CONG-LED OPPOSITION TO SKIP CONSTITUTION DAY EVENT IN PARLIAMENT ON FRIDAY

The Congress-led opposition will skip the Constitution Day celebrations in the Central Hall of Parliament today. Top Congress sources said the event was mere “tokenism anyway”.

President Ram Nath Kovind will lead the celebrations of Constitution Day in central hall of parliament today with PM Narendra Modi to also attend.

MPs of Congress, TMC, SP, NCP, DMK, AAP, Shiv Sena, CPI, CPM, RSP, IUML, RJD, JMM are expected to skip the event.

MORE NUMBERS FROM NFHS SURVEY: NOW THERE ARE WOMEN THAN MEN IN INDIA

Indicating a demographic shift, the number of women surpassed men for the first time in India with the sex ratio being 1,020: 1,000, according to findings of the National Family and Health Survey-5. “With this, we can say India moves in the league of the developed countries -- as the sex ratio crosses 1,000,” a health ministry official said, attributing it to measures taken for women empowerment such as financial inclusion and for combating gender bias and disparities.

The sex ratio at birth also improved from 919 in 2015-16 to 929 in 2019-20, indicating positive impact of measures like implementation of the PC and PNDT Act and various other interventions.

According to NFHS-3, conducted in 2005-06, the sex ratio was 1000: 1000 and in 2015-16 (NHFS-4), it declined to 991:1000.

According to NFHS-5, 88.6 per cent of the births (in the 5 years before the survey) in the country were delivered in a health facility. A significant rise since NFHS-4 (78.9 per cent) is a proof that India is marching towards achieving universal institutional births, officials said.

Nearly four-fifth (78 per cent) mothers received postnatal care from health personnel (doctor/nurse/LHV/ ANM/midwife/other health personnel) within two days of delivery in the country, a significant rise from 62.4 percent in NFHS-4.

The survey showed that the national C-section rate is 21.5 per cent, higher than what the World Health Organization terms “ideal”, 10-15 per cent. The number has also gone up since NFHS 4 when the percentage stood at 17.2. Far more worrying, however, is the growing disparity in the number of C-section births at government and private sector facilities. At the national level, 47.4 per cent babies born in the private sector are being delivered by surgical methods, as compared to just 14.3 per cent in the government sector.

MODI LAYS FOUNDATION STONE OF NOIDA AIRPORT, TO BE ASIA'S LARGEST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday laid the foundation stone of Noida International Airport (NIA) at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh and highlighted the development activities in the poll-bound state. He said the airport, slated to be completed by 2024, would become the logistics gateway for North India. He asserted that infrastructure was “not politics for us but part of national policy”.

The much-awaited project, pegged to be Asia’s largest, was flagged off weeks before the announcement of the UP Assembly elections. The ambitious project has been showcased as one of the major infrastructure projects of the country, which will help create over 1 lakh jobs. The project will be executed by Zurich Airport International AG.

PM Modi said, “For the first time after Independence, the double-engine government is giving Uttar Pradesh its due. Earlier, UP would be criticised for bad roads, poor infrastructure, mafia, etc. The previous governments kept UP poor. Today, the state is making its mark on the global stage.”

The PM said that BJP government ensured timely execution of projects. “Earlier projects would be announced, but nothing would happen on the ground. Costs would escalate and blame games used to be the order of the day. Our government ensured that projects are finished on time,” he said.

JAISHANKAR SLAMS BRI, SAYS CONNECTIVITY WITH BE PARTICIPATORY

Any serious connectivity initiative must be consultative, transparent and participatory, the government asserted at an SCO meet on Thursday, in a veiled reference to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Without naming China or Pakistan, who were represented by Premier Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, respectively, at the meeting, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said such initiatives must also conform to the most basic principle of international law — respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Jaishankar was addressing virtually the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Kazakhstan. “India believes that greater connectivity is an economic force-multiplier which has acquired greater salience in the post-Covid era. However, any serious connectivity initiative must be consultative, transparent and participatory,” said Jaishankar, even as he reaffirmed India’s commitment to cooperate, plan, invest and build physical and digital connectivity in the SCO region.

In an apparent reference to Pakistan's efforts to raise the Kashmir issue at SCO, the minister said it was unfortunate to note that there had been repeated attempts to deliberately bring bilateral issues into SCO. “This violates the well-established principles and norms of SCO Charter. Such acts are counterproductive to the spirit of consensus and cooperation that define this organisation and should be condemned,” he said.

NEW SOUTH AFRICA COVID-19 VARIANT TRIGGERS ALERT IN INDIA

Hours after the World Health Organisation met on Thursday to review a new coronavirus variant circulating in South Africa and Botswana, the health ministry alerted all states to conduct rigorous screening of all incoming passengers from the affected countries.

In a letter to all states chief secretaries and principal secretaries, health, the health ministry said India’s National Centre for Disease Control had reported that multiple cases of Covid-19 variant B.1.1529 have been reported in Botswana (3 cases), South Africa (6 cases) and Honk Kong (1 case).

“This variant is reported to have a significantly high number of mutations, and thus, has serious public health implications for the country, in view of recently relaxed visa restrictions and opening up of international travel. lt is therefore imperative that all international travellers from and transiting through these countries, (they are part of the “at risk” category of international travellers coming to India) and including all other at risk countries indicated in the revised guidelines for international arrivals are subjected to rigorous screening and testing,” union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote to states.

He said the contacts of these international travellers must also be closely tracked and tested as per ministry guidelines.

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST 25/Nov

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Thursday 10,549

Active Cases as of Friday Morning 1,10,133 (+193)

Deaths as of Friday Morning 4,67,468 (+488 ) (This figure of 488 deaths includes 384 from Kerala of which 328 were old deaths, as the data is being reconciled)

Total Vaccination as of Wednesday Morning: 120.27 Crores (+83,88,824)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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AFTER ANOTHER TRAGEDY, UK & FRANCE IN BID TO LIMIT CHANNEL CROSSINGS

On Wednesday, at least 27 people died trying to cross the English Channel when their flimsy inflatable boat capsized during the perilous voyage.

Yesterday, the leaders of France and England vowed to crack down on migrant crossings even as they offered a fractious response to one of the deadliest disasters in recent years involving migrants trying to cross the narrow waterway separating the two countries. French officials confirmed that children and a pregnant woman were among those who had drowned, as crews worked in the cold and wind to recover bodies and to try to identify those who died. Two people, one from Iraq and one from Somalia, were found alive and taken to a French hospital, where they were being treated for severe hypothermia.

The tragedy was a stark reminder that five years after authorities dismantled a sprawling migrant camp in Calais, both countries are still struggling to handle the flow of migrants in the area. France and Britain have long accused each other of not doing enough to curb attempts to cross the Channel. After the tragedy on Wednesday, PM Boris Johnson of Britain said greater efforts should be made to allow joint patrols along the French coast. And President Emmanuel Macron of France said he expected the British “to cooperate fully and to abstain from using this dramatic situation for political means.”

Attempts to reach Britain in small boats have increased in recent years as the authorities have cracked down on the smuggling of asylum seekers inside trucks crossing by ferry or through the Channel Tunnel.

THE REST

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NAVY COMMISSIONS SUBMARINE INS VELA

Adding teeth to India's naval prowess, the Navy on Thursday commissioned submarine INS Vela here, with the Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh calling it a 'potent platform' with an ability to undertake the entire spectrum of submarine operations.

This is the fourth of the six submarines the Indian Navy is inducting under the Kalvari class submarine Project 75.

This is also the second major induction in the Indian Navy in less than a week.

On November 21, the navy commissioned warship INS Visakhapatnam.

Speaking at the event of commissioning the submarine, the Navy chief said Project 75 will transform Indian Navy's war-fighting in the underwater domain in the years to come.

WE WANT OPPOSITION UNITY, SAYS CONGRESS DAY AFTER MEGHALAYA COUP

The Congress appeared remarkably unperturbed a day after it lost 12 of 17 MLAs in Meghalaya to the Trinamool Congress, ceding the position of the state's main opposition, as it capped a strategy meeting in Delhi on Thursday with a pledge to uphold unity among opponents of the ruling BJP.

"Under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, we discussed the coming parliament session. We have to raise a lot of issues in parliament. On 29th, we will raise the MSP (Minimum Support Price) and farmers' issue," senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said in a media briefing.

"We will raise inflation, petrol and diesel prices and Chinese incursions. We want a discussion on all these issues. We will coordinate with all other parties - Trinamool, and others to have a coordinated approach. We want opposition unity," he said.

The assertion came on a day when the Trinamool took in former Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and 11 other Congress MLAs in a huge coup for West Bengal's ruling party in the northeast.

The development, which makes the Trinamool Congress the principal opposition party in the state, came a day after Congress leaders Kirti Azad and Ashok Tanwar as well as Pawan Varma, formerly of Janata Dal (United), joined the Trinamool Congress in Delhi in the presence of party chief Mamata Banerjee currently visiting the national capital.

YOGI'S LATEST JIBE AT SP: 'JINNAH FOLLOWERS'

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said the country has to decide if the sweetness of sugarcane will grow or the followers of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah will cause mischief in the state, in a veiled attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP).

Adityanath trained his guns at the opposition as he joined the foundation-laying ceremony for the Noida International Airport in the Jewar area of Gautam Buddh Nagar in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said the state is moving on the path of development and highlighted various efforts of the government. The BJP leader also thanked the over 7,000 farmers who gave consent for the acquisition of their land for the airport without any controversy.

"Some people had tried to add bitterness in the sugarcane region (western parts) of Uttar Pradesh with a series of riots. Now the country has to decide if the sweetness of sugarcane will grow or Jinnah's followers will cause mischief," Adityanath said as he addressed the gathering of thousands.

SP leader and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had last month equated Jinnah with Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru, saying they all helped India achieve independence.

RAKESH TIKAIT SAYS ‘UNRULY BULL FROM HYDERABAD’ HELPS BJP WIN POLLS

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday alleged that an “unruly bull from Hyderabad” helps the BJP win elections. However, he did not name anyone.

Addressing a ‘Maha Dharna’ organised by All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC)-Telangana unit here, marking one year of the countrywide agitation by the famers against the three contentious agri laws, Tikait asked people to tie up the ‘bull’ and not allow him to step outside Hyderabad and Telangana.

“(Woh aapka ek belagam saand) One unruly bull from here which helps BJP... tie him up here itself. Don’t allow him to go outside Hyderabad and Telangana. He helps BJP (win polls)... He talks one thing and his intentions are different. Both are A and B team and the entire country is aware,” the BKU national spokesperson said.

Tikait was specifically asked who he was referring to as the bull, but he did not give a direct reply and said “You search... who is it. Wherever it goes it helps BJP win.”

IPS OFFICER PARAM BIR SINGH LANDS IN MUMBAI

Former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, declared a proclaimed offender by a Mumbai court, arrived in Mumbai on Thursday to join the investigation as directed by the court, an official said.

The IPS officer, who is facing several extortion cases in Maharashtra, had told news channels on Wednesday that he was in Chandigarh.

Singh has not reported to work since May this year, after his transfer from the post of Mumbai police commissioner and his subsequent allegations of corruption against then Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh.

The Supreme Court has granted Singh protection from arrest.

WHY NO TO COVID BOOSTER SHOT, DELHI HIGH COURT ASKS CENTRE

The Delhi High Court on Thursday said the decision on administering booster doses of the Covid-19 vaccine should not be based on economics, and directed the Centre to apprise the court of its stand on this issue.

The court asked why shots to boost waning immune response were not being made available in India when other countries such as the United States and those in Europe were permitting and encouraging such inoculation. It asked the Centre to submit a timeline of the proposed rollout of booster doses, if a booster was considered necessary.

The division bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh took note of conflicting media reports and medical opinions on the need and effectiveness of boosters. It noted that experts in India were of the view that there is as yet no medical evidence to support the administering of these shots.

“The decision should not be based on economics because no doubt it is an expensive proposition and the government is doing it free for most and not many people are having to pay for it. Maybe that is the consideration that the government does not want to give this at this stage, but then we don’t want to land in a situation that we are overly conservative on this, and we land up in a situation like we were in the second wave. We will actually lose the advantage of this vaccination,” the bench said while hearing a matter in which it has been monitoring Delhi’s Covid-19 situation.

NEET-PG ADMISSIONS: COUNSELLING PUT OFF FOR 4 WEEKS

The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it has taken a considered decision to revisit the limit of Rs 8 lakh annual income fixed for determining the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category for reservation in NEET admissions for Post-Graduate medical courses.

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant, and Vikram Nath was informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that a committee will be constituted to determine the criteria for EWS and it would take four weeks. Mehta said that NEET (PG) counselling would stand postponed for a further four weeks as per assurance earlier given to the court.

The top court was hearing a batch of pleas filed by Students challenging the Centre and Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) July 29 notice providing 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) and 10 per cent for EWS category in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-PG) admissions for medical courses for the current academic year.

Justice Kant said that the EWS quota is a very enabling and progressive kind of reservation and all States should support the Centre in its endeavour. The bench said that the only question is that determination of the category should be in a scientific manner and it appreciates that the Centre has taken a decision to revisit the criteria earlier fixed.

KANPUR TEST, DAY 1: DEBUTANT IYER STANDS TALL

Debutant Shreyas Iyer was guts, aggression and flair rolled into one during an unbeaten knock of 75, which was nothing short of a baptism by fire, as India ended on 258 for four on the first day of the opening Test against New Zealand in Kanpur on Thursday.

On a pitch that had variable bounce and didn't offer enough pace off it, Iyer put his best foot forward while facing 136 balls, hitting seven boundaries and two sixes on his very first day in office in the longest format.

Coming in at 106 for 3 at the fall of Cheteshwar Pujara's (26) wicket, the debutant, in another half an hour, found his skipper Ajinkya Rahane's (33) promising knock come to a halt as Kyle Jamieson (15.2-6-47-3) and Tim Southee (16.4-3-43-1) rocked the middle-order in inspiring post-lunch spells.

But at 144 for 4, Iyer took charge with senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (50 batting, 100 balls) for company as they resurrected the innings, at the same time batting with a lot of intent to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Mayank Aggarwal (13) and Shubman Gill (52) had opened the Indian innings

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You can’t go around being what everyone expects you to be, living your life through other people’s rules and still be happy and have inner peace – Vivekananda.

OFF TRACK

If Saturday And Sunday Don't Excite You, then change your Friends.

If Monday doesn't Motivate you, then change your job.

But if Monday is too exciting, and you are dying to get to work then you should change your spouse!!!