In a bid to boost electric mobility, the GST Council on Saturday decided to reduce tax rates on electric vehicles from 12% to 5%. For electric vehicle chargers, tax rat

GST council reduces tax on electric cars to 5%

In a bid to boost electric mobility, the GST Council on Saturday decided to reduce tax rates on electric vehicles from 12% to 5%. For electric vehicle chargers, tax rate has been reduced from 18% to 5%.&nbsp; The new rates will be effective from the 1st August. The council further approved a GST exemption for local authorities who hire electric buses. The GST rate for petrol, diesel cars, on the other hand, are in the highest bracket of 28% plus cess.

In a bid to boost electric mobility, the GST Council on Saturday decided to reduce tax rates on electric vehicles from 12% to 5%. For electric vehicle chargers, tax rate has been reduced from 18% to 5%. The new rates will be effective from the 1st August. The council further approved a GST exemption for local authorities who hire electric buses. The GST rate for petrol, diesel cars, on the other hand, are in the highest bracket of 28% plus cess.

Good news in the fight against Covid 19, Russian vaccine Sputnik V has finally come into the Indian market. 2 weeks after the 1.5 lakh first doses arrived in

Good news in the fight against Covid&nbsp;19, Russian vaccine Sputnik V has finally come into the Indian market. Two weeks after the&nbsp;1.5 lakh first doses arrived in Hyderabad, RDIF&nbsp;partner Dr Reddy's confirmed that the first jab of the Russian vaccine was administered in Hyderabad on Friday.&nbsp;
Dr Reddys&nbsp;has&nbsp;set&nbsp;Sputnik V vaccine price at Rs ₹995/dose for the imported doses.&nbsp;Dr Reddy&rsquo;s&nbsp;has said&nbsp;pricing of RDIF&rsquo;s COVID vaccine Sputnik V is expected to go lower once its domestic production begins.&nbsp; This is a big boost for the inoculation drive when&nbsp; India is recording over 3 lakh Covid-19 cases every day and is struggling for vaccines as many states, private and government facilities run out of doses.

Big hike in petrol and diesel prices up by 29 paisa and 34 paisa per litre. Fuel prices have now been raised 8 times since the start of May. Petrol prices are up by Rs

Big hike in petrol and diesel prices up by 29 paisa and 34 paisa per litre. Fuel prices have now been raised 8 times since the start of May. Petrol prices are up by Rs 1.79 a litre in May, diesel prices have risen by Rs 2.22 per litre.&nbsp; Petrol prices in some states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and in some places in Maharastra have breached the Rs 100 per litre mark. It's not just auto fuel, even airline companies are feeling the heat, jet fuel&nbsp;prices have been raised by 6.7% this month.&nbsp;
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind extended their best wishes to the nation, as India celebrates a low-key Eid-ul-fitr&

Prime Minister Narendra&nbsp;Modi and President Ram Nath&nbsp;Kovind&nbsp;extended their best wishes to the nation, as India celebrates&nbsp;a low-key&nbsp;Eid-ul-fitr&nbsp;amid the pandemic. 'Powered by our collective efforts we may overcome the global pandemic and work towards furthering human welfare', PM Modi tweeted. President Kovind&nbsp;too wished the citizens and urged everyone to follow all the Covid-19 protocols.&nbsp;
Celebration on the occasion of Eid&nbsp;are mellow,&nbsp;as the country struggles to cope with the deadly 2nd wave of Covid-19. Strict guidelines have been implemented to curb the spread of the virus. For the 2nd consecutive year, no congregational prayers and get together will happen due to the pandemic.&nbsp; Clerics of different states have urged people to celebrate the festival at home and connect with people virtually through social media.&nbsp;

The Covid emergency in India remains grim as the country continues to register over 3 lakh Covid-19 cases every day. India has registered 343,144 new coronavirus cases

The Covid emergency in India remains grim as the country continues to register over 3 lakh Covid-19 cases every day. India has registered 343,144 new coronavirus cases and 4,000 deaths in the past 24 hours, Union Health Ministry data showed on Friday. India has logged 4,000 deaths for a third day in a row. The Union health ministry has said that Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are among the states that account for 82.5% of the total active cases in the country. The active coronavirus cases currently stand at 3,704,893, accounting for 15.65% of the total confirmed cases while the recovery rate stands at 83.2%.

White House chief medical adviser Dr Anthony Fauci told ANI in an exclusive interview on Thursday that dramatically ramping up COVID-19 vaccination drive is key to endi

White House chief medical adviser Dr Anthony Fauci told ANI in an exclusive interview on Thursday that dramatically ramping up Covid-19 vaccination drive is key to ending the crisis.
India should work out arrangements with countries &amp; companies while ramping up the capability of making vaccines, he said.
He further called the government&rsquo;s decision to extend the gap between two doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks a &lsquo;reasonable approach&rsquo;, adding that this "extended interval" is beneficial even from the efficacy standpoint.
When asked about the efficacy of the Sputnik V Vaccine set to be rolled out next week, he said &lsquo;it seems to be quite efficacious, at a high level of close to 90 per cent or so&rsquo;.
Dr Fauci also suggested that India should step up the role of the armed forces in combating COVID-19.

15 Covid-19 patients died as tragedy struck the Goa Medical College (GMC) yet again on Thursday. A day after the High Court directed the Goa government to ensure there

15 Covid-19 patients died as tragedy struck the Goa Medical College (GMC) yet again on Thursday. A day after the High Court directed the Goa government to ensure there were no more deaths due to oxygen issues, the state&rsquo;s largest Covid facility reported 15 more deaths between due to a drop in oxygen supply.
Relatives and resident doctors at GMCH made frantic calls through the night as the oxygen pressure started falling in the Covid wards around 1 am. Doctors said oxygen pressure could be restored only in 20 minutes, during which 15 lives were lost.
Earlier on Tuesday as many as 26 patients had died at the premier state-run hospital and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had said that the deaths might have been due to oxygen issues.

Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Thursday asked if government representatives should "hang themselves" for not being able to provide Covid-19 vaccines to the people

Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Thursday asked if government representatives should "hang themselves" for not being able to provide Covid-19 vaccines to the people. He said the court has said with good intention said that everyone should be vaccinated but asked should they hang themselves if they cannot provide vaccine doses as directed by the judiciary.
Replying to queries on the shortage of vaccine, the Union Minister stressed on the plan of action of the government and said its decisions are not guided by any political gain or by any other reason. Gowda said the government has been doing its job sincerely and honestly, but agreed that some shortcomings have surfaced.

The National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) on Thursday issued a notice to the Centre, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar government over the dead bodies found floating i

The National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) on Thursday issued a notice to the Centre, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar government over the dead bodies found floating in Ganga. The human rights body has demanded for an action-taken report in 4 weeks.&nbsp; &lsquo;The practice of disposal of dead bodies in our sacred river Ganga is clearly in violation of guidelines of the National Mission for Clean Ganga project&rsquo;, the NHRC noted. The commission observed that the public authorities seem to have failed to make concentric efforts in educating the masses and checking the immersion of half-burnt or unburnt dead bodies into the River Ganga.

As many states shut down vaccination for 18-44 age group due to vaccine shortage, Indian vaccine creator Bharat Biotech is willing to invite other companies w

As many states shut down vaccination for 18-44 age group due to vaccine shortage, Indian vaccine creator&nbsp;Bharat Biotech&nbsp;is willing to invite other companies which want to produce Covaxin in a bid to scale up the vaccine production. NITI Aayog member, Dr VK Paul stated that Covaxin&nbsp;creator was already in talks with companies to scale up production.&nbsp; "We give an open invitation to companies who want to do this. Companies that want to manufacture Covaxin, should do it together. The Centre will assist so that capacity is increased", he stated.&nbsp; Covaxin&nbsp;is looking to scale up production to 7.5 crore doses a month by August.&nbsp;

At least 18 wild elephants were found dead atop Bamuni Hills in Assam's Nagaon district. Preliminary investigation into the deaths by the forest department has revealed

At least 18 wild elephants were found dead atop Bamuni Hills in Assam's Nagaon district. Preliminary investigation into the deaths by the forest department has revealed that the wild elephants could have been killed in lighting strikes.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Amit Sahay told media the Chief Wildlife Warden and DFO (district forest officer) were &lsquo;dispatched to the area and they will conduct an investigation to ascertain what led to the deaths of the 18 wild elephants&rsquo;
Assam Environment and Forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya has said he is "deeply pained" by the incident. Suklabaidya said he would be visiting the spot to take stock of the situation.

Fear among locals in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh after over 100 bodies were found floating in the Ganga over the last few days. The bodies are suspected to be of Covid-19

Fear among locals in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh after over 100 bodies were found floating in the Ganga over the last few days.
The bodies are suspected to be of Covid-19 patients and have sparked concerns about transmission of the virus through the river water.
Such incidents have been reported from Patna and Buxar in Bihar, Ghazipur, Hamirpur and Ballia in Uttar Pradesh.
The locals say while disposing of dead bodies in the river water is not a new practice, the sheer number of bodies and the scare of a pandemic has them worried.
A number of experts have however said that transmission of the virus through water is not a matter of concern.
Satish Tare, a professor at IIT-Kanpur who is part of Centre&rsquo;s National Mission for Clean Ganga has said that dumping of dead bodies in the Ganga or any river is a serious matter but however stressed that it won&rsquo;t have significant impact on transmission. Such practices lead to water pollution and rivers are a direct source of drinking water for a lot of locals.
Experts say the virus gets diluted it the water.
Dr Sylvie Briand who heads the World Health Organistation&rsquo;s Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness department too has specified that water cannot transmit COVID-19. The global health body has said that if someone goes swimming they won&rsquo;t contract the virus from the water but from other people in the pool who are infected.
The Govt has meanwhile asked states to ensure strict vigilance and check future incidences of people dumping bodies in rivers but what is leading to such incidences in the first place is lack of space for people to lay their dead.
Investigations have also been ordered to find out where the bodies came up from with Bihar and UP govts playing the blame game but locals are not worried about where the bodies came from, they are worried about their lives. &nbsp;

West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was on Thursday shown black flags at Sitalkuchi, where four villagers died after firing by central forces during the assembly elec

West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was on Thursday shown black flags at Sitalkuchi, where four villagers died after firing by central forces during the assembly elections, while &ldquo;go back&rdquo; slogans were raised at Dinhata during his visit to Cooch Behar district to meet people allegedly affected in post poll violence.
Earlier in the day, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar who is on a controversial visit to assess post-poll violence in the district said he was shocked by incidents of attacks following the West Bengal assembly elections.
The run up to the visit was marked by a war of words between the Governor and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with the chief minister writing a letter on Wednesday claiming the visit violated established norms as it was being undertaken unilaterally without consultations with the state government.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Thursday acknowledged that the double mutant variant of coronavirus, known as the B.1.617 or the Indian variant, was behind th

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Thursday acknowledged that the double mutant variant of coronavirus, known as the B.1.617 or the Indian variant, was behind the surge in Covid-19 cases witnessed in the country over the past one and a half months.
Briefing the press after chairing a meeting via video conferencing with health ministers of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Delhi on the prevailing Covid-19 situation there, Vardhan said data from genome sequencing suggests the spread of the B.1.617 strain of coronavirus was responsible for the unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases.

India will have enough doses to inoculate all citizens by December, the head of the national task force on Covid-19 vaccines said on Thursday, giving hope of a final vi

India will have enough doses to inoculate all citizens by December, the head of the national task force on Covid-19 vaccines said on Thursday, giving hope of a final victory against a&nbsp;deadly virus to millions.
Between August and December, Niti Aayog member Dr Vinod Kumar Paul said, 216 crore vaccine doses would become available, which means that there would be surplus doses after every Indian is vaccinated.
Paul mentioned eight vaccines &mdash; a significant increase from the two currently in use &mdash; and the number of doses for each that are likely to be available in the country of 130 crore people in the five-month period ending December.

On today's episode of Ask The Doctor, Dr. J.A Jayalal, National President, Indian Medical Association says the govt should imposed a complete planned lockdown to break

On today's episode of Ask The Doctor, Dr. J.A Jayalal, National President, Indian Medical Association says the govt should imposed a complete planned lockdown to break the chain of the second wave, and ramp up vaccination; along with that govts have to plan well in advance ways to augment manpower at hospitals.

On today's episode of Ask The Doctor, Dr. Rakesh K Mishra, Advisor, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) against Covid, explains why plasma therapy for

On today's episode of Ask The Doctor,&nbsp;Dr. Rakesh K Mishra, Advisor, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) against Covid, explains why plasma therapy for Covid&nbsp;patients is a desperate measure. He adds, plasma therapy has been around for years but it is never considered a standard treatment, patients who are administered plasma are at risk from&nbsp;other elements that might be present in the blood of the donor.

Russia's Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V, will be available in India from early next week, the Union Health Ministry announced on Thursday. Niti Aayog’s Dr VK Paul, wh

Russia's Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V, will be available in India from early next week, the Union Health Ministry announced on Thursday. Niti Aayog&rsquo;s Dr VK Paul, who is also part of the govt's Covid-19 task force&nbsp;said, the first batch has arrived and more will be arriving from Russia.&nbsp;He added that Sputnik V will be produced in India from July onwards, and India is looking to produce 15.6 crore doses of the Russian Covid vaccine with Hyderabad-based&nbsp;Dr Reddy's Laboratories as a partner.

Ask The Doctor: Govt policy changes on vaccines hurting the Covid fight?

On today's episode of Ask The Doctor, Dr. J.A Jayalal, National President, Indian Medical Association argues that the govt should have stuck to a universal vaccination strategy with a global tender for purchasing rather than leaving it to states to procure vaccines on their own, adding that allowing differential pricing of the vaccine, can lead to more delays.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday came down heavily on Centre saying that it has been playing ‘an irritating message on the phone whenever one makes a call regardi

The Delhi High Court on Thursday came down heavily on Centre saying that it has been playing &lsquo;an irritating message on the phone whenever one makes a call regarding vaccination&rsquo; even when it does not have the vaccines. &lsquo;Who will take the jab when there are no vaccines available?&rsquo; the court asked. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked the Centre to allow more companies to manufacture Covid-19 vaccine. Most states like Maharashtra and Karnataka have suspended vaccination for the 18-44 age group due to acute vaccine shortage.&nbsp;

GST council reduces tax on electric cars to 5%

National

Sputnik V is here, first vaccines administered in Hyderabad

Fuel on fire, Petrol and Diesel prices hiked for 8th time this month

President, PM extend wishes as India celebrates Eid amid pandemic

India reports 4,000 deaths for 3rd day in a row, registers 3.43 lakh fresh cases

Extending gap between 2 Covishield doses reasonable approach: Covid expert Fauci

Tragedy strikes again: 15 more deaths in Goa hospital as oxygen dips

Should we hang ourselves if vaccines not produced yet, Union Minister asks

NHRC notice to Centre, Bihar & UP govts over bodies floating in Ganga

Boost to vaccine production, Other firms may produce Covaxin

18 wild elephants killed in lightning strike in Assam

Covid fear as bodies wash up on river banks: can the disease spread through water?

Bengal Governor shown black flags during visit to Sitalkuchi

B.1.617 Covid-19 variant responsible for 2nd Covid wave: govt

India will produce 216 crore doses of vaccines by December end: Dr V K Paul

Ask The Doctor l IMA chief to govt: impose lockdown, get more vaccines and medical staff

Ask The Doctor l Is plasma therapy essential in fighting Covid? Dr Rakesh Mishra explains

Ask The Doctor | Gap between Covishield doses extended, but where is the data?

Russia's Sputnik V vaccine to be available in market by next week: Govt

Ask The Doctor l Govt policy changes on vaccines hurting the Covid fight?

'Who will get vaccine if not available?': HC raps Centre for ‘irritating’ phone message

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