Highlights: Pakistan foreign ministry wishes Hindus in the country and across the globe a ‘very Happy Holi'

Pakistan foreign ministry took to Twitter on Thursday to wish the Hindu community of the country and across the globe a “very Happy Holi”. “May this festival of colours be a source of joy and festivity,” the post on the micro-blogging site further read.

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Shivraj Singh Chouhan along with his wife Sadhna Singh perform ‘Holika Dahan’ ahead of tomorrow's Holi festival in Jaipur and Bhopal, respectively.

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker T Seetaram on Thursday prohibited the members from carrying mobile phones into the House, alleging that the opposition Telugu Desam legislators were recording the proceedings and circulating them to the media, reports PTI.

Some dissenting senior Congress leaders, on Wednesday met at the residence of former Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad for the second day in a row

Delhi on Thursday registered 148 new Covid-19 cases and one death, taking the tally of active cases to 610. The positivity rate now stands at 0.47%, according to data shared by the health department.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday greeted the citizens of the country on the eve of Holi, saying the festival of colours is a living example of social harmony and togetherness.

Indian-American public health expert Dr Ashish Jha will take over as President Joe Biden's Covid-19 Response Coordinator next month, the White House announced on Thursday.

PM Modi & Australian PM Scott Morrison will hold the 2nd India-Australia virtual summit on 21st March, reports ANI.

Punjab's new CM Bhagwant Mann on Thursday announced that an anti-corruption helpline will be launched on 23rd March, Shaheed Diwas. People of the state will be able to lodge complaints on corruption via WhatsApp, reports ANI.

Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik's son has lodged an FIR after a person allegedly demanded ₹3 crore from him to get his father out on bail, reported news agency PTI.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) moves Supreme Court seeking directions to the State Election Commission to conduct Municipal Elections in Delhi in a free, fair and expeditious manner, without any interference from the Central government, reports news agency ANI.

The UP government has decided to lift all restrictions the in the state as Covid-19 cases remained under control over a period of time.

Now, swimming pools, water parks are allowed to reopen, anganbadi centres can function, and wedding and such events have no restrictions except following of mask wearing protocols, read the order issued by the additional chief secretary (home) Awanish Awasthi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India needs to develop at a faster pace to find its role while the new world order shapes up in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing a valedictory function of the 96th Common Foundation Course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie via video conferencing, Modi said that the whole world is looking at India. 

"In the circumstances created by COVID-19, new world order is emerging. In this new order, India has to develop itself at a faster pace," he noted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the new sports complex via video-conferencing and dedicates revamped Happy Valley complex to the nation.

Punjab's newly-elected MLAs swearing-in as members of the Legislative Assembly in Chandigarh. The MLAs administered the oath of office and secrecy by protem speaker, Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar.

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Services have been normalised. However, to avoid any further inconvenience, the system is still under observation. Passengers are requested to allow for some extra time in their commute, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation stated.

Over 3 lakh children between 12 and 14 years have received their first shot of Covid vaccine taking the total doses administered in the country to over 180.80 crore, according to Union health ministry data. The age group of 12-14 years is being administered with Biological E's intramuscular vaccine Corbevax, two doses of which are to be given 28 days apart.