Breaking news on March 17

High-speed internet will continue to remain suspended across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir till March 26, a government notification said on Tuesday.

Reliance Jio has opposed the suggestion of BSNL and MTNL to exempt telecom operators having less than 15 per cent market share from minimum rates for phone calls and data services.

In view of the coronavirus outbreak in the city, the commission which is conducting inquiry into the 2018 Koregaon-Bhima caste violence, has decided to hold its hearings in Mumbai.

A forest guard was on Tuesday attacked and killed by a rhinoceros inside the Kaziranga National Park, an official said. 

State Bank chairman Rajnish Kumar on Tuesday said the country's largest lender that owns close to 43 per cent in Yes Bank now will not sell a single share before that mandated three-year lock-in period, and that he's in fact keen to approach the board for hiking the holding to 49 per cent.

Nirbhaya gang rape and murder convict Akshay Kumar has filed a second mercy petition before President Ram Nath Kovind just three days before his scheduled hanging on March 20.

The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), in collaboration with DRDO, is developing a futuristic infantry combat vehicle (FICV) for the Army, which may see the light of day in three to five years.

ICICI Bank on Tuesday said it has acquired 7.97 per cent stake in Yes Bank through its Rs 1,000 crore capital infusion in the troubled private sector lender.

The 1987 batch IPS officer M V Rao on Tuesday took over as the new Director-General of Police of Jharkhand. He replaced Kamal Nayan Choubey. Choubey, a 1986 batch IPS officer, has been transferred to Delhi as Officer on Special Duty (Modernisation-camp, Delhi) on Monday, an official release said in Ranchi. 

Yes Bank CEO-designate Prashant Kumar on Tuesday ruled out a forensic audit of the lender's books and remained non-committal on continuing to pay the present 5-6 per cent interest on deposits.

To provide for a quality medical education system in homoeopathy and to promote Indian systems of medicines, Union Minister Sripad Yesso Naik on Tuesday tabled two bills for consideration and passing in Rajya Sabha.

The Minister of State for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) tabled the bills in the Upper House that saw a thin attendance of members.

The Centre on Tuesday presented a Rs 1-lakh crore Budget for Jammu and Kashmir for 2020-21, and said the "highest ever" allocations reflect its commitment to make the Union Territory "a model of development".

The government also presented a separate expenditure plan of Rs 55,317.81 crore for the last five months of the current fiscal.

Members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) protested here on Tuesday against the recent hike in excise duty on petrol and diesel. It was organised near Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's residence on Teen Murti Marg.

The central government is looting the people by hiking the excise duty on petrol and diesel, the IYC said. The protest was organised according to the centre's directives to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the IYC added.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has dismissed the plea of the mother of the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case convict Mukesh Kumar seeking the Commission's intervention to prevent his execution.

VD Savarkar Marg signage at Jawaharlal Nehru University that was vandalised has been restored. BR Ambedkar's name was spray-painted on it. 

The country's rooftop solar energy capacity stands at 1,922 mega watt (MW) and so far over Rs 1,874 crore has been released as central financial assistance towards installation of capacities in the sector, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

Till March 13, 2020, rooftop solar power plants of an aggregate capacity of 1,922 MW have been installed in the country, of which 346 MW have been installed in the residential sector, Minister of New and Renewable Energy R K Singh said in the Rajya Sabha, citing ministry data.

Nirbhaya case: Time is precious for judicial entity and requires to be spent sagaciously, says court.

Nirbhaya case: Delhi court dismisses convict Mukesh's plea seeking quashing of death penalty

Indo-Tibetian Border Police (ITBP) has postponed the written exam for Constable/ Tradesmen recruitment which was scheduled to be held on March 22, 2020 . ITBP Constable/ Tradesmen recruitment 2020 Exam was scheduled to be held in centres across 11 cities.

Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri in Lok Sabha said, "Cost of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) constitutes 40% of  the overall operating cost of airline. We must rationalize tax structure on ATF. It needs to be brought under Goods and Services Tax with full input tax credit".

Congress party seeks direction to allow its MLAs to participate in the ongoing budget session of the assembly. 

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) on Tuesday launched a limited edition of its popular multi purpose vehicle Innova Crysta priced at Rs 21.21 lakh.

SBI to increase stake in Yes Bank to 49 per cent from current 42 per cent in second funding round: Rajnish Kumar

A total of 2,214 NGOs were registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in the last three years under the religious, cultural and educational categories, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

Gold on Tuesday went lower by Rs 80 to Rs 39,719 per 10 gram in the national capital following weak global cues and rupee appreciation, according to HDFC Securities.

Madhya Pradesh Congress on Tuesday filed a plea in Supreme Court alleging 'kidnapping' of its 16 MLAs by BJP.

Equity benchmark BSE Sensex plunged 811 points in fag-end selloff on Tuesday after a see-saw session as the coronavirus pandemic-led recession fears kept investors jittery. After opening on a positive note, the 30-share index gyrated 1,653 points during the day. It finally settled 810.98 points or 2.58 per cent lower at 30,579.09.

Likewise, the broader NSE Nifty slumped 230.35 points or 2.50 per cent to close at 8,967.05.

The Rajasthan government on Tuesday banned all gatherings at public places exceeding 50 people till March 31 to fight the coronavirus outbreak, said an official statement.

Red Fort has been temporarily closed due to Coronavirus. Total 8 positive cases have been reported in the capital.

A. Ajay Kumar presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Uganda.

Advocate AP Singh approaches National Human Rights Commission over the death of one of the convicts Ram Singh. Ram Singh had allegedly committed suicide inside the Tihar Jail. He has also sought compensation for his mother.

Wife of Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal meets officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding martyr status for her husband. Ratan Lal was serving a Head Constable in Delhi police and died on-duty during Delhi violence.

Nirbhaya rape case: ML Sharma, lawyer of one of the death row convicts Mukesh, approaches a Delhi court and claimed that he (Mukesh) was arrested from Rajasthan on 17th Dec, he was not there at the crime spot at the time of the incident. He has also alleged torture at Tihar Jail.

The annual Budget of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Union will be presented in the Lok Sabha today. Budget copies have been brought to the Parliament.

Rebel Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs in a press conference said that they are not held captive adding they were not feeling secured amid crisis situation in the Kamal Nath government. The rebel MLAs also slammed Congress government in the state saying their voice was not being heard in the government and were considering joining the BJP.

Kullu district police has arrested two persons in Sairopa area for possession of 8 kg Cannabis. One person absconding, case registered under NDPS Act.

Sensex down 530.55 points, at 30,859.52; Nifty currently at 9079

Assam Crime Branch unit along with Azara Police have apprehended 3 people at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. 130 ATM cards, 10 bottles of cough syrup and Rs 91,720 were seized.

Karnataka Central Crime Branch officials raided 3 clubs in Bangaluru's Basaveshwar Nagar and Hulimavu. One drug peddler was arrested and 6.7kg Ganja along with Rs 7 lakhs seized.

Two people arrested under NDPS Act by Shimla Police at Narkanda for possession of 5.17 grams heroin

A honey bee sound system has been installed on the Haridwar-Dehradun railway line in Uttarakhand that goes through Rajaji National Park to avoid collision between trains and animals. T Prakash, Moradabad Railway Division Manager says, "No accident has occurred in the last 2.5 years".

Pak violates ceasefire in Mankote and Mendhar sectors, District Poonch (J&K) at about 06:00 am. Pakistan army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by small arms firing and shelling with Mortars along LoC in Mankote and Mendhar sectors, District Poonch (J&K). Indian Army is retaliating befittingly.