WB likely to reopen schools after festive seasons

Two ships of the Indian Navy, namely INS Ranvijay and INS Kora who are on deployment to the Western Pacific carried out a Maritime Partnership Exercise with Frigate BRP Antonio Luna of the Philippine Navy on Monday in the West Philippine Sea.The joint evolutions conducted during the exercise included several operational manoeuvers and the participating ships of both navies were satisfied with the consolidation of interoperability achieved through this operational interaction at sea. The Indian naval ships are currently deployed to the Western Pacific with an aim to strengthen maritime security collaboration with partner nations.The interaction with BRP Antonio Luna was, therefore, an enriching opportunity for the Indian Navy to consolidate its bilateral relations with the Philippine Navy.In compliance with the prevailing pandemic guidelines, the exercise was conducted in contactless manner and all necessary health and safety protocols were strictly observed.After the exercise, the Indian naval ships are scheduled to call at Manila Port for replenishment.

-The last rites of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh were performed at Rajghat in Narora of Bulandshahr district with full state honours on Monday. Kalyan Singh's son Rajveer Singh lit the pyre. Several Union Ministers including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other leaders were present during the last rites ceremony. Home minister Amit Shah said on the occasion that Babuji's passing away is a big loss for BJP and the void he has left will be difficult to fill. The UP Government has announced that the road leading to Ram Janmbhoomi in Ayodhya will be named after Kalyan Singh. Besides Ayodhya, one road each in Lucknow, Prayagraj, Bulandshahr and Aligarh will be also named after him. Kalyan Singh was Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh twice and he had also served as governor of Rajasthan and Himachal pradesh. He was elected to Parliament twice from Bulandshahar and Etah constituencies.

-The West Bengal government has been considering the proposal to reopen schools after the upcoming festive seasons. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters, depending upon the situation of the third wave of COVID-19, the final decision will be taken. Ms Banerjee hinted at reopening of schools after thorough sanitization after the Puja vacations. She chaired a meeting of the newly formed West Bengal Tribes Advisory Council at the state secretariat in Kolkata 0n Monday. After the meeting, the Chief Minister said the state government is also planning to establish around 500 new schools for Santhali and 200 more for the Rajbanshi community.

-Union government has constituted a committee for doubling the production and quadrupling the exports of handlooms in a span of three years.It will be headed by Chairman of Fashion Design Council of India Sunil Sethi. The committee will submit the final report within 45 days from the day of constitution. It will suggest the strategy and policy framework for doubling the production and for improving the quality of handloom products with the aim of enhancing income of the weavers.It will also suggest ways for partnering and collaboration of handloom weavers agencies with the designers, buying houses and institutions, organizations and exporters.

-Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday inaugurate India's first ever smog tower in the national capital in Connaught Place area to improve air quality. Speaking on the occasion, Kejriwal said, the smog tower will be able to improve air quality in a radius of around one kilometre. He said, it will purify one thousand cubic metres of air per second. Kejriwal said, if the performance of the smog tower is found to be satisfactory, then it will replicate similar smog towers throughout Delhi. The smog-tower was built at the cost of 20 crore rupees.