DAC approves Rs 43,000 crore for construction of 6 submarines

Chemical and Fertilizers Minister D V Sadananda Gowda has said that an additional 1.21 lakh vials of Amphotericin-B have been allocated to all the States, UTs and Central Institutions on Friday. He said, additional 9750 vials of Amphotericin-B have been allocated to Karnataka. Inclusive of Fridayps allocation, a total 22,460 vials of the drug have been allocated to the state till now.

-The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the Navy's proposal for construction of six submarines at an approximate cost of Rs 43,000 crore.  Defence minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting. This is a landmark approval, being the first case processed under the Strategic Partnership model.This would be one of the largest Make in India projects  and it will create a tiered industrial ecosystem for submarine construction in the country. With this approval, India will be enabled to achieve its 30 year Submarine construction programme envisioned by the Government to acquire national competence in submarine construction. The availability of new technologies and advanced manufacturing capabilities to Indian Industry will be an important step towards enhancing the nation’s quest for self reliance in modern conventional submarine construction. It will also create direct and indirect job opportunities in the country. This project provides a unique long-term opportunity and planning certainty for Indian industry to invest and support submarine construction. It will also infuse the latest technology for submarines in India through strategic tie up between Indian Industry and leading foreign original equipment manufacturers.

-India on Friday extended its visa validity till 31st August due to the difficulties being faced by foreign nationals who came to the country prior to March last year and got stranded due to the COVID-19 lockdown.Home Ministry in a statement said, Indian visa or stay stipulation period of such foreign nationals stranded in India will be considered as deemed to be valid till 31st August 2021 on gratis basis without levy of any overstay penalty. These foreign nationals will not be required to submit any application to the FRRO or FRO concerned for extension of their visas.It said, due to non-availability of normal commercial flight operations on account of the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020, a number of foreign nationals who came to India prior to March 2020 on valid Indian visas had got stranded in India. Keeping in view the difficulties being faced by such foreign nationals in getting their visas extended in India due to the lockdown, Home Ministry had issued an order on 29th June last year conveying that the Indian Visa or stay stipulation period of such foreign nationals expiring post 30th June 2020 shall be deemed to be valid until 30 more days from the date of resumption of normal international flight operations, on gratis basis. However, such foreign nationals have been applying for extension of their visas or stay stipulation period on a monthly basis. The Ministry said, such foreign nationals may apply for an exit permission to the FRRO or FRO concerned before exiting the country, which would be granted on gratis basis without levy of any overstay penalty.

-Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma directed the Health department not to allow home quarantine to COVID patients of any age group with co morbidity. He held a review meeting in Guwahati with Health department officials. In the meeting, the Chief Minister also discussed the issue of fixing the rate of private hospitals for COVID treatment and patient friendly reasonable prices were fixed for COVID treatment in both general wards and super-specialty wards in private hospitals. The Chief Minister also reviewed the status of Paediatric ICUs, which are being set up at various government hospitals along with functioning of 13 oxygen plants in the state apart from the status of installation of 6 oxygen plants provided by the Central Government to the state. 

-Russian player Yana Sizikova has been arrested at the French Open and placed in custody over match-fixing allegations.Shamil Tarpischev, President of the Russian Tennis Federation, said that he has been informed of Sizikova’s detention. He added that they have not received any documents regarding the case and so it’s difficult to make an assessment of what has happened. The Russian embassy in Paris has also been informed of the situation. Last September, French prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged match fixing in a women’s doubles match at the French Open. The investigation into fraud in an organised group and active and passive corruption was related to a doubles match between Romanian pair Andreea Mitu and Patricia Mari and Sizikova and American Madison Brengle.