Breaking News January 19 | Highlights

About 80 per cent turnout was recorded for 1,208 gram panchayats in the second of the three-phase Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, an official spokesperson said.

Congress constitutes Election Management and Strategy Committee of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee for Kerala elections; Party leader Oommen Chandy appointed chairman of the committee

The Indian Air Force will deploy its Rafale, Sukhoi and Mirage 2000 combat jets besides other key assets in a five-day mega air exercise with French air and space force that begins near Jodhpur on Wednesday.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) said its deployment at the 'Ex-Desert Knight 21' will also include IL-78 flight refuelling aircraft as well as airborne warning and control system (AWACS).

"The French side will participate with Rafale, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), A-400M Tactical Transport aircraft," it said, adding around 175 French personnel will be part of the exercise.

The IAF deployment in the exercise will include Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI, Rafale, IL-78 flight refuelling aircraft and the AWACS.

The Finance Ministry on Tuesday said Madhya Pradesh has been permitted to raise additional Rs 1,423 crore through market borrowing after the state implemented power sector reforms.

Equity benchmark Sensex soared 834 points on Tuesday, tracking strong gains in index majors HDFC twins, ICICI Bank and Reliance Industries amid an upbeat trend in global markets.

The 30-share BSE index ended 834.02 points or 1.72 per cent higher at 49,398.29. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty surged 239.85 points or 1.68 per cent to 14,521.15.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee addressed an election rally in Purulia where she said, "I have been seeing for a few days that some people are being sent by BJP to create disturbance in our meeting. Now I will send some people to disturb BJP, CPM meetings."

The chief minister said, "A Dalit family said that we fed them (BJP leaders arriving at their house) from our pocket, how can we pay the amount? I will tell my workers that when you see something like that, then pay them. If anyone gives you money for vote, take the money."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday addressed Delhi Police personnel at Headquarters in the national capital. 

Union Minister Shripad Naik discharged from Goa Medical College. He had met with a road accident on January 11 while going from Yellapur to Gokarna in Karnataka. The Minister's wife and personal assistant passed away in the accident.

30 boxes of Covishield, by Serum Institute of India, shipped from Pune in Maharashtra to Hyderabad in Telangana today.

Tamil Nadu schools reopen for class 10th and 12th in Chennai today after a gap of over nine months. "Half of our syllabus was covered during online classes. I'm happy to see my friends after so long but we have to maintain social distance," said a student.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is seeking assistance from India for the provision of COVID-19 vaccines as the country has produced its own vaccine which is scheduled to be rolled out to more than 300 million Indians this year. 

Sensex rises 629.22 points, currently at 49,193.49.

India reported 10,064 new COVID-19 cases, 17,411 discharges, and 137 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry.

• Total cases: 1,05,81,837
• Active cases: 2,00,528   
• Total discharges: 1,02,28,753
• Death toll: 1,52,556

13 people died after they were run over by a truck in Kosamba, Surat. Police said, "All the deceased are labourers and they hail from Rajasthan."

At 5:30 am today, Delhi's Palam and Safdarjung recorded 10.2℃ and 8.6℃ temperatures respectively, as per India Meteorological Department (IMD).