(Contains Press releases concerning Covid-19, issued in last 24 hours, inputs from PIB Field Offices and Fact checks undertaken by PIB)

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70% of India’s Active Caseload from Maharashtra, Kerala, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh

The Active Caseload of India stands at 4,55,555 today. Present contribution of Active Caseload to India’s total positive cases is 4.89%.About 70% (69.59%) of the total Active Cases is contributed by eight States/UT i.e. Maharashtra, Kerala, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh. Maharashtra leads the tally with 87,014 total active COVID cases, as of today. Kerala has recorded 64,615 active cases, while Delhi follows with 38,734 total active cases.Maharashtra recorded the maximum positive change with addition of 1,526 cases whereas Chhattisgarh recorded maximum negative change with a decrease of 719 active cases.43,082 new confirmed COVID cases have been registered in the last 24 hours in the country.Of these, 76.93% is contributed by ten States/UTs.Maharashtra leads the tally with 6,406 new COVID cases. Delhi has reported 5,475 new cases, while Kerala registered another 5,378 new cases in the last 24 hours.Total recovered cases in India have crossed 87 lakhs (87,18,517).The national recovery rate stands at 93.65% today.39,379 recoveries have been registered in the last 24 hours in the country.78.15% of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 States/UTs.Kerala has reported the maximum number of single day recoveries with 5,970 newly discharged cases. 4,937 people recovered in Delhi followed by 4,815 in Maharashtra.83.80% of the total deaths are concentrated in 10 States/UT viz Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Maharashtra contributes maximum (34.49%) to the total deaths with 46,813 deaths till now.75.20% of the 492 case fatalities reported in the past 24 hours are concentrated in ten States/UTs.Delhi with 91 deaths reported the maximum new fatalities. Maharashtra saw a fatality count of 65 followed by West Bengal with 52 deaths.

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Compulsion Induced by Covid-19 can indeed help us further in Finding more Creative ways to fulfill and Augment the Access to Justice: President Kovind

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, virtually inaugurated the Constitution Day Celebrations, organised by the Supreme Court of India, to mark the 71^st anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, yesterday (November 26, 2020).

Speaking on the occasion, the President was happy to note that the Supreme Court has continued to function and dispense justice amid the pandemic, using technological solutions like video-conferencing and e-filing. He commended the Bar, the Bench and the officials for not letting the coronavirus come in the way of fulfilling the duty of securing justice for all. He said that the compulsion induced by Covid-19 can indeed help us further in finding more creative ways to fulfill that task and augment the access to justice.The President said that the Supreme Court of India has earned a reputation for its superior standards and lofty ideals. He observed that landmark judgments passed by the Supreme Court have strengthened the legal and constitutional framework of our country and it’s Bench and the Bar are known for their intellectual depth and legal scholarship.

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PM to visit Vaccine facilities in three cities tomorrow

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will embark on a 3 city visit to personally review the vaccine development and manufacturing process. He will visit the Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad and Serum Institute of India in Pune.As India enters a decisive phase of the fight against COVID-19, The Prime Minister’s visit to these facilities and discussions with the scientists will help him get a first-hand perspective of the preparations, challenges and roadmap in India’s endeavour to vaccinate its citizens.

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PM Inaugurates RE-Invest 2020

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 3rd Global Renewable Energy Investment Meeting and Expo (RE-Invest 2020) through video conferencing. The summit is organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The theme for RE-Invest 2020 is ‘Innovations for Sustainable Energy Transition’.The Prime Minister expressed happiness that in the renewable energy sector, within a short time the progress from megawatts to gigawatts in generation capacity and “One Sun, One World, One Grid” are becoming a reality, all of which were discussed in the earlier editions. He added in the last 6 years, India is travelling on an unparalleled journey.

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Text of PM's address at the 3rd RE-INVEST 2020

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Vice President calls for mass movement to promote digital literacy in the country

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today called for a mass movement to promote digital literacy and urged all technological and educational institutions to play a leading role in that endeavor.Virtually launching ‘Adi Shankara Digital Academy’ at Kaladi, the birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya, the Vice President said that information is the main commodity in the present-day knowledge society and whoever has quick access to information has the advantage. He called ‘digitalization’ as the medium of access to such information.Drawing attention towards the unprecedented disruptions caused by Covid-19 pandemic, Shri Naidu said that it has forced millions of students out of classrooms due to closure of schools and the world community is trying to address this challenge by adopting online education.Observing that the Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to learn how to keep the socio-economic process going in times of adversity, he said this experience has thrown up questions like how many are equipped to live the digital way. “Issues of availability of infrastructure, access to the required tools like computers and smart phones, speed and availability of internet came to the fore for which solutions need to be found out”, he added.

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Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman holds 5th review meeting on CAPEX of CPSEs to boost expenditure in economy

Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman today held Video Conference with Secretaries of the Ministries of Power, Mines and Department of Atomic Energy and the CMDs of 10 CPSEs belonging to these Ministries, to review the capital expenditure (CAPEX) in this financial year. This was 5^th in the ongoing series of meetings that the Finance Minister is having with various stakeholders to accelerate the economic growth in the background of COVID – 19 pandemic.The overall achievement as on 23^rd November, 2020 is Rs.24227 crore (39.4%) against the CAPEX target for 2020-21 i.e. Rs.61483 crore.While reviewing the performance of CPSEs, Smt. Sitharaman said that CAPEX by CPSEs is a critical driver of economic growth and need to be scaled up for the FYs 2020-21 & 2021-22. The Finance Minister appreciated the efforts of the Ministries and CPSEs for making visible efforts to meet out the CAPEX targets. However, Smt. Sitharaman said that more efforts are still required to achieve the target of 75% CAPEX by Q3 and more than 100% by Q4 of the FY 21. The Finance Minister encouraged the CPSEs to perform better to achieve targets and to ensure that the capital outlay provided to them for the year 2020-21 is spent properly and within time.

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Extension of Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme through ECLGS 2.0 for the 26 sectors identified by the Kamath Committee and the healthcare sector

The Government has extended Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme ( ECLGS) through ECLGS 2.0 for the 26 sectors identified by the Kamath Committee and the healthcare sector. Under ECLGS 2.0 entities with outstanding credit above Rs. 50 crore and not exceeding Rs. 500 crore as on 29.2.2020, which were less than or equal to 30 days past due as on 29.2.2020 are eligible. These entities/borrower accounts shall be eligible for additional funding up to 20 per cent (which could be fund based or non-fund based or both) of their total outstanding credit (fund based only) as a collateral free Guaranteed Emergency Credit Line (GECL), which would be fully guaranteed by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC).

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Special Multi-Media Exhibition on the Constitution Day at Kevadia draws appreciation of Parliamentarians and Legislators

Even as India celebrated the 71^st Constitution Day with enthusiasm with nation-wide reading of the Preamble led by the President Shri Ram Nath Kovind, a Special Exhibition on the Constitution Day at Kevadia in Gujarat, drew appreciation of Parliamentarians and Legislators. This Exhibition, organized by the Bureau of Outreach Communication of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in collaboration with the Parliamentary Museum and Archives, as part of the 80th All India Conference of Presiding Officers at the Statue of Unity site in Gujarat, was inaugurated by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla on Wednesday. The Exhibition traced the journey of democratic tradition in the country, right from Vedic Times, through the Lichchavi republic to the making of Modern India. The 1,600 sqftmulti media exhibition had 50 panels of still exhibits besides Plasma display, interactive Digital Flip Book, RFID Card Reader, Interactive screen, Digital Touch Wall etc. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal & Mines, Shri Pralhad Joshi and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal and Speakers of various State Assemblies were prominent among the dignitaries who visited the exhibition. Covid appropriate behaviour protocols were incorporated and special care taken to ensure sanitation, especially with respect to touch screen displays.

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India to play a lead role in rebuilding economy in Post-COVID era: Dr Jitendra Singh

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that India will play a lead role in rebuilding economy in the post COVID era. Addressing the Global R&D Summit-2020, organized by FICCI and Department of Science & Technology, he said that the way Scientific Community in India rose to the challenge of the pandemic is a testimony to this.Speaking on the topic of ‘Building Resilient Economy”, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that Government’s continuous focus on Innovation and Skilling will go a long way in the holistic development of the country.Expressing confidence that North East India will take a big leap in post COVID era both in the economic and tourism sector, Dr Jitendra Singh said when main tourist spots of the World still remain infested with Corona, the N-E region could emerge as tourist destination of the world by remaining Corona-free virtually. Similarly, he said that huge Bamboo resources in the NE and its multi-dimensional usage has a great potential to reshape the economy of the region.

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Dr. Jitendra Singh saysCOVID has underlined the importance of Integrated Healthcare System

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who is also a renowned Diabetologist, said that Corona Pandemic has underlined the importance of Integrated Healthcare System.Delivering the keynote address at the 48^th Annual Conference of Research Society for the Studyof Diabetes in India(RSSDI) yesterday, he said that COVID has prompted us to discover new norms in adversity and underlined the importance of Indian Traditional Medicine System.Dr. Jitendra Singh said that even during the pre-COVID era, it had been proven with evidence that in the treatment of non-communicable diseases, like for example, Diabetes-Mellitus, the dose of insulin or oral anti-diabetic drugs could be brought down with the adjuvant practice of certain Yoga Asana and lifestyle modifications available in Naturopathy.Dr. Jitendra Singh said that Diabetologists have additional responsibility during the pandemic to advise and guide the patients with co-morbidities. He said, during the COVID pandemic, several Allopathic Medical professionals who were hitherto sceptic about other systems of Medicine, started showing interest in immunity-building drugs and resistance boosters from Ayurveda and Yoga.

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INPUTS FROM PIB FIELD OFFICES

• Assam: In Assam during the last 24 hours 150 cases of COVID-19 detected from 20778 tests with the positivity rate of 0.72%.
• Maharashtra: In Maharashtra, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has sought reports of COVID tests from centres where testing was done in the city. Municipal commissionerhas issued the directives in the wake of reports of wrongly incorporating the names of people who have not undergone COVID tests. Irregularities in the compilation of COVID test reports have surfaced in Navi Mumbai where people who have not undertaken the tests have been marked negative. The names of the people have been enlisted in the category under the contact tracing of COVID positive patients.
• Gujarat: Gujarat has recorded 1560 new cases during the last 24 hours, which is the highest in a single day for the second consecutive day. Recovery rate remains at 90.93 percent. Gujarat has recorded a total 2,3,509 cases till now. At present, total active cases in the state are 14,529, out of which 92 patients are on ventilator. 16 patients died yesterday taking the total deaths due to COVID19 up to 3922. Meanwhile, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has added 32 new areas in the micro containment zone after detection of new cases.
• Rajasthan: Rajasthan reported 3,180 fresh cases on Thursday. The highest 630 cases have been reported in Jaipur while 517 cases have been reported in Jodhpur. Jaipur and Jodhpur cities have been worst affected due to the COVID infection. The number of active patients in Jaipur has reached close to 9 thousand. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today reviewed the situation through a video conference. He directed sampling and door-to-door screening in rural areas along with cities to contain the infection. The Chief Minister clarified that no permission is required for the wedding ceremony, only prior notice has been made necessary.
• Madhya Pradesh: In Madhya Pradesh, the clinical trial of the third phase of Covaxin started today. The clinical trial of Phase III of the Indian Council of Medical Research and Bharat Biotech International's Corona vaccine will be conducted in various hospitals in Bhopal. This vaccine will be administered to registered volunteers. The booster dose of vaccine will be administered after 28 days. The health of each volunteer involved in the trial will be continuously monitored. The vaccine will be administered to many people in Bhopal. According to the information, ICMR has sent 1 thousand doses of vaccine, which will be administered to the volunteers in the next 10 days.
• Chhattisgarh: Chhattisgarh Health Minister TS Singhdeo has said that COVID-19 situation in the state is under control. From October, the number of new cases has gradually declined. COVID cases in the state have decreased by 50 percent. About 23,000 COVID screening tests are being done daily in the state. Till date, more than 23,00,000 tests have been conducted. State government has decided to establish four new virology labs in the state.
• Goa: Goa's coronavirus caseload rose to 47,341, after 148 people tested positive for the infection on Thursday. With the death of two more patients during the day, the coastal state's toll has reached 685. At least 111 patients were discharged from various hospitals, raising the count of recoveries to 45,340. There are currently 1,316 patients undergoing treatment in the state; 1,892 samples were tested during the day.
• Kerala: Kerala government today informed the Supreme Court that all the Covid-19 deaths in the state are reported and listed. In a report filed, Kerala stated that even deaths suspected of Covid were subjected to detailed examination. The present recovery rate is at 87 percent and test positivity rate 9.6%; devotees will be allowed to enter the Nalambalam of the Guruvayur Sri Krishnaswamy temple from December 1 by complying Covid protocols; temple authorities has also allowed to conduct 100 weddings a day; maximum of 4000 devotees can have darshan per day through virtual queue facility.
• Tamil Nadu:  Covid-19 pandemic alters real estate preferences in Chennai, buyers now favour plots; though land investment is a time-honoured tradition in Chennai, the trend of apartments had drawn more buyer interest over the last decade; however, the Covid-19 pandemic has once again boosted demand for land as a long-term investment alternative. Active cases fall below 12,000 in Tamil Nadu; Tamil Nadu recorded 1464 positive cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, bringing the state tally to 7,76,174. Among these, Chennai reported 396 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 2,13,801.
• Karnataka: The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday directed the State government to reconsider its May 18, 2020 decision of asking all the employees of the government and its autonomous agencies to report to the respective offices for duty, keeping in mind the difficulties being faced by such employees, particularly the blind, to adhere to Covid-19 norms. Karnataka’s Covid-19 fatality rate is among the lowest in the country, but 11 districts in the state are a cause for worry; In the past five days, Dharwad district has seen the state’s highest Covid-19 fatality rate (CFR, percentage of Covid patients dying) — at 8%, followed by Dakshina Kannada district, at 4.8%. Against the national average CFR of 1.46% on Thursday, Karnataka reported 0.79%..
• Andhra Pradesh: Vijayawada District Collector A Md Imtiaz has directed the officials concerned to follow strict Covid guidelines for Bhavani Deeksha relinquishment at Indrakeeladri; allow only 10,000 devotees per day for darshan. Andhra Pradesh's Covid-19 tally increased by 1,031 to 8,65,705 on Thursday. The total recoveries touched 8,46,120 after 1,081 patients got cured.
• Telangana: PM Narendra Modi to review Covaxin progress in Hyderabad on November 28; according to sources, the Prime Minister will arrive at the Hakimpet Air Force Station around 4 pm and be driven to the Bharat BioTech facility at Shameerpet. Amid political slander, manifestos mum on action plan for Covid-19; promises galore by parties but healthcare experts say leaders are not stating their plans to control spread of virus.

FACT CHECK

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