, Mr. Islary left the All Bodo Students Union and has joined active politics after the signing of the BTR accord.

Pramila Rani Brahma is facing a tough challenge from Lawrance Islary backed by star-studded campaigners of the BJP. However, BPF President Hagrama Mahilary along with senior Congress leaders are also making all-out efforts to retain the seat. Though there are a total of 5 candidates are in the fray, but the main contest is likely to have between the 2 Bodo political fronts -BPF and UPPL.

In Kerala, with just two days left to end the public campaign for the Assembly elections, all the major fronts are intensively campaigning with full vigour and enthusiasm.

All the necessary election preparations are also underway, for the assembly polls on April 6th. AIR correspondent reports, As the State is in the final phase of campaigning, all the three major fronts are ensuring the presence of their national leaders.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Smriti Irani and Prahlad Joshi will arrive in Kerala today for NDA campaign. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will participate in various election campaigns of UDF today. Senior national CPM Leaders are also actively campaigning in various constituencies for LDF.

All the major fronts are making every effort to popularise their election manifestos.

Meanwhile, on account of Covid pandemic, the Election Commission banned the “kalashakottu” this time, which is the mass campaigning of party workers in the last hours of public campaign in the center of town or city. The commission instead permitted campaigning till 7pm on Sunday. Due to the covid scenario,  it is directed that strict covid guidelines need to be followed in the entire election process and prohibited any kind of campaigning process involving children.

Senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the ruling LDF and Opposition UDF, saying that they are twins in areas of misgovernance and corruption. Mr. Modi was addressing NDA’s election rally at Karyavattom Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram yesterday evening.

The Prime Minister said that the left government in Kerala is not positive towards Central initiatives. He also said that the people are identifying NDA as a suitable alliance to address the developmental needs of society. Thiruvananthapuram is the district where BJP expects a big leap in the upcoming Assembly elections.

All 14 constituencies in the Capital district are likely to witness a strong triangular fight. BJP’s lone Assembly seat in Kerala, Nemom is also situated in Thiruvananthapuram. Earlier yesterday, the Prime Minister addressed a rally at Konni in the Pathanamthitta district. Thiruvananthapuram rally is the final rally of Mr. Modi in this campaign season in South India.

In Tamil Nadu, electioneering in all the 234 constituencies comes to a close tomorrow at seven in the evening. The State goes to a single-phase poll on the 6th of this month. Bye poll for the lone Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat will also be held on the same day. The constituency fell vacant after the death of Congress MP Vasanthakumar.

Campaigning is vigorous all through the State. Star campaigners of all the parties do not want to leave any stone unturned during campaigning. Parties continue their tirade against each other while garnering votes for their alliances during electioneering.  

AIR correspondent reports, senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will have road shows in  Chennai and  Thirunelveli to garner votes for his alliance partners. Senior Aiadmk leader and chief minister Palanisami is campaigning at Salem.

DMK leader Stalin is visiting constituencies at Chennai and surrounding areas. Candidates are involved in door-to-door canvassing to meet the voters.

Election officials are involved in checking out the areas in which voters list have to be distributed. Flying squads and monitoring officials are also vigilant to check violators of the model code of conduct. 

India has recorded a milestone in COVID-19 vaccination with administration of over seven crore vaccine doses. The country has also administered the first dose to more than six crore beneficiaries.

The Health Ministry Ministry said, so far a total of seven crore six lakh 18 thousand 26 vaccine doses have been given to the beneficiaries. Yesterday, over 12 lakh 76 thousand vaccine doses were given till 8 pm on the 77th day of nationwide COVID19 vaccination.

In a significant step to exponentially expand the countrywide Vaccination drive, the Centre has decided to operationalise both public and private sector COVID Vaccination Centres on all days this month.

The Centre has written to all the States and Union Territories and asked them to make necessary arrangements to provide COVID vaccination in these Centres on all days of the month including gazetted holidays.

Meanwhile, Covid-19 vaccination for persons above 45 years of age is gaining momentum. India’s immunisation drive which began on 16th of January this year is the World’s largest vaccination programme. Healthcare and frontline workers got inoculated first.

Then it was extended to people over 60 years of age and people with comorbidities. And from yesterday onwards people above the age of 45 and without any comorbidities are being given the jabs.  

The Centre has asked the States reporting a surge in COVID-19 cases to take immediate and high effective measures to ensure containment of active cases and daily deaths through adherence of the standard Clinical Management Protocol. Eleven States and Union Territories including Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Delhi, Haryana and Chhattisgarh have been categorised as States of grave concern on account of rising daily cases and higher deaths.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba yesterday chaired a high-level review meeting with Chief Secretaries, DG Police and Health Secretaries of all States and Union Territories. During the meeting, it was pointed out that Tier II and Tier III cities along with peri-urban areas have recorded the recent rise in COVID cases. It was also highlighted that the spread of infection from these areas to the rural areas with weak health infrastructure would overwhelm the local administration.

The States have been asked to increase testing continuously to ensure that positivity comes down to five per cent or less. Focus on ensuring RT-PCR tests should comprise 70 per cent of total tests and setting up of Containment Zones and Micro Containment Zones to break the chain of transmission were also advised.

Taking note of the present situation due to the continuous deterioration of the COVID scenario over a fortnight, the Cabinet Secretary pointed out that the current COVID case growth rate of 6.8 per cent last month has surpassed the previous record of 5.5 per cent in June 2020.

The country also reported 5.5 per cent growth rate in daily COVID deaths in this period.