Third Covid stimulus package on the cards

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 3

The Centre has hinted at another stimulus package to be announced shortly by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Finance Ministry is currently looking into the various suggestions and requests received for another stimulus package, said Economic Affairs Secretary Tarun Bajaj during a media briefing on Tuesday.

“We are discussing that. It is difficult for me to commit a date but we have received a lot of requests and comments from various sectors and we are looking into it. Very soon it will be unveiled by the FM,” he said.

The government has so far announced two stimulus packages — Rs 1.70 lakh crore PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, which was meant for the economically vulnerable, and Rs 20.97 lakh crore Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan to address supply-side measures and initiate structural economic reforms.

Bajaj played down the rate of inflation nearing the upper limit prescribed by the government, saying it was due to dislocations caused by local lockdowns.

Meanwhile, India’s Covid-19 graph is consistently declining except in the NCR, Kerala, Manipur and West Bengal. Active cases fell to 5,41,405 today with daily new infections settling at 38,310 — a record drop after 105 days. The last corresponding low was seen on July 22 when 37,724 cases were seen over 24 hours.

Testing at airport

New Delhi: The Delhi International Airport Limited on Tuesday said it had set up Covid-19 testing facility and all domestic and international passengers taking their flights from the IGI airport can now get themselves tested right before their departure.