Following up on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package to restart the economy hit by the coronavirus pandemic, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday laid out a comprehensive plan focused on the revival of cash-strapped MSME sector.

In the first part of a series of announcements, Sitharaman said measures are focused on 'Getting back to work' which means enabling employees and employers, businesses, especially Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, to get back to production and workers back to gainful employment.

Recording the highest single-day count of 1,495 new COVID-19 cases, the tally in Maharashtra reached 25,922 on Wednesday, the official data released by the state's health department showed.

The state also reported 54 deaths, including 40 in worst-hit Mumbai, taking the death toll to 975.

The Delhi Metro has started preparations for the resumption of train services and protocol for social distancing is being worked upon although the date of opening is not been finalised, the DMRC said on Wednesday.

Metro services in the national capital were suspended on March 25 as the nationwide lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus began. The lockdown has since been extended twice and the curring phase is due to end on May 17.

Tipplers in most part of Maharashtra won't have to queue for liquor as the state will start home delivery from May 15, an order issued by the state excise department on Wednesday said.

The decision has been taken to avoid crowding at shops amid the lockdown to stop the spread of novel coronavirus.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said coronavirus outbreaks has provided an opportunity for India to become self-reliant and announced a Rs 20 lakh crore package for the purpose.

Addressing the nation on the COVID-19 outbreak, Modi said the crisis that an unprecedented crisis has emerged but in this battle, we not only need to protect ourselves but also have to keep moving forward.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday indicated that the nationwide lockdown to stop the spread of novel coronavirus will be extended but will have completely different contours and rules.

In a televised address to the nation, Modi said that Lockdown 4.0 will be completely different from those seen yet in its guidelines and rules.

India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki on Tuesday resumed operations at its Manesar plant in Haryana after about 50 days of closure due to the coronavirus-enforced lockdown.

The company has initiated the work on a single shift basis.

Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) is the latest carmaker to restart operations in the third phase of the nationwide lockdown which began on May 4 and will last till May 17.

After the successful first phase of 'Vande Bharat Mission' to repatriate stranded Indian citizens abroad, the government has planned 149 more flights to 31 countries between May 16 and May 22 during the second phase of mega repatriation effort.

Air India is planning to operate 149 repatriation flights to evacuate Indian citizens from 31 countries, officials said.

A high-powered committee constituted by the Maharashtra government has recommended the release of around 17,000 inmates from jails across the state to decongest prisons amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Around 50% of state's prisoners will be released on emergency parole amid fears that the coronavirus may spread to Maharashtra's prisons.

A team of researchers in Chennai’s National Hub for Healthcare Instrumentation Development (NHHID) have come up with a Bluetooth-based thermometer that can not only detect fever but also communicate with a smartphone app and share the location. It is meant to aid authorities in identifying and isolating clusters of cases where fever are prevalent. After development, prototyping and preliminary testing, the initial batch of 1000 thermometers is being manufactured.

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