Maharashtra Board HSC 12th Result 2021 to be announced today at 4 pm; check mahresult.nic.in

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) will declare HSC Class 12 results on 3 August at 4 pm at mahresult.nic.in.

The result will also be released on hscresult.mkcl.org, msbshse.co.in and hscresult.11thdmission.org.in.

: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education will declare results of Std 12th, 2021 batch on 3rd August at 4pm. Best of luck to all students. #HSC #results #InternalAssessment @CMOMaharashtra @msbshse pic.twitter.com/kfNBZNGFyh

— Varsha Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) August 2, 2021

The Class 12 exams were earlier scheduled to be held from 23 April till 2 May, while practical exams were slated to be conducted between 5 and 22 April. As the Maharashtra board had cancelled the HSC exams owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, results that will be declared have been decided on the basis of an alternative means of assessment.

The Maharashtra board will take into account marks obtained in internal exams of Class 12, and Class 11, and the three best performing subjects of Class 10 final exams, to arrive at the final Class 12 scores. While 40 percent marks will be derived from unit tests, first-semester exams, or practice exams in Class 12, the remaining 60 percent marks will be from Class 11 and Class 10.

States, including Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, cancelled Class 12 exams after CBSE and CISCE announced similar decisions in view of a rise in coronavirus cases.

Meanwhile, the board declared Class 10 results, in which 99.95 pass percent cleared the exams. A total of 957 students secured 100 percent marks while 1,04,633 students scored over 90 percent marks.

Steps to check Maha HSC 2021 Result:

Step 1: Visit any of the result websites

Step 2: On the homepage, click on the designated HSC result link

Step 3: Fill in the credentials and login

Step 4: The result will appear on the display screen

Step 5: Download the result and take a print out, if needed.

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India's NEP is a voluminous document but it needs lateral hires in Ministries of Education and Skill to succeed in reality

As happens with wordy policy documents, it can be safely assumed that the 484-page long National Education Policy (NEP) has not been read and absorbed, whether the gist or in its entirety, even by our government’s bureaucrats. Since it has been read by a few but is being discussed by all—it has been one year since it was promulgated—it is time to look at its progress and the reason for its slow implementation.

Those who tried to get their arms around the implementation elephant of NEP have failed, and hence have resorted to minor tweaks. Which is why even the fundamental structural reform of the most ambitious overhaul of the Indian education system are still awaited. Implementing the NEP demands individuals with formidable, extra-special commitment, capability to plan and deliver using a systems approach.

Government policy documents do not usually come up with an implementation plan, unlike corporates. How good will a CFO be if she writes a great policy to improve margins but without an implementation plan? Most likely that CFO would be fired in a quarter if not two. But government policymakers think differently—they see themselves as big-picture visionaries; rarely do they like to get involved with myriad details of an execution plan. This is the nemesis of most policies—the lack of an execution plan. It’s only when the policy comes into the hands of an able administrator does it see its full value of execution on the ground. Most meander in search of an administrator and rarely achieve the vision.

An implementation plan generally prioritizes a sequence of tasks, hires and gives responsibilities to individuals for a deadline-based execution. With the NEP this becomes even more important as it involves merging or dismantling old regulatory systems and creating new ones at both the state and Union levels. Changes are difficult to implement in a government when the system resists change and delays anything that incumbent administrators see as a threat to their job profiles. Please note: job profiles, not the job itself.

NEP’s implementation has been slowed by an administrative leadership that is comfortable with the status quo and does not want its gravy train to stop. In the past, mandarins at the Ministry of Education were busy with their autobiographies or promoting their children’s EdTech startups. Even the Ministry of Skill Development was for years buried under lackadaisical leadership that did not want to work, but hired PR agencies for favourable media spreads. By bringing both education and skill development under one minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, in the recent cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paved the way for implementing the NEP recommendations and given a clear mandate. Hopefully, the two ministries will eventually be merged as they do not need to exist separately. The aspirations of the youth are linked to degrees from universities of note, not just a skill university.

From a structural point of view, implementation of NEP has to prioritize the creation of the new regulatory system. These new regulatory bodies should enable much better functioning of the education sector for both public and private players. Currently, too many regulatory bodies with overlapping roles do not allow existing players to grow or new ones to enter the education sector. This prevents competition and innovation in a sector that determines future jobs and economic growth.

Getting out of this rut does not require a new method. The old formula for executing regulatory reforms has been tried and tested successfully several times—employ good leaders to head the regulatory bodies that must be created. These leaders will then work to clear the legislation and administrative hurdles. Until the leadership hires do not happen, implementation will be slow and challenging as nobody has their skin in the game to bring the change. Leadership change makers have to be introduced at both Union and state government levels.

NEP needs lateral hires

No amount of “influence”, positive or negative, will lead to implementation until these changemakers are in position. Committees can discuss and debate but committees cannot execute. Only individuals with the requisite skills, commitment and authority will be able to implement. To begin with, a new chairman of the National Higher Education Regulatory Authority (NHERA) must be employed and given the mandate, office, resources and people to build the organisation.

She will ensure that the legislation to define the role and powers of the new regulatory body is prepared and passed by Parliament. This will ensure that a model for the state-level regulatory structure gets created, and funds earmarked and given to state governments. Even the current chairman of the UGC can be asked to create the NHERA—this will give him the added incentive of creating a better organization from day one. As it is under the NEP, the various higher regulatory authorities such as the UGC and AICTE should be replaced by this one.

While the regulatory structure takes shape, the process of activating the states for school-level regulatory bodies needs to get started. A model bill like how it was done for Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) needs to be prepared by the Ministry of Education for the states to implement. There are several think tanks that can help in preparing this model bill and they should be roped in, non-profit think tanks will do a better job here than the private consultancy firms.

Currently, education regulatory functions are dispersed across multiple organisations. This has created an alphabet soup of bodies that swim in murky waters. Some bodies make grants and also regulate (such as the University Grants Commission); some give accreditation (such as the National Assessment and Accreditation Council); and others control technical education (such as the All India Council for Technical Education). This structure allows a loose, convenient interpretation of rules that distorts processes and increases the friction with and between market participants. It’s no surprise that education regulatory bodies are justifiably perceived as rigid, corrupt, and feudal. They are among the last vestiges of Inspector Raj in the country.

The entry of private players is frowned upon and looked down upon by regulators; as a result, innovative EdTech players like to remain outside the purview of regulatory controls. A rule-based transparent regulatory system is proposed under NEP but is being opposed by the incumbents.

Too much is at stake and there is so much to be done in the NEP that just incumbents cannot be changemakers. New lateral hires of changemakers in the Ministries of Education and Skill is the need of the hour. Which has at least begun, with Dharmendra Pradhan and the enterprising new Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar running the two important ministries. Now, the new political leadership has to induct multiple changemakers to implement the NEP.

The author is a policy analyst at www.cipp.in. He tweets @yatishrajawat. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication.

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Bharat Biotech's Rotavirus vaccine Rotavac 5D receives WHO's prequalification nod

Bharat Biotech on Monday announced in a press release that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has awarded prequalification to its rotavirus vaccine, Rotavac 5D, to prevent rotavirus diarrhea.

What is Rotavirus?

According to WebMD, Rotavirus causes diarrhea and other intestinal symptoms. It is very contagious and is the most common cause of diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. It has a round shape. The Latin word for wheel is “rota,” which explains how the virus got its name.

Rotavirus causes inflammation in the stomach and intestines. It can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, belly pain, and dehydration in infants, young children, and some adults.

Medication can help alleviate the symptoms, but there’s no cure for rotavirus.

Even children who have been vaccinated against it may get it more than once.

The Rotavirus symptoms include fever, vomiting, and stomach pain. Rotavirus usually starts with these symptoms, which then fade away. Diarrhea begins after the first three symptoms have stopped. As the virus works its way through the system, diarrhea can remain for 5 to 7 days.

What is ROTAVAC 5D?

A new variant of rotavirus vaccine (ROTAVAC) ROTAVAC 5D, is the world’s first and only liquid formulation with lowest dosage form and can be stored at 2-8°C.

As per Bharat Biotech, ROTAVAC 5D is a monovalent vaccine containing suspension of live, naturally attenuated rotavirus neonatal 116E strain prepared in Vero cells for the prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis. Each dose of 0.5 mL ROTAVAC 5D contains not less than 105.0 FFU [Focus forming unit] of live rotavirus 116E. It is administered in five drops as a three-dose regimen, four weeks apart, beginning at six weeks of age.

ROTAVAC 5D is a unique rotavirus vaccine formulation that can be administered without buffer. Low dose facilitates easy vaccine logistics and cold chain management, and low biomedical waste disposal post-vaccination.

It can be stored at 2 to 8°C for up to 24 months. ROTAVAC 5D confers similar clinical safety and immunogenicity profiles when compared to the WHO Prequalified ROTAVAC. It is available in three different presentations: single-dose vial/pre-filled syringe and multi-dose vial. The available presentations and lowest dosage form make it convenient and easy to adapt under Universal Immunization Programs (UIP) by countries.

How serious is the Rotavirus mortality in India?

In the study Rotavirus mortality in India: estimates based on a nationally representative survey of diarrhoeal deaths conducted to estimate the number of rotavirus-associated deaths among Indian children younger than five, researchers found that the "burden of rotavirus-associated mortality is high among Indian children, highlighting the potential benefits of rotavirus vaccination."

It said: "Rotavirus caused an estimated 113 000 deaths (99 percent confidence interval, CI: 86 000-155 000); 50 percent (54 700) and 75 percent  (85 400) occurred before one and two years of age, respectively. One child in 242 died from rotavirus infection before five years of age. Rotavirus-associated mortality rates overall, among girls and among boys were 4.14 (99 percent  CI: 3.14-5.68), 4.89 (99 percent  CI: 3.75-6.79) and 3.45 (99 percent  CI: 2.58-4.66) deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively. Rates were highest in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, which together accounted for > 50 percent of deaths (64 400) nationally. Rotavirus vaccine could prevent 41 000-48 000 deaths among children aged 3 to 59 months."

In India, every year 37 out of every 1,000 children born are unable to celebrate their 5th birthday, and one of the major reasons for this is diarrheal deaths. Of all the causes of diarrhoea, rotavirus is a leading cause of diarrhoea in children less than 5 years. It is estimated that rotavirus cause 8,72,000 hospitalisations; 32,70,000 outpatient visits and estimated 78,000 deaths annually in India. Rotavirus diarrhoea presents in similar manner like any other diarrhoea but can mainly be prevented through rotavirus vaccination.

Rotavirus vaccine was introduced in 2016 in a phased manner, beginning with four states initially and later expanded to seven more states making it a total of 11 states by end of 2018, where Rotavirus vaccine was available in the country. Rotavirus vaccine is now available in 28 States/UTs: Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, Tripura, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Daman & Diu, Gujarat, Bihar, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Goa, Chandigarh, Nagaland, Delhi, Mizoram, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

What is WHO prequalification?

Prequalification is a systematic process to determine the capacity of a manufacturer to produce a product of consistent quality in accordance with international standards and WHO/UNFPA specifications. The purpose of prequalification is to protect the buyer and the end-user by ensuring good quality products are procured and distributed.

What WHO prequalification means for Bharat Biotech's Rotavac 5D

In an official statement, the company explained that its low dose volume (0.5 mL) facilitates easy vaccine logistics, cold chain management and low biomedical waste disposal post-vaccination. Moreover, it is used for the prevention of rotavirus infection, which is prevalent in infants and young children.

“The WHO prequalification enables the procurement of Rotavac 5D by UN agencies namely UNICEF and PAHO. It is a validation of the global quality and safety standards required for paediatric vaccines. The WHO prequalification of Rotavac 5D will fast-track global access to this life saving vaccine," as per the statement.

Bharat Biotech’s Joint Managing Director Suchitra Ella said, “Rotavac and Rotavac 5D are projects conceived, innovated, and executed in India; in collaboration with Indian and Global partners. This is the culmination of a 30-year effort to develop a novel rotavirus vaccine, resulting in a major advancement in Rotavirus disease prevention and reasserts India’s leadership in developing and introducing rotavirus vaccines for the world. Today’s announcement is an important step to further strengthen and fulfill Bharat Biotech’s vision to address neglected diseases and prevent infections that continue to affect millions in the developing world."

When was ROTAVAC 5D launched?

On 3 December, 2019, Vice- President M Venkaiah Naidu had launched the new rotavirus vaccine - ROTAVAC5D designed and developed by Bharat Biotech in New Delhi. Naidu had said that the vaccine would be a great help in tackling the spread of Rotavirus. The vice president also pointed out that the disease could push many Indian families, especially those below the poverty line into considerable financial distress and also impose a significant economic burden on the country.

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Petrol and diesel prices unchanged for 17th day; here are fuel rates in your city today on 3 August 2021

Petrol prices remained unchanged in the country for the 17th day on Tuesday while diesel rates also did not go up. In Delhi, petrol prices remained at Rs 101.84 a litre while the rate of diesel was at Rs 89.87.

In Mumbai, petrol can be bought at Rs 107.83 per litre and diesel costs Rs 97.45 for one litre.

One litre of petrol is priced at Rs 102.49 in Chennai and diesel costs Rs 94.39 per litre in the city. Petrol in Kolkata costs Rs 102.08 per litre and diesel is priced at Rs 93.02. While petrol can be bought at Rs 110.20 in Bhopal and diesel is priced at Rs 98.67 for one litre.

Since 4 May, fuel prices have been on the rise in the country after the assembly elections in states and union territories including West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Petrol and diesel prices are revised by the oil marketing companies including Bharat Petroleum, Indian Oil and Hindustan Petroleum. The new prices are implemented at 6 am every day. States and cities have different fuel prices because of the value-added taxes, local and freight charges which vary depending on the place.

Following are the prices of diesel and petrol in a few metros and Tier-II cities in the country:

1. Mumbai

Petrol - Rs 107.83 per litre
Diesel - Rs 97.45 per litre

2. Delhi

Petrol - Rs 101.84 per litre
Diesel - Rs 89.87 per litre

3. Chennai

Petrol - Rs 102.49 per litre
Diesel - Rs 94.39 per litre

4. Kolkata

Petrol - Rs 102.08 per litre
Diesel - Rs 93.02 per litre

5. Bhopal

Petrol - Rs 110.20 per litre
Diesel - Rs 98.67 per litre

6. Hyderabad

Petrol - Rs 105. 83 per litre
Diesel - Rs 97.96 per litre

7. Bangaluru

Petrol - Rs 105.25 per litre
Diesel - Rs 95.26 per litre

8. Guwahati

Petrol - Rs 97.64 per litre
Diesel - Rs 89.22 per litre

9. Lucknow

Petrol - Rs 98.92 per litre
Diesel - Rs 90.26 per litre

10. Gandhinagar

Petrol - Rs 98.79 per litre
Diesel - 96.95 per litre

11. Thiruvananthapuram

Petrol - Rs 103.82 per litre
Diesel - Rs 96.47 per litre

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PM launches new digital payment system e-RUPI, says it will play major role in strengthening DBT; key points

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday launched e-RUPI, a person and purpose-specific cashless digital payment solution and called it a "revolutionary initiative" in the direction of ensuring a leak-proof delivery of welfare services.

Launching an e-voucher that government and private entities can use to reach specific benefits like vaccination to the needy, Modi said that the mechanism will promote leakage-free targeted delivery system to make sure that appropriate relief reaches them.

He said the e-RUPI voucher was a symbol of how India was progressing by connecting people's lives with technology.

He said the use of technology to deliver cooking gas subsidy, ration money and other social security schemes directly to bank accounts of beneficiaries has helped the government save Rs 1.78 lakh crore so far by plugging pilferages and weeding out fake beneficiaries.

Here are the highlights of the prime minister's speech:

• The prime minister highlighting the importance of e-RUPI voucher said it will play a major role in strengthening DBT scheme. The DBT programme aims to transfer subsidies directly to the people through their bank accounts.
• "Today the country is giving a new dimension to digital governance. The eRUPI voucher is going to play a huge role in making DBT more effective in digital transactions in the country. This will help everyone in Targeted, Transparent and Leakage Free Delivery," he said.
• "The e-RUPI voucher, in a way, is a person as well as purpose-specific. For the purpose for which any help or any benefit is being given, it will be used for, this eRUPI is going to ensure," he said.
• "About 90 crore citizens in some way or the other are getting benefits like LPG subsidy transfer, pension, PM KISAN Yojana and scholarship through the platform. All these experiments have resulted in saving Rs 1.78 lakh crore of government money going to the wrong hands," he said.
• Modi said the government has transferred Rs 1.35 lakh crore so far since the launch of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojana while Rs 85,000 crore was transferred directly to farmers against wheat procurement this year, he said.
• The prime minister also said that the e-RUPI is an example of how India is moving forward and connecting people in the 21st Century with the help of advanced technology. "I'm glad that it has started in the year when India is celebrating its 75th year of Independence," he said.
• "Today we are looking at technology as a tool to help the poor, a tool for their progress," said Modi.
• "Earlier in our country some people used to say that technology is only for the rich, India is a poor country, so what is the use of technology for India? When our government used to talk about making technology a mission, many politicians, certain types of experts used to question it," added Modi.
• Modi said that India is now showing the world today that it is second to none in adopting technology and connecting with it. "When it comes to innovations, use of technology in service delivery, India has the ability to give global leadership along with big countries of the world," he said.
• The Centre has started PM Svanidhi Yojana. "Today, in small and big cities of the country, more than 23 lakh street vendors and vendors have been helped under this scheme. In this Corona period, about Rs 2300 crore has been given to them," said PM.
• Narendra Modi praising India's digital infrastructure said that the world is accepting the iron of the work that has been done in the last 6-7 years for digital infrastructure and digital transactions in the country. "Especially in India, a huge base of fintech has been created. Such a base is not there even in big countries," he said.

What is e-RUPI?

• e-RUPI is a cashless and contactless instrument for digital payment. It is a QR code or SMS string-based e-Voucher, which is delivered to the mobile of the beneficiaries.
• The users of this one-time payment mechanism will be able to redeem the voucher without a card, digital payments app or internet banking access, at the service provider.
• It has been developed by National Payments Corporation of India on its UPI platform, in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and National Health Authority.
• e-RUPI connects the sponsors of the services with the beneficiaries and service providers in a digital manner without any physical interface. It also ensures that the payment to the service provider is made only after the transaction is completed. Being pre-paid in nature, it assures timely payment to the service provider without the involvement of any intermediary.
• It is expected to be a revolutionary initiative in the direction of ensuring a leak-proof delivery of welfare services.
• Not only the government, if any general organisation or organisation wants to help someone in their treatment, in their education or for any other work, then they will be able to give e-RUPI instead of cash, he said.

What are e-RUPI benefits to the consumer?

Following are e-RUPI benefits to the consumer:

• Contactless: Beneficiary need not carry a printout of the voucher
• Easy redemption: Two-step redemption process
• Safe and Secure: Beneficiary doesn’t need to share personal details while redemption hence privacy is maintained
• No digital or bank presence required: Consumer redeeming the voucher need not have a digital payment app or a bank account

With inputs from PTI

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Watch: 80-year-old woman from Amritsar runs juice stall to make ends meet goes viral

Social media or the Internet can change anyone's life overnight and Baba ka Dhaba was a perfect example of it. Now, a video of an 80-year-old lady running a juice stall to make ends meet is doing the rounds on social media.

After sharing the Baba Ka Dhaba story with people, food blogger Gaurav Wasan has now shared the clip of the old woman who runs a juice stall in Amritsar's Rani Da Bagh area. In the viral post, it has been revealed that the lady is struggling to earn a living as next to no customers are turning up at her stall. Sharing the video on Instagram, Wasan wrote, "Juice wali Aunty".

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gaurav Wasan (@youtubeswadofficial)

Posted on 23 July, the Instagram reel has garnered over 17.6 million views till now. In the video, she is seen preparing fresh Mausambi (sweet lime) juice and is serving it with a smile. Soon, the video went viral on Twitter as well. A journalist named Aarif Shah posted the video of the old woman on Twitter.

The caption reads, "This 80-year-old woman runs a stall in Amritsar. She is working hard in her old age to feed herself. She is struggling to have customers for some time. Her stall is located at Rani Da Bagh, near Uppal Neuro Hospital. Please visit her stall, help her so that she can earn some money".

This 80 year old woman runs a stall in Amritsar. She is working hard in her old age to feed herself. She's struggling to have customers from sometime. Her stall is located at Rani Da Bagh, near Uppal Neuro Hospital. Please visit her stall, help her so that she can earn some money pic.twitter.com/RTTTakRT9q

— Aarif Shah (@aarifshaah) July 28, 2021

In another tweet, he shared the exact location of the juice stall and urged people to help the old lady.

The exact location of her stall is Rani Da Bagh, Amritsar, opposite SBI Bank near Uppal Neuro Hospital. Please help her

— Aarif Shah (@aarifshaah) July 28, 2021

After watching the heartbreaking video, social media users showed their concern for the lady who is working so hard at such an old age to sustain herself. Many users also requested the government and local agencies to help her. Some even showed interested in helping her financially and asked for her bank account number.

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Maharashtra relaxes COVID-19 lockdown guidelines: Check what's allowed and what's not

The Maharashtra government on Monday announced new guidelines for easing lockdown restrictions in those districts where the COVID-19 positivity rate is low. The relaxations will come into effect from Tuesday morning.

The government announced further relaxations of coronavirus curbs in 25 districts showing low positivity rate of the infection, extending the existing business timings of shops and allowing shopping malls to operate in these districts.

The state government has asked the disaster management authorities in Mumbai and Thane districts (which figures among 25 districts with a low positivity rate) to decide on their own set of restrictions.

Many traders in the state and the Opposition BJP have been demanding that the timings of shops be extended till 8 pm from the current deadline of 4 pm.

The order said that the restrictions in certain districts which are on Level 3 will continue. Those districts are Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Pune, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Solapur, Ahmednagar, Beed, Raigad and Palghar districts.

Apart from these, in all the other districts, the existing restrictions have been revised.

All COVID 19 protocols including masks, social distancing must be scrupulously followed across the state by all the citizens. Failure in stringent adherence to the same will result in action on the defaulters under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Epidemic Act and Section 1860 of the Indian Penal Code.

What's allowed:

• All essential and non-essential shops (including shopping malls) remain open all weekdays till 8 pm and till 3 pm on Saturday. All shops and malls except essential shops remain closed on Sundays.
• All public gardens and playgrounds can be kept open for the purpose of exercise, walking, jogging and cycling.
• All government and private offices can be operational with full capacity. Staggering of work hours to be done to avoid crowds while traveling. The offices that can function through working from home should continue to do so.
• All agricultural activity, civil works, industrial activity, transport of goods can remain
  functional at full capacity.
• Gymnasiums, yoga centers, hair cutting salons, beauty parlours, spas can remain open without the use of air-conditioners and with 50 percent capacity till 8 am on weekdays and till 3 pm on Saturdays. The said services will remain closed on Sundays.

What's not:

• All cinema theaters, drama theaters and multiplexes (independent and inside malls) to remain closed till further orders.
• All places of worship in the state remain closed till further orders.
• The orders of the State Education Department and the Higher and Technical Department will be applicable for schools and colleges
• All restaurants will remain open with 50 percent seating capacity till 4 pm on weekdays subject to adherence to all COVID l9 protocols. Parcel and takeaway to be allowed as is allowed currently.
• Restrictions on movement will be applicable from 9 pm to 5 am.
• In order to avoid crowding, restrictions imposed on birthday celebrations, Political, Social and Cultural events, elections, election campaigning, rallies, protest marches are to be continued..

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had said his government will issue orders on Monday allowing shops to remain open till 8 pm in the districts where the COVID-19 positivity rate is low.

He said allowing all segments of the society in Mumbai local trains would be difficult "in the first phase" as the easing of curbs is being done slowly.

Speaking to reporters in Sangli, some 230 kilometres from Pune, Thackeray sought cooperation from people in areas where relaxing the norms was not possible currently due to the caseload.

Thackeray said the pandemic situation in the 11 districts with not so encouraging COVID-19 indicators was a cause of worry.

"I have asked district collectors to increase the number of tests as well as doctors to ensure people are protected for COVID-19 as well as water-borne diseases," he said.

Speaking on the issue of medical oxygen, the chief minister said as per an estimate, the amount of medical oxygen required in a possible third wave might be double of what was needed in the second wave, when Maharashtra had to procure it from other states.

He appealed to the private sector to split office timings to reduce attendance in their premises at any one point of time, as well as opt for work from home and work in office turn by turn.

With inputs from PTI

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