Several state governments have eased labour laws to attract more investment and jump-start the cycle of demand after days of lockdown that has hit the economy badly.

As many as 3,817 prisoners were released last month on interim or regular bail, parole or extended parole.

Gautam Buddh Nagar recorded 202 positive cases of coronavirus till Thursday evening, and official figures for Friday were awaited.

Districts with high population and heavy inter-state movement of people will be selected for the study to represent the respective state, sources said.

The incident occurred late evening on Wednesday and the accused, Ram Vilas Rajbhar (42), was arrested within hours, they said.

The crowding of workers at the railway station is learnt to be prompted by a social media post which went viral giving false information that free special trains have been arranged for workers, sources said.

The government also said that Air India will operate 64 flights from May 7 to May 13 to bring back around 15,000 Indian nationals stranded abroad due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

On learning about the sudden rush of people at the deputy collector's office near Gota bridge, police officials immediately reached the spot and persuaded the migrants, mostly from UP and Bihar, to disperse.

The petitioner contended the plea is in larger public interest raising grave issues and concerns of health and safety of lives of the people.

The entire incident, which took place on Wednesday, was captured on a video which has gone viral on social media.

The petition contended that while the police force is, by and large, discharging its duties in an exemplary manner, there are several instances which would be a 'blot' on the police machinery.

The border guarding force has the maximum confirmed cases of the disease among the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), also known as paramilitary forces.

The CBSE will announce a detailed schedule of the exams later in the evening.

Two men were arrested and two privately-operated buses impounded during the police action around 1.30 am on a Noida-Greater Noida road.

Justice Gupta, who retired on Wednesday after spending three years on the Green Bench of the top court, said “there was lack of will” by the government to do what it takes for cleaner air and clearer water.

The ministry asserted that if dos and don'ts are followed, the peak in number of COVID-19 cases can be avoided.

The group arrived in Mumbai later, but allegedly did not inform the authorities about their participation in the event and thus avoided quarantine.

The Commission of Railway Safety said that all-out efforts must be made to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.

Nearly a month's supply of pulses has already been dispatched to several states and union territories, but they have managed to distribute only 53,617 tonnes to ration card holders under the Public Distribution System (PDS), he said.

Minister Meena Singh and some officials have been rushed to Aurangabad by a special plane to facilitate treatment of the survivors. CM Chouhan said the deceased, who hailed from MP's Shahdol, would be cremated near the accident site.

According to sources, India responded to the request saying that it values the contribution of Japanese companies in the country and assured that their issues will be addressed.

The company also said that all necessary measures were being used to keep the temperatures under control. Styrene gas had leaked from a tank at the plant.

The high court, in its interim order passed on Thursday, had suggested the state should ensure that only those who have tested negative for COVID-19 are allowed to return.

The court asked special judge SK Yadav to control the proceedings in accordance with law so that inordinate delay that is beyond the time-frame is no longer breached.

Ministry of Home Affairs said the government's efforts have been to give maximum relaxations to people within the lockdown guidelines.

Venugopal said through judicial activism the "Supreme Court has done a tremendous amount of good. It has practically tried to wipe away every tears of the underprivileged, disadvantaged and illiterate sections of society.

The response from the Health Ministry came after a sudden spurt in the number positive cases in the past few days when the tally crossed the 3,000-mark each day.

According to police, Ganesh, a farmer and a girl from the same village were in love with each other for a couple of years. Their engagement took place a few months ago and the marriage was scheduled for last month.

India's financial capital has so far reported 11,219 positive cases and 437 deaths and is one of the worst-affected cities in Maharashtra.

A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Asha Menon set aside the order of a single judge which had dismissed the woman's plea against Aurobindo College (Evening), where she had been working for five years.

At a meeting of the state cabinet, it was decided that the cess would vary from Rs 5 to Rs 25 per bottle according to the quality of liquor.

Officers have been directed to submit a detailed report within four weeks with details of the steps taken by the district authorities to provide food and shelter to poor people, especially migrants, during the lockdown.

As six patients passed away at the Gokuldas Hospital one after the other on Thursday, panicked kin of the deceased uploaded a video on social media accusing the hospital of gross negligence.

While the administration is running a shelter camp for migrant labourers, the victims were living on the premises of the factory where worked, he added.

However, this year the celebrations are understandably muted due to the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown.

Maamad Abdulla Luhar sneaked into a mosque on Thursday midnight, gave untimely Azaan through the mosque's loudspeaker and allegedly asked the community members to come out with weapons, police said.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for the petitioners, told the bench that pregnancy of these medical professionals is at an advance stage and they need a further priority in the priority already given to pregnant women.

Federal prosecutors allege the suspect, identified as 54-year-old Balvir, has been working with the Indian foreign intelligence agency Research & Analysis Wing since 2015.

The 77 had tested positive after coming in contact with a cook who had got infected, the prison department official said, adding that 26 jail staffers have also been infected so far.

The move follows similar decisions taken by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh governments to revive the economy that has been badly hit due to the ongoing coronavirus-induced lockdown.

The DRDO is making special N-99 masks, besides personal protective gear for chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear-related activities, and working on software, including one that will track people under quarantine.

The authorities collected 41 samples of various brands of pan masala from different districts and tested them to check it they contain magnesium carbonate, which is banned under the Food Safety Act, 2006, as one of the ingredients, an official release said.

Under the initiative, eligible beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) would be able to avail their entitled foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop in the country using the same ration card.

Justice Bharati Dangre rejected Bhatt's plea after the prosecution told the court that a COVID-19 patient cannot be allowed to be freed on temporary bail.

While the opposition Congress claimed that accused Rajesh Verma is a BJP worker, the ruling party denied it.

Thirty-three CISF personnel deployed at the gallery's security unit have been asked to self-quarantine, Indian Museum director A D Choudhury told PTI.

An activist has moved the top court pointing out alleged racial attacks on people of North-Eastern like spitting on them, evictions from their homes and termination from their jobs among others.

One of the accused, identified as Muntyaz, carried a reward of Rs 15,000 for information leading to his arrest, police said.

A total of 64 flights carrying approximately 15,000 returnees from 12 countries are expected to land at 14 airports across India from May 7 to 15 as part of phase one of the mission, they said.

A bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Sanjeev Narula set aside the May 21, 2019 notice/result published by the Delhi High Court Registrar General rejecting the candidature of a person.