New Delhi: India’s COVID 19 cases have crossed the 22-lakh mark today, with 62,064 new cases. Health Ministry said the death toll climbed to 44,386 with 1,007 more deaths in 24 hours. The recoveries surged to 15,35,743 with a record 54,859 more people recuperating in the past 24 hours. This has taken the recovery rate to 69.33 per cent.

COVID-19 recoveries cross 15 lakh, fatality Rate at new low of 2%

India’s COVID-19 recoveries have crossed the historic peak of 1.5 million today. Recovery of 15,35,743 patients has been made possible because of the policy of TESTING aggressively, TRACKING comprehensively & TREATING efficiently. Better ambulance services, focus on Standard of Care and use of non-invasive oxygen have given the desired results.With the highest ever single day recoveries of 54,859 in the last 24 hours, the Recovery Rate amongst the COVID-19 patients has scaled another high of almost 70%.

The record high recoveries have ensured that the actual caseload of the country viz. the active cases has reduced and currently comprises only 28.66% of the total positive cases. India has posted more than 9 lakh recoveries than the active cases (6,34,945).The coordinated efforts of Centre and State/UT governments on early detection through aggressive testing and efficient clinical management of hospitalized cases have shown results with continuously regressing Case Fatality Rate. It is 2%, as on date, and steadily declining. Early identification of cases has also led to steeply falling percentage active cases.

PM Modi launches submarine cable connectivity to Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched and dedicated to the nation, the submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) connecting Andaman & Nicobar Islands to the mainland through video conferencing. Narendra Modi said the connectivity would now enable endless opportunities in the islands. He said the laying of the 2300 Kms submarine cable and completing it before the set target is very praise worthy. The Prime Minister said that the service has begun today on a major chunk of the islands from Chennai to Port Blair, Port Blair to Little Andaman and Port Blair to Swaraj Island.

The Prime Minister admired the laying of cables for about 2300 kilometers under the sea as surveying in the deep sea, maintaining the quality of the cable and laying of the cable with specialised vessels is not an easy task. The Prime Minister said the Submarine Cable will help A&N in getting cheaper & better connectivity and all the benefits of Digital India, especially in improving online education, tele-medicine, banking system, online trading and in boosting tourism.

PM Modi holds meeting with CMs of 6 states to review the flood situation

Prime Minister Narendra held a meeting today through video conference with Chief Ministers of six States, namely Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala,to review their preparedness to deal with south-west monsoon and current flood situation in the country. Prime Minister emphasized on better coordination between all central and state agencies to have a permanent system for forecasting of floods and extensive use of innovative technologies for improving forecast and warning system.Prime Minister said there are pilot efforts underway to use innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence to improve locations specific forecast, for which States should provide necessary information to these agencies and timely disseminate the warnings to local communities.Prime Minister also emphasized that in view of COVID situation, while undertaking rescue efforts, States must ensure that people follow all health precautions such as wearing of face mask, hand sanitization and maintain adequate physical distance and relief materials must include provision for hand washing/ sanitizing and face masks for the affected people. In this regard, special provisions should be made for elderly people, pregnant women and people with co-morbidity.

EPFO ensures hassle free service delivery through UMANG during COVID-19

The Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG) has been a big hit among Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) subscribers, enabling them to utilize services during COVID-19 pandemic from the comfort of their homes in hassle free manner. Presently a PF member can access 16 different services of EPFO on their mobile phone using UMANG App. On UMANG app, a member can raise claim, track claim and know the status of claim raised. During the COVID-19 pandemic period from April to July 2020, a total of 11.27 lakhs claims were filed online through UMANG App. UMANG has enabled members overcome the mobility restriction induced by COVID-19 pandemic in accessing EPFO’s services and thereby reduced the need to physically visit the offices of EPFO. During the COVID-19 pandemic period from April to July 2020, 18.52 lakhs API hits were received on View Pensioner Passbook service while 29,773 API hits were recorded on updating Jeevan Pramaan Patra service.

Govt to provide mobile connectivity in 498 villages located at border areas

Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Electronics &IT, Communications and Law & Justice, said that Government of India has been taking measures on priority to provide connectivity in the far flung, difficult, border areas of strategic importance, so as to ensure better quality of life to the people as well as to those who are working in these areas. The minister informed that a tender for 354 uncovered villages in the strategic, remote and border areas of the country has been finalised and is under implementation in the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, in 144 villages of the States of Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh and other priority areas of Gujarat . He said these villages have been strategically chosen to cover border area connectivity on mobile. Shri Prasad informed that after commissioning of these villages, there will be no uncovered villages in UTs of J&K, Ladakh for mobile connectivity.

Govt to give relief to MSMEs, it will accelerate ‘Wheel of Economy’: Nitin Gadkari

Nitin Gadkari Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises said that the changing the definition of MSMEs, Scheme of Fund of Funds, Champions portal, extended credits to MSMEs will certainly accelerate the wheels of economy which had slowed down due to lockdown in the wake of Pandemic. He said this while addressing a Virtual MSME Conclave organized today. He appealed to all the stakeholders to do away with all kinds of fear and negativity and assured that government is doing everything possible to make the country a super economic power.
Gadkari further informed that loans of about Rs. 1,20,000 crore have been disbursed to MSMEs out of Rs. 3 lakh crore announced in the relief package. Discussing about the problem of delayed payments, he said that instructions have been given to all Ministries, Departments and PSUs to clear pending bills of MSMEs within 45 days.

Defence Minister to release a book chronicling Vice President’s third year in office

A book chronicling the third year in office of the Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu titled ‘Connecting, Communicating, Changing’ will be released by the Union Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh at Upa-RashtrapatiNivas in Delhi tomorrow. Naidu completes three years in office on August 11.The electronic version of the book (e-book) will be launched by the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar. The book which runs into more than 250 pages has been brought out by the Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Finance Minister launches an Online Dashboard for the National Infrastructure Pipeline

Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) Online Dashboard here today through video conferencing. The online dashboard is envisaged as a one stop solution for all stakeholders looking for information on infrastructure projects in New India. The dashboard is being hosted on the India Investment Grid (IIG) (www.indiainvestmentgrid.gov.in). IIG is an interactive and dynamic online platform that showcases updated & real-time investment opportunities in the country

Indian products deserve fair access to other countries on reciprocal basis

Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce & Industry today inaugurated first edition of five day long virtual FMCG Supply Chain EXPO, 2020. Speaking on the occasion, Goyal said that we have to accept the post COVID-19 pandemic reality. World has changed. World will learn and unlearn out of this Covid experience. Goyal said that we want to protect our industries so that they can get a fair play and access. He said that India wants equal, fair and reciprocal trade with the world. We are moving towards balanced trade with many countries and regions. This is one the reasons why India chose not to join RCEP as it was completely inequitable arrangement Countries should, in a phased manner, look at sourcing from India, developing their products in India & then encash the large business opportunity that 1.3 billion Indian people offer. Goyal invited Indian industry to walk together, support each other and work towards a prosperous India in the long run and better future for the generations to come.