Meghalaya has become the 12th state to sign a reform-linked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union government under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, marking a significant step towards sustainable and service-oriented rural water supply.

The agreement formalises the state’s entry into the new reform-driven framework of the mission, which was approved by the Union Cabinet earlier this month.

Centre-State Partnership for Water Security

The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil, Minister of State V. Somanna, and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, who joined virtually.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti said the agreement reflects a strengthened partnership between the Centre and the state, with a focus on delivering sustainable and reliable drinking water services in rural areas.

A vast stretch along the Yamuna Expressway is about to turn into one of India’s most ambitious gateways to the world. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first phase of the Noida International Airport at Jewar, a project that has been years in the making and is now poised to reshape not just air travel, but the economic trajectory of Uttar Pradesh.

Built at a cost of Rs 11,282 crore in its first phase, the airport is part of a much larger vision pegged at nearly Rs 29,560 crore. But beyond the numbers, Jewar represents something bigger - a shift in how north India connects, trades and grows.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak on Friday directed the Energy Ministry to draft a resolution banning gasoline exports starting April 1, the Russian government announced. The measure is expected to remain in effect until July 31, according to state-run TASS.

Novak cited “turbulence in the global market for crude oil and oil products, driven by the Middle East crisis,” as causing “significant price volatility,” while noting that high foreign demand for Russian energy resources remains a positive factor.

Crude oil processing volumes in Russia remain at last year’s level, ensuring stable domestic supply of oil products, the government added. The move comes after several regions in Russia and parts of Ukraine under Russian control reported gasoline shortages last year, following increased attacks on Russian refineries and seasonal spikes in fuel demand.

Veteran actor and director EA Rajendran died in Pattathanam here on Thursday, film industry sources said. He was 71.

According to industry sources, he had been undergoing treatment for the past few months. The funeral will be held at his native place in Thrithallur, Thrissur, on Friday.

EA Rajendran was the brother-in-law of actor Mukesh and the son-in-law of noted theatre director O Madhavan. After marrying Sandhya, daughter of Madhavan and sister of Mukesh, they settled in Pattathanam, Kollam.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme for another five years, from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031, with a total outlay of ₹1,800 crore.

The IVFRT platform is aimed at integrating and streamlining immigration, visa issuance, and foreigner registration processes in India through a secure, technology-driven framework. The move is part of the government’s broader push to modernise border management systems while ensuring ease of travel for legitimate visitors.

Originally approved in 2010, the project has undergone multiple phases of expansion and extension. The latest approval comes in the backdrop of the recently enacted Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which necessitates a more robust and responsive system to address evolving challenges such as illegal migration and increasing global mobility.

In a major step towards enhancing efficiency, transparency, and inter-agency coordination in infrastructure development, Hon’ble Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, along with the Hon’ble Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Electronics & IT, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, today launched the PRISM-SG (Portal for Rail-Road Inspection & Stages Management – Steel Girders) Portal in New Delhi.

The PRISM-SG Portal has been developed to digitise key approval and inspection processes related to the construction of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and also includes Quality Assurance Plan (QAP), Welding Procedure Specification Sheet (WPSS) and fabrication stage inspection of steel girders. The portal enables end-to-end online submission of documents, scrutiny, raising and resolution of queries, approvals, scheduling of inspections, and uploading of inspection reports, photographs, test results, supported by a complete audit trail and real-time monitoring capabilities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to France to attend the G7 summit scheduled to take place from June 15 to 17.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, held a meeting on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers' meeting at Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay. Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to France.

"The ministers welcomed the fact that Prime Minister Modi has confirmed his participation in the Evian Summit (15-17 June). With this in mind, the two ministers highlighted India's contribution to the G7's work, particularly on the question of major macroeconomic imbalances, and on international partnerships and solidarity," a French Foreign Ministry release said.

Legendary Telugu star Nandamuri Balakrishna has been conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Film Festival of Delhi (IFFD) 2026 in recognition of his contribution to the film industry over a period of five decades.City & Local Guides

The Telugu film legend was honoured at the event that was held at the prestigious Bharat Mandapam. The award was presented in recognition of his immense service to Indian cinema over a span of 50 years, and as a tribute to his indelible influence, versatility and unparalleled dedication to the art of acting.

Nandamuri Balakrishna, who attended the event held in New Delhi, received the award from Delhi’s Honorary Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in the presence of dignitaries from the film and cultural sectors.

Amid rising tensions in West Asia, the Indian Navy has launched an operation to escort, guide, and safeguard India-bound energy shipments through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, which has been blockaded by Iran.

The operation, called Urja Suraksha, is being conducted with calibrated precision and minimal publicity to ensure the uninterrupted and secure movement of Indian-flagged vessels carrying critical energy supplies, officials said. All India-bound ships transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and crude oil have been identified for protected transit.

“We are escorting and to some extent helping ships in navigation for smooth movement through the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, till the Arabian Sea,” said a senior official, adding that Naval operations under the mission go beyond escort duties. Warships are actively providing route-specific guidance and navigational support to crews to help them safely traverse the narrow and sensitive waters of the region.

The National Housing Bank (NHB), the apex agency established by the Government of India to promote cost effective housing finance system, has launched the Gruh Sugam Portal, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Finance.

The portal enables Defence/Government personnel to avail home loans with ease from the location of their posting, the statement noted.

This portal will accelerate digital lending adoption and financial inclusion. It will facilitate increased home ownership through improved access to housing loans, strengthening the mission of promoting affordable and sustainable housing finance.