The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved major road infrastructure projects worth Rs 14,115 crore for Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, including a key tunnel project aimed at easing traffic congestion in the national capital.

Briefing the media, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Cabinet cleared the construction of an 8.1-km, 6-lane road tunnel on NH-148AE, which will connect Dwarka Expressway with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj.

The tunnel project, to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 6,969.67 crore, will be executed under the hybrid annuity mode (HAM) and is expected to be completed in five years.

According to officials, the project will significantly improve connectivity between West and South Delhi by linking UER-II/Dwarka Expressway to Vasant Kunj, easing traffic flow from Gurugram, Dwarka, IGI Airport and West Delhi towards South Delhi.

The Odisha Cabinet gave its nod to the implementation of the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission (2026–2036), a proposal put forward by the state Fisheries & Animal Resources Development (F&ARD) Department.

According to an official statement, the flagship initiative aims to unlock the vast offshore fisheries potential of the state and accelerate Blue Economy-led growth.

“The Mission seeks to promote sustainable deep-sea fishing, modernise marine fisheries infrastructure, enhance seafood exports, strengthen fisher livelihoods and establish Odisha as a leading Deep-Sea Fishing and Marine Export Hub in Eastern India,” the official statement said.

India has achieved a major milestone with the approval of the country’s first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) instrument approach procedure for helicopter operations at Undavalli Heliport. PinS procedures use advanced satellite-based navigation technology to enable helicopters to conduct safe and precise instrument approaches to heliports that do not have conventional instrument landing infrastructure.

The Civil Aviation Ministry said PinS is particularly beneficial during adverse weather conditions and in areas where ground-based navigation aids are not available. It was developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the milestone marks a new era in helicopter operations by enhancing flight safety, operational efficiency and all-weather accessibility. He said the government is committed to adopting modern technologies and building a globally benchmarked, technology-driven helicopter ecosystem.

India and Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to boost cooperation on water resource management, according to an official statement on Monday.

The agreement was signed at the inaugural edition of Saudi Arabia's national water conference, Saudi Water Week, being hosted in Jeddah.

"A significant step in advancing the IndiaSaudi Arabia strategic partnership," said the Indian embassy in Riyadh on Monday.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Indian ambassador Suhel Khan and Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, minister of environment, water and agriculture in Saudi Arabia. Consul General of India Fahad Suri was also present during the signing.

Odisha government’s proposal to resume tiger re-introduction in Satkosia Tiger Reserve has received in-principal approval of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

The approval came after the Forest department complied with the apex body’s recommendations. The government will now assess the ground situation before proceeding on the matter, officials of the Wildlife Wing said.

PCCF wildlife and chief wildlife warden (CWW) Prem Kumar Jha acknowledged that the department has received NTCA’s in-principle approval to re-implement the project which was stalled in 2018. “The state government will assess the situation and take appropriate decision in this regard,” he said.

Ravi Agrawal has been re-appointed as Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), on contract basis, for a period of six months with effect from tomorrow till 31st December 2026 or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The appointments committee of the cabinet has approved the re-appointment.

The Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan (RGVS) 2026, organised by the Ministry of Rural Development and aligned with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of rural transformation, concluded with a shared commitment to accelerate the vision of Viksit Gram, Viksit Bharat through stronger Centre-State collaboration, community-led development and technology-driven governance.

The two-day national conclave served as a platform to review the implementation of flagship rural development programmes, exchange best practices across States and Union Territories, and deliberate on the roadmap for the next phase of rural transformation.

A primary focus of the Sammelan was the effective implementation of the VB-GRAMG Act, 2025. Deliberations also centred on strengthening rural development planning, empowering Gram Panchayats, expanding women-led livelihoods, enhancing rural housing and connectivity and promoting climate-resilient livelihoods.

The Centre has launched two major digital initiatives aimed at making government services faster and easier. Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the FCRA 2.0 Portal and the e-OCI Card in New Delhi, saying the new platforms will simplify procedures, reduce paperwork and improve citizen services.

While the FCRA 2.0 Portal is designed to make compliance easier for organisations receiving foreign contributions, the e-OCI Card introduces a fully digital system for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders.

Bridging a critical technology gap in India's industrial automation ecosystem, the Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, has extended financial assistance to M/s Puretronics India Private Limited, Mumbai, for the project titled “LMO – Load Measurement Overload Sensor (India’s First Fully Contactless Programmable Load Measurement System).”

The project seeks to commercialize an indigenous next-generation load sensing technology designed for elevators, material handling systems, cable machinery, industrial automation, and other safety-critical applications. Developed specifically to address the limitations of conventional strain-gauge load cells and imported sensing solutions, the technology delivers accurate, maintenance-friendly, and vibration-resistant load monitoring, thereby strengthening India's capabilities in advanced industrial electronics while supporting the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday announced the launch of two new heritage conservation schemes under 'Our Monuments, Our Pride', allowing private institutions to adopt monuments and receive financial aid up to Rs 2 crore for restoration. The initiative is aimed at boosting preservation and tourism through public participation.

In a post on X, Chief Minister Gupta said that every generation has experienced Delhi in its own unique way, with some learning about its monuments through books and others witnessing them firsthand.

"Every generation of Delhi has lived this city in its own way. Some have read about these monuments in books, while others have seen them up close. Now is the time to further nurture this heritage and pass it on to the next generation. In advancing the vision of the Prime Minister Shri narendramodi ji's 'Development as well as Heritage,' the Delhi government has approved two new schemes under the 'Our Monuments, Our Pride' campaign," Delhi CM wrote on X.