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<ul><li>Gulf Oil recently completed 10 years of its association with <keyword id="13886" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chennai-Super-Kings">Chennai Super Kings</keyword>.</li><li>Its association with IPL as well as <keyword id="6354832" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ms-dhoni">MS Dhoni</keyword>, has helped the brand grab a bigger market share over the years, today it holds the No. 2 spot in the <keyword id="6447139" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lubricants">lubricants</keyword> industry.</li><li>We talk to <keyword id="288344" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ravi-Chawla">Ravi Chawla</keyword>, MD &amp; CEO, Gulf Oil Lubricants about what his expectations from this year's IPL is and how the league has helped it grow over the years.</li></ul>A brand new season of the <keyword id="6354831" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</keyword> (IPL) was kicked off over the weekend and as always, cricket has again been able to make people forget about the bigger troubles outside our doors. Over the years, IPL has become a cricketing tournament that has not just kept audiences glued to their screens, it has also helped brands accelerate their growth by giving them tremendous visibility. One such brand that has associated with the league, and has been able to grow its presence and popularity over the years is Gulf Oil. While it started its IPL journey by associating with King’s XI Punjab, it moved to partnering with Chennai Super Kings in 2011, a relationship it has kept for the last 10 years. The brand also has MS Dhoni as its face. Globally, the brand has associated with motorsports, announced a multi-year partnership with <keyword id="64813" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="McLaren">McLaren</keyword> covering Formula 1 and luxury supercars. It also invested on football by getting into a long-term partnership with <keyword id="6034" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manchester-United">Manchester United</keyword>. However, in India, when they wanted to increase their market share, cricket became the obvious choice, considering it is much more than a sport here. “We started our IPL journey with KXIP, we did a sponsorship for them for a couple of years and grew our business quite well from 2008. Later, CSK approached us and we joined them in 2010. We chose cricket because the aim was to take a sports platform which is like a religion in India and has a huge mass appeal. Over the years, IPL has not only captivated the youth, it has also become one of the biggest cricket tournaments in the world. It has a following that has only grown year-on-year. Our association with the league has really worked well for us. We have gathered from studies of AC Nielsen that tracked our investments on IPL, CSK and Dhoni that the associations have given us an ROI which we believe has been industry-leading. It has really helped us grow. Around 2007, we were in the sixth or seventh position but since our association, we have now reached the top two position in the lubrication industry,” explained Ravi Chawla, MD &amp; CEO, Gulf Oil Lubricants. The brand has also come up with various campaigns and has used Dhoni effectively. The brand’s current campaign showcased the long-haired Dhoni having a heart-to-heart with today’s Dhoni. The campaign was well-received and was talked about a lot. Speaking about the campaign, Chalwa said, “We recently upgraded our flagship 2-wheeler engine oil, Gulf Pride 4T. While previously the brand promise was about “Insta pick-up”, and it resonated strongly with bikers across the country, we improved the product to be able to now deliver ‘Consistent Insta Pick-up’ over thousands of kilometres and many years. As brand Gulf, we are already no. 2 when it comes to important consumer mind measures (or brand health measures). With this new launch and campaign, we intend to strengthen that spot further in terms of market share as well.” <div type="Youtube" id="-d024S5dd4U" title="Gulf Pride Presents Dhoni X Dhoni" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-d024S5dd4U/mqdefault.jpg"></div> “IPL and Dhoni, as a strategy, have worked very well for us. Whenever we come up with any communication, when it involves Dhoni and CSK, the traction gets multiplied. We have seen much higher trial rates from people who liked the product, and are also fans of Dhoni and CSK. So this is an association that will continue for us for the next few years too,” added Chawla. IPL is a big investment for most brands. For Gulf Oil, which spends between Rs 80-90 crore on advertising annual, IPL takes away a big chunk, nearly 15-20%. Most of its investments however goes on below-the-line activities. Recently, it also came up with an exclusive edition MS Dhoni tribute pack under its Pride engine oil range for a limited 2 months period which also saw a good uptake from its target audience. However, when it comes to this year's IPL edition, with no spectators allowed at stadiums, is he worried about the ROI? “Last year when IPL happened in September, we knew that it was going to be the soothing balm for the country. Everybody was at home with their families and it provided people with the entertainment that they would look forward to at the end of each day. In terms of numbers, Covid cases are increasing again which is a matter of concern. However, we know that people are eagerly waiting for this season to come too. We have already released our campaign and are hoping to catch a lot of eyeballs this year,” said Chawla.

The ROI we've got from associating with IPL, Chennai Super Kings and MS Dhoni has been industry-leading: Ravi Chawla, Gulf Oil India

<keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> is not only about larger-than-life stories and running around trees. The film industry has been entertaining us for decades with heart-warming stories, but what really doesn’t work well with the Indian audience are the movies with religion-based scripts. They rub the Indian audience in a wrong way. Take for instance the recent case of ‘Mohalla Assi’, a film based on religious issues that hasn’t been released but is already facing the ire. And this is not happening for the first time when religious overtones of a film have created celluloid controversy. Here are five such flicks, which made headlines due to their sensitive contents and were tagged ‘outrageous’. 
		 

Mohalla Assi 
 
 
 Directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, this Sunny Deol-starrer movie is in news due to its abusive language and portrayal of Lord <keyword id="33379" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Shiva">Shiva</keyword> in poor light. Following a petition, a court has recently restrained the makers of the film from releasing on July 3 till further orders. The court has observed that it might “hurt religious sentiments of the people” and said it should not hit theatres till the alleged offensive scenes and dialogues are edited. The film is based in the locality of Assi Ghat in the holy city of Varanasi. It is, reportedly, based on 2004 Hindi novel 'Kashi Ka Assi' written by Kashinath Singh. The movie also stars Ravi Kishan, Sakshi Tanwar in lead roles. 
 
<keyword id="6396827" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="PK">PK</keyword> 
 
 
 Many cases were registered against this <keyword id="6354633" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Rajkumar-Hirani">Rajkumar Hirani</keyword> film ever since its first poster was unveiled that had a nude <keyword id="6355923" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Aamir-Khan">Aamir Khan</keyword>, posing with a transistor. The movie, a satire on religious beliefs and superstitions, was released across India on December 19, 2014. Aamir Khan played an alien and unravels the ugly face of human greed. Hindutva groups took offence to certain scenes and dialogues while others criticized ‘PK’ that it “unnecessarily” mocked Hindu beliefs and rituals. Police lodged complaints against the film under Sections 153-A, 295-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, it did not affect the box office collection of ‘PK’, which has crossed Rs 650 crore mark. The film also stars <keyword id="6357860" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Anushka-Sharma">Anushka Sharma</keyword>, <keyword id="21678" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="sushant-singh">Sushant Singh</keyword> Rajput, Boman Irani, and <keyword id="7645" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sanjay-Dutt">Sanjay Dutt</keyword>. 
 
Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela 
 
 
 This <keyword id="6358308" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="sanjay-leela-bhansali">Sanjay Leela Bhansali</keyword> film was mired in controversy from the time its title was announced. The original name of the movie was ‘Ram-Leela’, but was changed to ‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, following a petition. According to the petitioner, actor <keyword id="106133" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ranveer-Singh">Ranveer Singh</keyword>, who played the role of Ram in the film, was a womanizer and his role was a character assassination of Lord <keyword id="52950" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rama">Rama</keyword>. A case was later filed against Bhansali, Ranveer Singh and <keyword id="598" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Deepika-Padukone">Deepika Padukone</keyword> for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of the people and promoting communal disharmony. However, the film was released on November 15, 2013 and collected over Rs 200 crore on the box office. 
 
Son of Sardaar 
 
 
 Directed by Ashwni Dhir, the film was tagged as objectionable by the Sikh community due to a Lord Shiva tattoo on actor <keyword id="4230" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ajay-Devgan">Ajay Devgan</keyword>’s chest and a couple of allegedly outrageous dialogues. He played the role of a Sikh protagonist in the movie. Being a producer, he assured the <keyword id="54270" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Shiromani-Gurdwara-Parbandhak-Committee">Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee</keyword> (SGPC) that the objectionable elements would be removed before its release. The actor also promised that a print of the film would be sent to the SGPC before the release. The movie was released on November 13, 2012 and also stars <keyword id="62210" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sonakshi-Sinha">Sonakshi Sinha</keyword>, <keyword id="6371319" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Juhi-Chawla">Juhi Chawla</keyword> and Sanjay Dutt. 
 
OMG-Oh My God 
 
 This Akshay Kumar-starrer was a mix of satire, fable and fantasy that brings audience’s attention towards the commercialisation of religion. Although the movie insists on the existence of God, it was not like by Hindutva groups. The story was an adaptation of a successful Gujarati play, which also became a hit in Hindi and Marathi languages. Directed by Umesh Shukla, the movie was released on September 28, 2012. An FIR was later lodged against the director, producers and actors of the film for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of the people. The movie also stars actors <keyword id="6357914" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Paresh-Rawal">Paresh Rawal</keyword> and <keyword id="14672" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mithun-Chakraborty">Mithun Chakraborty</keyword>. 
 
(Images: YouTube, Indiatimes)

5 movies that made headlines for the wrong reasons, thanks to religious content

<ul><li><keyword id="65724" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gulf-Oil">Gulf Oil</keyword> has curated the campaign to accustom its customers with the new norms of the world.</li><li>The campaign with <keyword id="6354832" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ms-dhoni">MS Dhoni</keyword> aims to invoke optimism in people in these difficult times. </li></ul>Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd has launched an animated video campaign featuring their brand ambassador MS Dhoni with the message #NewWayForward, emphasising the significance of having a positive outlook when we are all set to return to our daily routine post-lockdown. The campaign invokes optimism even as the world continues to combat <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19">Covid-19</keyword> -- often away from family and friends, and waiting for life to go back towards normalisation. However, the definition of normal has changed -- a world with social distancing as the new norm, prioritizing our health over everything, spending time with loved ones, being considerate towards others and being mindful of collective responsibility towards the environment, are what defines the new normal. <div type="Youtube" id="2H79lUwXLUE" title="Gulf New Way Forward" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2H79lUwXLUE/mqdefault.jpg"></div> The video focuses on the positive changes the pandemic will bring in our lives after the lockdown. It is a sensitive iteration of elemental and relevant actions that each one of us needs to remember going forward. Through this video, Gulf Oil and ‘Captain Cool’ MS Dhoni aim to restore hope in people readying to journey towards a better tomorrow. Ravi Chawla, Managing Director, Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd., said, “In these trying times, humankind has been facing some major setbacks. With the ‘new normal’, our lives won’t be the same. We have to be conscious of our actions and collectively work towards crafting a better future. As a responsible brand, we urge our valued customers to stay strong and embrace these changes positively, so that we may emerge stronger than before.” Commenting on the video, MS Dhoni, Brand Ambassador - Gulf Oil, said, “The world is going through an unprecedented event with Covid-19. While we tackle this situation, we have had some transforming share of learnings from it. As we move ahead, we should be thoughtful about and kind to one another. The all-new norms - social distancing, and sound physical, emotional, and spiritual health, will act as the cornerstone on which we will collectively lay the bedrock for a brighter tomorrow. Maybe this is the 2020 vision, not the one we hoped for but the one we actually need.” Chockalingam S, Creative Head, OPN Advertising, said, “The idea for the film came from a meeting while we were discussing the way forward with the Gulf team and Mr. Ravi Chawla said “This crisis is an opportunity for us to strive better, and that essentially sets the tone for the film”. The film represents Gulf Oil’s spirit of being mindful, optimistic, and progressive, and stars the brand ambassador for more than 10 years now – MS Dhoni. He has the ideal personality to spread positivity in these tough times.”

MS Dhoni’s latest animated ad with Gulf Oil is the dose of positivity you need today to cheer yourself up

<ul><li>Gulf Oil India has launched a new TVC with <keyword id="6354832" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ms-dhoni">MS Dhoni</keyword> and his younger self. </li><li>The campaign is conceptualised by <keyword id="910338" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="DDB-Mudra-Group">DDB Mudra Group</keyword>. </li></ul><keyword id="2549193" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gulf-Oil-Lubricants-India">Gulf Oil Lubricants India</keyword> has launched its new campaign #GulfDhonixDhoni. The campaign features MS Dhoni in a conversation with his younger self from 2005, reminiscing the successful journey through accolades and pictures. While they are talking about their two passions – Cricket &amp; Biking, the younger Dhoni is surprised to find his old bike in the garage that still functions as good as other bikes from the collection. The campaign aesthetically blends the similarities between the consistent performance of Gulf Oil’s brand ambassador, Dhoni on the cricket field and its product Gulf Pride engine oil which delivers Insta pick-up over many years and kilometres. The campaign strategically released on the 10th Anniversary of India’s 2011 World Cup Victory, one of the greatest sporting moments for Indian and Dhoni cricket fans. <div type="Youtube" id="LbCYK5h0DRk" title="Gulf Oil &amp; MS Dhoni's success mantra" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LbCYK5h0DRk/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Ravi Chawla, Managing Director &amp; CEO, Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd., said, “At Gulf, we pride ourselves on being an innovator and we seek to consistently push the envelope when it comes to our product quality and benefits. In keeping with this ethos, we recently upgraded our flagship 2-wheeler engine oil, Gulf Pride 4T. While previously the brand promise was about “Insta pick-up”, and it resonated strongly with bikers across the country, we bettered the product to be able to now deliver ‘Consistent Insta Pick-up’ over thousands of kilometres and many years. As brand Gulf, we are already no. 2 when it comes to important consumer mind measures (or brand health measures). With this new launch and campaign, we intend to strengthen that spot further in terms of market share as well.” <keyword id="1106781" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Mathew">Rahul Mathew</keyword>, Chief Creative Officer, DDB Mudra Group said, “Great brands should tell great stories. And with Dhoni, we had an engaging story that we could tell the world while building on the brand’s promise of consistent performance.” Commenting on the campaign, M S Dhoni, Brand Ambassador - Gulf Oil said, “I am delighted to be associated with a brand like Gulf Oil that is driven by passion to move forward. As an avid biker myself, I can very well connect with the brand’s proposition and product offerings. This campaign makes me nostalgic as I revisit my favourite cricketing moments including the winning shot at the 2011 World Cup Finals. It gave me a feel of how it would be to meet my younger self, what we would talk about and what I would advise him if we met.”

MS Dhoni takes a trip down the memory lane with his younger self in Gulf Oil India’s latest TVC

By Kunal Dutt and Asim Kamal(Eds: Recasting overnight story) New Delhi, Apr 15 () The first 21 days of the nationwide coronavirus lockdown recorded a spike of about 10,300 COVID-19 cases and over 340 deaths since March 25, and though the jury may still be out on the success of the unprecedented measure billed as the world's biggest shutdown, many medical experts feel that India would have been far worse without it.On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the countrywide lockdown for 19 additional days till May 3 to contain the spread of the pandemic even as the country saw a record jump of 1,463 new COVID-19 cases and 31 deaths in 24 hours, according to the Union health ministry.On March 24, when the prime minister announced a complete lockdown of the entire country for three weeks to try and halt the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, India had nearly 520 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 11 deaths, and after a week into the lockdown, the tally of cases reached 1,397 and 35 deaths on March 31, a jump of 878 cases and 24 deaths.At the end of two weeks of the lockdown on April 7, the cases had risen to 4,789 with 124 deaths, witnessing a spike of 3,392 cases and 89 deaths, and on Tuesday, the last day of the ongoing 21-day lockdown, the death toll due to the coronavirus stood at 339 with the number of cases soaring to 10,363.The third and final week of the lockdown saw a jump of 6,026 cases and 229 deaths.The government has maintained that if not for the lockdown and other containment measures such as contact tracing and isolation, these numbers would have been sky high and the situation in the country much worse, with the Union ministry asserting that according to a statistical analysis, the number of confirmed cases could have reached 8.2 lakh by April 15 in the absence of the lockdown and other containment measures.The ministry had earlier also stated that the rate of rise in confirmed cases would have been much lower, but for the Tablighi Jamaat event at Delhi's Nizamuddin last month.The spike in cases in the last few days has also been sharp with a rise of 1,000 cases reported on Saturday and an increase of 918 cases in the next 24 hours. A record 51 fatalities within 24 hours were reported on Monday, taking the death toll due to coronavirus to 324 and the number of cases in the country to 9,352.Though only a detailed study would be able to throw light on the success of the 21-day lockdown that was initially announced, medical experts say it was necessary and India's situation would have been even more precarious in its absence."I think it was a bold step (the first lockdown) and the situation demanded it. Our lockdown came much early compared to say in the US or Italy or other European countries, and you can see the number of cases in those countries, and compare it with ours," Dr Arvind Kumar, a noted lung surgeon at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told ."We have made gains in these 21 days, which will give the country time to prepare itself for the future phase of the battle against COVID-19 when it rises further," he said.Ravi Shekhar Jha, senior consultant and head of the pulmonology department, Fortis Escorts Faridabad, noted that in the last few days, the reported cases have risen rapidly."The doubling time of cases, which was 10 days earlier, has been reduced to seven days and then to even four days. But the lockdown has given us gains. Without it, the cases would have been far higher," Jha told .Dr Rajesh Chawla, pulmonologist at Apollo Hospital, said the number of cases has risen in the past several days and it will increase even more now."But the 21-day lockdown allowed the government and other stakeholders to prepare themselves to face the surge. We are still on the rising limb of the epidemic curve. But people learned social distancing, sneezing etiquettes and that helps in decelerating the spread of the virus," he said.Chawla, however, said the virus spread can only be slowed down and the infection cannot be stopped till "we find a vaccine". KND/ASK PYK RC

About 10,300 corona cases, 342 deaths during lockdown; experts say would have been worse without it

By Kunal Dutt and Asim Kamal(Eds: Updating with latest tally) New Delhi, Apr 14 () The first 21 days of the nationwide coronavirus lockdown has recorded a spike of about 10,300 COVID-19 cases and over 340 deaths since March 25, and though the jury may still be out on the success of the unprecedented measure billed as world's biggest shutdown, many medical experts feel India would have been far worse without it.On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the countrywide lockdown for 19 additional days till May 3 to contain the spread of the pandemic even as the country saw a record jump of 1,463 new COVID-19 cases and 31 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the Union health ministry.On March 24 when the prime minister announced a complete lockdown of the entire country for three weeks to try and halt the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, India had nearly 520 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 11 deaths, and after a week into the lockdown the tally of cases reached 1,397 and 35 deaths on March 31, a jump of 878 cases and 24 deaths. At the end of the two weeks of the lockdown on April 7, the cases had risen to 4,789 confirmed cases with 124 deaths, witnessing a spike of 3,392 cases and 89 deaths, and on Tuesday, the last day of the ongoing 21-day lockdown, the death toll due to the coronavirus stood at 339 with the number of cases soaring to 10,363. The third and final week of the lockdown saw a jump of 6,026 cases and 229 deaths. The government has maintained that if not for the lockdown and other containment measures such as contact tracing and isolation, these numbers would have been sky high and the situation in the country much worse, with the Union ministry asserting that according to a statistical analysis, the number of confirmed cases could have reached 8.2 lakh by April 15 in the absence of a lockdown and other containment measures. The ministry had earlier also stated that the rate of rise in conformed cases would have been much lower but for the Tablighi Jamaat event at Nizamuddin last month. The spike in cases in the last few days has also been sharp with a rise of 1,000 cases reported on Saturday and an increase of 918 cases in the next 24 hours. A record 51 fatalities within 24 hours was reported on Monday, taking the death toll due to coronavirus to 324 and the number of cases in the country climbed to 9,352. Though only a detailed study would be able to throw light on the success of the 21-day lockdown that was initially announced, medical experts say it was necessary and India's situation would have been even more precarious in its absence. "I think it was a bold step (the first lockdown) and the situation demanded it. Our lockdown came much early compared to say in the US or Italy or other European countries, and you can see the number of cases in those countries, and compare it with ours," Dr Arvind Kumar, a noted lung surgeon at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told . "We have made gains in these 21 days, which will give the country time to prepare itself for the future phase of the battle against COVID-19 when it rises further," he said. Ravi Shekhar Jha, Senior Consultant and Head of the Department, Pulmonology, Fortis Escorts Faridabad, noted that in the last few days, the reported cases have risen rapidly. "The doubling time of cases which was 10 days earlier has been reduced to seven days and then to even four days. But, the lockdown has given us gains. Without it, the cases would have been far higher," Jha told . Dr Rajesh Chawla, pulmonologist at Apollo Hospital, said the number of cases have risen in the past several days and it will increase even more now. "But, the 21-day lockdown allowed the government and other stakeholders to prepare themselves to face the surge. We are still on the rising limb of the epidemic curve. But, people learned social distancing, sneezing etiquettes, and that helps in decelerating the spread of the virus," he said. Chawla, however, said the virus spread can only be slowed down and the infection cannot be stopped till "we find a vaccine". KND/ASK PYKPYK

COVID-19: About 10,300 cases, 342 deaths in 21 days of lockdown; experts say it would have been worse without shutdown

By Kunal Dutt and Asim Kamal New Delhi, Apr 14 () The first 21 days of the nationwide coronavirus lockdown has recorded a spike of about 10,000 COVID-19 cases and over 320 deaths since March 25, and though the jury may still be out on the success of the unprecedented measure billed as world's biggest shutdown, many medical experts feel India would have been far worse without it.On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the countrywide lockdown for 19 additional days till May 3 to contain the spread of the pandemic even as the country reported 1,211 new COVID-19 cases and 31 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the Union health ministry.On March 24 when the prime minister announced a complete lockdown of the entire country for three weeks to try and halt the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, India had nearly 520 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 11 deaths, and after a week into the lockdown the tally of cases reached 1,397 and 35 deaths on March 31, a jump of 878 cases and 24 deaths.At the end of the two weeks of the lockdown on April 7, the cases had risen to 4,789 confirmed cases with 124 deaths, witnessing a spike of 3,392 cases and 89 deaths, and on Tuesday, the last day of the ongoing 21-day lockdown, the death toll due to the coronavirus stood at 339 with the number of cases soaring to 10,363.The third and final week of the lockdown saw a jump of 5,574 cases and 215 deaths.The government has maintained that if not for the lockdown and other containment measures such as contact tracing and isolation, these numbers would have been sky high and the situation in the country much worse, with the Union ministry asserting that according to a statistical analysis, the number of confirmed cases could have reached 8.2 lakh by April 15 in the absence of a lockdown and other containment measures.The ministry had earlier also stated that the rate of rise in conformed cases would have been much lower but for the Tablighi Jamaat event at Nizamuddin last month.The spike in cases in the last few days has also been sharp with a rise of 1,000 cases reported on Saturday and an increase of 918 cases in the next 24 hours. A record 51 fatalities within 24 hours was reported on Monday, taking the death toll due to coronavirus to 324 and the number of cases in the country climbed to 9,352.Though only a detailed study would be able to throw light on the success of the 21-day lockdown that was initially announced, medical experts say it was necessary and India's situation would have been even more precarious in its absence."I think it was a bold step (the first lockdown) and the situation demanded it. Our lockdown came much early compared to say in the US or Italy or other European countries, and you can see the number of cases in those countries, and compare it with ours," Dr Arvind Kumar, a noted lung surgeon at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told ."We have made gains in these 21 days, which will give the country time to prepare itself for the future phase of the battle against COVID-19 when it rises further," he said.Ravi Shekhar Jha, Senior Consultant and Head of the Department, Pulmonology, Fortis Escorts Faridabad, noted that in the last few days, the reported cases have risen rapidly. "The doubling time of cases which was 10 days earlier has been reduced to seven days and then to even four days. But, the lockdown has given us gains. Without it, the cases would have been far higher," Jha told .Dr Rajesh Chawla, pulmonologist at Apollo Hospital, said the number of cases have risen in the past several days and it will increase even more now. "But, the 21-day lockdown allowed the government and other stakeholders to prepare themselves to face the surge. We are still on the rising limb of the epidemic curve. But, people learned social distancing, sneezing etiquettes, and that helps in decelerating the spread of the virus," he said.Chawla, however, said the virus spread can only be slowed down and the infection cannot be stopped till "we find a vaccine". KND/ASK PYKPYK

COVID-19: Nearly 10,000 cases, 330 deaths in 21 days of lockdown; experts say it would have been worse without shutdown

Mumbai, Jan 28 () Lubes maker Gulf Oil expects the government to announce vehicle scrappage policy and reforms in the Budget -- to be presented on February 1 -- to boost demand in slowdown-hit auto sector.
"We majorly expect some reforms to boost the auto sector as it has seen a significant slowdown. We hope to see measures aimed at increasing liquidity in the hands of consumers (including possible personal income tax benefits) which can stimulate spending in this sector.
"We hope to see a robust implementation of the auto scrappage policy. We hope the government continues its thrust on infrastructure to strengthen and propel us forward on the path to higher growth once more," Gulf Oil MD Ravi Chawla said.
In 2019, the automobile industry recorded its worst-ever sales decline in two decades, with an unprecedented slowdown hampering vehicle offtake across segments. 
As per the data released by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) early this month, all vehicle segments reported de-growth last year as low consumer sentiments, weak rural demand and economic slowdown took toll on sales.
Overall wholesale of vehicles during the year across categories, including passenger vehicles, two-wheelers and commercial vehicles, saw a decline of 13.77 per cent in 2019 at 2,30,73,438 units as against 2,67,58,787 units in 2018.
Stating that the long-term outlook for the automotive industry is "very strong" as both demographically and economically, Citroen India senior vice president for sales and marketing, Roland Bouchara said it is well-positioned for growth in coming years.
"We are expecting a pragmatic budget with key focus on providing impetus to manufacturing sector," he added. 
The sector will also benefit from the government's strong focus on boosting infrastructure, Bouchara said.
"We hope the government further encourages the automobile industry and lays down long-term roadmap to help the sector plan its investments in new technologies and skill development," Bouchara said.
Tata Technologies believe the government should continue to focus on 'Make in India' in the forthcoming Budget and provide further incentives for investment in manufacturing units, its Chief Financial Officer, J K Gupta said.
"Further, GST rationalisation for automotive products can provide great support to OEMs who have been fighting the continued automobile slowdown, while supporting the transition from BS4 to BS6," Gupta stated. IAS BAL
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Gulf Oil expects reforms to boost auto sector in Budget

New Delhi, Apr 15 () India needs to "significantly ramp up" the number of tests done across the country to trace COVID-19 infection cases if the pandemic is to be contained in time, experts said.The death toll due to coronavirus crossed 375 while the number of cases in the country mounted to nearly 11,500 on Wednesday, according to the Union Health Ministry.Data obtained from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said, till April 14, the number of samples tested stood at 2,44,893, an increase of 27,339 from the corresponding figure till the previous day (2,17,554).Experts feel the figures are modest for a court of the size of 1.3 billion and "much more number of tests" are needed to combat COVID-19 outbreak in the country.According to worldometers.info which maintains a global database on coronavirus cases and tests conducted, the US, where over 26,000 COVID-19 deaths have occurred, has done 31,00,387 tests averaging about 9,367 per million of population.The figures for India is 2,44,893 tests averaging 177 per million of population.Spain and Italy, two countries which have also seen several thousands of fatalities, have done 6,00,000 and 10,73,689 tests respectively.Dr Ravi Shekhar Jha, Senior Consultant and Head of the Department of Pulmonology at Fortis Escorts, Faridabad, said India is going in the right direction but it is not enough."Given the massive size of our population, the number of tests needs to be ramped up and should be conducted more rigorously. We need to do effective contact tracing and test them so that those people in turn do not infect others," he told .The number of samples tested till March 28 stood at 27,688, a rise of 7,038 from the corresponding figure till March 27, according to ICMR data."The rise in number of cases happening is also because in the last few weeks during the lockdown, people who came in contacts with affected people were traced and tested. This has to be increased manifold if we have to contain coronavirus in time, otherwise it will be a difficult affair," Jha said.Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, Group Medical Director at Max Healthcare, said it has been decided to conduct coronavirus tests on "all our workforce and patients across the country"."Priority will be to test our admitted patients and new patients being brought in. And, the front-line healthcare workers," he said.India is doing lot of tests, but it is not enough compared to what the US and Singapore and other countries are doing, he said, adding, "much more testing needs to be done".Another expert from a leading private hospital here, who did not wish to be named, said, "The volume of tests conducted need to be ramped up significantly to capitalise on the gains from the lockdown".Two kinds of diagnostic tests are being currently used in India -- RT-PCR test and rapid antibodies test, according to global health norms.A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test is a laboratory technique combining reverse transcription of RNA into DNA that detects the virus while the antibody tests, which use blood, detect the body's response to the virus.Dr Arvind Kumar, noted lung surgeon at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said the key to fighting the COVID-19 battle is "testing, testing and testing" and then "quarantining and treating"."The more number of people we screen, the greater our chance of winning this fight against COVID-19. The number of tests have to be significantly increased," he said.In Delhi, which has seen 1561 cases and 30 deaths till April 14, over 16,000 samples been tested till that period."Number of cases were rising and they will increase even more now, as more testing is done. We are still on the rising limb of the epidemic curve. Also, people are learning social distancing, sneezing etiquette, which are important elements in this fight," said Dr Rajesh Chawla, a pulmonologist at Apollo Hospital.  KND PLB  ZMN

India needs to test coronavirus cases more rigorously: Experts

(Eds: Recasting overnight story) New Delhi, Apr 16 () India needs to "significantly ramp up" the number of tests done across the country to trace COVID-19 infection if the virus is to be contained in time, experts said. The death toll due to coronavirus rose to 414 and the number of cases to 12,380 in the country on Thursday, according to the Union Health Ministry. While the number of active COVID-19 cases is 10,477, as many as 1,488 people have been cured and discharged and one had migrated, it said. Data obtained from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said, till April 14, the number of samples tested stood at 2,44,893, an increase of 27,339 from the corresponding figure till the previous day (2,17,554).Experts feel the figures are modest for a count of the size of 1.3 billion and "much more number of tests" are needed to combat COVID-19 outbreak in the country.According to worldometers.info which maintains a global database on coronavirus cases and tests conducted, the US, where over 26,000 COVID-19 deaths have occurred, has done 31,00,387 tests averaging about 9,367 per million of population.The figures for India is 2,44,893 tests averaging 177 per million of population.Spain and Italy, two countries which have also seen several thousands of fatalities, have done 6,00,000 and 10,73,689 tests respectively.Dr Ravi Shekhar Jha, Senior Consultant and Head of the Department of Pulmonology at Fortis Escorts, Faridabad, said India is going in the right direction but it is not enough."Given the massive size of our population, the number of tests needs to be ramped up and should be conducted more rigorously. We need to do effective contact tracing and test them so that those people in turn do not infect others," he told .The number of samples tested till March 28 stood at 27,688, a rise of 7,038 from the corresponding figure till March 27, according to ICMR data."The rise in number of cases happening is also because in the last few weeks during the lockdown, people who came in contact with affected people were traced and tested. This has to be increased manifold if we have to contain coronavirus in time, otherwise it will be a difficult affair," Jha said.Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, Group Medical Director at Max Healthcare, said it has been decided to conduct coronavirus tests on "all our workforce and patients across the country"."Priority will be to test our admitted patients and new patients being brought in. And, the front-line healthcare workers," he said.India is doing lot of tests, but it is not enough compared to what the US and Singapore and other countries are doing, he said, adding, "much more testing needs to be done".Another expert from a leading private hospital here, who did not wish to be named, said, "The volume of tests conducted need to be ramped up significantly to capitalise on the gains from the lockdown".Two kinds of diagnostic tests are being currently used in India -- RT-PCR test and rapid antibodies test, according to global health norms.A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test is a laboratory technique combining reverse transcription of RNA into DNA that detects the virus while the antibody tests, which use blood, detect the body's response to the virus.Dr Arvind Kumar, noted lung surgeon at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said the key to fighting the COVID-19 battle is "testing, testing and testing" and then "quarantining and treating"."The more number of people we screen, the greater our chance of winning this fight against COVID-19. The number of tests have to be significantly increased," he said.In Delhi, which has seen 1561 cases and 30 deaths till April 14, over 16,000 samples been tested till that period."Number of cases were rising and they will increase even more now, as more testing is done. We are still on the rising limb of the epidemic curve. Also, people are learning social distancing, sneezing etiquette, which are important elements in this fight," said Dr Rajesh Chawla, a pulmonologist at Apollo Hospital. KND PLB ZMN DVDV

India needs to step up coronavirus testing: experts

By Kunal Dutt and Asim Kamal(Eds: SPECIAL) New Delhi, Apr 10 () Despite India reporting nearly 200 COVID-19 deaths in last one month, the country's death rate of about 3 per cent is lower than the global rate, and also much lower than several European countries like the UK, Italy and Spain, according to some medical experts.India had reported its first COVID-19 death from Karnataka on March 10. Suggesting that a relatively young Indian population may be one of the reasons for the low mortality rate due to the pandemic, experts have attributed the high number of fatalities in countries like Italy and Spain to their elderly population which are more susceptible to developing complications after contracting the infection.According to the data shared by the Union health ministry earlier this week, about 63 per cent deaths have been reported among people aged 60 and above, 30 per cent among people between 40 to 60 years and seven per cent among people below 40 years. India so far has reported 6,412 confirmed cases of coronavirus with a death toll of nearly 200, making it 3.1 per cent death rate ---percentage of deaths with respect to the total number of confirmed cases. As per the US official figures, that country has reported 4,27,460 COVID-19 cases with 14,696 deaths, amounting to a death rate of 3.4 per cent. However, according to John Hopkins University and Medicine, 4,66,299 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the US with 16,686 deaths (death rate of 3.57 per cent). However, death rate is high in Europe. As per official figures from European countries, Spain has death rate of 9.73 per cent (1,57,022 COVID-19 cases and 15,843 deaths) and Italy having a death rate of 12.72 per cent(143,626 cases and 18,279 deaths). The UK has reported a death rate of over 12 per cent (65,077 cases and 7,978 deaths). All much higher than India.Only Germany seems to be able to contain the spread of the fast-spreading virus effectively with 1,13,525 confirmed cases and 2,373 deaths reported so far, recording about a 2.09 per cent death rate.India's death rate of COVID-19 is also lower than the global death rate of 5.98 per cent with a total of 1,610,055 cases and 96,365 deaths worldwide, according to data and statistics website worldometer.Dr Ravi Shekhar Jha, Senior Consultant and Head of the Department, Pulmonology, Fortis Escorts Faridabad, said in Italy, Spain and the US, "older population has been affected more compared to India where the fatalities have been less, perhaps because our population is fairly young".Jha also attributed an early and strict lockdown in India as one of the reasons that may have helped in containing the COVID-19 cases. He, however, noted that in India, the COVID-19 mortality rates differed from region to region e.g about 10 per cent in Indore to about 1 per cent in Haryana.Jha lauded Germany for being able to keep the death rate from coronavirus very low, because of its "excellent healthcare system".Dr Rommel Tickoo, associate Director, internal medicine, Max healthcare, agreed with Jha, saying Germany has been able to keep the fatalities on lower side with their good healthcare system."Two reasons can be attributed to less deaths in India--- firstly, the high-risk group of people aged 60 and above being affected less compared to in Europe and the US, and secondly, less severity of the virus in India," he told . "In India, the 20-40 age group account for over 40 per cent of the cases and above 60 age group about 19 per cent. So, in India the younger population is getting affected more, and hence, perhaps the less number of deaths," he said. Earlier this week, the health ministry had said people aged below 40 years account for 47 per cent of the total confirmed cases, those between 40 and 60 for 34 per cent, and those aged 60 years and above account for 19 per cent.Dr Rajesh Chawla, a pulmonologist at Apollo Hospital, also feels India having a relatively younger population compared to the Europe could be a reason for less fatalities in the country. "Also, the 18-60 is an active age group compared to people who are 60 years and older, many of whom have comorbid conditions. Italy has a large geriatric population," he said while elaborating on the reasons why the virus could impact the older population more. Comorbidity refers to the existence of multiple disorders in the same person. KND/ASK PYKPYK

India's COVID-19 death rate lower than many developed nations like US, UK: Medical experts

2020 IPL auction will see these 332 players trying their luck under the hammer

In terms of ambition, the Champions League T20 was to be the perfect tool to showcase, and popularise, franchise cricket. It was modelled on the UEFA Champions League, with clubs from cricketing nations teaming up for a short T20 event. But into its sixth edition, it hasn't delivered on the promise front. The <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> in India is still the benchmark, and the involvement of international teams somehow fails to pique interest among fans who get behind their local franchises (a reason to include a fourth Indian team). From September 13, however, up until October 4, the disappointments of the England tour will be forgotten, and cricket's shortest format will once again drum up the entertainment before the home season in India gets under way. 
 
In many ways, the timeframe set apart for the Champions League is about perfect for a T20 competition. The IPL lasts two months; back-to-back games in the middle of the Indian summer making it an annual TV soap opera. The expectancy of home advantage is less; teams from South Africa, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand make it a more global event, and the chance to see several international players, who could soon be seen being snapped up by several franchises in next year's IPL. The Champions League then is the IPL's poorer cousin, but the unpredictable nature of the competition could make it for interesting viewing. 
 
Chhattisgarh's Raipur International Cricket Stadium will host the six qualifiers featuring Lahore Lions (Pakistan), Mumbai Indians (India), Northern Knights (New Zealand) and Southern Express (Sri Lanka), before the main league kicks off with games scheduled in Hyderabad, Mohali and Bangalore. Gocricket.com takes a look at the teams making up the competition: 
 
Kolkata Knight Riders: The IPL champions gained direct entry into the league stages by virtue of their title triumph a few months ago, but have been hampered by injuries to Morne Morkel and <keyword id="258312" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Chris-Lynn">Chris Lynn</keyword>, who have been ruled out of the tournament, as was Shakib Al Hasan, serving a disciplinary sanction by the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The Indian domestic season was over before the IPL meaning several Indian players will be without practice, a situation that forced <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/yusuf-pathan/30001/4096">Yusuf Pathan</a>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/piyush-chawla/30001/4089">Piyush Chawla</a>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/manvinder-bisla/30001/27013">Manvinder Bisla</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kuldeep-yadav/30001/4133">Kuldeep Yadav</a> to undergo a boot camp in South Africa. <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/gautam-gambhir/30001/4043">Gautam Gambhir</a>, the inspirational two-time IPL-winning captain, however, is back playing franchise cricket after a nightmarish return to the Indian team on the England tour. Gambhir would have to brush aside that traumatic experience to lead his troops. 
 
Perth Scorchers: Like KKR, Perth Scorchers triumphed at the Big Bash League, but like the Indian franchise, they too come into the tournament with a depleted squad. Simon Katich was their leading run-getter but is not available, nor is Shaun Marsh, who was injured. The franchise will rely heavily on <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mitchell-marsh/1001/27022">Mitchell Marsh</a>, who is coming off a successful trip with the Australian team in Zimbabwe. 
 
Dolphins: Winners of South Africa's domestic T20 competition, Dolphins make their Champions League bow under former South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Morne van Wyk, who has previously turned out for KKR. With <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/david-miller/8001/8076">David Miller</a> opting to play for Kings XI Punjab, the Dolphins squad will miss the services of their explosive batsman, but <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kyle-abbott/8001/29036">Kyle Abbott</a>'s presence in the bowling line-up gives them some international quality. 
 
Barbados Tridents: The 2014 Caribbean Premier League champions will be without <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/dwayne-smith/26001/10043">Dwayne Smith</a>, Shoaib Malik and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kieron-pollard/31001/10060">Kieron Pollard</a> but still have enough quality to surprise bigger teams. Zimbabwe's hard-hitting ODI captain <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/elton-chigumbura/11001/11033">Elton Chigumbura</a>, James Franklin and <keyword id="1319274" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Dilshan-Munaweera">Dilshan Munaweera</keyword> will bolster the batting, while Ravi Rampaul will lead the bowling attack. 
 
Kings XI Punjab: KXIP turned out to be the surprise package of the IPL and despite falling short of a maiden title, turned heads with their all-round performances. Despite an injury to Sandeep Sharma, who was a revelation with the new ball, the KXIP line-up screams quality under the astute leadership of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/george-bailey/29001/26015">George Bailey</a>. Add to that the explosive batting order comprising <keyword id="7567" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Virender-Sehwag">Virender Sehwag</keyword>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/glenn-maxwell/29001/36006">Glenn Maxwell</a>, David Miller and Thisara Perera. 
 
Hobart Hurricanes: Bailey's absence from the Hurricanes has given discarded Australian wicketkeeper-batsman <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/tim-paine/1001/1088">Tim Paine</a> a chance to step up. Former Pakistan captain <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/shoaib-malik/7001/7011">Shoaib Malik</a> will give the side important advice about playing on subcontinent surfaces, while Chennai Super Kings' pace bowling duo – Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus – would know a thing or two about their former team. Aiden Blizzard and Ben Dunk add muscle to their batting order. 
 
Cape Cobras: After falling two runs short of the Ram Slam T20 title, Cape Cobras will be out to go one better at the Champions League with a team full of South Africa's top players. Justin Ontong has at his service the class of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/hashim-amla/8001/8034">Hashim Amla</a>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/jp-duminy/8001/8053">JP Duminy</a> and Vernon Philander, and their most successful domestic spinner, Dane Piedt. Veterans Justin Kemp and Robin Peterson are sure to lift the team with their all-round skills. 
 
Chennai Super Kings: CSK are out to emulate Mumbai Indians by attempting a second title. Free from international duty, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ms-dhoni/26001/4057">MS Dhoni</a> will look to his franchise to give his much-criticised captaincy a boost. Their all-round T20 skill under the Indian captain makes them one of the most feared sides in the competition. 
 
Besides the sure-shot contenders, four teams will contest the qualifying stages with two of them set to go through: 
 
Mumbai Indians: The defending CLT20 champions had to endure a difficult IPL but emerged late to snatch fourth place to earn a shot at a title defence. For majority of the competition, MI suffered by failing to field the right combinations and captain Rohit Sharma's absence means fellow seniors like Kieron Pollard, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/harbhajan-singh/31001/4008">Harbhajan Singh</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/lasith-malinga/31001/9036">Lasith Malinga</a> will have to step up. Star signing Corey Anderson's lack of form was a subject of great debate during the competition, but his game-changing 94 against Rajasthan Royals proved how dangerous the side could be with the big players firing. 
 
Lahore Lions: Pakistan's T20 champions had to endure a difficult passage into India with a visa delay, but on match day, their quality is set to leave an impact on the competition. The absence of Pakistani players from the IPL means the Lions will lend additional charm to the event, and the team is full of quality with six Pakistan internationals – <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ahmed-shehzad/7001/7070">Ahmed Shehzad</a>, Umar Akmal, Nasir Jamshed, Aizaz Cheema, Wahab Riaz and captain Mohammad Hafeez. 
 
Nothern Knights: <keyword id="13837" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Daniel-Vettori">Daniel Vettori</keyword>'s withdrawal from the competition wouldn't affect the side that already boasts of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kane-williamson/6001/6071">Kane Williamson</a>, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, BJ Watling and Ish Sodhi, the fulcrum of the revival in New Zealand cricket. Scott Styris brings in years of experience, most importantly of having played in India on several occasions. 
 
Southern Express: Without Lasith Malinga and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/tillakaratne-dilshan/9001/9034">Tillakaratne Dilshan</a>, the Sri Lankan side does look weak but expect them to fight tooth and nail. The familiarity with conditions in the subcontinent will make them a force to reckon with.

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