Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will contest from his sitting Majuli assembly seat while state Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will try his fate from his sitting Jalukbari constituency in the ensuing state assembly elections. BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United People’s Party Liberal, UPPL today finalized the seat sharing arrangement under which AGP will contest on 26 seats and UPPL on 8 seats.
 
Briefing media in New Delhi this evening, BJP General Secretary Arun Singh announced the names of 70 BJP candidates for the assembly polls. Party has fielded state BJP chief Ranjit Kumar Dass from Patacharkuchi seat and Jitu Goswami will contest from Barhampur while Surbhi Rajkonwar has been given ticket from Sibsagar. Hitendra Nath Goswami will contest from Jorhat.
 
Mr Singh said, the BJP has replaced 11 sitting MLAs with new faces.
 
On the occasion, AGP President Atul Bora also announced the name of the seats to be contested by his party in the elections.

The filing of nomination papers has begun with the issuance of notification for the second phase of assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam. 30 assembly constituencies across four districts in West Bengal and 39 assembly seats in Assam will go to polls on 1st of April during this phase.

The last date for filing of nomination papers in both the states is 12th of March. Scrutiny will take place on 15th March whereas withdrawal of candidature ends on 17th of March. The first phase of polls in the West Bengal and Assam will be held on 27th of this month.

The filing of nomination papers has begun with the issuance of notification for the second phase of assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam. 30 assembly constituencies across four districts in West Bengal and 39 assembly seats in Assam will go to polls on 1st of April during this phase.

The last date for filing of nomination papers in both the states is 12th of March. Scrutiny will take place on 15th March whereas withdrawal of candidature ends on 17th of March. The first phase of polls in the West Bengal and Assam will be held on 27th of this month.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said India’s resolute response on the borders has helped in positive and peaceful resolution of certain significant issues. He saluted the selfless courage displayed by the soldiers during the recent Eastern Ladakh standoff. The Minister was addressing the Combined Commanders’ Conference at Kevadia. He said, ability to secure India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty from external threats and internal challenges have been strengthened in the recent years. He added that Indian forces today are proactive and more resolute in their response.

Mr Singh said the armed forces are capable to protect nation’s interests and India has nurtured close relations and partnerships with like-minded countries to further the common security interests. He elaborated that national interests are defined by the elements of national integration, sovereignty, sociology-economic development, conservation of Indian values and peaceful and harmonious region and world. He said, government is committed to protect the territorial integrity and ensure peace in the region.

He stressed that India as a country is looking to strengthen ability to create secure and stable environment that can facilitate India’s economic growth. He said, country’s enhanced defence capabilities will allow India to be better prepared for contingencies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said, climate change can be fought through policies, laws, rules and orders as well as behavioural change. Delivering the keynote address at CERAWeek 2021, Mr Modi stressed that behavioural change is the most powerful way to fight these challenges. He added that this spirit of behavioural change is a key part of Indian traditional habits which teach consumption with compassion. He expressed pride in farmers who are constantly using modern ways of irrigation. There is growing awareness on improving soil health and reducing use of pesticides. He pointed out that there is a growing demand of healthy and organic food and India can drive this change through spices, ayurveda products and more.
 
The Prime Minister added that India is working to increase its share of natural gas from 6 percent to 15 percent by 2030. LNG is being promoted as a fuel and a National Hydrogen Mission for use of hydrogen as a fuel has been launched. Mr Modi said as of 1st March this year, around 37 million LED bulbs are being used in India and this has saved cost and energy. Over 38 million tonnes carbon dioxide has been reduced per year. Over the last seven years, India’s forest cover has grown significantly. The population of lions, tigers, leopards and water fowls has grown. Mr Modi said these are great indicators of positive behavioural changes.
 
CERAWeek Founder Dr Daniel Yergin gave the CERAWeek Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award to Mr Modi. The Prime Minister dedicated the award to the people of India and the glorious tradition of the country that shows the way to care for environment. He said, the award recognises environmental leadership. He said, there is no doubt that when it comes to caring for the environment, the people of India are the leaders, and it has been the case for centuries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) will create a necessary ecosystem for various industries to boost their production and manufacturing of quality products. The Prime Minister was speaking today at a webinar of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and Niti Aayog on PLI Scheme. This scheme has been launched to make the country self reliant in various sectors by providing incentives to the industries to boost the production.

Mr Modi has stressed on the need to improve the quality of indigenously manufactured products to make them more competitive and acceptable across the world.
The Prime Minister added that the scheme will also enhance the export capabilities of the industries, generate employment and improve income.

Mr Modi said provisions of more than two lakh crore rupees have been made in the budget for the PLI scheme and it is expected that it will lead to production of products worth of 520 billion dollars in the coming five years.

Referring to declaration of year 2023 as the International Year of Millets, the Prime Minister appealed to the agriculture and food processing sectors to use this golden opportunity to enhance the production and processing of millets.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will arrive in Tirupati on a two-day visit to Andhra Pradesh today. Mr Naidu will participate in an interactive session with the students and faculty of IIT Tirupathi and will inaugurate a Hospital.

The Vice President will offer prayers to Lord Venkateswara Swamy at Tirumala tomorrow.

In cricket, England were 45 for 3 against India on the opening day in the fourth and final Test match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, when reports last came in. From the very beginning, the game of dust bowl started as left-arm spinner Axar Patel scalped two wickets and put the visitors on back foot.  

Earlier, England won the toss and opted to bat first. India made one change, Siraj replaced Jasprit Bumrah. Skipper Virat Kohli’s team need a win or a draw to book a slot with New Zealand in the inaugural World Test Championship final.

An England win would put Australia into the decider at Lord’s in June. In that case, Australia will face its trans-Tasmanian neighbour New Zealand.

In Myanmar, it was the most violent day yesterday in the ongoing protest against the military government. United Nations Special Envoy Christine Schraner Burgener said in New York that since the coup happened in Myanmar on 1st of February, it was the bloodiest day as 38 people died in a single day.

She said, in conversation with the Myanmar Deputy Military Chief Soe Win, she warned him that the military was likely to face strong measures from some countries for the coup. In response, he told that they were used to sanctions and have survived.

In Yangon, at least eight people were killed. Seven of them were killed in the northern part of the city when security forces opened fire last evening.

In Mayowa in Central Myanmar, the local media reported that six people were killed in the firing. Other deaths happened in Mandalay, Northern town of Hpakant and the central town of Myingyan among others. While the ASEAN countries could not issue a unanimous statement calling for the restoration of democracy and return of the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, it called for restraint in Myanmar.

The US State Department spokesperson said that the US is appalled by the increase in violence. The European Union (EU) said that shooting unarmed civilians and medical workers was a breach of international law.

There are reports of continuing protests from several towns across Myanmar including Naypyitaw and Mandalay.

More than one crore 66 lakh 16 thousand doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to the beneficiaries in the country so far.

The Health and Family Welfare Ministry today informed that a total of nine lakh 94 thousand 452 doses of vaccines were administered in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the country’s COVID-19 recovery rate presently stands at 97.03 per cent with a total recovery of more than 14 thousand patients within 24 hours.

The Ministry said, more than one crore eight lakh 26 thousand patients have already been recovered from this disease so far and there are one lakh 73 thousand 413 active cases in the country which comprises 1.55 per cent of the total positive cases. A total of 17 thousand 407 new cases were reported in the country in the past 24 hours taking the cumulative number of positive cases to over one crore 11 lakh 56 thousand.

The Health Ministry said, 89 deaths were reported within 24 hours taking the toll to over one lakh 57 thousand across the country.

Various laboratories conducted more than seven lakh 75 thousand tests of Coronavirus samples in the last 24 hours taking the total number of tests to more than 21 crore 91 lakh.

A three-day Combined Commanders’ Conference will begin today at Kevadia in Gujarat. Theaterisation of armed forces, self-reliance in defence sector and evolving threats in the region will be the focus areas during the three-day annual event.  

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address the top commanders of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force tomorrow.

During the conference, the setting up a new air defence command and maritime command is likely to be discussed at length. Implementation of the air defence command timeline is also likely to come up for discussion.

The formation of theatre commands will synergise the capabilities and combat potential of the three forces during war and peace.

Air defence command and maritime command are part of the restricting plan of the Indian armed forces as was announced by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat last year.

The newly created Department of Military Affairs is working towards the creation of joint military commands along with theatre command for the last one year.

India will commemorate Chabahar Day today on the margins of the Maritime India Summit-2021. The event will be held virtually. Ministers from Afghanistan, Armenia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Uzbekistan will participate in the event.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will address the Ministerial Level opening session. Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mansukh Mandaviya will deliver the keynote address.

The Ministerial level opening session will be followed by two webinar sessions on the Development of Port Infrastructure: Unleashing Opportunities and Boosting Business through Trade Promotion and Regional Connectivity.

Indigenous Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin has demonstrated interim clinical efficacy of 81 per cent in its phase three trial. The trial involved 25 thousand 800 participants across 21 sites.

The first interim analysis is based on 43 cases of which 36 cases of Covid-19 were observed in the placebo group versus 7 cases observed in the Covaxin group resulting in vaccine efficacy of 81 per cent.

The vaccine is developed by Bharat Biotech in partnership with the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Director-General of Indian Council of Medical Research, Dr. Balram Bhargava said that the journey of completely indigenous COVID-19 vaccine in less than eight months’ time showcases the immense strength of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He said, it is also a testament to India’s emergence as a global vaccine superpower.

Dr. Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech said that Covaxin demonstrated high clinical efficacy against Covid-19 and significant immunogenicity against the rapidly emerging variants. 

Government has allowed round-the-clock COVID-19 vaccination in order to expedite the immunisation drive. In a tweet, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the government has lifted the time restriction to increase the speed of vaccination.

He said people can now get vaccinated 24 by 7 according to their convenience. Dr Harsh Vardhan said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi understands the value of health as well as the time of citizens.

Easing restrictions, all private hospitals were on Tuesday allowed to give the vaccines if they adhere to the laid down norms, while the 9 am to 5 pm timing was also done away with.

Meanwhile, President Ram Nath Kovind was administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at an army hospital in Delhi yesterday.

On Monday, Prime Minister Modi was administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS, New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed the need for the education system to overcome linguistic barriers so that talent from rural areas gets the opportunity to flourish. He said, the new National Education Policy will be implemented on a mission mode towards this purpose.

Addressing a webinar on effective implementation of the provisions in the Union Budget for the education sector, Mr Modi said academics and experts of every language should make available the best content in the country and the world in Indian languages.

He said, it is necessary to produce content in Indian languages for every area of expertise, be it medical, engineering, technology or management.

Asserting that there is no dearth of talent in the country, Mr Modi said those living in villages and the poor, who do not know any language other than their local language, have no shortage of talent. We should not let the talent of our villages, our poor die due to language difficulties, he said.

Prime Minister said, the second biggest focus after health in this year’s budget is on education, skill, research and innovation. Mr Modi pointed out that to build a self-reliant India, confidence of the youth is equally important.