News Highlights: EC bans Mamata from campaigning from 8 pm of April 12 till 8 pm of April 13

Mamata Banerjee has been banned by ECfrom campaigning from 8 pm of April 12 till 8 pm of April 13.

Retail inflation rose to 5.52 per cent in March, mainly on account of higher food prices, government data showed on Monday.

The Centre has approved Russia's Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V for emergency use.

Given the current Covid-19 situation in Maharashtra, we’ve postponed state board exams for class 10th & 12th. Class 12th exams will be held by end of May, while 10th standard exams will be in June: Maharashtra Education Minister

Fresh dates will be announced accordingly, Education Minsiter varsha Gaikwad said said.

We'll also be writing to the CBSE, ICSE, IB, Cambridge boards, requesting them to reconsider their exam date, she said.

D-Street waves red flags

Markets declined sharplu and the rupee dropped on Monday as Covid-19 cases continued to rise relentlessly as maharashtra mulls a lockdown, threatening to derail a recovery in Asia's third-largest economy.

The NSE Nifty 50 index was down 3.7% at 14,286.85 while the S&P BSE Sensex declined 3.55% to 47,846.97. The two indexes have now retreated 7%-8% each from their mid-February record highs.

The rupee weakened to a more than eight-month low of 75.1375 against the dollar.

India reported another record daily surge in coronavirus cases and overtook Brazil to be the second worst-hit country by Covid.

Stocks across most industries declined, with financial shares being hit the hardest. HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank were the top three drags on the Nifty 50, each falling 3%-5%.

The state-run banks index was down 9% and on track for its worst day in more than a year.

Cipla and Dr Reddy's, both sellers of COVID-19 medication, gained 3%-4% and were among the few gainers.

(Reuters)

NCP chief Sharad Pawar undergoes gall bladder surgery

NCP chief Sharad Pawar underwent a gall bladder surgery at private hospital in Mumbai on Monday.

"A successful Laparoscopy surgery was conducted today on our party President Sharad Pawar Saheb's Gall Bladder by Dr. Balsara. He is in stable health and is recuperating in his room at the Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai," Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik said.

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Delhi Covid-19 review meet: Kejriwal urges all to co-operate, says taking steps to raise hospital beds

We're not satisfied with govt's policy. Something needs to be corrected so that people can do something about this pandemic. Court also says that it will meet next on Thursday, 15th April to check what actions are taken by govt: Gujarat High Court

Number of people at weddings be capped at 50, make booth at housing societies to check people's health, take help of religious centers that can provide covid care centre/isolation facility, the Court observed

Amid an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases in the national capital, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Monday that the city government has written to the Centre to again scale up COVID beds in its hospitals here

Have written to Centre to scale up COVID beds in its hospitals: Jain

nteracting with reporters, he also appealed to people to step out of their homes only if necessary and wear masks all the time.

Asked about beds' requirements in view of escalating cases, Jain said, "We are ramping up medical infrastructure post the surge in cases and 5,000 beds have been added in last one week".

Delhi recorded 10,774 fresh cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, the highest single-day surge in the national capital till date, according to data shared by the Health Department.

As per the Sunday bulletin, 48 new fatalities were also recorded, pushing the death toll to 11,283.

"We have also written to the Centre to again scale up COVID beds in its hospitals in Delhi in view of the massive surge. As of now, about 1,090 beds are there in their hospitals, which was above 4,000 during last surge. So, our request is to scale up back to that level," the minister said.

10 States contributed to 81% of daily new cases

70.16% of active caseload concentrated in 5 States

High Court of Gujarat begins hearing on suo motu PIL on the Covid-19 situation in the state.

More than 10.45 crore vaccine doses have been administered in the country so far, including nearly 30 lakh doses administered on day 1 of 'Tika Utsav': Union Health Ministry

India's average doses per day cross the 40-lakh mark, continues to be the highest globally: Union Health Ministry

As Kumbh Mela begins, managing the crown amid the Covid wave, will be a challenge. "But due to the huge crowd, it is practically not possible to issue challans today. It is very difficult to ensure social distancing at ghats," said IG Sanjay Gunjyal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a review meeting today at 12 noon as Covid-19 cases see record surge in capital

Kumbh festivities

Subject Expert Committee to meet today to take up Sputnik V application for Emergency Use Authorisation in India

(ANI)

Markets in red; Sensex plummets over 1,100 points

Rupee slumps 24 paise to 74.97 against US dollar in early trade

SC delays sittings of courts by one hour and stops physical mentioning of matters for urgent hearing, over high incidences of Covid-19 cases among staff

An accident at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility on Sunday was the result of a “terrorist” act, the country’s nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi said, according to state TV

'Nomadland' sweeps Baftas as women film-makers triumph

The US road movie "Nomadland" triumphed at the Bafta film awards on Sunday, with Chinese director Chloe Zhao's intimate portrayal of marginalised Americans winning in four categories including best film, best actress and best director.

The socially distanced and largely remote awards ceremony in London saw a strong showing by women directors in the run-up to this month's Oscars.

Covid vaccination in private clinics to resume in Mumbai today

Covid vaccination to resume at 62 out of 71 private hospitals in Mumbai, says Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai.

Vaccination was halted at the 72 private hospitals in Mumbai for two days.

Top official admits Chinese Covid vaccines have low effectiveness

In a rare admission of the weakness of Chinese coronavirus vaccines, the country's top disease control official says their effectiveness is low and the government is considering mixing them to get a boost.

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