The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday issued a new academic calendar for universities amid the lockdown over coronavirus, recommending examinations in July in states where the situation has normalised.

The new 2020-21 academic session for freshers to begin in universities from September and for already enrolled students in August, the UGC said.

The Central Government on Wednesday allowed migrant workers, tourists, students and other people, who are stranded in different parts of the country, to move to their respective destinations with certain conditions.

In an order, the Ministry of Home Affairs said buses shall be used for transport of such groups of stranded people and these vehicles will be sanitised and will have to follow safe social distancing norms in seating.

The Centre on Wednesday hinted that the ongoing nationwide lockdown is likely to be extended beyond May 3 but many districts will considerable relaxations from restrictions.

The nationwide lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 in a bid to combat the coronavirus threat. The 21-day lockdown which ended on April 14 was further extended till May 3.

Low cost airline SpiceJet has told its pilots that most of them will not get paid for the months of April and May. The airline instead will roster its pilots in a way that most get chances to operate the company's cargo aircraft in order to get minimal pay. Pilots who are operating cargo aircraft are getting paid according to the hours they fly.

SpiceJet has five freighter aircraft which are ferrying cargo like medical and food supplies within India and abroad.

Amazon India on Wednesday said it had introduced a partner support fund to help small and medium businesses (SMBs) heavily reliant on the company. It noted in a statement that SMBs across India had been financially impacted due to the nationwide lockdown in force to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

This Amazon fund for SMBs in logistics would be made available to its delivery service partners and select transportation partners in India to help adjust their business models to the new realities posed by the lockdown, it said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday evening gave a precise no-nonsense reply to the Maharashtra state government's concern regarding the alleged politics of 'communalisation' around the killing of two priests in the Bulandshahr district.

Yogi said that under his leadership, an uncompromising rule of law betides Uttar Pradesh and that the Shiv Sena leadership should stop worrying about events that transpire in Uttar Pradesh and start worrying about Maharashtra more.

Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman on late Tuesday night targetted Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Randeep Singh Surjewala and said that the Congress party's claims regarding the corporate loan write-off have attempted to 'mislead people in a brazen manner'.

Notably, the matter concerns a recent reply by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to an RTI query, which states that outstanding loans amounting to Rs 68,607 crore of top 50 wilful bank loan defaulters in the country have been technically written off till September 30, 2019.

In extremely sad news, Irrfan Khan passed away at the age of 54. The actor was admitted to Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai after suffering from colon infection. The sad news was tweeted by Irrfan's Piku director Shoojit Sircar. He tweeted, My dear friend Irfaan. You fought and fought and fought. I will always be proud of you.. we shall meet again.. condolences to Sutapa and Babil.. you too fought, Sutapa you gave everything possible in this fight. Peace and Om Shanti. Irfaan Khan salute.

US President Donald Trump doubled down on China for failing to tame the coronavirus at its very origin, saying it has led to 184 countries "going through hell", as several American lawmakers demanded steps to reduce dependence on Beijing for manufacturing and minerals.

The death toll due to COVID-19 crossed 900 and the number of infected cases neared 30,000 in the country on Tuesday, according to the Union Health Ministry.

As per the latest update provided by the ministry, the number of active COVID-19 cases in India stands at 22,010 as 7,026 people were cured and discharged, and one patient migrated.

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