LIVE: Unlock 5 guidelines out; cinema halls to re-open from October 15

UPSC has informed the Supreme Court that it would not be possible to defer the UPSC preliminary exams beyond October. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

The central government announced Unlock 5.0 guidelines to further ease coronavirus-related restrictions across the country. It will come into effect from October 1. Cinema halls, swimming pools used for training of sportspersons, entertainment parks to re-open from 15th October.

The family of the 19-year-old Hathras gangrape victim alleged on Wednesday that the UP police forcibly cremated the body in the middle of the night, which created a nationwide uproar.
 

A special court in Lucknow delivered judgment on 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case and aquitted all including L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi.
 

Stay tuned for the latest news of the day.

10:01 PM

Protests near UP Bhawan, India Gate for justice to woman who died after being gang-raped in Hathras

Congress, Left and Bhim Army activists staged protests near the Uttar Pradesh Bhawan and India Gate in the national capital on Wednesday, demanding justice for a 19-year-old woman who died a fortnight after she was allegedly gang-raped in Hathras.
 

Delhi witnessed protests on Tuesday evening as well when the body of the woman, who died at a hospital here earlier in the day, was taken to Hathras in Uttar Pradesh. She was cremated in the dead of the night with family members alleging they were forced by police to hurriedly conduct the last rites, a charge that triggered further outrage.
 

On Wednesday morning, Congress and Left activists gathered outside the UP Bhawan for protests separately, but were detained by the police.

The police have booked the protesters, mostly students and women activists, for assembling in violation of prohibitory orders and COVID-19 guidelines, and detained some of them briefly.
 

The Left-affiliated All India Students' Association (AISA), which gave the call for a candlelight march at India Gate in the evening, alleged that the police forcibly removed the protesters from the spot and harassed and detained women, a charge denied by the police.

Some Bhim Army activists also joined the protest near India Gate.
 

10:00 PM

Assaulted by Delhi cops when asked about Hathras victim's body at Safdarjung hospital: AAP MLA

AAP MLA Ajay Dutt on Wednesday claimed he was "kicked and slapped" by senior Delhi Police officers when he went to meet the family of the Hathras gang rape victim at the Safdarjung hospital here.
 

Delhi Police refused to comment on the allegation.
 

Dutt told reporters that he was at the hospital and when he sought to know the whereabouts of the victim's body, he was allegedly taken to a room and assaulted.

"They took me to a room by pulling my collar and there I was slapped and kicked by the SHO, ACP and DCP. If this is the treatment given to an elected representative then think about the common man," Dutt, MLA from Delhi's Ambedkar Nagar assembly constituency, said.
 

He demanded action against the police officials who allegedly assaulted him.
 

Delhi Cabinet Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam also demanded an FIR against the local SHO, ACP, DCP and other Delhi Police officials who allegedly manhandled and assaulted Dutt for questioning the police action in the Hathras gang rape case.
 

9:59 PM

BrahMos missile launch showcases enhanced operational capabilities: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated scientists and engineers after India successfully test fired a new version of the surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile BrahMos having a range of around 400 km.  "Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missile has achieved yet another milestone with successful test launch showcasing enhanced operational capabilities and additional indigenous technologies. Congratulations to all the scientists and engineers. @DRDO_India @BrahMosMissile," he tweeted.  The missile was fired from an integrated test range at Balasore in Odisha.
 

The missile, featuring a number of indigenously developed sub-systems, was flight tested from a land based mobile launcher for a designated range at 10:30 am from the integrated test range in Balasore.

9:02 PM

RBI excludes 6 PSBs from Second Schedule of RBI Act

The RBI has excluded six public sector banks, including OBC and Allahabad Bank, from the Second Schedule of the RBI Act following their merger with other banks.

 

The six banks are Syndicate Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC), United Bank of India, Andhra Bank, Corporation Bank, and Allahabad Bank.

 

"We advise that Syndicate Bank has been excluded from the Second Schedule to the RBI Act, 1934 with effect from April 01, 2020 since it has ceased to carry on banking business with effect from April 01, 2020 vide Notification of March 27 which is published in the Gazette of India...dated September 26 October 02, 2020," RBI said in a notification on Wednesday.

8:36 PM

Unlock 5: No restriction on inter-, intra-state movement

State/UTs shall not impose any local lockdown (State/ District/ sub-division/City/ village level), outside the containment zones, without prior consultation with the Central Govt. No restriction on inter-state & intra-state movement. 

8:32 PM

Odisha issues guidelines for reopening of Zoos and Deer Parks

8:31 PM

Unlock 5: Strict enforcement of lockdown in containment zones to continue till October 31

8:24 PM

Maharashtra unlock guidelines

- Hotels, food courts, restaurants & bars allowed to operate from 5th October with 50% capacity

- Dabbawallas in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to be allowed in the local trains after procuring QR codes from the office of Commissioner of Police Mumbai
- Locals trains in Pune region to be resumed: Maharashtra Government

 

8:19 PM

Unlock 5: Social gathering permitted but conditions apply

Social, academic, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious, political functions and other congregations to be permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons, outside Covid-19 containment zones only.

8:15 PM

Unlock 5: States allowed to decide on re-opening schools after Oct 15, parental consent required

8:13 PM

Unlock 5 guidelines out!

8:13 PM

Unlock 5: Cinema halls, swimming pools used for training of sportspersons, entertainment parks to re-open from Oct 15

Cinemas/ theatres/ multiplexes will be permitted to open with up to 50% of their seating capacity, for which, SOP will be issued by I&B Ministry

8:06 PM

India's external debt at $554.5 bn at June-end: RBI

India's external debt stood at USD 554.5 billion at end-June, recording a decrease of USD 3.9 billion over its level at the end of March 2020, the RBI said on Wednesday.

 

Further, the external debt to GDP ratio increased to 21.8 per cent at June-end 2020 from 20.6 per cent as on March 31.

 

Valuation loss due to the depreciation of the US dollar vis-a-vis major currencies such as euro, yen and SDR was at USD 0.7 billion.

 

"Excluding the valuation effect, the decrease in external debt would have been USD 4.5 billion instead of USD 3.9 billion at end-June 2020 over end-March 2020," the central bank said.

7:58 PM

NHRC notice to Home Ministry over Amnesty closing operations, alleging 'witch-hunt'

The NHRC has issued notice to the Union Home Secretary over rights organisation Amnesty International winding up its operations in the country after alleging witch-hunt by the government, officials said on Wednesday.

 

According to media reports, after the complete freezing of its bank accounts in India the Amnesty International has reportedly halted all the work in the country, the NHRC said in a statement.

 

"The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and directs issuance of the notice to the Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, government of India, calling for their comments on the allegations levelled by the Amnesty International as mentioned in the news report," it said.

 

7:57 PM

Lockdown in Maharashtra extended till October 31