RBI open to bad bank proposals: Das

• On 19 December, Economic Affairs Secretary Tarun Bajaj had said the government is exploring all options, including setting up of a bad bank, to improve the health of the country's banking sector

Covid vaccination drive: Don't make mistake of ignoring second dose, says Modi

• PM Narendra Modi said two weeks after the second Covid-19 vaccine dose, a person will build immunity against coronavirus
• 'Listen to the experts about the gap to be kept,' PM Modi said

Serum Institute chief Adar Poonawalla takes covid vaccine

• Adar Poonawalla took to Twitter and shared a video on his account of taking the Covishield vaccine himself

Don't believe in rumours, listen to experts: Kejriwal on mega vaccination drive

• Kejriwal urged people not to believe in rumours and listen to experts who say COVID-19 vaccines are safe
• The vaccination drive has started at 81 centres in Delhi

Covid vaccination drive: AIIMS health worker first to get covid vaccine in India

• Doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers are first in the line to get the covid-19 vaccine

HDFC Bank Q3 profit seen at ₹7,818 crore

• Loan book grew about 16% year-on-year to ₹10.8 trillion in Q3 FY21, which Emkay said was mainly driven by retail (festive pick-up) and continued momentum in working capital corporate loans

WhatsApp delays privacy update plan after backlash

• WhatsApp users received a notification this month that it was preparing a new privacy policy and terms, and it reserved the right to share some user data with the Facebook app

Indian vaccine will work as 'sanjeevani' in fight against covid: Harsh Vardhan

Harsh Vardhan said that misinformation is being spread about the vaccines and urged the media to help in dispelling the rumours.

Consent forms for Bharat Biotech's Covaxin shot, compensation for adverse effect

• Beneficiaries receiving Covaxin will have to sign a consent form, which assures medical care and compensation if any adverse effect was found linked to the Bharat Biotech's coronavirus vaccine

How the largest vaccination drive in India is being conducted in various states

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the made-in-India vaccines being rolled out will ensure a decisive victory for the country over Covid 19
• Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said this is probably the biggest immunisation campaign against COVID anywhere in the world.

PM Modi launches world's biggest vaccination drive. Highlights

• Everyone was asking as to when the vaccine will be available. It is available now. I congratulate all the countrymen on this occasion: PM Modi
• A total of 3006 session sites across all states and union territories will be virtually connected during the launch

Who should avoid taking the Covid vaccine? Harsh Vardhan points out

• Union Health Minister says pregnant women and lactating mothers should not take the Covid jabs
• Someone who had an adverse reaction to a previous Covid vaccine dose or allergic to any other vaccine should not take the jab for the time being

Mutual funds contribute to environment sustainability on behalf of ESG investors

• ICICI Prudential AMC contributes for planting of over 50,000 tree saplings on behalf of its ESG fund investors
• Kotak Mahindra AMC becomes signatory to Climate Action 100+

How to use flexi and sweep-in fixed deposit facility effectively

• If you make withdrawals frequently from your savings account which is linked with flexi and sweep in fixed deposit facilities, you will lose out on interest
• Sweep in and flexi- fixed deposits are particularly useful for building up your emergency funds

'Prarambh': PM Modi to address Startup India International Summit today

Today is the second and final day of the summit that aims to reimagine the importance of collaboration between countries to further startup ecosystems

50 plus flights delayed at Delhi airport due to dense fog

• This is the third time this season -- after December 8 and January 1 -- that visibility dropped to zero metres in Delhi

India records 15,158 cases of covid as it gears up for largest vaccination drive

• The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,01,79,715 pushing the national COVID-19 recovery rate to 96.56%

Norway warns of vaccination risks for sick patients after 23 people die

Norwegian officials said 23 people had died in the country a short time after receiving their first dose of the vaccine

As Facebook loses traction, Instagram gains new users in small towns and cities

Instagram has gained new users among older generations even while retaining young users, the latest round of the Yougov-Mint-CPR Millennial Survey shows. The survey also shows that users across age groups are spending more time on video streaming platforms than before.

US tells India that it is unlikely to get a waiver on S-400 purchase from Russia

United States tells India that it is unlikely to get a waiver on S-400 purchase from Russia: Reuters.

Covid 19 vaccination: Modi says those who are at high risk will get jabs first

• While launching the nationwide vaccination drive, Prime Minister lauded scientists who were involved in the vaccine research
• He requests citizens not to make the mistake of taking off the mask and not maintaining social distancing

Budget 2021: Switching to the new tax regime

Making an apt choice between availing the benefits of tax exemptions and deductions (existing tax regime) versus low income tax slabs with no exemptions and deductions (new regime)

Delhi: Flights, trains delayed as dense fog engulfs national capital

Delhi and its adjoining areas woke up to a thick blanket of fog this morning that hit road, rail and air traffic due to very poor visibility.

DHFL lenders vote in Piramal’s favour

Majority back Piramal’s ₹38,250 crore offer for troubled NBFC

Global Covid-19 death toll passes two million

• The WHO on Friday called for a worldwide acceleration in vaccine rollouts -- as well as a ramp-up in efforts to study the sequencing of the virus, in order to tackle troubling new strains emerging around the world
• Many countries have meanwhile doubled down on restrictions as Covid-19 cases mount

Is ULIP a good investment to save for child's future?

ULIP plans have liquidity problem as you cannot get money from your ULIP investments before completion of five years even if you surrender them before five years.

Budget 2021: 'Annuities from insurance companies should be tax free'

As per the GST, life Insurance falls under the 18% tax rate. We believe that a reduction in GST from 18% to 12% or even lower is required.

Dr Reddy's gets DCGI nod to conduct phase 3 clinical trials for SputnikV vaccine

• The phase 3 study of Sputnik V will be conducted on 1500 subjects as part of the randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study in India

Snapdeal terms USTR report placing it on Notorious Markets List 'ill-informed'

Snapdeal and four Indian shopping complexes have figured in the latest 2020 Review of Notorious Markets

PM Modi to flag off 8 trains tomorrow to boost connectivity to Statue of Unity

The eight trains being flagged off will connect Kevadiya to Varanasi, Dadar, Ahmedabad, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Rewa, Chennai and Pratapnagar

WHO team in Wuhan says 'World may never find patient zero of Covid-19'

• A WHO-led team investigating the origins of Covid-19 is to hold virtual meetings with its Chinese hosts in Wuhan, where the pandemic first emerged more than a year ago

Apple considers foldable iPhone; minor changes planned for 2021 models

Apple testing in-screen fingerprint scanner for next iPhones and an upgraded iPad Pro with new screen also in the works

Indian national pleads guilty in robocall scam case worth $8 million

• The Department of Justice said Shehzadkhan Pathan's scams disproportionately targeted elderly victims, many of whom suffered substantial financial hardship. In total, Pathan is responsible for defrauding over 5,000 US victims of at least $8 million

Centre controlling bird flu, says properly cooked poultry safe for consumption

• Steps to make the general public aware of the disease are being undertaken

PM flags off first phase of vaccination drive today

• THE Co-WIN platform will play a critical role in the immunization programme
• Software modifications, lessons learnt from the platform may be incorporated in UIP

Trump plans to leave White House early on Wednesday to avoid Biden Inauguration

President Donald Trump, who had already said he will not attend President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, is planning a ceremonial farewell at Joint Base Andrews, the base outside Washington where Air Force One is headquartered

Virus fears return to haunt markets

The BSE Sensex closed at 49,034.67, down 549.49 points or 1.11%. The Nifty closed at 14,433.70, down 161.90 points or 1.11%