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Removing mask mandates cannot be universal as a lot depends on how much risk one is willing to take, top health experts and central task force members told media on Friday, a day after state health minister Rajesh Tope spoke about seeking expert advice to make Maharashtra mask-free.

Giridhar Babu, member of the epidemiology, surveillance and research group, ICMR national task force, said there was no evidence suggesting that being mask-free would be helpful during a pandemic. "Available evidence overwhelmingly shows that mask use will provide a significant protective effect."

In a no holds bar attack on Congress during her reply in the Rajya Sabha after the discussion on Budget 2022-23, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman countered remarks by a member of the opposition party that not being an elected member of the House, she was not in touch with ground realities.

She hit out at Congress reminding them that former PM Manmohan Singh who led the country for 10 years was also a member of the Rajya Sabha. "Was he (Singh) disconnected from ground reality? Is that what is being suggested by the member who told me that I am unconnected to the ground? I am sorry, 10 years being guided by a Prime Minister from this august House, I do not expect a Member to suggest that to me."

Representing various political parties, several retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS) Central officers and Civil Society members, a joint memorandum signed by Members of Parliament has been submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday demanding not to proceed with amendments to IAS Cadre Rules.

In a joint statement by Jawhar Sircar and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, the MPs said, "We need to initiate action against Governors in opposition-ruling states, particularly in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra for interfering in day to day administration, criticising constitutional authorities including Chief Ministers, Speaker, State Election Commission."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took a swipe at former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for ‘failing’ to liberate Goa soon after India achieved independence from the British.

The Prime Minister claimed that Nehru allowed freedom fighters to be killed by the Portuguese police without offering any assistance. PM Modi was addressing a rally at an open ground in Mapusa town of North Goa on Thursday.

“Many people do not know about the fact that Goa became independent 15 years after independence of India. It had to stay enslaved for 15 years more. India had a force; it had the army, a strong navy. What could have been done in a few hours, the Congress delayed for 15 years. The people of Goa continued to fight for their freedom, satyagrahis braved bullets, and continued to tolerate atrocities but the Congress government did not help them,” the Prime Minister said.

There was heavy fog and bad weather conditions as UP saw a turnout of 60.1% across 58 constituencies in 11 districts of its western flank in the first phase of polling on Thursday. This was lower than the turnout during the 2017 elections at 63.5%. But final figures are yet to come, with many DMs in the region that voted saying it may go up. The voting process was peaceful, barring a few minor incidents.

Shamli, a political hotbed due to the Kairana "exodus", saw maximum voting at 69.4% till 6pm. It was followed by Muzaffarnagar at 65.3%, Baghpat 61.3%, Ghaziabad 54.7%, Gautam Budh Nagar 56.7%.