Morning digest: Centre asks States to keep watch on COVID-19 situation; MHA applies for another extension to frame CAA rules, and more

A select list of stories to read before you start your day

Health workers applaud a COVID-19 positive woman who delivered a baby, as she is being shifted from the Civil hospital to her home for the isolation, in Ahmedabad, Monday, January 10, 2022.

Keep daily watch on COVID-19 situation, Centre tells States

The Centre on Monday directed the States and the Union Territories to keep a daily watch on the number of active COVID-19 cases , those under home isolation, hospitalised cases, occupied oxygen and ICU beds and those on ventilatory support, saying the the “situation is dynamic and may change rapidly”.

MHA applies for another extension to frame CAA rules

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought another extension from parliamentary committees in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha to frame the rules of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, a senior government official said on Monday.

Surge in COVID-19 cases | Amid Omicron surge, protocols for Budget session under review

With a spate of COVID cases both within and outside Parliament, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla have directed officials to frame a protocol for the Budget session, which is less than three-weeks away.

'Worried' about PM Modi’s security, I called up Channi: Priyanka Gandhi

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday claimed that she had called Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi after being “worried” about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s safety and the Chief Minister had not briefed her.

Amarinder’s party Punjab Lok Congress gets hockey and ball symbol

Former Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh’s recently formed political party, the Punjab Lok Congress, on Monday got the “hockey and ball” symbol for the February 14 Assembly elections.

Two lakh more got jobs in 9 sectors in July-Sept. last year

Nine sectors that account for about 85% of total employment in establishments with 10 or more workers hired two lakh more people in July-September 2021 compared to April-June 2021, according to the second round of the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) released by the Union Labour and Employment Ministry on Monday.

U.P. Assembly election 2022 | Congress stalwart Imran Masood switches to SP

In a major setback to the Congress, Imran Masood, the party’s prominent Muslim face in western Uttar Pradesh, has switched camps and joined the Samajwadi Party (SP).

ISYF behind Pathankot Army camp attack: Punjab police

Punjab Police on Monday claimed that they have solved the hand grenade attacks, including the one at Pathankot Army camp, by busting a terror module backed by International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) group with the arrest of its six operatives.

Why no affidavit on ration supply for sex workers, Supreme Court asks States

The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up States such as West Bengal and poll-bound Uttar Pradesh for not filing affidavits on whether they are giving dry ration to sex workers, especially in the light of the third wave of the pandemic.

Centre yet to keep promises to farmers on MSP panel, withdrawal of FIRs

Farm union leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha are due to meet again at the end of this week for the first time since calling off their mass agitation on Delhi’s borders last month.

Hundreds of Nagas walk 75 km for AFSPA repeal

Hundreds of Nagas took part in a two-day walkathon from Nagaland’s commercial hub Dimapur to Kohima demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and justice for the 14 civilians killed by the security forces in the Mon district in December 2021.