Sugar production estimated to be at 310 lakh MT

Directorate General of civil aviation, DGCA has said that pilots and cabin crew members will not fly aircraft for 48 hours after receiving COVID vaccination. DGCA has released a set of guidelines for the aircrew flying after receiving a jab. As per the guidelines, they will be monitored for 30 minutes at the vaccination centre for any anaphylactic or idiosyncratic reaction.In case the aircrew experiences any symptoms after 48 hours of the vaccination, a physician or company doctor will review their condition. DGCA said, such pilots can be declared fit for flying duties, provided they are asymptomatic without any medications and a medical cure certificate to this effect to be obtained. The DGCA said if the medical unfitness period post-COVID-19 exhibition is more than 14 days, then a special medication examination will be required to ascertain fitness for flying.

-The sugar production in the country during the current sugar season 2020-21 is estimated to be at 310 lakh Metric Tonnes as against the estimated domestic consumption of 260 Lakh Metric tonnes. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Raosaheb Danve said that till February this year, 222 Lakh Metric Tonnes of sugar has been produced by the domestic sugar mills. He said, in order to evacuate the surplus stock of sugar, the Government has allocated a mill-wise export quota of 60 Lakh Metric Tonnes for export during the current sugar season. Besides, the Government is encouraging sugar mills to produce ethanol from sugarcane juice, sugar, sugar syrup and B-Hy molasses to divert excess sugar.

-In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, one terrorist was killed in an encounter that broke out between terrorists and security forces at village Tujjar in Sopore area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district on Tuesday. The identity of the terrorist is being ascertained. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition has been recovered from the encounter site.The joint search operation of security forces was underway till the last reports came in. Further details are awaited.

-Opposition leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has demanded an inquiry into the suicide of Dadra Nagar Haveli MP Mohan Delkar. He has shown a suicide note written by Delkar.Minister of State for Home Affairs Anil Deshmukh said that in the suicide note, Dandar Nagar Haveli Administrator Praful Kheda Patel's name was mentioned. Deshmukh further said that he had been under stress for the last few days because of ill treatment given by Prafulla Kheda. Delkar said that, he had full faith in the state government and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and that he would get justice. Deshmukh announced that they are now investigating through SIT as the wife and son of Mohan Delkar have also told them the same.

-In Tamilnadu, political alliances have almost been finalised by the ruling AIADMK and the DMK. The alliance between the DMDK and AIADMK party ended abruptly after the district level secretaries met. DMDK is again meeting today to decide on the next course of action. Presently AIADMK alliance has BJP which has been allotted 20 seats, PMK has been given 23 seats. The party is in talks with smaller allies and finalising the seat sharing.DMK has decided to contest in 174 seats. Its main ally Congress has been given a maximum of 25 seats, Left parties, MDMK, VCK have been allotted six seats each. IUML and Kongunadu Desiya Makkal Katchi have been allotted three each. MNM party has been allocated two seats. With nominations to begin this Friday, selection of candidates and finalising Constituencies are crucial for the parties.TTV Dinakaran's AMMK and actor politician Kamal Haasan's MNM party still welcome other parties to join with them to contest the election. It is to be noted that the National parties BJP and the Congress will have a direct encounter at Kanyakumari Lok Sabha by election. Former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan is the candidate for BJP. The contestant for the Congress is yet to be announced.

-India's premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was named the ICC men's Player for the Month of February for his stellar show against England in a four-match Test series at home which India won to qualify for the World Test Championship final.England's Tammy Beaumont was adjudged the women's Player of the Month. Ashwin who played in three tests in the four match series scored a 106 in the second innings of India's second Test victory over England at Chennai and took his 400th Test wicket in the third Test victory at Ahmedabad.Besides the century, Ashwin scalped 24 wickets against England last month to help India pocket the four-match Test series 3-1 and help his team secure its spot in the WTC final against New Zealand at Lord's in June.Ash win who scored a total of 176 runs across these games and took 24 wickets, was the unanimous choice to win in the men's category for February and garnered the most votes in the fan vote, the ICC said in a statement.