The Covid-19 caseload of India climbed to 1,05,57,985 on Sunday with 15,144 fresh infections while recoveries surged to 1,01,96,885, a day after the nationwide vaccination drive kicked off in the country.

The death toll increased to 1,52,274 with 181 more fatalities,according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,01,79,715, pushing the national Covid-19 recovery rate to 96.56 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The country's active caseload remained below 3 lakh on Sunday.

There are 2,08,826 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which constitute 1.98 per cent of the total caseload, the data showed.The Covid-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.44 per cent, it said.

India’s Covid-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and crossed the one crore-mark on December 19.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 18,65,44,868 samples had been tested up to January 15, with 7,79,377 tested on Saturday alone.

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

“Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.