Delhi reports 1,543 new cases of Covid-19 in last 24 hours
8:30 PM
Ashok Gehlot govt passes resolution seeking withdrawal of Agnipath scheme
Rajasthan’s Congress government cabinet on Saturday passed a resolution demanding the withdrawal of the Centre's Agnipath scheme. The resolution was passed unanimously during a cabinet meeting of at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's residence in Jaipur, said a press statement. The Centre on Tuesday unveiled the scheme for recruitment of the youth aged between 17 and a half and 21 in the Army, Navy and the Air Force, largely on a four-year short-term contractual basis.
7:33 PM
Centre steps up security of BJP MLAs, deputy CMs in Bihar
Central government strengthens security of 10 BJP leaders in Bihar, including two deputy chief ministers and legislators. Paramilitary CRPF is taking over the security cover from after it received the Home Ministry's order on Friday: ANI reports quoting sources. The BJP governs Bihar in alliance with the Janata Dal (United).
7:06 PM
Govt ready for talks on Agnipath, make changes 'if required': I&B minister
Union minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday asked people protesting against the Agnipath scheme, asserting that the government is ready to look into their grievances with an "open mind" and make changes "if required". The Information and Broadcasting Minister said the Agnipath scheme is a "historic decision" taken by the Narendra Modi government towards making the country "more secured" in future and also provide "opportunities" to the country's youth.
6:39 PM
Army aspirants protest in Gujarat's Jamnagar over delay in written exam
Amid nationwide protests against the Centre's Agnipath scheme, Army aspirants protested outside the recruitment office in Gujarat's Jamnagar city demanding that their written exam, which has been pending since the last two years, be conducted at the earliest. There was heavy police deployment at the Army recruitment office in the city, as over 100 aspirants gathered to make representation to the authorities about their written exam deferred due to the pandemic, PTI reported quoting a government official.
5:41 PM
Shipping Ministry 6 service opportunities for Agniveers
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW)on Saturday announced six service avenues for smooth transition of Agniveers in various roles of the Merchant navy, post their stint with the Indian Navy. The scheme will enable Agniveers to acquire necessary training, with naval experience and professional certification to join the remunerative merchant navy across the world, PTI reported quoting a MoPSW statement.
5:19 PM
Railways cancelled 369 trains Saturday due to Agnipath protests
The Railways cancelled 369 trains on Saturday due to the agitation against the Centre's recently announced Agnipath scheme for recruitment of soldiers in the armed forces, PTI reported quoting officials. The railways' East Central zone, headquartered in Bihar's Hajipur, said 32 trains were cancelled in the state.
4:33 PM
Agnipath protesters in Rajasthan block Jaipur-Delhi Highway
Hundreds of young men protested against the Agnipath military recruitment scheme Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jhunjhunu and other places in Rajasthan. In Alwar, they blocked the Jaipur-Delhi Highway briefly and broke the windowpanes of a bus while being dispersed by the police.
4:21 PM
Bihar will suspend trains from 8 pm Saturday
Bihar will suspend trains from 8 pm Saturday due to violent protests against Agnipath military recruitment scheme, says NDTV.com. Trains were attacked during the protests.
3:46 PM
Many trains in Odisha cancelled due to Agnipath protests
The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has cancelled and short terminated several trains passing through Odisha due to nationwide protests against the 'Agnipath' military recruitment scheme. No train will be operated at Visakhapatnam station from 6 am to 2 pm on Saturday in view of the agitation, the ECoR said in a release. The cancelled trains include the Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam Intercity Express and Bhubaneswar-Secunderabad Visakha Express, PTI reported.
3:44 PM
Railway station, police jeep torched, in anti-Agnipath protests in Bihar
A railway station was torched and policmen injured in Bihar on Saturday as mobs continued protests against the Agnipath military recruitment scheme for the fourth day. In Patna, protesters seeking to lock down the state capital forced shops to shut and hurled stones at commercial establishments.
3:33 PM
Farooq withdraws his name from consideration as Ppposition's presidential candidate
National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah Saturday withdrew his name for consideration as the joint opposition candidate for the presidential polls, saying he would like to contribute in navigating of Jammu and Kashmir which is "passing through a critical juncture". He, however, thanked the opposition leaders for proposing his name as their candidate for the polls next month, PTI reported.
3:00 PM
Police foils attempt by army aspirants to block highway in Kathua; Cong stages protest in Jammu
Police on Saturday foiled an attempt by Army aspirants to block Jammu-Pathankot highway in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, where youth Congress activists also staged a protest in the winter capital demanding immediate rollback of the new “Agnipath' scheme.
A group of youth, who have already cleared physical and medical tests and were waiting for their written examination to join the Army over the past couple of years, staged a demonstration against the new recruitment policy at Chadwal in Kathua district, officials said.
2:59 PM
Empowerment of women necessary for India's development: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said empowerment of women and their progress is necessary for the overall development of India in the 21st century.
Addressing a rally here after launching a nutritional programme for tribal women and multiple development projects, he said his government has removed all restrictions so that women can choose any career of their liking.
"Speedy development and empowerment of women is necessary for India's development in the 21st century,'' Modi said while addressing the 'Gujarat Gaurav Abhiyan' rally.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi is stable and recovering well, sources at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here said on Saturday, nearly a week after she was admitted to the facility owing to post-Covid issues.
She was detected with a lower respiratory tract infection after her admission to the hospital, according to the Congress.
Hospital sources said Sonia Gandhi's "condition is currently stable" and she is "recovering well".
Live news updates: The goverment on Saturday announced reserving 10 per cent vacancies in paramilitary and the defence ministry for Agnipath retirees and said it consider any grievance about the new military recruitment scheme "with an open mind'', reacting as violent protests continued for the fourth day in many states.
The home ministry on Saturday announced to reserve 10 per cent vacancies in the Central paramilitary forces and the Assam Rifles for 'Agniveers', besides a three-year relaxation in the upper age limit.
The announcement comes amid widespread protests against a new scheme called Agnipath for recruitment of soldiers on a short-term contractual basis. The soldiers so recruited are to be called 'Agniveers'.
Bitcoin dropped below $20,000 on Saturday to its lowest level in 18 months, extending its slide as investors pull back from riskier assets amid rising interest rates.
The biggest cryptocurrency was down 7.1% to $18,993 at 0906 GMT, having earlier touched $18,732, its lowest since December 2020. It is down about 59% this year, while rival cryptocurrency Ethereum-backed ether is down 73%.
 "Live: Centre announces incentives as Agnipath protests continue in states")
