"So far, 17 states and UTs have integrated and three more states Odisha, Mizoram and Nagaland are also getting prepared. Total 20 states/UTs will be ready for the launch of ration card portability from June 1," Paswan told reporters.

India has allowed discounting of prolonged stay period for determining the residency status in relief for NRIs.

Earlier, such registrations/approvals were granted without any specific expiry period unless specifically withdrawn by concerned tax authority. Under the new law introduced by Finance Act 2020 and effective from June 1, 2020, all such registrations/ approvals would now be issued with an expiry period of 5 years.

Public Accounts Committee chairman Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury urged the Speaker to take an expeditious and positive decision on allowing meetings of parliamentary committees including PAC via videoconference given the importance of assessing the economic and social costs these sectors have suffered due to lockdown.

By the time the third phase of the lockdown ends on May 17, the Indian industry would have lost two months’ output, the CII said, adding that Covid-19 has “crippled” the economy

Echoing similar sentiments put forth by several eminent economists, he had appealed to the central government to shed its reservations and borrow more in 2020-21.

Labour laws in India are part of the façade of democracy that middle-class India confuses for the real thing. In reality, nine out of ten of India’s 500 million workers are in the informal sector, which does not admit labour laws, minimum wages, social security and such other symbols of civilised existence even as figments of the imagination.

Mediamatic ETEN, a restaurant in Amsterdam, is offering a four-course vegetarian menu for diners -- served to guests while they sit in their own personal quarantine greenhouses.

'Does it mean that till the COVID-19 fight is over, the governor should be non-functional, in sleep mode, and fiddling in the Raj Bhavan while the state is burning?'

'If the trial succeeds, it will become the success of Ayurveda.' 'If it's a failure, it's my failure alone.'

Major Anuj Sood, scholar and daredevil soldier, had finished his Kashmir tenure and would have been home had COVID-19 not come in the way. He did not live to be old enough, but he lived the soldier's life to the fullest, reveals Archana Masih/Rediff.com.

Early detection will bring down the mortality rate, the minister said, adding that the government plans to increase institutional quarantine facilities.

'India is ahead only of Pakistan in the amount spent on each soldier a year.' 'The Indian military is a manpower-heavy throng that is poorly armed, equipped, and trained,' observes Ajai Shukla.

The new road is expected to help pilgrims visiting Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet as it is around 90 km from the Lipulekh pass. After inaugurating the road through video-conferencing, Singh said pilgrims going to Kailash Mansarovar will now be able to complete their journey in one week instead of up to three weeks.

Officials said the study would have started earlier as it was planned to be conducted with the rapid antibody test kits brought from China.

Gandhi also called upon the government to immediately put money into the hands of the poor and provide a financial package to the industry to help revive the economy.

The state broadcasters have started the practice, but private news channels may follow suit, a ministry source said.

Official figures say 1.8 lakh workers have returned home to Bihar. Unofficially, however, that figure is said to have crossed 3 lakhs. Can Bihar cope?

'It will take me a while to process the meaning of the loss of a man who meant so much to me through my entire life,' says Aseem Chhabra.

'He was in form right to the very end.'

We have lost Irrfan, but his legacy lives on.

'Rishi Kapoor was a complete original.' 'He dazzled the screen and stayed a livewire off it as well,' remembers Sukanya Verma.

Joginder Tuteja lists 10 of the actor's movies that you can watch on the OTT platform in India to relive his magic.

'This 100-minute film just doesn't entertain you for even 10 minutes,' complains Joginder Tuteja.

'Irrfan was known in his friend circles as a Sufi-esque man who was never detached from any incident, person or situation,' remembers Rajesh Abhay, a friend of the actor since their days at NSD.

'I have hot water with haldi. It's great for immunity.'

'Different people resonated with different films of his, but beneath all of that was his unique ability to capture the human spirit in an intimate and honest way.'

'It was an emotion meant to convey compassion and love.' 'In this time of social distancing, we will continue with a virtual jhappi, doing our bit to help society heal.'

Stars have been posting about people and experiences they have been missing during the six weeks-and-counting lockdown.

'I go live on Instagram and weave a motivational talk from the Gita.' 'It's fun, casual, modern and relevant to today's times and everyone can understand as I use simple language.'

Sukanya Verma lists many more Rishi Kapoor chartbusters.

Sukanya Verma lists Chintu's memorable songs.

Hundred is all fun as it lasts, says Joginder Tuteja.

Time to look at intriguing flashback pix, posted by Bollywood folk.

Ranbir Kapoor and his father -- the late Rishi Kapoor -- shared a turbulent relationship.

'We have to scale down our theatre's seating capacity by tweaking the arrangement of seats.' 'We have to stop screening back-to-back shows to ensure that people do not bump into one another.'