India

Haridwar, Apr 1 (PTI) The Kumbh Mela formally began in Haridwar on Thursday with several restrictions imposed on devotees coming to attend the event amid rising cases of Covid-19 in various states including Uttarakhand.

Officials associated with organising the event, including Mela Officer Deepak Rawat, Mela IG Sanjay Gunjyal and Haridwar SSP Janmejay Khanduri, worshipped in temples along the banks of the Ganga to pray for a safe and unhindered Kumbh fair.

New Delhi, Apr 1 (PTI) President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said he is recovering well after his bypass surgery and thanked doctors and caregivers.

The president said he was touched by messages from citizens and leaders from across the country and abroad wishing him speedy recovery.

"It's difficult to express in words my gratitude to you all!," Kovind said.

Kovind, 75 , had on Tuesday underwent a cardiac bypass surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here.

New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) India has slipped 28 places to rank 140th among 156 countries in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2021, becoming the third-worst performer in South Asia.

According to the report, India has closed 62.5 per cent of its gender gap till date.

The country had ranked 112th among 153 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index 2020.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India began vaccinating tens of thousands of people above the age of 45 on Thursday in its biggest push yet against a surging coronavirus that has hit the highest daily count since early October, officials said.

The world’s second most populous country aims to immunise 400 million people after expanding the programme, which had been restricted to the over-60s and people with serious health conditions, said a government official.

New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) The Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Wednesday announced a slew of plans for upcoming two months to strengthen the ongoing agitation against the new farm laws, including a proposed march to Parliament on foot in May.

"The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha met yesterday, and decided that the farmers will be undertaking a march to the Parliament in the first fortnight of May. The date for the march is yet to be decided.

New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) The output of eight core sectors declined by 4.6 per cent in February, the steepest contraction in the last six months which experts said could drag the overall industrial production in the month into the negative territory.

All the key segments, including coal, crude oil, natural gas, and refinery products, witnessed a decline in production, according to the official data released on Wednesday.

Coimbatore, Mar 31 (PTI): A group of BJP workers on motorcycles allegedly hurled stones at shops asking the owners to down shutters as a procession to welcome Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was being taken out here, police said on Wednesday.

Action would be taken against the culprits, the police said.

New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) After raising cooking gas prices by Rs 125 per cylinder last month, state-owned oil firms on Wednesday announced a Rs 10 per cylinder cut in LPG rates on softening international oil prices.

A 14.2-kg LPG cylinder -- both for subsidised and market price users -- will cost Rs 809 from April 1 as against Rs 819 currently, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) said in a statement.

Chennai, Mar 31 (PTI): After 11 months of his death, the Madras High Court on Wednesay ordered the exhumation of the body of Dr Simon Hercules, who had been treating Covid patients and fell victim to the virus in April last year.

The remains should be exhumed from the Velangadu burial ground and re-buried at the Kilpauk Cemetery, Justice Abdul Quddhose gave the direction while allowing a writ petition from Simon's wife Anandi.

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 31 (PTI) Kerala has got A Shajahan as the State Election Commissioner (SEC).

Shajahan assumed charge on Wednesday and his term ends on March 30, 2026.

He took charge as the term of V Bhaskaran has ended.

Shajahan has served as Secretary in various government departments, including general education, sports and youth welfare, minority welfare, social justice and local self- government andwas also the Rural Development Commissioner, Director of General Education and Director of Panchayats and Urban Affairs.