Live: 24 women in Congress' fourth list of 61 candidates in Uttar Pradesh

Live news: Kerala is in lockdown today for slowing down Covid-19; IndusInd Bank's consolidated net profit jumps 50% to Rs 1,242 crore in the third quarter.

2:31 PM

Rahul Gandhi to address poll rally in Goa CM's constituency on Feb 2

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit poll-bound Goa on February 2 and address a public gathering in Sankhalim, state unit chief Girish Chodankar said on Sunday.

He said screens set up in all 40 constituencies in the state will telecast live Gandhi's public address in Sankhalim, which, incidentally, is the Assembly seat of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

Some 20,000 people will be attending the rally through these screens. Several thousand more will be able to attend through online platforms. People from 15 out of the 40 centres will interact with Rahul Gandhi. He would also release the party manifesto for the polls," Chodankar informed.

2:29 PM

Goa polls: Rahul Gandhi to address rally in CM's Assembly seat on Feb 2

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit poll-bound Goa on February 2 and address a public gathering in Sankhalim, state unit chief Girish Chodankar said on Sunday.

 

He said screens set up in all 40 constituencies in the state will telecast live Gandhi's public address in Sankhalim, which, incidentally, is the Assembly seat of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

 

Some 20,000 people will be attending the rally through these screens. Several thousand more will be able to attend through online platforms. People from 15 out of the 40 centres will interact with Rahul Gandhi. He would also release the party manifesto for the polls," Chodankar informed.

2:27 PM

Former Jharkhand minister & AICC member resigns from Congress

Former Jharkhand minister and AICC member, Geetashree Oraon has resigned from the Congress party.

"With a heavy heart and deep regret I tender my resignation from all responsibilities assigned to me by the Indian National Congress party including primary membership", Geetashree, a former Education Minister of Jharkhand, stated in her resignation letter addressed to All India Congress Committee (AICC) president, Sonia Gandhi on Saturday.

She further stated that the recent controversy and uncalled for complications of tribal and regional language for 3rd and 4th grade jobs and the dilutions of 5th Schedule provisions in 13 districts of Jharkhand was "highly condemnable".

2:25 PM

In winter of life, Bhattal confident of winning another poll battle

Punjab politics' iron lady and the state's only woman chief minister so far, Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal exudes confidence about winning the Lehra seat in the assembly polls and says her opponent Parminder Singh Dhindsa of the SAD (Sankyut) is just a "Modi representative".

The 76-year-old Bhattal had been winning the seat since 1992 until she lost the poll in 2017 to Dhindsa, who is now leader of the SAD (Sanyukt) which is headed by his father and veteran leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, and is seeking re-election from the segment.

However, the Congress veteran and five-time legislator is eyeing to wrest the seat from Parminder, who had shifted his seat from Sunam to Lehra in 2017 to contest against Bhattal.

2:13 PM

Sena candidates' nomination in UP polls rejected illegally: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday alleged that the nominations of six to seven candidates of his party for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections were rejected "illegally".

Talking to reporters here, Raut said he will meet the Election Commission over this and submit all required documents.

Elections to the 403-member UP Assembly will be held in multiple phases over the next two months.

Raut alleged that in six to seven constituencies in Noida, Bijnor and Meerut, the respective district magistrates misused their powers and rejected the nominations of Shiv Sena candidates "under pressure" so as to not allow the party from setting foot in UP.

 

2:10 PM

Indian culture making mark in Argentina: PM Modi in 'Mann ki Baat'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India's culture is very much liked in Argentina while addressing the first episode of this year's 'Mann Ki Baat.'

In his address, the Prime Minister mentioned the contributions of the Hastinapur Foundation in Argentina.

"Today I will tell you about the Indian culture making its mark in Argentina. Our culture is very much liked in Argentina. In 2018, during my visit to Argentina, I participated in a yoga program - 'Yoga for Peace'. There is an organization in Argentina - Hastinapur Foundation. You will be surprised to hear... whither Argentina... and Hastinapur Foundation there too! This foundation is involved in the propagation of Indian Vedic traditions in Argentina," PM Modi said.

2:09 PM

President Kovind pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi on Martyrs' Day

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday laid a wreath at Rajghat in Delhi as the nation observes the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

President Kovind also attended Sarva Dharma Prarthana at Rajghat.

"President Ram Nath Kovind paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi on Martyrs' Day and attended Sarva Dharma Prarthana at Rajghat, New Delhi," Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted.

2:08 PM

Signficance of critical care, correct treatment biggest Covid lessons: Experts

From realising the importance of critical care to determining correct course of treatment were some of the biggest learnings and challenges faced by healthcare professionals in the last two years after the first case of Covid-19 was reported in the country.

It was on January 30, 2020 when a third-year medical student from Wuhan university tested positive for coronavirus, becoming the country's first COVID-19 patient, days after she had returned home following semester holidays.

Recalling the turbulent journey, Dr Yatin Mehta, Chairman of Medanta Institute of Critical Care and Anesthesiology at Medanta - The Medicity, Gurugram said, the importance of critical care and sound infrastructure has been realised during this period.

1:13 PM

Fresh plea asks SC to take not of NYT report on Pegasus

A fresh plea has been filed in the Supreme Court on the alleged use of Israeli spyware Pegasus, asking the court to take cognisance of a New York Times report and order a probe into the 2017 defence deal with Israel. The newspaper reported India bought Pegasus as part of a $2 billion defence deal with Israel in 2017 has triggered a controversy with the Opposition alleging that the government’s spying that amounted to "treason".

12:18 PM

India’s vaccination campaign 'tremendously successful': PM Modi

India’s vaccination campaign for Covid-19 has been 'tremendously successful'. As many as 4.5 crore of India's youth have been administered vaccines: Modi

12:02 PM

Ladakh to get football stadium: PM Modi

Ladakh is soon going to get an open-air football stadium at 10,000 feet. The stadium will help tourism in the region, says Modi.

11:39 AM

Children have sent me 1 crore postcards on India's independence anniversary: Modi

Children from across India and the world have sent me one crore postcards talking about India’s 75th independence anniversary, says Modi.

11:35 AM

Visit National War Memorial: Modi

Visit National War Memorial in Delhi to honour fallen soldiers, says PM Narendra Modi in first Mann Ki Baat show of this year.

10:33 AM

75% of Indian adults vaccinated for Covid-19: Modi

9:51 AM

India's coronavirus cases increase to more than 4 million

India's coronavirus cases have increased to to more than 4 million cases and fatalities due to the disease are at 494,091, said the health ministry on Sunday.