Mumbai Apr 20 PTI Indias naval fleet is set to receive more firepower as INS Vagsheer was launched here on Wednesday under Project-75 a venture aimed at building six Scorpene class submarines at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd MDL here paving the way for the vessel to undergo a series of rigorous trials before getting commissionedINS Vagsheer the sixth and the last submarine constructed under Project-75 was launched by Defence Secretary Ajay KumarFour submarines built under Project-75 --- INS Kalvari INS Khanderi and INS Karang and INS Vela --- have already been commissioned in the Indian Navy The fifth submarine of the series INS Vagir - is undergoing sea trails and is likely to be commissioned this year The project is being executed with French technical assistancePost-launch INS Vagsheer will undergo a comprehensive and rigorous set of tests and trials for more than a year to ensure that it is fully combat-worthy Kumar said Interacting with reporters after the launch Kumar said the submarine was launched before its scheduled unveilingThe submarine not only increases the countrys marine security but it is also an example of self-reliance the senior bureaucrat saidAn MDL official said with every submarine the indigenisation component has increased and in case of INS Vagsheer it was 40 per centNamed after sandfish a deadly deep water sea predator of the Indian Ocean the first submarine Vagsheer was commissioned in December 1974 and decommissioned in April 1997The new submarine is the incarnation of its earlier version as according to naval parlance a ship never ceases to exist Even after a shipsubmarine is decommissioned a new shipsubmarine replaces the old one with the same nameThe state of the art technology utilised in the Scorpene class submarines has ensured superior stealth features such as advanced acoustic absorption techniques low radiated noise levels hydro-dynamically optimised shape and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons MDL saidThe attack can be launched with both torpedoes and tube launched anti-ship missiles whilst underwater or on surface The stealth of this potent platform is enhanced by the special attention provided to her characteristic underwater signatures the defence PSU saidScorpene submarines can undertake multifarious types of missions like anti-surface warfare anti-submarine warfare intelligence gathering mine laying and area surveillance among others The vessel is designed to operate in all theatres of operation showcasing interoperability with other components of a naval task force it saidIt is a potent platform marking a transformational shift in submarine operations MDL saidKumar said the central government has taken an important decision of building a diesel engine with the help of the defence industry through the Make-1 processHe was referring to Project-75 I which envisages indigenous construction of six modern conventional submarines including associated shore support engineering support package training and spares package with contemporary equipment weapons and sensors including fuel-cell-based AIP Air Independent Propulsion Plant advanced torpedoes modern missiles and state of the art countermeasure systemsThis would provide a major boost to the indigenous design and construction capability of submarines in India in addition to bringing in the latest submarine design and technologies as part of the project he saidFor the first time a marine diesel engine will be made in India The industry partner will get a grant of up to 70 per cent Kumar said The Project I costing around Rs 43000 crore was cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council in June last yearSpeaking at the function Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Western Naval Command said so far four submarines have been commissioned under the Project-75These are very advanced and modern submarines and they have increased the capability of the Indian Navy he saidSince these submarines are new they have new technologies and sensors This has improved our combat efficiency and surveillance We hope that Vagir the fifth submarine is inducted into the Indian Navy by the end of the year Vice Admiral Singh saidHe said INS Vagsheer will undergo a series of trials and commissioned in the Navy within a specific time-frame PTI PR NSK RSY RSY

New Delhi Apr 20 PTI Indias effective reproduction number R for Covid an indicator of how quickly the infection is spreading has increased to over one for the first time since January estimates a researcher from Chennais Institute of Mathematical Sciences The countrys R value steadily increasing over the last few weeks is 107 for the week between April 12-18 according to Sitabhra Sinha In the preceding April 5-11 week it was 093 The last time the R was above 1 was in the week between January 16-22 when the value was 128 Sinha said This increase in R-value is not just because of Delhi but also Haryana and Uttar Pradesh the mathematician who has been tracking R for India since the beginning of the pandemic told PTI An R value over 1 indicates that the number of active cases has increased R should be contained below 1 to control the pandemic An R number lower than 1 indicates that the disease will stop spreading as there arent enough people being infected to sustain the outbreak The R value this year was highest between January 1-10 reaching 298 when the Omicron variant of coronavirus caused the third wave in India Almost all major cities -- Mumbai Bengaluru and Chennai -- are showing R values above 1 In fact Delhi and Uttar Pradesh have an R value above 2 Data for Kolkata was not available Sinha said The estimated R value in the week ending April 18 is 212 for Delhi 212 for Uttar Pradesh 104 for Karnataka 170 for Haryana 113 for Mumbai 118 for Chennai and 104 for Bengaluru Among the major states Kerala and Maharashtra have an R value less than 1 with values of 072 and 088 respectively Karnataka also has R over 1 currently possibly because of the rising cases in Bengaluru Sinha explained With 2067 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day Indias total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 43047594 43 crore while active cases increased to 12340 according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday An increase of 480 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours The daily positivity rate was recorded at 049 per cent and the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 038 per cent according to the health ministry On Tuesday Delhi recorded a nearly 26 per cent jump in fresh Covid cases but positivity rate dropped to 442 per cent according to data shared by the city health department on Tuesday While 632 fresh Covid cases were reported in Delhi the positivity rate was 442 per cent The city had on Monday recorded 501 cases and zero death while the positivity rate stood at 772 per cent PTI SAR MIN MIN

New Delhi Apr 18 PTI Indias exports increased by 3701 per cent to USD 1879 billion during April 1-14 on the back of healthy growth in sectors like petroleum gems and jewellery according to a preliminary data of the commerce ministryExports during April 1-14 2021 stood at USD 1372 billionImports during the period rose by 1224 per cent to USD 2584 billion the data showedImports excluding petroleum increased in the said period by 1824 per cent against the same period of 2021-22While the total exports during 2021-22 increased to a record high of USD 41965 billion imports too soared to USD 61189 billion leaving a trade gap of USD 19224 billion PTI RR BAL BAL

Mumbai Mar 31 PTI Indias current account deficit widened to USD 23 billion or 27 per cent of the GDP in the December quarter the Reserve Bank said on Thursday The health of current account which is a key indicator of a countrys external strength has deteriorated when compared to the preceding September quarter as well as the year-ago period The deficit was at USD 99 billion or 13 per cent of the GDP in the second quarter of this fiscal while the same stood at USD 22 billion or 03 per cent of the GDP in the year-ago period the data on Balance of Payments showed The widening of the current account deficit for the December quarter was attributed by the central bank to pressures on the trade deficit front with the gap on that front increasing to USD 604 billion due to rising imports Net services receipts increased both sequentially and on a year-on-year y-o-y basis on the back of robust performance of net exports of computer and business services For the first nine months of the current fiscal the current account deficit came at 12 per cent of the GDP as against a surplus of 17 per cent in the April-December 2020 period as per the data PTI AA RAM

New Delhi Mar 30 PTI Indias indigenous 4G mobile network has been prepared in the shortest possible time and is ready for rollout soon while the 5G network will be ready by the end of 2022 Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Lok Sabha on Wednesday He said after many years state-owned BSNL has been able to make operating profit after improvement in its services Vaishnaw said Indian engineers have prepared the countrys own 4G network which is ready for launch very soon The whole world is looking at us with surprise how India has built its 4G network so soon he said during Question Hour The minister said the 5G network is built on the 4G and the work is going on to build the 5G The scientists have predicted that our 5G network will be ready by the end of this year he said Replying to a supplementary on the poor connectivity in many areas of the country Vaishnaw said nine schemes have been taken by the government to improve mobile telecom networks that include construction of over 9000 towers in aspirational districts and Northeastern region In addition he said a Rs 6446 crore scheme has been taken to improve mobile infrastructure in over 60200 villages across the country Results have started coming due to all these initiatives and the mobile network has been improved significantly in different parts of the country he said Referring to BSNL the minister said everyone knew who was responsible for the poor health of the company but because of the steps taken by the government BSNL has been able to make operational profit after a long time and people should acknowledge it After the Rs 69000 crore package announced in 2019 BSNL has become a stable entity In this years budget too Rs 44720 crore provision has been made he said The minister said the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India monitors the performance of Telecom Service Providers TSPs including BSNL against the benchmarks for various Quality of Service QoS parameters laid down by TRAI by way of QoS regulations issued from time to time through Quarterly Performance Monitoring Reports PMRs received from TSPs As per PMR for quarter ended September 2021 BSNL is meeting in general most of the QoS parameters for its cellular and basic services in Uttar Pradesh including its aspirational districts he said PTI ACB TDS ANU ANU

New Delhi Mar 30 PTI Indias export of agricultural products have touched USD 4087 billion in the first 10 months of the current fiscal and it is 2514 percent more than the financial year Union Minister of State for Commerce Anupriya Singh Patel said in Lok Sabha on WednesdayPatel said exports of some other major agricultural products like wheat sugar and cotton have registered a substantial increase during the current yearDuring the period between April 2021 to January 2022 of the current financial year exports of agricultural products have amounted to USD 4087 billion compared to USD 3266 billion over the corresponding period of previous year registering an increase of 2514 she said during Question HourPatel said of the products for which targets were fixed export of some of the major items like rice other cereals coffee cereal preparations meat dairy and poultry products and marine products would achieve or come very close to achieving the targets for 2021-22 The minister said the rise in agricultural exports improves realisations for farmers and has a positive impact on their incomeIn order to ensure that the farmers benefit from exports the government has launched a Farmer Connect Portal for providing a platform for Farmer Producer Organisations Companies FPOsFPCs and cooperatives to directly interact with exporters she said PTI ACB TDS TDS

New Delhi Mar 29 PTI Indias COVID-19 tally climbed to 43021982 on Tuesday with 1259 fresh cases while the number of active cases of the infection further declined to 15378 according to the Union health ministryThe death toll due to the viral disease has gone up to 521070with 35 more fatalities the ministrys data updated at 8 am statedThe active cases account for004 per cent of the total caseload while the national COVID-19 recovery rate remained at 9875 per cent the ministry said adding that a reduction of 481 cases was recorded in the active caseload in a span of 24 hoursThe daily positivity rate was recorded at 022per cent and the weekly positivity rate was recorded at025 per cent according to the health ministryA total of577559tests were conducted to detect the infection in the last 24 hours India has so far conducted over7879 crore COVID-19 testsThe number of people who have recuperated from the disease has gone up to 42485534 while the case fatality rate was recorded at121 per centThe number of Covid vaccine doses administered in the country so far has exceeded18353crore Indias COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 2020 30 lakh on August 23 2020 40 lakh on September 5 2020 and 50 lakh on September 16 2020It went past 60 lakh on September 28 2020 70 lakh on October 11 2020 80 lakh on October 29 2020 90 lakh on November 20 2020 and the one-crore mark on December 19 2020The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore Covid cases on May 4 2021 and the three-crore mark on June 23 2021 PTI PLB RC

New Delhi Mar 26 PTI Indias COVID-19 death toll climbed to 520855 with 4100 fatalities recorded in a day and Maharashtra reconciling the number of deaths caused by the viral disease in the state the Union health ministry said on SaturdayA total of 1660 fresh cases have pushed the countrys COVID-19 tally to 43018032 while the number of active cases has fallen below 20000 according to the ministrys data updated at 8 amThe number of active cases of the infection has declined to 16741 the lowest in 702 days and accounting for 004 per cent of the total caseload The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 9875 per cent the ministry saidMaharashtra reported a high death toll because of the inclusion of non-Covid fatalities 4005 reported till Friday The state reported two fresh deaths caused by the viral disease in the last 24 hours according to a media bulletinA reduction of 4789cases was recorded in the countrys active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hoursThe daily positivity rate was recorded at025per cent while the weekly positivity rate was 029 per cent according to the health ministryA total of 658489tests were conducted to detect the infection in the last 24 hours India has so far conducted over7863 crore Covid testsThe number of people who have recuperated has gone up to 42480436 while the case fatality rate was recorded at121 per cent The cumulative number of Covid vaccine doses administered in the country has exceeded18287crore Indias COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 2020 30 lakh on August 23 2020 40 lakh on September 5 2020 and 50 lakh on September 16 2020It went past 60 lakh on September 28 2020 70 lakh on October 11 2020 80 lakh on October 29 2020 90 lakh on November 20 2020 and the one-crore mark on December 19 2020The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore cases on May 4 2021 and the three-crore mark on June 23 2021 PTI PLB RC

Kolkata Mar 25 PTI Indias largest private port operator Adani Ports and SEZ APSEZ Ltd has emerged as the highest bidder for the West Bengal governments greenfield deep-sea port project at Tajpur in a neck-to-neck fight with JSW Group a source said on FridayAPSEZ and Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Group were the only two entities that took part in the financial bid round though there were more port and logistics majors who had expressed initial interest in the estimated Rs 7000-crore project in Purba Medinipur districtAPSEZ is the highest bidder offering a share of 025 per cent of gross revenue It was marginally higher than the second bidder who offered 023 per cent a senior government official said without wanting to be namedThe revenue share will increase to 4 per cent but that will be at a much later date of the concession period which is 99 years he saidThe price bid for the tender floated by the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation WBIDC was opened on Wednesday in the presence of the bidders -- APSEZ and JSW Infrastructure Ltd the official saidA note has been prepared after APSEZ emerged as the highest bidder and it will be placed before the state cabinet for final approval he saidAs per an analyst 025 per cent revenue share is very low and will lead to an adverse impact on the existing Kolkata PortWest Bengal government expects that the first phase of the project will be completed in three-four years and it will be operational the official saidRoad access to the site is the biggest challenge while railway connectivity is also crucial he saidFor a 15-16 metre draft an 18-km channel has to be built into the sea For Panamax size vessels 12 meters draft is necessaryAPSEZ will get 125 acres of seafront land for the development of the port and another 1000 acres situated 4 km away for port-linked industrial developmentAdani Group did not bid for the privatisation of Kolkata Ports Kiddherpore dock but is the highest bidder for modernisation of Berth 2 of Haldia dockIn less than two decades APSEZ has built acquired and developed a portfolio of ports infrastructure and services across India Its 13 ports and terminals represent 24 per cent of the countrys port capacityAdani Group chairman Gautam Adani met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in December last year to discuss investment possibilities in the state In February his son Karan also visited the state and met BanerjeeGroup company Adani Wilmar recently acquired a rice mill in Burdwan The group also has acquired gas distribution licences in certain parts of West Bengal in partnership with Indian Oil Corporation IOC PTI BSM SOM SOM

New Delhi Mar 24 PTI Indias position on the Ukraine conflict has been steadfast and consistent as it has been seeking immediate cessation of violence and calling for ending the crisis through talks External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on ThursdayIn the context of the unfolding developments in Ukraine India has been emphasising that the global order is anchored on international law the UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states he saidJaishankar was replying to a question in Rajya SabhaIndias position on the Ukraine conflict has been steadfast and consistent We have expressed deep concern at the worsening situation and called for immediate cessation of violence and end to all hostilities he saidJaishankars comments came in the backdrop of increasing disquiet in the West over India not criticising Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and abstaining from the votes at the UN Security Council in condemning the Russian aggressionIn our conversations with global leaders at the highest levels we have emphasised to all member States of the UN that the global order is anchored on international law UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states he saidOur position on the situation in Ukraine in various international fora and bodies reflects this reasoning Jaishankar saidHe said India at the UN Security Council has called for an urgent ceasefire and ensuring safe passage for stranded civilians As conveyed in our statements at the UN Security Council and the General Assembly we have urged an urgent ceasefire and ensuring safe passage for stranded civilians Jaishankar saidWe have also highlighted the humanitarian assistance extended by India to Ukraine and its neighbours at this hour of crisis he addedJaishankar also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the leadership of Russia Ukraine and its neighbours as well other major world leaders since the unfolding of the crisisHe conveyed our considered view to all parties concerned that there is no other choice but the path of diplomacy and dialogue Jaishankar saidModi spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 26 and again on March 7In these conversations Prime Minister expressed deep concern about the ongoing conflict and resultant humanitarian crisis The prime minister reiterated his call for immediate cessation of violence and noted that India has always stood for peaceful resolution of issues and direct dialogue between the two parties Jaishankar saidHe said Modi also thanked the Ukrainian authorities for their facilitation in enabling more than 22000 Indian citizens to return from UkraineThe external affairs minister also referred to Modis phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 March 2 and March 7President Putin briefed the prime minister on the status of negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian teams The prime minister welcomed the ongoing negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and expressed hope that they would lead to cessation of the conflict Jaishankar saidHe said Modi suggested that a direct conversation between Putin and Zelenskyy may greatly assist the ongoing peace effortsJaishankar said the safety and security of Indians in Ukraine was the top priority for the governmentEven before the hostilities began the safety of Indian nationals in Ukraine was our top priority Accordingly the evacuation of Indian national was undertaken on a mission-mode he saidWe were able to safely bring home 22500 Indian citizens including 147 foreign nationals belonging to 18 countries from Ukraine since February he addedTo a separate question Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi said over 18500 Indian nationals were evacuated from Ukraine under the evacuation mission Operation Ganga from February 26 to March 15Around 4000 Indian nationals departed from Ukraine by direct and indirect flights between February 1 to 23 she saidLekhi said around 40 to 50 Indian nationals are still present in Ukraine of which only a few are willing to return to IndiaTheir return is being facilitated by the Embassy she said PTI MPB ZMN