Heavy rain, COVID-19, PM Modi, MPs flat, YSRCP, farm bill, CBSE, Delhi chalo, , India-Nepal, NGT

23 November 2020

• Heavy rain alert in coastal AP, Rayalaseema for next 5 days 

  At a time when paddy farmers have started harvesting their fields in Andhra Pradesh, the Met department on Monday forecast thunderstorms with lightning and heavy rainfall in parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema for the next five days, and advised them to immediately complete harvest works. "Crop harvest ready for harvesting may be harvested immediately in all the districts," said a Met official, even as the farmers have already suffered immensely in the recent heavy rains and floods. 

•   'Delhi Chalo' movement of farmers in Punjab gaining ground 

  Sarabjit Singh started helping his father in farming since he was 12 years old. Over the decades, he not only diversified the farming activity but also explored new markets to sell his produce. At times, Sarabjit and his postgraduate son would drive down to Delhi from his nondescript village in Punjab's Sangrur district, dubbed as the country's grain bowl, to sell vegetables and fruits that they grow along with wheat and paddy. But this time the 60-year-old farmer, who is just free from selling paddy and sowing the next wheat crop, is daily going from village to village to collect free ration. This is the part of the preparation they are making for laying an indefinite 'siege' of Delhi from November 26. 

• CBSE announces tentative Class 12 practical exam dates, sets SOPs for exams 

  The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Monday released the tentative dates for the Class 12th board practical exams 2020-21 amid the speculation of postponing or cancellation of the exams in the wake of ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Board will conduct practical exams for Class 12th from January 1 till February 8 as per tentative dates. CBSE has clarified that the exact dates for the exams would be notified later. Though, the final notification regarding the exam schedule for students of Class 10th and 12th has yet to be formally announced by the board. However, the CBSE has made it clear that there is no proposal to cancel or postpone the board examinations. 

• NGT dismisses plea for review of the order on cigarette butts 

  The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has refused to entertain a plea seeking a review of its earlier order whereby it directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to lay down guidelines for disposal of cigarette and bidi butts. A bench of the Green Tribunal headed by its chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel disposed of the review application filed by Federation of All India Farmers' Associations. 

• YSRCP claims safe water reduced diseases, villagers counter YSRCP claims safe water reduced diseases, villagers counter 

  The YSRCP on Monday claimed the state has witnessed a drastic decline in typhoid and diarrhoea cases after the drinking water supply has been improved. However, people in several parts of the state say that they continue to be deprived of the filtered drinking water. 

  Senior Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) leader and Rajya Sabha Member V. Vijaysai Reddy said typhoid and diarrhoea cases in Andhra Pradesh have reduced by more than 60 per cent in 2020 compared to 2019. 

•   Indian Foreign Secretary to visit Nepal on Nov 26 

  Resuming the high-level visit and exchanges with Nepal, India is sending its top diplomat to Kathmandu on November 26. Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will pay an official visit to the Himalayan country on November 26-27, Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday. The announcement was made in New Delhi too. The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two neighbours and the priority India attaches to its relations with Nepal, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in its statement. 

• PM Modi inaugurates flats for MPs

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday virtually inaugurated multi-storeyed flats for Members of Parliament (MPs) at Dr BD Marg in Delhi. A total of 76 flats have been developed from eight old bungalows, which were more than 80 years old, as was noted by a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Saturday. Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla was present at the virtual inauguration of the flats. PM Modi began his address by wishing Birla on his 58th birthday, which falls on the day, and congratulated the MPs on the inauguration of the facility. 

• COVID-19 Updates: Delhi govt. withdraws order to close 2 markets for flouting COVID norms  

  An order to shut two markets in west Delhi till the end of this month for violating various coronavirus safety guidelines was withdrawn, hours after being issued. The Delhi government on Sunday had ordered the closure of two markets in Punjabi Basti and Nangloi after it was found that the traders were not following the COVID-19 protocols laid down by the government. The two markets were ordered to be sealed till November 30. 

• Kerala Puts On Hold Law to Check 'Offensive' Content After Backlash 

  A controversial move in Kerala to enable arrests for content or social media posts deemed "offensive" by the state has been put on hold after a severe backlash. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said today that the amendment to the Kerala Police Act "will not be implemented" for now.