India's COVID-19 caseload went past 65 lakh, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease crossed 55 lakh pushing the recovery rate to 84.13 per cent, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Sunday.

IMAGE: Health workers in personal protective equipment collect swab samples from migrants who returned from their village at a railway station during a rapid antigen testing campaign for the coronavirus disease on the outskirts of Mumbai. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

The total coronavirus cases mounted to 65,49,373 with 75,829 people testing positive for the infection in a day, while the death toll climbed to 1,01,782 with the virus claiming 940 lives in a span of 24 hours,the data updated at 8 am showed.

The total recoveries have surged to 55,09,966, while there are 9,37,625, active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 14.32 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

The COVID-19 case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.55 per cent.

IMAGE: Students undergo thermal scanning as they arrive to appear in compartmental exams of class 10th and 12th of UP Board amid the coronavirus pandemic, outside an examination centre, in Prayagraj. Photograph: PTI Photo

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23 and 40 lakh on September 5. It went past 50 lakh on September 16 and crossed 60 lakh on September 28.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, a cumulative total of 7,89,92,534 samples have been tested up to October 3 with 11,42,131 samples being tested on Saturday.

COVID-19 cases in India cross 65-lakh mark