LIVE: Cabinet approves nutrient-based subsidy rates for P&K fertilisers

Live news updates: Prime Minister Modi will attend a G20 meeting on Afghanistan; unions will honour the farmers who died in Lakhimpur Kheri.

Live news updates: India recorded 14,313 new cases of Covid-19 and 181 deaths from the disease in 24 hours, said the health ministry on Tuesday, marking the slowest rise in daily infections since March 2.

Total cases increased to 33.99 million and fatalities to 450,963. Active cases—patients under treatment—are at 214, 900: the lowest in 212 days.

A collective of some 40 unions is honouring four farmers who died in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh on October 3 during violent protests against three laws liberalising India’s agriculture markets. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for prayer meetings and candle light vigils in the country to mark 'Shaheed Kisan Diwas'.

The Delhi High Court dismissed on Tuesday a petition challenging the appointment of Gujarat-cadre Indian Police Services (IPS) officer Rakesh Asthana as Delhi Police Commissioner. The petitioner had sought quashing of the July 27 order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs appointing Mr Asthana as the Delhi Police Commissioner and also the order granting inter-cadre deputation and extension of service to him.

12:54 AM

Russia reports record daily Covid-19 deaths

Russia has confirmed 973 Covid-related fatalities over the past 24 hours, the highest daily count reported in the country since the start of the pandemic, bringing the national death toll to 218,345, the official coronavirus monitoring and response centre said on Tuesday.

 

A total of 28,190 new infections were registered, taking the nationwide tally to 7,832,964. The number of recoveries increased by 20,706 to 6,894,285, Xinhua news agency reported.

 

Meanwhile, Moscow reported 4,699 new cases, taking the city's total to 1,688,376.

12:18 AM

National Capital Region likely to shrink as 'Draft Regional Plan 2041' approved

The National Capital Region is likely to shrink to 100-km radius from Rajghat with the NCR Planning Board Tuesday approving the 'Draft Regional Plan 2041' which is aimed at focused development of NCR's urban areas, official sources said.

 

They said that NCR currently spreads to around 150-175 kilometres, covering entire districts and their rural areas. But with the approval of Regional Plan 2041, areas beyond 100 km are not likely to be main part of the NCR.

 

A detailed draft plan will soon be made public for suggestions and objections and thereafter, it will be notified by the NCR Planning Board.

 

Linear corridors will be developed beyond 100 km radius and up to existing NCR boundary, paving the way for development in areas falling within one kilometre from expressways, national highways and regional rapid transit system, a source told PTI.

11:06 PM

Over 3,200 have paid fees for admission to DU colleges under 2nd cut-off list

Over 3,200 students have paid their fees for admission to Delhi University colleges under the second cut-off list, while more than 43,000 applications have been received so far, official data showed.

 

Wednesday is the last day for submission of applications for admission under the second cut-off list.

 

According to the data shared by the university, 43,412 students have applied for admissions, while principals have approved applications of 10,593 students. Of them, 3,213 have paid their fees.

 

Colleges said they were on the verge of filling up seats.

 

At the Aryabhatta College, 253 applications were received. As many as 173 of them were rejected and 80 approved.

10:29 PM

Bengal logs 768 new COVID cases, 10 more fatalities

West Bengal on Tuesday reported 768 fresh COVID-19 cases, 162 more than the previous day, with the tally increasing to 15,77,711, according to a health department bulletin.

 

Ten more fatalities due to the infection raised the toll to 18,924, it said.

 

Of the new COVID deaths, two each were recorded in Kolkata, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and Nadia and one each in Hooghly and Jalpaiguri.

 

Kolkata reported the highest number of fresh cases at 180, followed by North 24 Parganas at 126, the bulletin said.

10:01 PM

Union Cabinet approves phase-2 of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, AMRUT

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation till 2025-26.

 

A financial outlay of Rs 1,41,600 crore has been finalised for SBM-U 2.0, including a central share of Rs 36,465 crore, which is over 2.5 times the financial outlay of Rs 62,009 crores in the last phase of the mission, the government said in a statement.

 

The decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

The statement said the second phase of SBM focuses on sustainability of Open Defecation Free (ODF) outcomes, achieving scientific processing of solid waste in all cities, and managing waste water in cities with less than one lakh population as per Census 2011.

9:29 PM

Pakistani terrorist arrested, was living in India under fake identity for over 10 years: Delhi Police

The Delhi Police on Tuesday said it has foiled a major terror plan during the festival season with the arrest of a 40-year-old Pakistani terrorist who has ISI links and had been living in India for over ten years under a fake identity.

 

Mohammad Ashraf alias Ali Ahmed Noorie, a resident of Naroval in Pakistan's Punjab province, was arrested from east Delhi's Laxmi Nagar, officials said, adding he is also suspected to be involved in terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India in the past.

 

The police said that preliminary interrogation revealed that Ashraf had been acting as head of a sleeper cell in India and was assigned to carry out terror strikes during the festival season at the behest of Pakistan's ISI.

 

Based on his interrogation, raids were carried out in and around the Trans-Yamuna area and one AK-47 assault rifle, one hand grenade, two magazines of AK-47 along with 60 rounds, two sophisticated China-made pistols along with 50 rounds, and one Indian passport and other Indian IDs obtained on forged documents were recovered from his possession, the police claimed.

9:16 PM

G20 leaders discuss Afghanistan and its counterterrorism efforts: White House

Leaders of the G-20 countries on Tuesday discussed the situation in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, including the critical need to maintain a laser-focus on counterterrorism efforts and ensure safe passage for foreign nationals still stuck in the country.

 

Attended by leaders of G-20 countries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, the group during the G-20 Extraordinary summit on Afghanistan held virtually also agreed to provide humanitarian assistance directly to the Afghan people through independent international organisations, the White House said.

 

The leaders discussed the critical need to maintain a laser-focus on our enduring counterterrorism efforts, including against threats from ISIS-K, and ensuring safe passage for those foreign nationals and Afghan partners with documentation seeking to depart Afghanistan," White House said in a readout of President Biden's meeting with G20 leaders.

8:58 PM

Cabinet approves nutrient-based subsidy rates for P&K fertilisers

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for fixation of Nutrient Based Subsidy Rates for P&K Fertilizers for the year 2021-22 (from 1st October, 2021 to 31st March, 2022)

8:55 PM

Delhiites should pitch in to bring down pollution in city: CM Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday urged Delhiites to help bring down pollution in the city by not using their vehicle once a week and turning off engines at red lights.

He also noted that pollution caused locally was within the safe limits, but stubble burning in other states is pushing it up.

"I have been tweeting air quality data for past one month. It shows pollution has started increasing because neighbouring states did not help their farmers who are forced to burn paddy straw stubble," he said.

 

8:35 PM

India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage crosses the 960 mn mark today

8:15 PM

NIA conducts raids at 5 locations in Delhi-NCR

7:53 PM

PM Modi called for an inclusive administration in Afghanistan

7:47 PM

PMO reviews coal supply, power availability situation

Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Tuesday reviewed the coal supply and power generation scenario as the government looks at ways to defuse the energy crisis being faced by several states.

At the meeting over coal shortage at power plants which have led to blackouts in some states, Power Secretary Alok Kumar and Coal Secretary AK Jain made a presentation on coal and power availability, sources said, adding that ways to increase transportation of coal were also discussed during the meeting.

The coal ministry has been asked to ramp up the supply of coal while railways has been asked to make available rakes to transport the fuel to power plants, the sources said.

7:33 PM

PM Modi participated virtually in G20 Summit on Afghanistan today

7:18 PM

Phase 2 of MALABAR-21 kicks off in Bay of Bengal