Breaking News, March 27

The Congress on Saturday appointed three All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretaries to assist party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Uttar Pradesh.

"Congress president has appointed Rajesh Tiwari, Tauqir Alam and Pradeep Narwal as AICC secretaries attached to the general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh with immediate effect," an official statement said.

Registration for the upcoming annual pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir is going to start from April 1, an official said.

The Gujarat government on Saturday announced that a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test report will be mandatory for those arriving from other states.

Metro services in Delhi will be available from 2.30 pm on Monday in view of Holi, the DMRC said on Saturday.

Maharashtra government extends COVID-19 related restrictions till April 15

Union Minister Smriti Irani performs traditional dance with BJP workers, as a part of election campaigning for Vanathi Srinivasan, the party's candidate from Coimbatore South constituency.

The condition of President Ram Nath Kovind is stable and he is being referred to the AIIMS for further investigation, the Army's Research and Referral hospital said on Saturday. The president was undergoing a health check-up in the military hospital following a chest discomfort on Friday morning.

"The condition of President Shri Ram Nath Kovind is stable. He is being referred to AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), Delhi for further investigation," the hospital said in a medical bulletin.

The president visited the hospital on Friday following a chest discomfort.

"President of India visited Army Hospital (R&R) following chest discomfort this morning. He is undergoing routine check-ups and is under observation," the hospital said on Friday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Kovind at the Army hospital on Friday. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the Matua community in Bangladesh's Orakandi. "I was waiting for this opportunity for many years. During my 2015 visit to Bangladesh, I expressed my wish to visit Orakandi, and today that wish has come true," said PM.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged voters on Saturday to cast their ballots against "divisive forces" to strengthen democracy as polling began for the first phase of the Assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam.

Over 500 shops gutted in a fire that broke out at Fashion Street market in Pune, Maharashtra last night. Around 16 fire tenders deployed to extinguish the fire.

A fire broke out at a godown and six shops in the Bahadurpura area, Hyderabad early morning today. No casualties reported, police investigation underway.

Fire broke out at a godown of electric wires in the Prabhadevi area of Mumbai. 15 fire tenders are present at the spot. The fire fighting operations underway.

India reported 62,258 new COVID-19 cases, 30,386 recoveries, and 291 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry.

• Total cases: 1,19,08,910
• Total recoveries: 1,12,95,023
• Active cases: 4,52,647
• Death toll: 1,61,240 
• Total vaccination: 5,81,09,773

Indian Army troops display para dropping before South Korea's Minister of National Defence Suh Wook, and Army Chief General MM Naravane. 

US President Joe Biden has invited 40 World leaders including India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to Leaders Summit on Climate to be held on April 22 and 23. 

4 persons arrested in Noida for duping MBBS aspirants and offering fake admission in medical college. "Aspirants were taken to a medical college regarding admission. The office boy of the college was also involved. Case registered. Probe on," said police.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kickstart the second day of his Bangladesh visit by offering prayers at Jeshoreshwari and Orkandi temples in southwestern Shatkhira and Gopalganj on Saturday.