New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) The effect of the recent polls and festivals like Durga Puja, and Diwali, among others, on the Covid-19 situation are still play out in full, the Union Health Ministry warned on Tuesday.
Karnataka to set up development board for Lingayat sect(5 minutes ago)
Bengaluru, Nov 17 (IANS) Karnataka would soon set up a development board for the betterment of Veerashaiva-Lingayat community in the southern state, an official said on Tuesday.
Bail plea of Kerala CM's former Secy Sivasankar rejected (Lead)
Bail plea of Kerala CM's former Secy Sivasankar rejected (Lead)(25 minutes ago)
Kochi, Nov 17 (IANS) A court here on Tuesday refused to grant bail to IAS officer and Kerala Chief Minister's former Principal Secretary, M. Sivasankar.
China pushes weapons into Myanmar, India; threatens regional security(17:48)
Sumit Kumar Singh
New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) Easy flow of Chinese weapons illegally into Myanmar and India is posing threats to regional security and stability, intelligence agencies have flagged to the Indian government.
Priyanka questions Yogi about 'Mission Shakti'
Priyanka questions Yogi about 'Mission Shakti'(17:46)
Lucknow, Nov 17 (IANS) Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday questioned the women empowerment programme 'Mission Shakti' launched by the Yogi Adityanath government.
Thackeray anniversary: Shiv Sena slams BJP, reclaims Hindutva
Thackeray anniversary: Shiv Sena slams BJP, reclaims Hindutva(17:36)
By QUAID NAJMI
Mumbai, Nov 17 (IANS) On the 8th death anniversary of Balasaheb Thackeray, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and loudly reclaimed its 'Hindutva' legacy.
Kerala Cong, BJP demand Issac's resignation over CAG report 'leak'
Kerala Cong, BJP demand Issac's resignation over CAG report 'leak'(17:18)
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 17 (IANS) The Kerala Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday demanded the resignation of state Finance Minister Thomas Issac for allegedly lying and violating the oath of secrecy by deliberately leaking the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report on KIIFB (Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board) to the media.
Tripura Police get new chief after 9 months
Tripura Police get new chief after 9 months(17:16)
Agartala, Nov 17 (IANS) With the appointment of senior IPS officer V.S. Yadav as the Director General of Police (DGP) on Tuesday, Tripura got a new police chief after more than nine months, officials said.
PM Modi to inaugurate Bengaluru Tech Summit on Thursday
PM Modi to inaugurate Bengaluru Tech Summit on Thursday(17:06)
New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Bengaluru Tech Summit, 2020 on Thursday. The event will deliberate on the key challenges emerging in the post-pandemic world with focus on the impact of prominent technologies and innovations in the domains of 'Information Technology and Electronics' and 'Biotechnology'
Eight new Gujarat MLAs to take oath on Nov 19
Eight new Gujarat MLAs to take oath on Nov 19(16:52)
Gandhinagar, Nov 17 (IANS) Eight BJP MLAs-elect who won the Gujarat Assembly by-elections held on November 3 will take oath as members of the House on Thursday, the auspicious day of 'Labha Pancham'.
Andhra beaches fill up during community lunches
Andhra beaches fill up during community lunches(16:46)
Bhimavaram (Andhra Pradesh), Nov 17 (IANS) Hundreds of people in Andhra Pradesh's West Godavari district and across the state have started visiting beaches as part of 'Vana Bojanalu' (community lunches), commemorating 'Karthikamasam'.
BJP using 'Gupkar Gang' euphemism to project PAGD as anti-national: Mehbooba
BJP using 'Gupkar Gang' euphemism to project PAGD as anti-national: Mehbooba(16:34)
Srinagar, Nov 17 (IANS) Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said on Tuesday that the BJP is using the 'Gupkar Gang' euphemism to project the People's Alliance For Gupkar Deceleration (PAGD) as anti-national.
Postal ex-official, wife awarded jail terms, fine in corruption case
Postal ex-official, wife awarded jail terms, fine in corruption case(16:32)
New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) A former Sub-Postmaster and his wife were awarded rigorous imprisonment along with fines totalling Rs 20 lakh by a special CBI court for accumulating illegal assets totalling Rs 1.29 crore.
India should again become global superpower in education: Venkaiah
India should again become global superpower in education: Venkaiah(16:18)
Agartala, Nov 17 (IANS) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said that the new National Education Policy (NEP) aimed to make India a global knowledge superpower and underlined the need for the country to again become a 'Vishwa Guru' in education.
BJP resurrects Agusta ghost, asks Cong to speak up
BJP resurrects Agusta ghost, asks Cong to speak up(16:16)
New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) The BJP on Tuesday asked why defence deals inevitably ended in bringing up names of Congress leaders, as the party launched a scathing attack over new revelations in the alleged AgustaWestland scam.
SC junks plea seeking exam fee waiver for class 10, 12 students
SC junks plea seeking exam fee waiver for class 10, 12 students(16:14)
New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a plea, which sought the Delhi government and the CBSE to waive the exam fee for students of classes 10 and 12 in this academic year, as many families have been hit by financial woes because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Delhi markets may shut, only 50 people in capital weddings (Ld)
Delhi markets may shut, only 50 people in capital weddings (Ld)(16:02)
New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) Amid unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced that markets may be shut once again as a precautionary measure and only 50 people will be allowed in weddings not 200, as per strict norms aimed at curbing further spread of the Coronavirus.
Baghel urges Centre to increase job opportunities in Bastar
Baghel urges Centre to increase job opportunities in Bastar(15:52)
New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah here and urged him to 'generate more employment opportunities in the Bastar region to uproot Naxal problems'.
Andhra inducts opposition leader in state security commission
Andhra inducts opposition leader in state security commission(15:34)
Amaravati, Nov 17 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh government has inducted opposition leader and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national president Nara Chandrababu Naidu in the state security commission.
CII asks govts, farmer groups to end impasse in Punjab
CII asks govts, farmer groups to end impasse in Punjab(15:26)
Chandigarh, Nov 17 (IANS) The industrial body CII on Tuesday called upon the governments and farmer groups to find a solution to the current impasse in Punjab over the Central farm laws.
Nitish allocates portfolios, keeps home, gives Tarkishore finance
Nitish allocates portfolios, keeps home, gives Tarkishore finance(15:10)
Patna, Nov 17 (IANS) A day after taking oath for a new term along with his ministerial colleagues, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday allocated portfolios among them, keeping with himself home, general administration, vigilance and three more departments.
Either Gupkar Gang swims with national mood or people will sink it: Shah (Ld)
Either Gupkar Gang swims with national mood or people will sink it: Shah (Ld)(15:00)
New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a scathing attack at the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, saying "either the Gupkar Gang swims along with the national mood or else the people will sink it".
Indian experts hail 'promising' mRNA vax for Covid treatment
Indian experts hail 'promising' mRNA vax for Covid treatment(14:50)
By Bharat Upadhyay
New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) With the two mRNA vaccine candidates from pharma giants Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna showing effectiveness in preventing Covid-19 in an interim analysis, health experts in India on Tuesday said that mRNA vaccine that works on previously unproven technology can be very promising in the fight against the pandemic despite the challenges.
Jagan fulfilling predecessor's promises as well: YSRCP
Jagan fulfilling predecessor's promises as well: YSRCP(14:42)
Amaravati, Nov 17 (TIWN) Senior Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) leader and Rajya Sabha member V. Vijaysai Reddy said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is not only fulfilling the promises he made but also some of his predecessor's.

"We believe that effects of recent elections (in Bihar and elsewhere), Durga Puja, Diwali and other festivals are still to be played out in full. We have to keep watching new cases very carefully," he said cautioning people against letting their guard down despite "very low per million cases" in India.

In the last two days, India's COVID-19 daily case count dropped to an average of 30,000, government data released today showed after 4-week average of 48,000 daily cases.

"We are not reading too much into this (drop)," Mr Bhushan said, adding that weekly trends better reflected the pandemic's progress.

The dip in national numbers goes against weeks of warnings to remain Covid-cautious in view of winter, festival season and elections - Assembly polls in Bihar and bypolls across 11 states in the first week of November.

However, a steady case surge has been observed in West Bengal since Durga Puja, in Kerala since Onam and in Delhi for the past fortnight ahead of Diwali.