The live blog session has concluded. For more news, views and updates, stay tuned with Moneycontrol.com.
Delhi logs 980 fresh COVID-19 cases, highest since August 20 last year
Delhi logged 980 fresh COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, highest since August 20, with a positivity rate of 25.98 per cent, meaning one in every four people tested returned a positive result, according to data shared by the city government's health department. The national capital also reported two more Covid deaths, the bulletin said. However, it added that COVID-19 was not the primary cause of death in one of the fatalities, while the case sheet on the other death was awaited. The fresh cases emerged out of the 3,772 tests conducted the previous day.
NSE Indices launches India's first-ever REITs and InvITs index
NSE Indices Ltd, an arm of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), on Tuesday launched the country's first-ever Real Estate Investment Trusts and Infrastructure Investment Trusts index -- Nifty REITs and InvITs Index. The index aims to track the performance of REITs and InvITs that are publicly listed and traded on the NSE, the exchange said in a statement. A real estate investment trust (REIT) or an infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) is an investment vehicle that owns revenue-generating real estate or infrastructure assets.
Tiger Global offloads Delhivery's shares for Rs 388 crore
Tiger Global Management on Tuesday offloaded shares worth Rs 388 crore of supply chain player Delhivery through an open market transaction. Internet Fund III Pte, a fund managed by US-based private equity firm Tiger Global Management, sold the shares of Delhivery. According to the bulk deal data available with BSE, Internet Fund III Pte offloaded more than 1.17 crore shares amounting to 1.6 per cent stake in the company.
Uzbekistan invites India's EC to witness April 30 referendum
Uzbekistan has invited India's Election Commission to witness a "historic" referendum it is holding on April 30 on a series of amendments to the country's Constitution, Uzbek diplomats said on Tuesday. Uzbekistan's ambassador to India Dilshod Akhatov said constitutions of 190 countries including that of India were studied to bring in holistic and comprehensive changes to the Constitution of the country.
32 OBC candidates, 30 Scheduled Castes, 16 Scheduled Tribes in BJP list of 189 candidates for Karnataka polls: Party leader Arun Singh.
In Op-Ed, Sonia launches fierce attack on Centre; Union ministers hit back, say 'classic example of Modi hatred'
Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday launched a fierce attack on the Modi government accusing it of "misusing every power", drawing a sharp reaction from two union ministers who said her assessment was a "classic example of Modi hatred" and an "illusory" statement of the "highest improbity." In an Op-Ed piece for "The Hindu", Gandhi also said that with elections approaching in several key states, her party will take its message directly to people and join hands with all like-minded parties to defend the Constitution.
Maha sees 919 COVID-19 cases, one fatality; active tally at 4,875
Maharashtra on Tuesday recorded 919 fresh coronavirus cases and one fatality that raised the tally of infections to 81,51,176, a state health department official said. With the latest fatality, the cumulative COVID-19 death toll rose to 1,48,461, he said. A day earlier, Maharashtra had seen a drop in infections as it reported 328 cases and one death. On Sunday, the state had logged 788 COVID-19 cases.
Before legal options, TMC to appeal to EC to reconsider withdrawal of national status
Before it explores legal options against the withdrawal of its national party status, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will file a formal appeal with the Election Commission to review its decision, its leaders said Tuesday. The Election Commission on Monday withdrew the national party status of the TMC, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI).
Indian economy continues to perform well, remains one of the fastest growing in world: IMF
The Indian economy continues to perform well and remains one of the fastest growing in the world, a top official of the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday, even as it lowered its growth projection for 2023-24 to 5.9 per cent from 6.1 per cent earlier. "The Indian economy continues to perform well and remains the fastest growing Asian economy, and one of the fastest growing in the world," Anne-Marie Gulde-Wolf, Deputy Director for Asia and Pacific Department, IMF, told PTI in an interview.
Mother Dairy launches more than 15 products for summer 2023
Mother Dairy Fruit and Vegetable Pvt Ltd on Tuesday said it has launched more than 15 new products for the summer season this year. The new product line-up for this year includes a ready-to-consume custard, two cold coffees and more than 10 ice cream variants. In addition, the company has enriched its Nutrifit curd offering with Vitamins A & D, Mother Dairy said in a statement. The newly introduced range will be available across major markets of the company through both traditional and new-age distribution channels.
Aparesh Kumar Singh is new chief justice of Tripura HC
Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh was appointed the chief justice of the Tripura High Court on Tuesday. The post of the chief justice in Tripura fell vacant following the retirement of Justice Jaswant Singh recently. According to a notification issued by the Department of Justice in the Law Ministry, "In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 217 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, Judge of the Jharkhand High Court, to be the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office." Born on July 7, 1965, Justice Singh got enrolled as an advocate in 1990.
Dollar dips ahead of inflation data later this week
The dollar fell on Tuesday as investors waited on inflation data for further signs of whether price pressures are ebbing and what it means for further Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. Consumer price data on Wednesday is expected to show headline inflation rose by 0.2% in March, while core inflation rose 0.4%. "A lot of traders are focused on this inflation data," said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA in New York. "Everyone's trying to get a sense of does the disinflation process return and does this complicate what the Fed does."
BankBazaar.com plans to go public in next 12–18 months
Fintech firm BankBazaar.com on Tuesday said it plans to go public in the next 12–18months. The company had a net revenue of Rs 160 crore in FY23. The Initial Public Offering (IPO) plans are in progress with an aim to list in 12–18 months, co-branded credit card issuer BankBazaar.com said in a statement.Prior to the IPO, BankBazaar is planning to raise a round of capital and has appointed ICICI Securities to adviseon the same.
National Career Service portal lists record 35.7 lakh vacancies in 2022-23: Labour Ministry
As many as 35.7 lakh vacancies were registered on National Career Service (NCS) in 2022-23, which is a record so far, the labour ministry said on Tuesday. The Ministry of Labour and Employment is implementing the National Career Service (NCS) Project as a Mission Mode Project for the transformation of the National Employment Service to provide a variety of employment-related services like job matching, career counselling, vocational guidance, information on skill development courses, internships etc. The services under NCS are available online, which was dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister in 2015.
Investors become richer by over Rs 12.56 lakh cr in 7 days of market rally
Equity investors became richer by over Rs 12.56 lakh crore in seven days of market rally as sentiments remained firm amid continuous foreign fund inflows and stable global trends. In the past seven days, the BSE benchmark Sensex has jumped 2,544 points or 4.41 per cent. Helped by the ongoing rally, the market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms jumped Rs 12,56,510.59 crore to Rs 2,64,51,069.93 crore in seven days.
234 cases of XBB1.16.1 mutated sub-variant found in country: INSACOG
Amid a spurt in fresh Covid infections, 234 cases of XBB1.16.1 mutated sub-variant have been found in the country, according to INSACOG data. XBB1.16.1 is a mutation of Omicron's infectious XBB1.16 variant. The XBB1.16.1 has been found across 13 states and Union Territories, including Delhi, Gujarat and Haryana, the data showed. According to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) data, 1,774 cases of the XBB1.16 variant have been found across 22 states and Union Territories, the data showed.
Rahul 'mercilessly attacked' for raising questions, says Priyanka Gandhi
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday made a scathing attack against the Centre and charged that her brother Rahul Gandhi was "mercilessly attacked" by the whole BJP dispensation, and the Prime Minister himself found it appropriate to malign him just because he asks questions. Addressing a public meeting organised by UDF workers here, she said it was the duty of a Parliamentarian to ask questions, to demand accountability and to raise issues.
EAM Jaishankar meets Ugandan counterpart Jeje, takes stock of 'close and historical' ties and possibilities of tie-ups
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met his Ugandan counterpart General Odongo Jeje and took stock of the "close and historical ties" between the two nations, and acknowledged the possibilities of partnerships in trade, investments, energy, defence and air connectivity were being explored. Jaishankar, is on a two-nation visit to Uganda and Mozambique from April 10-15, to bolster Indias strong bilateral relations with the two African countries.
India rejects China's objection to Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh
India on Tuesday firmly rejected China's objection to Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh and asserted that the state "was, is and will" always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the reality.
News Alert: Supreme Court to remain closed on April 14 on account of Ambedkar Jayanti
Centre to help Tripura speed up development works, says DoNER minister
The central government will render all help to Tripura for speedy implementation of the schemes related to infrastructure and welfare, Union minister G Kishan Reddy said here on Tuesday. The assurance came after the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister held a review meeting with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and top state government officials.
Facilitated around 2300 EV charging points in Delhi, 900 more coming: BSES
BSES discoms BRPL and BYPL have facilitated the installation of around 2300 charging points in Delhi for electric vehicles (EVs) and are in the process to set up 900 more in the coming months, company's officials said on Tuesday. The 2300 charging points installed at over 900 locations across south, east, central and west Delhi include 1,123 private ones, 745 public and 419 for captive BSES use, the officials said.
UP: Indian History Congress expresses concern over revised NCERT books
The Indian History Congress (IHC) has expressed its deep concern over the recent move of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to bring changes in history textbooks and syllabus. In a statement issued on Monday, IHC president Kesavan Veluthat and secretary professor Nadeem Ali Rezavi said that all those scholars who value "rational scientific knowledge" have found this approach as flawed and unacceptable.
TOEFL to be shortened by an hour from July, candidates to get real-time notification of score status
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) will now take less than two hours to complete instead of three hours and the candidates will be able to see their official score release date upon completion of the test, according to the Educational Testing Services (ETS). ETS, which conducts TOEFL and Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), announced on Tuesday a series of changes in the English language proficiency test to create an optimal experience for those taking it. The changes will be be effective from July 26.
Finance Ministry exempts CBSE from paying income tax with retrospective effect from FY'21 till FY'25
The Finance Ministry has exempted the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) from paying income tax on earnings from examination fees, sale of text books and publications, besides others. The I-T exemption has been given retrospectively from the financial year 2020-2021 (for the period from June 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021) and for fiscal year 2021-22, and 2022-23. The exemption will continue in the current fiscal and the next financial year (2024-25).
News Alert
Movement against corruption will continue: Congress leader Sachin Pilot after ending fast in Jaipur.
News Alert
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrive in Wayanad, Kerala.
Congress leader and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi to hold a roadshow in Wayanad, Kerala today
Party workers gathered to welcome him.
India is providing strong leadership to the world with G20 presidency, says Mathias Cormann, Sec-Gen, OECD
"It was a very positive and constructive conversation. India is performing very strongly and is providing strong leadership to the world with the G20 presidency in 2023. We are proud to support the work India is doing...Relation between India and Australia is stronger than ever...," said Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General, OECD.
Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova meets Meenakashi Lekhi, MoS MEA
"Exchanged views on bilateral & global issues of mutual interest. Cultural ties & women empowerment also figured in the discussion. Ukraine was assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance," tweeted Lekhi.
News Alert
Local media reports that Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, the prime minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, was removed for contempt of court.
CBI boss Tony Danker fired over misconduct claims
Tony Danker will leave the CBI following an investigation over his conduct towards a female employee.
Three other CBI employees have also been suspended "pending further investigation into a number of ongoing allegations", the group said.
The group is also "liaising with the police" and said it would "co-operate fully with any police investigations". (BBC)
India will use G20 narrative to push its digital transformation story to world: Amitabh Kant
India will utilise the G20 narrative to push its digital transformation story to the rest of the globe with the goal of improving the lives of people in the Global South, said Amitabh Kant, the country's G20 sherpa, on April 11.
Speaking at the 8th National Leadership Conference hosted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) in this city, he emphasised that 2.5 billion individuals worldwide do not even have bank accounts, leaving 4 billion people without a digital identity.
News Alert
TMC MP Luizinho Faleiro resigns from Rajya Sabha, submits his resignation letter to Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist, ICRA on IMD’s forecast:
“While the IMD has forecast a normal monsoon at 96 percent of Long Period Average, the probability forecasts suggest a 51 percent chance of a below normal or deficient monsoon. The volume of rainfall, its timing and dispersion will crucially influence crop sowing and output, as well as prices. Since reservoir levels are healthy by historical standards, a mild delay or sub-par monsoon in June may not be very challenging. In the event that the monsoon turns out to be below normal, we currently foresee a downside of up to 50 basis points to our GDP growth forecast of 6 percent for 2023-24.”
News Alert
Over 18 Shah Paper Mill facilities in Mumbai and Vapi, Gujarat, are raided by the income-tax authorities due to alleged tax fraud of more than Rs 350 crores. During the current raids, 2 crores in cash and 2 crores in jewellery were seized.
Farmers should believe the official forecast of IMD on the rainfall: IMD DGM M Mohapatra
Expecting normal rainfall in the peninsular India, Karnataka, J&K, said IMD DGM M Mohapatra.
He added thatby end of May, IMD will issue updated forecast on monsoon.
El Nino impact could be felt in the second half of the monsoon season, says IMD
IMD clarified that all El Nino are not bad monsoon years. It also said that current La Lina conditions, which is usually favourable to monsoon, has changed to neutral over equatorial Pacific region.
Under Rozgar Mela, PM to distribute about 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute about 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits on 13th April, 2023 at 10:30 AM via video conferencing. Prime Minister will also address these appointees on the occasion.
No one to one relation between El Niño and Indian summer monsoon rainfall, says IMD DGM M Mohapatra
2023 is the year following triple dip La Nina event (2020-22). El Nino may impact second half of monsoon in July, said IMD DGM M Mohapatra.
Indian Ocean dipole conditions are favourable for Indian summer monsoon rainfall, he added.
Currently El Nino conditions changed to neutral over Pacific region, says IMD DGM M Mohapatra
El Nino conditions likely to develop during monsoon season. El nino impact may be felt during second half of monsoon, said IMD DGM M Mohapatra.
All El Niño years are not bad monsoon years. About 40% of El nino years in the past were years with normal or above normal monsoon rainfall, he added.
Expect 96% (+-5%) rainfall of long period average, says IMD DGM M Mohapatra
During Jun-Sep, there is 67% probability for normal to above normal rainfall, said IMD DGM M Mohapatra.
Normal to below normal rainfall likely over some areas of northwest India, parts of west-central India, some pockets of northeast India, he added.
News Alert
83.5 cm rainfall during June-Sep likely which is under normal category, says M Ravichandran, Secy, Ministry of Earth Sciences
Expecting normal monsoon this year, he added.
Arvind Kejriwal addresses party workers in Delhi after EC granted national party status to AAP
AAP National Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal says, "Anti-national forces worked to put Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain behind bars," as he remembers the party leaders during his address.
News Alert
CBI calls Congress leader Jagdish Tytler for recording voice sample in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in Pul Bangash area of Delhi, PTI reported, citing official sources
News Alert
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi leaves for Kerala to visit his former constituency, Wayanad, where he will address at a public event today
Live News: Tamil Nadu government issues gazette notification on bill to ban online gaming
Tamil Nadu government issues gazette notification on the bill to ban online gaming and regulate online gaming in the state. Governor RN Ravi granted his assent to the bill yesterday.
Live News: IMD to hold press conference on “Long Range Forecast for Southwest Monsoon 2023”
-The India Meteorological Department (IMD) will hold a press conference on “Long Range Forecast for Southwest Monsoon 2023” at 12:30 pm, IST, today on April 11. Dr M Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences and Dr. M Mohapatra, DGM at IMD will address the press.
-Interestingly, international agencies are unanimously predicting a 50 percent possibility of El Nino in the second half of the year, and this is very likely to impact India’s rainfall volumes too.
-Companies across several industries such as agriculture, aviation, sports, mining, and retail will be closely watching the weather forecast to help gauge the expectations from this year's monsoon.
News Alert
Former Rajasthan deputy CM Sachin Pilot begins daylong fast demanding action against graft at Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur
