THE HEADLINES:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi assures farmers that Minimum Support Price and government procurement will continue; Says agriculture reform bills to help eliminate middlemen.

• Home Ministry asks all States and Union Territories to ensure free movement of oxygen carrying vehicles without any restriction.

• Centre to send high level team to Jammu to help contain COVID-19.

• All schools in Delhi to remain closed till October 5.

• Eight Indian beaches recommended for coveted Blue Flag international eco-label.

• US bans Chinese apps Tik Tok and WeChat from tomorrow citing threat to national security.

• In Cricket, 13th IPL kick-starts in Abu Dhabi this evening.

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Prime Minister  Narendra Modi has said  Agriculture reform Bills will provide new opportunities to farmers to sell their produce, which will increase their profits. He was speaking after dedicating the historic Kosi Rail Mahasetu (mega bridge) to the nation through video-conference  yesterday. The Prime Minister asserted that these legislations will empower farmers in the country and will ensure that they get the benefit of modern technology.He assured that the new bill will truly free the farmers from middlemen and all obstacles. The Prime Minister assured farmers that the system of MSP and government procurement will continue as before.

“अब ये दुष्प्रचार किया जा रहा है कि सरकार के द्वारा किसानों को MSP का लाभ नहीं दिया जाएगा। ये भी मनगढ़ंत बातें कही जा रही हैं कि किसानों से धान-गेहूं इत्यादि की खरीद सरकार द्वारा नहीं की जाएगी। ये सरासर झूठ है, गलत है, किसानों के साथ धोखा है। हमारी सरकार किसानों को MSP के माध्यम से उचित मूल्य दिलाने के लिए प्रतिबद्ध है। पहले भी थे, आज भी हैं, आगे भी रहेंगे। सरकारी खरीद भी पहले की तरह जारी रहेगी।“

The Prime Minister alleged that the Opposition parties are misguiding people by protesting against Agriculture reform Bills. He said that various powers are engaged in confusing the farmers regarding the provisions of the new legislation.

“आज जब वही चीजें, जारे इतने दशकों तक देश में राज करने वाले लोग, उनके मेनिफेस्‍टो में है, वहीं चीजें एनडीए सरकार कर रही है, किसानों को समर्पित हमारी सरकार कर रही है, तो ये भांति-भांति के भ्रम फैला रहे हैं। जिस APMC एक्ट को लेकर अब ये लोग राजनीति कर रहे हैं, एग्रीकल्चर मार्केट के प्रावधानों में बदलाव का विरोध कर रहे हैं, उसी बदलाव की बात इन लोगों ने अपने घोषणापत्र में भी लिखी थी। लेकिन अब जब एनडीए सरकार ने ये बदलाव कर दिया है, तो ये लोग इसका विरोध करने पर, झूठ फैलाने पर, भ्रम फैलाने पर उतर आए हैं।“

He exhorted that these bills will additionally fortify the farmers by giving them many more options.

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The Health Ministry has said that India has overtaken the US and became number one in terms of global COVID-19 recoveries. In a tweet, the Ministry said, the total recoveries have crossed 42 lakh. Centre-led focussed, calibrated, responsive and effective measures of early identification through high and aggressive testing, prompt surveillance and tracking coupled with standardised high quality clinical care have together resulted in this global achievement.

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Home Ministry has asked all the States to ensure free movement of oxygen carrying vehicles without any restriction as medical oxygen is an important pre-requisite for managing moderate and severe COVID-19 cases. In a letter to Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said it has come to the notice that some states are trying to curb inter-state movement of oxygen supplies from manufacturing units situated in their areas. He said, some states are also mandating manufacturers and suppliers located in the state to restrict their oxygen supplies to the hospitals of the state. Mr Bhalla emphasised that medical oxygen is an essential public health commodity and any impediment in the supply of medical oxygen in the country may critically impact the management of patients suffering from COVID-19 in other parts of the country. He asked the States and Union Territories  to ensure no such restriction is imposed on the movement of medical oxygen between states and transport authorities shall be instructed to accordingly allow free inter-state movement of oxygen carrying vehicles. It is also said that no restrictions shall be imposed on oxygen manufacturers and suppliers to limit the oxygen supplies only to the hospitals of the state in which they are located.

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From zero manufacturers in March this year, as many as 1,100 indigenous manufacturers of PPE kits have been developed by the government till date and most of them are from the MSME sector. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said, the capacity and production of PPE coveralls for COVID-19 touched a peak of 5 lakh per day in mid-May 2020.

As on September 13, a total of 1.42 crore PPE kits have been supplied to HLL Lifecare Ltd, the procurement arm of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, for the use of health professionals in government hospitals.

Similarly, domestic manufacturers of N-95 masks were encouraged during the lockdown period and as a result, a total of 2.46 crore N-95 masks have been supplied to HLL Lifecare Ltd as on 13th September.

In a separate reply, the Minister said that from 28th July to 24th August, the exports of PPE coveralls were allowed under quantity restriction limited to 50 lakh per month.

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The Centre has decided to depute a high level Central team to Jammu. The district has reported a rise in the number of new COVID cases in the recent days. The Health Ministry said, the team will interact with the District Collectors and Health Officers of Jammu. It will also visit hospitals in Bakshinagar and Gandhinagar. The team will support the efforts of the state  towards strengthening containment, surveillance, testing and efficient clinical management of the positive cases. The Central team will also guide in effectively managing the challenges related to timely diagnosis and follow up. The total number of confirmed COVID cases in Jammu is nine thousand 428. Of these, three thousand 196 have recovered. There are six thousand 115 Active Cases in the district. Jammu has been reporting doubling time of 15.4 days and the recovery rate is 33.9 per cent.

The Ministry said, recently a special team had visited the Srinagar valley. The team had reviewed the status of preparedness for COVID management with the District Collectors of the valley.

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The Delhi government has announced that all schools in the national capital will continue to remain closed till October 5 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. An official order issued by the Directorate of Education said that online teaching and learning activities will continue as usual. The order noted that school principals are authorised to call staff as per requirement for smooth conduct of online classes or any other work.

Universities and schools across the country have been closed since March 16 when the Centre announced a countrywide classroom shutdown as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. As per the latest guidelines under ‘Unlock’, schools have been allowed to call students from class 9 to 12 to schools on voluntary basis from September 21.

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Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal has advised officials and experts to jointly prepare the Blue Print for re-strategizing containment zone policy to reduce positivity and mortality rate. Mr Baijal also emphasised on aggressive IEC campaign particularly in vernacular languages to engage stakeholders for ensuring Covid appropriate behaviour. He was speaking at a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority in which Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was also present.

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Uttar Pradesh government is conducting around one lakh fifty thousand Covid tests per day in the state. Yesterday, more than 1.55 lakh tests were conducted in a single day. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressing satisfaction over the record single day tests asked officials to maintain the momentum.

“Presiding over a high-level unlock review meeting yesterday Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the contact tracing is also an important factor in containing Covid-19, hence emphasis should be  given upon. He said  availability of oxygen and essential medicines should be ensured in the Covid hospitals  and there should not face any shortage of these essential medical items.  So far, two lakh 70 thousand 94 Covid-19 patients have been cured in the state  and the rate of recovery from corona has gone up to 78. 79  per cent . Additional Chief Secretary Health Amit Mohan Prasad said  that at present the total number of active cases in the state is 67 thousand 825, out of which 35 thousand 124 people are living in home isolation. MS Yadav, AIR News, Lucknow”.

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In Bihar, COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 91.55 percent in the state which is 13 percent more than national average. Active cases in the state are continuously decreasing. At present 13 thousand 111 patients are undergoing treatment in various hospitals of the state. Health Minister Mangal Pandey said nearly 54 lakh samples have been tested in Bihar so far.

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In Madhya Pradesh, the number of corona infected people has crossed one lakh marks. At the same time, about 77 thousand patients have recovered so far. The numbers of COVID-19 cases in the state climbed up to 1 lakh 458 after 2 thousand 552 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours. The death toll also rose to 1 thousand 901.

“As per the state health bulletin, 2 thousand 554 coronavirus patients were discharged from the hospitals in the past 24 hours taking the number of recovered cases in the state to 76 thousand 952. Meanwhile, the state government has issued new guidelines for prevention of Coronavirus infection in the wake of religious programs and festivals. During festivals, there will be no permission to carry out any processions for religious and social events. Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Dr. Rajesh Rajaura has said that the maximum height of the idols to be installed in various public places will be 6 feet and the size of the pandal will be 10 by 10 feet. Maximum 100 people will be allowed to participate in the event. Sanjeev Sharma, AIR News, Bhopal”.

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Gujarat has reported a record 1410 new cases of Covid-19 during the last 24 hours . The total cases in the state have gone up to 1 lakh 20  thousand 488.

“With the recovery of 1293 patients yesterday, the recovery rate has further improved and reached upto 83.90 per cent. Total 1 lakh 1 thousand 101 patients have recovered in the state till now. More than 36 lakh 78 thousand tests have been carried out in the state till date, out of which 69077 tests were carried out yesterday. Maximum 286 new cases reported from Surat. At present total active cases in the state are 16108, out of which 98 patients are on ventilator. 16 patients died yesterday taking the total deaths due to Covid-19 upto 3289. Meanwhile, Ahmedabad municipal corporation has added 16 new areas in the micro containment zone following detection of new cases.  Yogesh Pandya, AIR News, Ahmedabad”.

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In Mumbai, Western Railways will run a total of 500 suburban train services from September 21, an increase from the 350 currently on the tracks amid the coronavirus outbreak.

“Sumit Thakur, the chief public relations officer of WR said in order to maintain social distancing and avoid overcrowding, Western Railway has taken the decision to increase the number of daily special suburban services from 350 to 500. Of the increased services, 30 will be operated during morning peak hours, and 29 services during evening peak hours. All commuters have been requested to follow social distancing norms and wear mask while travelling in local trains. SONALI GHADYALPATIL, AIR NEWS, MUMBAI”.

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In Odisha, Covid-19 recovery cases have gone up to 1,37,567 against a cumulative caseload of 1,71,341. With the recovery of 4101 more patients yesterday, the rate of recovery has increased 78 per cent. 

“In terms of absolute numbers, while the daily count of cases keep on growing, the daily growth rate has gone down to 2.18 % from a little over 3%, a fortnight ago. The case fatality rate too is on the downswing at about 0.4 % . Added to this is the downsizing of the daily divide between infection and recovery as evident from the new recovery of 4101 cases against a new infection of 4181 cases yesterday. Further, with the state government allowing home isolation of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatict cases, about 70% of the active cases as of now are homebound, with active surveillance support in tow. Girish Chandra Dash,

Bhubaneswar”.

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In Karnataka 8,626 new Covid-19 cases were reported yesterday taking the total tally to 5,02,982. On the other hand 10,949 people recovered and were discharged from various hospitals across the State. In a single day yesterday, 179 covid patients succumbed to the disease taking the total fatalities to 7,808. 

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In Tamil Nadu, the health department is introducing “Covid Suspects Wards” in all major hospitals of the state. They are for treating patients having strong symptoms of Covid-19 infection, though their RT-PCR tests show negative results.

“Globally, physicians say there is the possibility of a small percentage of Covid-19 tests showing false-negative results. Of the available tests, the RT-PCR is considered the gold standard, though physicians point out that there could be some cases of false negative too. They say this is one among the reasons for a person having all the symptoms of Covid-19 infection including the affected lungs, though the Covid test failed to confirm it. To treat such patients, the “Covid-Suspects” wards are being established in the state-run medical college hospitals. The special ward at the Government Rajiv Gandhi Hospital in Chennai was inaugurated yesterday by Health Minister Dr C Vijayabhaskar. He expressed satisfaction that no positive case is being missed from being treated or monitored which helps in a big way in controlling the disease spread. Jayasingh, AIR News, Chennai”.

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In our series ‘Expert Speak’ on All India Radio, we bring you views of leading medical experts on COVID-19.

Talking to AIR News, Director at AIIMS in Delhi, Dr Randeep Guleria advised people to aggressively follow social distancing and hand hygiene norms to check the spread of COVID-19 infection.

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Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that eight beaches of the country have been recommended for the coveted ‘Blue Flag’ international eco-label. He said, clean beaches are a testimony to good environment in coastal areas and India’s many beaches are among the best in the world. Speaking on the eve of ‘International Coastal Clean-Up Day’ celebrated across 100 countries since 1986, Mr Javadekar said, for the first time, eight beaches of India have been recommended for the Blue Flag certification. Blue Flag certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded by an international agency ‘Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark’ based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads-environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environment management and conservation and safety and services in the beaches. The ‘Blue Flag’ beach is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide the tourists and beachgoers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities and amenities, safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area. The eight beaches recommended are Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Daman and Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri in Karnataka, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden in Odisha and Radhanagar in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the bulk of additional spending sought in the first batch of supplementary demands for grants would be utilised towards people-centric schemes to help them amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Replying in the Lok Sabha after discussion on one of the highest supplementary demand for grants in Indian history, the minister laid out details for the additional expenditure of over 2 lakh 35 thousand crore rupees with net cash outgo of nearly 1 lakh 66 thousand crore rupees. Lok Sabha approved the first batch of the supplementary demands for grants in its sitting yesterday which lasted till late in the night.

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International Finance Corporation has said that two trillion dollars will be provided to India to develop green buildings, improve public transport and to expand renewable sources of energy. Addressing the “e-DIALOGUE on Ease of Living and Sustainable Development Goals-2020-21″ held in Mumbai, IFC’s Country Head Jun Zhang said the organisation is committed to urban development in India. Mr. Zhang added that India needs to focus on properly executing its infrastructure and smart city development projects. IMC President Rajiv Podar said it is time for the people to inspire, contribute and build a New India, adding that where there is ease of living, there is ease of doing business.

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The Government has amended the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, 2017 on 16th of this month. The amendment enables nodal Ministries and Departments to notify higher minimum local content requirement for Class-I and Class-II local suppliers. As per the Order, entities of countries which do not allow Indian companies to participate in their Government procurement for any item, shall not be allowed to participate in Government procurement in India for all items related to that nodal Ministry or Department, except for the list of items published by the Ministry or  Department permitting their participation. Specifying foreign certifications, unreasonable technical specifications, brands, models in the bid document is restrictive and discriminatory practice against local suppliers.

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In our series on Seva Saptah, today we bring you a special story on Ayushman Bharat. In the last six years, Narendra Modi government has laid a lot of emphasis on improving the health infrastructure in the country to provide affordable and quality healthcare to the countrymen.

The government is implementing  a flagship scheme – Ayushman Bharat, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).  Launching the  Ayushman Bharat- Jan Aarogya Yojana from Jharkhnad on 23rd of September, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, it  is the world’s largest scheme that aims at providing health assurance of up to five lakh rupees to more than 50 crore  people of the country.

“PM-JAY is the world’s largest health assurance scheme fully financed by the government.It provides a cover of  5 lakh rupees  per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization across public and private empanelled hospitals in India.Over 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families  are eligible for these benefits. So far over 23 thousand  hospitals have been  empanelled  under it and  1.2 crore treatments have been provided. The government has set a target of creating 1.5 lakh  Health and Wellness Centres  by 2022. Anand Kumar , AIR News Delhi.”

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In our series on Gandhian philosophy, today we bring you a report on Gandhiji’s views on village economy. Mahatma Gandhi believed in a self-sufficient village economy. A strong critique of western civilization, he wanted villages to develop their economies to meet the basic requirements of the villagers and whatever things cannot be produced should be obtained in exchange of surplus products produced in villages. Gandhiji asserted that capitalism tend to increase the unlimited needs & number of poor people.

“Mahatma Gandhi  insisted on consumption of locally grown products and  food. According to him, the consumption of locally produced products can safeguard local market for producers, save valuable foreign currency and control global warming by reducing the fuel consumption on transporting goods.  He was convinced that if villages perish, India will perish too. He insisted on village industries, primary education through handicrafts, eradication of untouchability and communal harmony. Anand Kumar, AIR News, Delhi”.

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Viraat, the decommissioned aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy, will begin its last journey today from Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard to Alang in Gujarat, where it will be dismantled. The vessel had served the Indian Navy for 30 years before being decommissioned in 2017. There were attempts to convert ‘Viraat’ into a museum or a restaurant, but none of the plans materialised.

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The United States has banned download of Chinese app TikTok and use of messaging and payment platform WeChat, saying they threaten national security. The ban will come into effect from tomorrow night. In a statement, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said, Chinese Communist Party has demonstrated the means and motives to use these apps to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and the economy of the US.  The initiative will ban WeChat and TikTok from the online marketplaces operated by Apple and Google. TikTok has slammed the decision and vowed to fight the Trump administration’s ongoing crackdown on the company. It said, the ban impedes a tool for entertainment, self-expression and connection.

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After a long wait, cricket stars will be in action at the 13th edition of Indian Premier League at Abu Dhabi in United Aarab Emirates today. The fans will have a lot to cheer as Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians will take on Mahendra Singh Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings in the opening match of the IPL.

The tournament, which has been shifted to the UAE due to COVID-19 pandemic is a TV only event. In all, 60 matches will be held in three avenues- Abu Dhabhi, Sharjah and Dubai.

All  the participating teams have arrived in UAE to fight it out in a neutral venue away from their home conditions.

The organizers have ensured adequate safety arrangements in place creating bio bubbles. The idea is to prevent the Corona virus cases.

Over the next 53 days, it is going to be a tough task for the participating teams to win the title.

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Take a look at the weather for the day.

In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the minimum temperature was recorded at 25 degree Celsius in Jammu while the maximum will be around 36 degrees. The city will have mainly clear sky.

In Srinagar, the temperature will hover between 12 and 30 degree celsius. The city is likely to have mainly clear sky.

Ladakh will also have mainly clear sky. The temperature may hover between 10 and 27 degree Celsius.

In Gilgit, the minimum temperature was 15 degrees and the maximum will be 31 degree Celsius with mainly clear sky.

Muzzafarabad is also likely to have mainly clear sky. The minimum temperature was 18 degree Celsius and the maximum is expected to be around 36 degree Celsius.

In Dehradun, the minimum temperature was 24 degree Celsius and the maximum will be around 33 degrees. The city is expected to have partly cloudy sky with possibility of rain or thunderstorm or duststorm.

Chandigarh may witness partly cloudy sky. The temperature may hover between 26 and 36 degree Celsius.

The National Capital Delhi will have generally cloudy sky with light rain or drizzle. The minimum temperature recorded in the city was 27 degree Celsius and the maximum will be around 36 degrees.

In Hyderabad, the minimum temperature was 22 degree Celsius while the maximum is expected to be around 31 degree Celsius. The city will experience generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers.

The temperature in Ahmedabad is expected to hover between 26 and 34 degree Celsius. The city will have generally cloudy sky with light rain.

Guwahati may experience a partly cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers. The minimum temperature was recorded at 25 degree Celsius while the maximum will be around 34 degrees.

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THE HEADLINES:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate Kosi Rail mega bridge in Bihar today through video conferencing.
• Lok Sabha passes two agriculture reform bills aimed at bringing revolutionary changes in the life of farmers. 
• Prime Minister welcomes passage of farm bills in Lower House; Says Opposition parties trying to confuse farmers.
• Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar given additional charge of Food Processing Industries Ministry, following resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
• Covid-19 recovery rate improves to 78.64 per cent.
• Health Minister Harsh Vardhan says, Corona vaccine will be available by early next year.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the Kosi Rail Mahasetu (mega bridge) to the nation through video-conference  today. He will also inaugurate 12 rail projects related to passenger facilities to benefit the people of Bihar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will also be present on this occasion.

The 1.9 km long Kosi mega bridge has been completed at a total cost of 516 crore rupees. With the construction of the bridge the rail distance between Nirmali and Saraigarh would come down from the present 298 kms to 22 kms.

The project was completed during the COVID-pandemic where the migrant labour also participated. The dedication of this project will fulfil the 86 year old dream and the long wait of the people of the region. During the heavy flood and severe Indo Nepal earthquake in 1934, the rail link was washed away and thereafter due to the meandering nature of river Kosi no attempt was made to restore this rail link for a long period.

The bridge has connected Mitihila and Kosi region. This bridge is of strategic importance along the Indo-Nepal border. It will also make it easy for long distance travel to Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai for the people of the region.

The Prime Minister will also flag off a DEMU train from Supaul railway station on Saharsa – Adampur – Kupaha section.

Among the 12 other projects to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister  are two new railway lines, five electrification projects, one electric locomotive shed and third line project between Barh and Bakhatiarpur.

The two new railway lines are  the Hajipur- Ghoswar – Vaishali section as well as Islampur – Nateshar section and Karnauti- Bakhtiarpur by pass rail line between Barh – Bakhtiarpur.

The railway electrification projects include Muzaffarpur- Sitamarhi sections, Katihar- New Jalpaiguri, Samastipur- Khagaria, Bhagalpur – Shivnarayanpur and Samastipur – Jaynagar sections.

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The Lok Sabha has passed the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 with Voice Vote and  Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had moved two farm sector legislations in the Lok Sabha yesterday. The two bills, Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 will replace the synonymous ordinances promulgated on 5th June this year. Terming the bills as historic, Mr. Tomar said they will bring revolutionary changes in the life of farmers in the country.

Mr. Tomar said, the bill seeks to give independence to farmers in terms of selling their produce. The minister asserted that the new legislation seeks to free the farmers from the clutches of Mandis and Farm Produce Markets.

Allaying the apprehensions of few members over the bill, Mr. Tomar clarified that the bills will not dilute the APMC Act in any way. He said, Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farm produce will continue to remain in force and the bill will additionally fortify the farmers to reach out to interstate markets. The Bill facilitates increase in availability of buyers for farmers’ produce, by allowing them to trade freely without any license or stock limit. The increase in competition will result in better prices for farmers.  

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The Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the passing of the two farm related bills in Lok Sabha as historic. He said the agrarian reform bills are of utmost importance for the farmers and agriculture sector of the country. The Prime Minister said, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 will truly free the farmers from middlemen and all obstacles. He said that these agrarian reforms will provide new opportunities to farmers to sell their produce, which will increase their profits. Mr. Modi asserted that these legislations will empower farmers in the country and will ensure that they get the benefit of modern technology. He said that various powers are engaged in confusing the farmers regarding the provisions of the new legislation. Mr. Modi assured farmers that the system of MSP and government procurement will continue as before. He exhorted that these bills will additionally fortify the farmers by giving them many more options.

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President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted the resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Union Council of Ministers. A press communique issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan said, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has been assigned the charge of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in addition to his existing portfolios.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that India is committed to resolve the current border issue with China through a fair and peaceful manner and at the same time the country is also prepared to deal with all contingencies. He said, China is trying to change the status quo at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which is unacceptable to India at any condition. The Defence Minister was making a statement in the Rajya Sabha on the development on the border in Ladakh region.

Mr. Singh said, the current situation is very different both in terms of scale of troops involved and the number of friction points. He said, the conduct of Indian forces throughout the standoff shows that while they maintained patience in face of provocative actions, they also equally displayed valour when required to protect territorial integrity of the country.

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The Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane arrived in Srinagar yesterday on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. Soon after his arrival, he proceeded to undertake a firsthand assessment of the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir. During his interaction with the soldiers deployed in high altitude areas, the Army Chief appreciated their high morale and complimented them on their response to Pakistan ceasefire violations. General Naravane also commended use of technology to ensure effective day and night surveillance across the LoC which has resulted in many successful operations to foil infiltration bids from POJK in the recent past. The Army Chief reinforced the need to extend all possible support to civilians residing in the border areas who are victims of targeted ceasefire violations by the Pakistani Army and are facing hardships due to the pandemic.

General Naravane also interacted with commanders and troops deployed in the hinterland. While interacting with jawans, he highlighted that it was a dawn of a new era of development, peace and prosperity in Kashmir and applauded them for their high level of morale and contribution to peace building in Jammu and Kashmir.  He appreciated the high level of coordination amongst all government agencies towards maintaining peace in the valley and efforts to reach out to the “Awam” to overcome the challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Later, General Naravane reviewed the overall security situation along with the Northern Army Commander and Chinar Corps Commander. He also called on Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and assured the wholehearted support of the Army in ushering in peace and stability in the region.

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Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has issued instructions for submission of claims by the affected workers to claim relief under recently expanded Atal Beemit Yyakti Kalyan Yojna. Under the scheme, relief is to be paid to those ESI members who lost their job. Claims to get the relief can be made online at website www.esic.in along with submission of the physical claim with an affidavit, photocopy of the Aadhaar Card and Bank Account details to the designated ESIC Branch Office by post or in person.

ESI Corporation under the Chairmanship Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar has taken the decision to extend the scheme of Atal Beemit Yyakti Kalyan Yojana from 1st July, 2020 to 30th June, 2021. It has also been decided to enhance the rate of unemployment relief under the scheme to 50 per cent of wages from earlier rate of 25 per cent due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdown.

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In our series on Seva Saptah, today we bring you a special story on Swachh Bharat. In the last six years, the Narendra Modi government has laid a lot of emphasis on Clean India.

The Swachh Bharat mission has focused on rural and urban areas separately and has played a crucial role in ensuring sanitation in the country. Since the launch of the mission in 2014, more than ten crore individual toilets have been constructed across the country. As a result, rural areas in all the states have declared themselves Open Defecation Free ODF on 2nd of October last year.

Inaugurating Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra in New Delhi last month, Mr Modi said Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has brought about a behavioural change among the citizens.

“The Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) has moved towards its second phase which is also called ODF-Plus. This phase will continue till 2024-25. The Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) has also made remarkable progress in the area of both sanitation and solid waste management. Over 4324 Urban Local Bodies have been declared ODF in the country so far. More than 66 lakh individual household toilets and over 6 lakh community and public toilets have also been constructed or are under construction. In the area of solid waste management, 96 per cent of wards have 100 per cent door-to door collection while 66 per cent of the total waste generated is being processed. With Anupam Mishra, Suparna Saikia, AIR News, Delhi”.

People from different walks of life shared their views, on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday yesterday.

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Thanking the people for their birthday wishes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged everyone to continue wearing masks and follow social distancing norms in a bid to contain Coronavirus.

In a late-night tweet yesterday, the Prime Minister wrote, since many have asked, what is it that he wants for his birthday, here is what he seeks right now, Keep wearing a mask and wear it properly, follow social distancing, remember ‘Do Gaj Ki Doori, avoid crowded spaces and improve your immunity.

The Prime Minister, who turned 70 yesterday, said, people from all over India and from all over the world have shared their kind wishes. He said he is grateful to each and every person who has greeted him. Mr Modi said, these greetings give him the strength to serve and work towards improving the lives of the fellow citizens.

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The Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from Karnataka Ashok Gasti passed away in a private hospital in Bengaluru. In a statement issued by hospital Director Dr. Manish Rai, the 55 year old leader passed away at 10:31 pm yesterday. He was diagnosed with severe Covid-19 pneumonia and critically ill with multi-organ failure when admitted to the hospital in Bengaluru on September 2nd.  Ashok Gasti was the first time MP who had taken oath as member of Rajya Sabha on July 22nd. A lawyer by profession and former General Secretary of BJP, he had also served as Chairperson of the Backward Class Development Corporation in Karnataka.

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The Government has said the country’s recovery rate among the COVID-19 patients has reached 78.64 per cent. During the last 24 hours, more than 82 thousand COVID patients have recovered. The Health Ministry said, the total number of recoveries has reached over 40 lakh 25 thousand. The constantly increasing recoveries have ensured that the actual caseload of the country has reduced and currently comprises only 19.73 per cent of the total positive cases. It said, that active cases of Covid-19 in the country are less than one fifth of the total cases. Presently, the total number of active cases in the country is 10 lakh nine thousand. Currently, India’s Case Fatality Rate is at 1.63 per cent, which is one of the lowest globally. In the last 24 hours, one thousand 132 deaths have been reported taking the toll to 83 thousand 198.

According to the ICMR, the total number of samples tested so far has reached over six crore five lakhs. 

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Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has expressed hope that COVID-19 vaccine would be available in the country by early next year. He informed that three vaccine candidates have reached the clinical trial stage of Phase one, two and three.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan appealed to the people to adopt the social distancing and “Do Gaz Ki Doori” as a social vaccine till the arrival of vaccine. He was replying to a discussion in Rajya Sabha on COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country yesterday. He said, India is working with the WHO and other international organizations in the direction of vaccine development.

Appreciating the role of COVID warriors in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, he said, the Prime Minister has taken every decision with the help of experts and the government tried to resolve every issue related to this disease. He said, India started the fight against COVID-19 disease from the initial days and fought this battle in an  honest and meticulous manner. He added that effective contact tracing, surveillance mechanism and lockdown reduced the number of COVID-19 cases and mortality.

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Gujarat has reported a record 1379 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases in the state has gone up to 1 lakh 19 thousand 88. More from our correspondent:

“With the recovery of 1652 patients yesterday, the recovery rate has further improved and reached upto 83.81 per cent. Total 99,808 patients have recovered in the state till now. More than 36 lakh 9 thousand tests have been carried out in the state till date, out of which 85,820 tests were carried out yesterday. At present total active cases in the state are 16,007, out of which 96 patients are on ventilator. 14 patients died yesterday taking the total deaths due to Covid-19 upto 3273. Meanwhile, Ahmedabad municipal corporation has added 11 new areas in the micro containment zone following detection of new cases. Yogesh Pandya, AIR News, Ahmedabad”.

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In Chhattisgarh, sero surveillance has started amidst increasing cases of Corona infection. On the first day of the survey, the teams of ICMR collected samples from the people in Raipur, Durg and Rajnandgaon districts to examine antibodies in people. These samples are being taken from selected clusters as well as from persons belonging to high risk groups such as immuno-compromised individuals, hospital staff, police and migrant workers.

This survey is being conducted to know the status of herd immunity in people against Corona virus. The survey is being conducted by ICMR and the Health Department of Chhattisgarh. The  survey will help to identify people who may have contracted Covid-19 and have already recovered from the disease without realizing it.

The report of sero surveillance will also help in preparing a strategy to deal with Corona infection in the state.

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In Tamil Nadu, the Covid-19 recovery rate has reached nearly 89.5 per cent. The total infection has gone up to five lakh 25-thousand while the recoveries have surpassed 4.7 lakh.

Chennai Corporation has initiated the process of disbursing the third round of the dole of a thousand rupees each to the hawkers in the city.

“The active Covid-19 caseload in Tamil Nadu is almost stable for the past several weeks and the latest count is put at 46.6 thousand. The daily average new cases are estimated to be around five thousand five hundred for long despite the Unlock-4 relaxations. The number of tests every day has exceeded 80-thousand. In Chennai, the daily infections have also come under a thousand. The case mortality rate remains 1.64 per cent. Jayasingh, AIR News, Chennai”.

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Odisha has been witnessing the addition of about 4 thousand new covid-19 cases daily. The total caseload rose to 1,67,161 yesterday. The state also witnessed a record 4,121 patients  recovering from the infection on a single day yesterday, taking the total number of recoveries to 1,33,466. The state has an active caseload of 32,973 while 669 people have lost their lives due to the infection so far.

“A day after Chief Minister Navin Patnaik expressed displeasure over the mounting Covid-19 caseload particularly in the capital Bhubaneswar and the adjoining Cuttack Municipal area, the police have intensified its enforcement drive in the twin cities. Coming down heavily on the protocol violators in these two cities, police have been impressing upon the people not to lower their guards on social distancing, using face mask and other sanitization measures. While the capital city of Bhubaneswar alone has already contributed more than 20 thousand cases to the total caseload of about 29 thousand in Khordha district, the Cuttack Municipal area accounts for more than 5 thousand cases from out of about 14 thousand cases reported from Cuttack district sofar. Girish Chandra Dash, AIR News, Bhubaneswar”.

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In a unique step towards eliminating the malnourishment among children, Uttar Pradesh government has decided to give cows to the families with malnourished children to ensure availability of milk to them. The step taken under ‘Poshan Abhiyan’ will help in bringing down the level of malnourishment among children and women in the state.

“State  Government has decided to give cattle from its cow shelters in the state under the Chief Minister Destitute Cow Participation Scheme to the families which have malnourished children or women as cow milk will be extremely useful in removing malnutrition. As per the order issued to all district magistrates of the state by Bhuvnesh Kumar, Principal Secretary animal husbandry department, the cows will be given to the families who are willing to keep them and also have available space for them. As far as possible, the cow would be handed over to the family in the presence of a public representative. An amount of 30 rupees per day will also be given through DBT to the family for taking care of the cow. SUSHIL CHANDRA TIWARI, AIR NEWS, LUCKNOW”.

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In our series “Expert Speak” on All India Radio we bring you the views of the leading medical experts on COVID-19.

Speaking to AIR News, Dr. Saurabh Mehrotra, consultant at Mental Health Division in Medanta Hospital emphasised that people should indulge in positive addictions such as reading books, music activities, and excercise. He said, special care should be taken not to over-expose oneself to excessive COVID related news which leads to anxiety related issues.

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Talking to AIR News, Dr. Neeraj Nishchal from the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi said that self isolation is a key factor to stop the spread of Covid-19 and that wearing mask can also play a vital role in this regard.

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Odisha has sought a financial support of about 1,100 crore rupees from the Centre due to the damages caused by the recent flood in the state. It followed the detailed discussion between the visiting Central team and the state administration led by the chief secretary in Bhubaneswar yesterday. The Central team visited several flood affected districts for the past two days before meeting the top officials in the capital.

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Today’s weather forecast

On to the North, in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the minimum temperature was recorded at 25 degree Celsius in Jammu while the maximum will be around 36 degrees. The city will have mainly clear sky.

In Srinagar, the temperature will hover between 12 and 30 degree celsius. The city is likely to have mainly clear sky becoming partly cloudy towards afternoon or evening.

Ladakh will also have mainly clear sky. The temperature may hover between 12 and 28 degree Celsius.

In Gilgit, the minimum temperature was 15 degrees and the maximum will be 29 degree Celsius. The city will have a partly cloudy sky becoming generally cloudy towards afternoon or evening or night.

Muzzafarabad is also likely to have mainly clear sky. The minimum temperature was 18 degree Celsius and the maximum is expected to be around 34 degree Celsius.

The National Capital Delhi will have generally cloudy sky with light rain or drizzle. The minimum temperature recorded in the city was 28 degree Celsius and the maximum will be around 38 degrees.

In Mumbai, there will be generally cloudy sky with moderate rain. The temperature is likely to hover between 25 and 32 degree Celsius.

Chennai is likely to witness generally cloudy sky with light rain or drizzle. The minimum temperature was 26 degree Celsius while the maximum is expected to be around 33 degree Celsius.

Kolkata may have a partly cloudy sky with possibility of moderate rain or thunderstorm. The minimum temperature was 28 degree Celsius while the maximum is likely to be 33 degrees.

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THE HEADLINES:-

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, India is committed to resolve current border issue with China through a fair and peaceful manner and at the same time prepared to deal with all contingencies.
  
  
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dedicate Kosi Mega Bridge to the nation along with 12 rail projects in Bihar tomorrow.
  
  
• Sewa Saptah is being organised across the country to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday; World Leaders wish Mr Modi on the occasion.
  
  
• Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigns in protest of Farmers produce Trade and Commerce Bill 2020.
  
  
• Covid-19 recovery rate improves to 78.64 per cent.
  
  
• In Jammu and Kashmir, three terrorists and one civilian killed in an encounter at Batamaloo area in Srinagar.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said that India is committed to resolve the current border issue with China through a fair and peaceful manner and at the same time the country is also prepared to deal with all contingencies. He said, China is trying to change the status quo at the Line of Actual Control which is unacceptable to India at any condition. The Defence Minister was making a statement in the Rajya Sabha on the development on border in Ladakh region.

“एक और किसी को भी हमारी सीमा की सुरक्षा के प्रति हमारे दृढ़ निश्‍चय यानी डिटरमिनेशन के बारे में संदेह नहीं होना चाहिए। वहीं भारत यह भी मानता है कि पड़ोसियों के साथ शांतिपूर्ण संबंधों के लिए आपसी सम्‍मान और संवेदनशीलता भी यह रखना आवश्‍यक है।“

 Mr. Singh said, the current situation is very different both in terms of scale of troops involved and the number of friction points. He said, the conduct of Indian forces throughout the standoff shows that while they maintained patience in face of provocative actions, they also equally displayed valour when required to protect territorial integrity of the country.

“चीन द्वारा एक बहुत ही वायलेंट के हिसाब की स्थिति 15 जून को गलवान में क्रिएट की है। हमारे बहादुर सिपाहियों ने, बहादुर जवानों ने अपनी जान का बलिदान दिया और साथ ही चीनी पक्ष को भी भारी क्षति पहुंचाई है और अपनी सीमा की सुरक्षा में कामयाब भी रहे है। पूरी  के दौरान हमारे बहादुर जवानों ने, जहां सयंम की जरूरत थी, वहां सयंम रखा और जहां शौर्य की जरूरत थी वहां शौर्य का भी प्रदर्शन किया। मैं सदन से यह अनुरोध करता हूं कि हमारे सैनिकों की वीरता एवं बहादुरी की भूरी–भूरी प्रशंसा की जानी चाहिए। हमारे बहादुर जवान अत्‍यंत मुश्किल परिस्थितियों में अपने अथक प्रयास से समस्‍त देशवासियों को सुरक्षित रखने के अपने दायित्‍व का निर्वहन कर रहे है।“

The Defence Minister added that Chinese actions reflect a disregard to various bilateral agreements and amassing of the troops by China goes against the 1993 and 1996 agreements.

“चीन की कार्रवाई से हमारे विभिन्‍न द्विपक्षीय समझौतों के प्रति उसका डिसरिगार्ड दिखता है। चीन द्वारा  भारी मात्रा में तैनाती किया जाना 1993 और 1996 के समझौतों का उल्‍लंघन है। सम्‍मान करना और उसका कड़ाई से पालन किया जाना है।सीमा क्षेत्रों में शांति और सद्भावना का ये आधार है और 1993 और 1996 के समझौतों मे स्‍पष्‍ट रूप से स्‍वीकार भी किया गया है जबकि हमारी आर्म फोर्सेस का पूरी तरह से पालन करते हुए चाइनीज साइड की और से ऐसा नहीं हुआ है।“

Mr Singh said, China, in the last many decades undertook significant infrastructure construction activity to enhance their deployment capabilities in the border areas.

The Minister added that Indian government has doubled the budget for border infrastructure development. He said, China continues to be in illegal occupation of around 38,000 square kilometres in Ladakh and Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 square kilometres of Indian territory in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to China. Mr. Singh said, border issues are a complex matter and both India and China have accepted that peace is essential for bilateral ties.

Later, leaders cutting across party lines spoke in one voice against the Chinese aggression and reiterated their commitment to support the government and armed forces. Leader of Opposition, Gulam Nabi Azad said, Congress is committed to protect the unity and integrity of the country. P. Wilson of DMK and Ravi Prakash Verma of Samajawadi Party also extended their support to the government.

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India has said the Chinese side should sincerely work with the Indian side for complete disengagement at the earliest from all friction areas including Pangong Lake as well as de-escalation in border areas. Briefing media virtually this evening, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said New Delhi hopes that the Chinese side will strictly respect and observe the line of actual control and not make further attempts to unilaterally change status quo. He said India is committed to a peaceful dialogue with the Chinese side, including through diplomatic and military channels.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Moscow on 10th September after the meeting of Defence Ministers on 4th September. There was consensus between the Ministers of the two sides during both the meetings, that there should be quick and complete disengagement of troops from all friction areas along the LAC.

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The External Affairs Ministry today said it has taken up the matter of Zhenhua data leak with the Chinese side. Replying to a media query, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said according to the Chinese side, the company is a private entity and there is no connection between it and the Chinese government.

The spokesperson said the government has constituted an Expert Committee under the National Cyber Security Coordinator to study these reports, evaluate their implications, assess any violations of law and submit its recommendations within thirty days.

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India has welcomed the Abraham Accord between Israel, UAE, Bahrain and the US. MEA Spokesperson, Anurag Srivastava said India has always supported peace and stability in West Asia. He said India also continues the traditional support for the Palestinian cause and hopes for early resumption of direct negotiations for an acceptable two-state solution.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the historic Kosi Rail (mega bridge) to the nation through video-conference  tomorrow. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate 12 rail projects related to passenger facilities for the benefit of Bihar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will also be present on this occasion.

The 1.9 km long Kosi mega bridge has been completed at a total cost of 516 crore rupees. With the construction of the bridge the rail distance between Nirmali and Saraigarh would come down from the present 298 kms to 22 kms.

The bridge connects Mitihila and  Kosi region and is of  strategic importance along the Indo – Nepal border. It would also make it easy for long distance travel to Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai.  

The PM will also flag off a demu  train from Supaul railway station on the Saharsa – Adampur – Kupaha section.

Among the 12 other projects to be inaugurated by the PM are two new railway lines, five electrification projects, one electric locomotive shed and the third line project between Barh and Bakhatiarpur.

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Welfare activities were organised across the country to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, who turned 70 today. Bharatiya Janata Party has organised a week-long Seva Saptah to celebrate PM’s birthday. Several programmes related to cleanliness, distribution of sanitary pads and wheel chairs and social service are being organized from 14th to 20th of this month across the country.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu have greeted Prime Minister on his birthday.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have also extended birthday greetings to Mr Modi. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla today extended birthday wishes to Prime Minister on behalf of all the members of the House.

On the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, people from different walks of life also shared their views.

World leaders have also wished Prime Minister on his Birthday. Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli wished the PM through twitter.

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ALL INDIA RADIO will broadcast a special programme called – “Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi Naye Bharat Ki Nayi Soch” at 9:15 PM this evening on FM News Channel. The programme is being aired on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.

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Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Badal has resigned in protest of  the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.  Ms Harsimrat Badal belongs to Shiromani Akali Dal. It is reported that the Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had sent her resignation to the Prime Minister.

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The Government today said the country’s recovery rate among the COVID-19 patients has reached 78.64 per cent. During the last 24 hours, more than 82 thousand COVID patients have recovered. The Health Ministry said, the total number of recoveries has reached over 40 lakh 25 thousand. The constantly increasing recoveries have ensured that the actual caseload of the country has reduced and currently comprises only 19.73 per cent of the total positive cases. It said, that active cases of Covid 19 in the country are less than one fifth of the total cases. Presently, the total number of active cases in the country is 10 lakh nine thousand. Currently, India’s Case Fatality Rate is at 1.63 per cent, which is one of the lowest globally. In the last 24 hours, one thousand 132 deaths have been reported taking the toll to 83 thousand 198.

According to the ICMR, the total number of samples tested so far has reached over six crore five lakhs. 

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is making continuous efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the city. At the same time, in order to provide more effective treatment to the patients suffering from Covid infection, the Municipal Corporation has started ‘Jumbo Covid Centers’ at various places. These mainly include the Jumbo Covid facilities at Byculla, NSCI-Worli, BKC, Nesco-Goregaon, Mulund and Dahisar areas. The civic body today said that, specialist doctors from private hospitals will provide telephonic services to these Jumbo facilities.

“The Brihanmumbai municipal corporation (BMC) is consistently working towards providing reliable and quality services to the patients admitted in these Jumbo Covid centres. Keeping this in view, 35 specialist doctors working in 11 private hospitals will now make their services available to the Municipal Corporation’s Jumbo Covid Centers through telephone. They will also visit these treatment centers as and when required and consult with the doctors there regarding medical treatment. Provision has also been made to increase the number of medical staff in these centers as per the need.  Till 15th September, 20,722 Covid infected patients have been treated in these treatment centers. SWEETY JAIN, AIR NEWS, MUMBAI“

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Kerala today reported the biggest spike in its covid19 cases. For the first time over 4000 covid cases were reported in one day as it confirmed 4531 positive cases.

“Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan addressing the media in Thiruvananthapuram today,  said that the situation in the State is getting very serious.He urged the  people to strictly abide to the Covid protocols. Mr Vijayan further said that,  in the ongoing protests by the opposition, across the State,  demanding the resignation of Minister K.T.Jaleel, there is  violation of Covid guidelines, which is being viewed seriously. Meanwhile,  Thiruvananthapuram district continues to be worst hit as it confirms  820 cases today. 10 deaths were also confirmed today due to Covid ,  taking the death toll in state to 489 . 2737  recoveries were also reported in the state today. The active covid cases in Kerala rose to 34,314 . Mayusha for AIR News from Thiruvananthapuram.“

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been discharged from AIIMS Delhi. He was admitted in the hospital on the 13th of this month for a complete medical checkup. 

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In Jammu and Kashmir, three terrorists and one civilian were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Batamaloo area on the outskirts of Srinagar city today.

Police said, a joint team of security forces comprising J&K Police and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation in Batamaloo following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area.

As the joint team approached the suspected spot, terrorists fired upon them that resulted in an encounter. The three terrorists, who were killed have been identified as locals hailing from south Kashmir. Arms and ammunition have also been recovered from their possession.

A 45 year old woman was also killed in the cross-firing and a CRPF Deputy Commandant was critically injured and was shifted to hospital for treatment. 

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed anguish and shock at the untimely demise of Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Gasti. In a tweet, Mr Singh said the departed leader was known for his passion for social service, and worked at the grassroots to strengthen the BJP. He said his thoughts are with the bereaved family and supporters in this hour of grief.

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Benchmark domestic stocks today lost around point 8 per cent snapping two day’s winning rally amid negative global cues. The Sensex at Bombay Stock Exchange declined 323 points, or 0.82 per cent, to close at 38,980. The Nifty at National Stock Exchange also fell 88 points, or 0.76 per cent, to settle at 11,516.

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NOW HERE IS A REVIEW OF PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT TODAY, FIRST FROM RAJYA SABHA.

Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has expressed hope that India will be ready with vaccine to prevent Covid-19 virus. He underlined the need for breaking the chain of transmission of the virus by wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. Responding to a discussion on Covid-19 situation in the country in the Rajya Sabha today, the Health Minister said that over the last seven to eight months, the whole country has been fighting the battle against the Coronavirus together with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Health Minister said 64 lakh migrant labourers were sent to their respective states through railways during the pandemic. He said since 8th of January, the Prime Minister, Central Ministers, Chief Ministers and State Health Ministers have been addressing the situation together. Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that all types of advisories and details were issued by the government even before the first case of COVID-19 in the country was reported on 30th of January, 2020. The Health Minister said that history will remember Prime Minister Narendra Modi for meticulously monitoring the entire situation himself. He said that in order to mitigate the economic situation due to the unprecedented pandemic, several packages were announced by the Prime Minister. This includes the 20 thousand lakh crore rupees package under Atma Nirbhar Bharat. He said Insurance scheme was devised for Healthcare workers.

Later, the House took up the Zero Hour.

Vishwambhar Prasad Nishad of Samajwadi Party raised the issue of job vacancies in reserved government sectors. N. Gokulakrishnan of AIADMK said recommendations made in Mandal Commission report had been implemented only on paper, leading to apprehension among Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribes about their future.

Lt. Gen (retired) D P Vats of the BJP said the frontline corona warriors be given gallantry awards at par with the ones granted to the military. Shaktisinh Gohil of the Congress expressed concern on radio collars put on Asiatic lions in Gir forest which have led to increasing death rate. Responding to this, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said the issue will be looked into by the government.

Resuming discussion on Covid-19 situation, Swapan Dasgupta, a nominated member, wanted to know from the government what was the scientific basis for imposing a lockdown. Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena said that the State Government  successfully arrested the spread of the virus in the heavily-populated Dharavi by following the protocol of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Praful Patel of the NCP said that though officials are saying that there is no shortage of oxygen cylinders and Remdesivir drug, the ground reality is different.

Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Shiv Sena said that it was disappointing to see an MP politicising the pandemic issue despite saying it shouldn’t be politicised. She alleged that the States are being treated unfairly as it is being deprived of funds. She said that more than one million children have missed crucial immunization.

Binoy Viswam of CPI said Kerala played an exemplary role in fighting COVID-19 right from the beginning.

G.K. Vasan of Tamil Maanila Congress, talking about Tamil Nadu’s coronavirus response, said the State is effectively tackling the pandemic by taking all proactive steps.

Veer Singh of the BSP said that unemployment has increased due to COVID-19 and the Centre’s lockdown without any preparations had affected the poor the most.

V. Vijaisai Reddy of YSRCP lauded the Centre’s approach of balancing life and livelihood post Unlock stage.

Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi of the BJP, responding to the criticism of diya-lighting/clapping said, many people have a problem with lighting of diyas and banging thalis as they are not aware of the history.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged that the government lost the golden months in addressing the pandemic. He said that former Congress President Rahul Gandhi had warned of a tsunami that was about to hit the country. Citing his experience as the Health Minister in 2009-14 Cabinet, Mr. Azad said that he had taken the first shot of the H1N1 vaccine that was developed by India in 2010.

M. Thambidurai of AIADMK pleaded with the Centre to allocate Nine thousand crore rupees to Tamil Nadu for tackling COVID.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar of the BJP said the Opposition and the government should work together to solve this, instead of making petty allegations. He said the lockdown was unambiguously necessary. He said Lockdowns are necessary tools for government and will be there intermittently till a vaccine is available. 

Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena said the government’s move to privatise Jawaharlal Nehru Port will lead to a loss to the country’s exchequer as land and property worth crores of rupees will pass on to private hands. He said that the project be reconsidered.

Dr. Amee Yajnik of the Congress raised issue of patients who suffered from non-communicable diseases and were unable to get treatment for non-COVID diseases as the focus is on COVID-19.

Ravi Prakash Verma of Samajwadi Party raised the matter of floods along the Indo-Nepal border. He said that the government should take up the matter considering the adverse impact it has on the Indian villages.

Nabam Rebia of the BJP said Arunachal Pradesh attained Statehood in 1987, but has not been given Constitutional protection yet. He said the government should consider the Arunachal Pradesh government’s demand for its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Vivek Thakur of the BJP said that there are three companies working on COVID-19 vaccines that come from the country of origin of virus. He questioned whether India should entertain it.

Mir Mohammad Fayaz of the PDP raised the issue of political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir being under arrest for over a year after Article 370 was abrogated. He asked the government to release those who are still under detention.

Surendra Singh Nagar of BJP raised the issue of non-inclusion by the Jammu and Kashmir administration of the third most spoken language, Gurjari, in its list of official languages.

The House then took up Special Mentions made by the members. K.C. Venugopal of the Congress asked for a probe into Facebook’s interference into India’s electoral democracy. Ripun Bora of the Congress said NEET and JEE exams should be held again as many students could not attend due to COVID-19 pandemic while Satish Chand Dubey of the BJP raised the issue of floods in Bihar every year. V. Vijaysai Reddy of YSR Congress asked for special trains in Andhra Pradesh.

Meanwhile, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said that the members should follow special protocols on the COVID-19 pandemic, including compulsory face masks.

After the discussion on Covid situation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement in the House on the situation along Line of Actual Control, including the Galwan Valley clash and Ladakh stand-off. He blamed China for the situation in Ladakh. It was Chinese Army that provoked the Indian Army, he said.

After China has upped its infrastructure along the border, we have also ramped up our infrastructure, he said. He lauded ITBP for its role in protecting the border.

The Defence Minister said that India remains committed to resolving the current issues in our border areas through peaceful dialogue and consultations.

After the statement, Chairman Mr Naidu said that an impression should not be created that there are differences of opinion in the country on the border situation.

India’s culture has always preached Vasudaiva Kutumbakam. We have never attacked any country, he said adding that some international media have written about religious conflicts. We are all united, Mr. Naidu said.

The Chairman asked the Defence minister to call for a meeting of the leaders of all parties to brief them on the situation along the border and take them into confidence. A K Antony of the Congress hoped the government would protect the borders of the country. He said that the nation is totally with the armed forces. Galwan Valley was never a disputed site. Now our soldiers are not allowed to patrol the areas they used to earlier. We should be allowed to patrol Galwan Valley said Mr. Antony. 

Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the country is one when it comes to integrity and sovereignty. China should return to where they were earlier, he said. Responding to the opinions of members, Rajnath Singh said he was happy over the unity in the House.

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NOW REVIEW OF PROCEEDINGS IN LOK SABHA. 

Lok Sabha began a discussion on the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill and ‘The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill. The proposed laws allow intra-state and inter-state trade of farmers’ produce beyond the physical premises of Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC).

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said they will give freedom to farmers in their trade and unshackle them from mandis. He asserted that the bills do not encroach on states’ rights over Agricultural Produce Market Committee and allow farmers to engage in trade outside these markets.

The proposed laws are aimed at replacing ordinances promulgated by the government. The Minister said the two bills will revolutionise farm sector by attracting private investment and ensuring fair prices for farm produce. He said these legislations are aimed at making farming profitable. He also asserted that the laws would not make any impact on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the existing mechanism which will continue.

These bills will ensure that famers get better prices for their produce and they are not subject to the regulations of mandis, he said. The legislations will increase competition and promote private investment which will help in the development of farm infrastructure and generate employment.

The Minister said because of these two reform bills, famers will be able to connect directly with big business, exporters and will be able to make farming profitable.

Initiating the discussion on the bills, Ravneet Singh of the Congress demanded withdrawal of the bills. He said that Punjab collects about 3,630 crore rupees from mandis, which are used for welfare activities for farmers and creation of rural infrastructure like roads, and the revenue will be harmed by new laws. He said that as agriculture is in the concurrent list and accused the Centre of interfering in the states’ rights. He wondered how small farmers would be able to resolve disputes with big corporates and alleged that these laws will finish off farmers.

Opposing the bills, N K Premchandran of the RSP demanded that the bills should be sent to the standing committee. He said that there is no justification for promulgation of these ordinances. He alleged that the ordinances were passed to bulldoze the farmer’s interests while taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

All the ordinances are aimed at facilitating the interests of corporates, he said. Virendra Singh Mast of the BJP said that the bills will strengthen farmers, and help India to become Aatma Nirbhar. He said the new laws will prove revolutionary for farmers by allowing them to sell their produce outside their state, which they are currently not allowed to do. Agriculture reforms are a part of the BJP’s agenda and the party’s government is only implementing its manifesto, he said.

K Shamugasundaram of DMK and Kalyan Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress opposed the bills and accused the government of undermining the powers of states. The proposed laws will especially harm the small and marginal farmers, he said. Ritesh Pandey of the BSP echoed the similar view.

T Rangaiah of the YSRCP supported the bills, saying they will help farmers engage in barrier-free trade of their produce. Farmers currently face a lot of restrictions but will now be allowed to sell outside notified areas, he added. Arvind Sawant of the Shiv Sena welcomed the laws but sought more clarity from the government on some issues. 

The discussion was continuing till reports came in last.

Earlier, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla extended birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of the House and wished that he remains dedicated to the service of the nation. Mr. Modi turned 70 today.

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for one hour after paying tributes to a sitting member Balli Durga Prasad Rao, who died while undergoing treatment for COVID-19.

As soon as the House met for the day at 3 pm, Speaker Om Birla mentioned Rao’s death and paid tributes to him. The members stood in silence for a brief duration as a mark of respect.

The Speaker then adjourned the proceedings till 4 pm.

Rao, who represented Tirupati constituency in Andhra Pradesh, was battling COVID-19 for over a month and died on Wednesday at a hospital in Chennai. The 65-year old YSRCP MP was admitted to the hospital last month.

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DoNER Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has said that the North Eastern states have a great opportunity for economic resurgence in the post Corona period. Talking exclusively to AIR, Dr. Singh asserted that post-Covid -19, North East will play an important role in the resurgence of the economy. He said that the North East has unlimited potential in several sectors including bamboo, tourism, handloom and handicraft among others. Dr. Singh added  that as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said – the North East is going to be the growth engine of New India. The Minister mentioned that Aatma Nirbhar North – East would lead to Aamta Nirbhar Bharat.

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Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ today virtually conferred Second Utkrisht Sansthan Vishwakarma Award in 14 categories to the Institutions under AICTE on the occassson of Vishwakarma Divas. The Award aims to motivate, recognize and honor the AICTE approved institutions to raise their performance in the specific domain leading to significant contribution for the growth and development of the society.

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The External Affairs Ministry has said all seven Indian nationals kidnapped in Afghanistan in May 2018 have been brought back home safely. Replying to a media query, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the last remaining Indian national was released from captivity in Afghanistan and returned to India on 12th of this month. He conveyed India’s thanks to the Afghanistan government for the assistance extended over the past two years in securing the release of all seven Indian nationals.

On the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, the spokesperson said Pakistan has not been able to fulfil its obligations to implement ICJ judgement in the case, in its letter and spirit. He said the basic issues they need to address include provision of relevant documents and providing unimpeded consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav.

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Now, let us take a look at the weather forecast for tomorrow.

The National Capital Delhi will have Generally cloudy sky with light rain or drizzle. The minimum temperature will be around 28 degree Celsius and maximum 38 degrees.

In Mumbai, there will be generally cloudy sky with moderate rain. The minimum temperature will be around 25 degree Celsius and the maximum will be around 32 degrees.

Chennai will have generally cloudy sky with light rain or drizzle. The temperature will hover between 26 and 33 degree Celsius.

Kolkata is likely to have partly cloudy sky with possibility of moderate rain or thunderstorm. The minimum temperature is expected to be around 28 degree celsius, maximum will be around 35 degrees.

In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, minimum temperature will be 25 degree Celsius in Jammu while maximum will be around 36 degree with mainly clear sky.

In Srinagar, minimum temperature will be around 12 degrees and maximum will be around 30 degrees. The city will have mainly clear sky becoming partly cloudy towards afternoon or evening.

Ladakh will have mainly clear sky. The temperature will hover between 12 and 28 degree Celsius.

In Gilgit, the temperature will hover between 15 and 29 degree Celsius. It will have partly cloudy sky becoming generally cloudy towards afternoon or evening.

In Muzaffarabad, there will be mainly clear sky becoming partly cloudy towards afternoon or evening. The temperature will hover between 18 and 34 degree Celsius.

In Dehradun, the temperature will hover between 25 and 33 degree Celsius. The city will partly cloudy sky with possibility of rain or thunderstorm or duststorm.

In Chandigarh, there will be partly cloudy sky. The minimum temperature will be 26 degree Celsius and the maximum will be around 36 degree.

In Hyderabad, the minimum temperature will be 22 degree celsius while the maximum will be around 31 degree. The city will have generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers.

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