Aviation sector to take 6-24 months to recover from COVID-19 blow: Survey
NEW DELHI: The aviation industry may take between six months to two years to recover from the severe blow dealt by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey carried out by global consultancy ICF. The survey, conducted among senior and mid-level executives from across the world between late March and early April, also revealed that […]
E-commerce platforms to sell mobiles, TV, fridge after April 20 amid lockdown
NEW DELHI: Mobile phones, televisions, refrigerators, laptops and stationary items will be allowed to be sold through e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal from April 20 during the lockdown, officials said on Thursday. The clarification from a senior home ministry official came a day after Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued revised guidelines for […]
Infrastructure sector activity declines 43% in FY20 following March lockdown: Report
NEW DELHI: Infrastructure sector activity witnessed a decline of 43 per cent in FY20, following financial troubles at the national road builder NHAI and the massive contraction in March due to the lockdown, according to a report. The problem was more pronounced in the final quarter of the year, as the government contracts came to […]
Six Indian companies working on vaccine for Coronavirus
By Shakoor Rather NEW DELHI: Six Indian companies are working on a vaccine for COVID-19, joining global efforts to find a quick preventive for the deadly infection spreading rapidly across the world, says a top Indian scientist. Nearly 70 vaccine candidates’ are being tested and at least three have moved to the human clinical trial […]
India Inc stands by lockdown extension call; seeks stimulus package to rebuild economy
NEW DELHI: India Inc on Tuesday said the nationwide lockdown extension was necessary to avert a humanitarian crisis, but insisted on the need for a stimulus package to rebuild the economy hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the current lockdown will be extended till May […]
Need to convert COVID-19 into opportunity; restart highways construction on war footing: Nitin Gadkari
By Namita Tewari NEW DELHI: Turning ‘crisis into opportunity’, India needs renewed focus on infrastructure in the wake of the damage caused by COVID-19 and talks are on with state governments to re-start highway construction projects where migrant labourers can be gainfully employed, union minister Nitin Gadkari said. In a video-conference with PTI, the road […]
COVID-19: Salman Khan begins process of transferring funds to daily wage workers
NEW DELHI: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has started the process of transferring funds into the accounts of daily wage workers of the film industry, the Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE) said on Wednesday. The actor had recently pledged to financially support 25,000 daily wage workers who have been badly hit by the 21-day […]
Indian Railways to deploy more than 2500 Doctors,35000 paramedic staff to meet COVID 19 challenge
NEW DELHI: Sustaining the fight against COVID-19,Indian Railways is making an all out effort to supplement the health care efforts of Government of India. The spectrum of steps include equipping the existing Railway Hospitals to meet the needs for COVID-19, earmarking of hospital beds to meet the contingencies, recruitment of additional doctors & paramedics, modification of […]
Prepare plans to fight economic impact of Covid-19 on war footing: Narendra Modi to ministers
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked Union ministers to prepare plans to fight the economic impact of COVID-19 on war footing and asserted that this crisis is an opportunity to boost the ‘Make-in-India’ initiative and reduce dependence on other countries. Chairing the first meeting of the council of ministers after announcing a […]
COVID-19: India issues advisory asking people to wear ‘homemade face covers’
NEW DELHI: As India witnesses a spike in coronavirus cases, the Central government on Saturday issued an advisory asking people to wear “homemade face covers” particularly when they step out of their houses in order to curb the spread of COVID-19. In the ‘Advisory on the use of Homemade Protective Cover for Face and Mouth’, […]
Prime Minister directs officials to ensure availability of essential medical equipment
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired a meeting of various empowered groups set up to respond to the coronavirus threat and directed officials to ensure sufficient availability of all essential medical equipment such as personal protective equipment, masks, gloves and ventilators. In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister’s Office said Modi […]
No final decision on resumption of services: Indian Railways on restoration plans
NEW DELHI: Indian Railways on Saturday said no final decision has been taken yet on the restoration of train services and that a call on it would be taken in a few days. The statement comes amidst railway zones preparing action plans to resume services from April 15 after passenger trains remained suspended for 21 […]
Flat or negative growth for IT sector in 2020 due to Covid-19: Infosys CFO
NEW DELHI: India’s information technology sector is expected to post either flat or negative growth in 2020 due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic globally, an IT industry veteran said on Saturday. “Look at the economic activity (globally). Worse than what you have seen in 2008 (global financial crisis). So, clients (of Indian IT […]
Maharashtra government may lift Covid-19 lockdown in phases, says health minister
NEW DELHI: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Saturday said the government was considering relaxation of the ongoing lockdown for containment of coronavirus in phases. Earlier in the day he had said the state government may not lift lockdown on April 14 if people did not observe discipline and the number of Covid-19 cases kept […]
Finance Ministry releases Rs 17,287 crore to states to fight coronavirus pandemic
NEW DELHI: The Finance Ministry on Friday released Rs 17,287 crore to states to enhance their financial resources during the COVID-19 crisis. Of this amount, Rs 11,092 crore is towards State Disaster Response Mitigation Fund (SDRMF) to all states. An amount of Rs 6,195 crore has been released as ‘Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant’ to […]
Coronavirus: Nivea India starts manufacturing hand sanitisers; to be distributed ‘free of cost’
NEW DELHI: Personal grooming products maker Nivea India on Friday said it has started production of hand sanitisers from its skincare manufacturing plants in collaboration with its key partners. The company said its plant at Sanand in Gujarat which originally manufactures skincare products for the India market has begun production of alcohol-based hand sanitisers, and […]