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Exactly a year after lockdown was imposed in the country to contain the Covid pandemic, India's seeing a second wave of infection steeper than the first.  While there is no lockdown and streets are crowded,  Mumbai preparing for 10,000 cases a day by ramping up the number of hospital beds across the city.  The authorities said they are aiming to have 21,000 beds.

The big concern though, is that the disease, in a first, is spreading faster in small towns and districts. There is a higher probability of healthcare facilities crumbling if the rise in cases continues, public health experts have said.

Over the last 24 hours, 53,476 Covid-19 cases were reported across the country -- the highest since October 23. More 1 lakh cases were logged in a space of 48 hours. The authorities said over 80 per cent cases in the last two days were asymptomatic and the mortality rate is "extremely low".

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday promised government jobs and rewards to those who help her get “outsider goons” arrested for distributing money for votes in the assembly elections beginning this week. While addressing a rally in Bankura district, the Trinamool Congress chief said, “BJP-hired goons are roaming around in Bengal to create disturbance during the polls. Keep a close watch in your area and inform the police immediately if you come across any outsiders. BJP is trying to buy people with ‘bundles of notes’ ahead of the assembly polls in 2021. Take the money and then lodge a police complaint. Not the least, if you help us in getting hold of such people, I will give you a government job and a reward.”

The Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to break Bengal with its money power, warned Mamata, asking people not to fall into the trap.

“The BJP doesn’t have any political courtesy or ideology. I respect the chair of the Prime Minister but I haven’t seen a liar like Narendra Modi. He is spreading misinformation. They are bringing goons from other states to disturb the harmony of Bengal, to disturb the culture of Bengal,” she said.

There will be no restriction on the inter-state and intra-state movement of people and goods across India along with cross land-border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) announced on Tuesday as a part of its fresh guidelines to ‘effectively control’ the coronavirus (Covid-19) disease pandemic amid a recent surge in cases. The guidelines are in place from April 1 to April 30.

The MHA said that no separate permission or approval or e-permit will be needed for all such kinds of movements. This latest directive comes at a time when several states such as Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan etc have imposed border restrictions due to the recent surge in their Covid disease cases.

In a major setback to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill which entails that the term "government" referred to in any law made by the legislative assembly will imply Lieutenant Governor.

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed after a reply to the debate by Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy.

The bill seeks to amend National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto for the high stake election in West Bengal promises to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in all state government jobs if voted to power. 

The manifesto was released by Union Minister Amit Shah on Sunday. It emphasises women's safety, infra development, health, industry and promised that every household in Bengal will get at least one job in the next five years.

Amit Shah said the core of BJP's manifesto is based on 'Sonar Bangla' and if voted to power the party will ensure a state free of violence. He said that CAA will be implemented in the first Cabinet and refugees who have been staying here for 70 years will be given citizenship. Each refugee family will get Rs 10,000 per year for 5 years.