LIVE: Assam CM speaks to PM Modi, Shah on clash at border with Mizoram

Farooq Abdullah's party linked the questioning to the recent move by him to bring together all J&K parties in a campaign for restoring special status. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

8:55 PM

New education policy will arrest brain drain: Pokhriyal

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' on Monday said the new national educational policy will help arrest brain drain and give a boost to research in higher education institutes.

 

He was addressing through video conference the 8th convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Technology Indore.

 

"Between 750,000 to 800,000 Indian students are studying abroad and this drains out Rs 1.5 lakh crore from here to foreign countries. We are going to strengthen parameters under our 'stay in India' campaign for which research will be put on the fast-track under the new education policy," he said.

8:45 PM

Assam CM speaks to Modi, Shah on clash at border with Mizoram

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday over the situation at the state's border with Mizoram where a violent clash left several people injured, officials said.

 

Sonowal informed the prime minister about his discussion with Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga and the steps taken by the Assam government to diffuse the tension at the border, they said.

 

During the telephonic conversation, Modi assured Sonowal to take appropriate steps to improve the situation at the inter-state border. Sonowal also briefed Shah about the prevailing situation.

8:35 PM

FM says has not closed option of one more stimulus to perk up demand

Amid the festival season, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday did not rule out one more stimulus to perk up demand in the economy.

 

"I have not closed the option for another stimulus. Every time we have announced one, it is after a lot of consultations with various sections of society and then we work with ministries, the PMO and then take a final call. Yes, I have not closed the option to come out with one more stimulus," Sitharaman said to a query on that stimulus measures announced by the government had a fiscal cost of just 1.2 per cent of India's gross domestic product.

 

At a virtual function to release the autobiography of 15th finance commission chairman N K Singh, titled 'Portraits of Power: Half a Century of Being at Ringside', she said more sectors needed to open up for the private sector. Read more

8:28 PM

L&T emerges lowest bidder for 237-km viaduct of bullet train project

Infrastructure company Larsen & Toubro has emerged as the lowest bidder for the design and construction of 237 km length of viaduct for 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor, the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited said on Monday.

Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train is the first high speed train project of India, which is being built with the help of Japan.

"Financial bids for the design and construction of 237 km length of viaduct for 508 km of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor were opened today and Larsen & Toubro Ltd is the lowest bidder," said the release.

A total three bidders involving seven major infrastructural companies had participated in the competitive bidding, the NHSRCL said.

8:16 PM

India is seeing a decline in the number and growth rate of Covid cases per day. We have one of the highest recovery rates, and lowest death rate: PM

8:12 PM

India is at the forefront of vaccine development and is planning a well developed vaccine delivery system, says PM in keynote address at Grand Challenges Annual Meeting 2020

8:11 PM

The future will be shaped by societies that invest in science & innovation. But, this cannot be done in a short-sighted manner. One has to invest in science&innovation well in advance. That is when we can reap benefits at the right time: PM

8:09 PM

PM Modi lauds educational institutions in India for fighting Covid-19

In India, we have a strong and vibrant scientific community. We also have good scientific institutions. They have been India’s greatest assets, specially during the last few months, while fighting Covid-19. From containment to capacity building, they have achieved wonders said PM Modi.

8:06 PM

Covid-19 showed that societies need to invest in science and innovation; Science will never prosper in silos: PM Modi at Grand Challenges Meeting 2020

7:51 PM

Delhi govt to deploy 2,500 environment marshals to spread awareness about pollution

The Delhi government will deploy 2,500 environment marshals across the city to generate awareness about its recently launched anti-pollution campaign, ''Red Light On, Gaadi Off'', Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Monday.

These marshals will be deployed at 100 traffic signals across Delhi's 11 districts, he said.

Addressing reporters, Rai said the shortlisted traffic signals are those where the red light is two-minute long.

"From October 21 to November 15, a ground-level awareness drive on 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' campaign will be launched at 100 traffic signals. We are in the process of appointing 2,500 environment marshals who will spread awareness about the campaign at these signals. It is an awareness drive, not an enforcement drive," he said.

7:42 PM

India successfully testfires SANT Missile off Odisha coast

India today successfully testfired the Stand-off Anti-tank (SANT) Missile off the coast of Odisha, sources said on Monday. The Missile is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and will have both Lock-on After Launch and Lock-on Before Launch capability, the sources informed.

 

On the other hand, the IAF on Sunday congratulated the DRDO on the successful test-firing of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

 

BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired from the Indian Navy's indigenously-built stealth destroyer INS Chennai, hitting a target in the Arabian Sea, the DRDO said.

7:33 PM

Andhra CM conducts aerial survey of flood-affected Krishna, Guntur districts

7:27 PM

ADB to provide $346 mn loan for power supply project in rural Maharashtra

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India on Monday signed a $346 million loan pact to help provide efficient and reliable power supply to rural agriculture customers in Maharashtra.

 

The signatories to the loan agreement for the Maharashtra Rural High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) Expansion Program were Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary (Fund Bank and ADB), Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the Government of India, and Takeo Konishi, Country Director of ADB's India Resident Mission.

 

The program aims to provide efficient and reliable power to agricultural customers in Maharashtra's rural areas through adoption of HVDS that will help reduce distribution losses, and improve agricultural productivity and farmer incomes, Khare said after signing the loan agreement.

7:14 PM

Rajnath Singh to address over 18 rallies in Bihar

Senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address more than 18 rallies over six days in poll-bound Bihar, his office said Monday. Singh, a former president of the party, will address a rally each in Badh, Nokha and Aurangabad on October 21, and in Banka, Barhara and Ramgarh on October 22.

 

The Union minister will address 18-20 rallies in six days of campaigning during the three phases of polling on October 28, November 3 and 7.

7:10 PM

5G rollout capex for Delhi, Mumbai estimated at Rs 187 bn: Report

The total capital expenditure required for 5G rollout is estimated to be Rs 187 billion (Rs 18,700 crore) for Delhi and Mumbai, as per a telecom report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services.

 

The report based on the TRAI's latest reserve price, the capex requirement for obtaining 100MHz mid band spectrum in Mumbai would be Rs 84 billion, which could increase if the bidding price is higher than the base price.

 

"Assuming 9k sites would be required for coverage with cost at INR 2 million per site, the total capex requirement for the sites would be INR 18b, taking the total capex to around INR 100b," the report said.

 

"Similarly, capex requirement for 5G rollout in Delhi would be INR 87b - assuming 100MHz mid band spectrum at base price (INR 69b)."