THE HEADLINES: –
- Union Cabinet increases Minimum Support Prices (MSP) of 14 Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2026-27.
- Cabinet also gives nod for promotion of Surface Coal and Lignite Gasification Projects worth 37 thousand 500 crore rupees.
- CBI arrests five persons in connection with NEET UG-2026 paper leak case; Raids continue in several states.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi reduces his convoy size, prompting BJP Chief Ministers and other leaders to adopt austerity measures.
- West Bengal government decides to hand over recruitment scams probe to CBI; Lifts all inter-state restrictions on the movement of essential products.
- In Weightlifting, India’s Gyaneshwari Yadav bags a silver and bronze at Asian Senior Championships in Gandhinagar.
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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved increase in Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2026-27. Addressing media after the Union Cabinet meeting in New Delhi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, the government has increased the MSP of Kharif Crops to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce. He said, for the Kharif season, the estimated payout to the farmers will be two lakh 60 thousand crore rupees. He said, an estimated over 824 lakh metric tonnes of crops will be procured during the season.
Mr Vaishnaw said, the highest increase of 622 rupees per quintal in MSP has been recommended for Sunflower Seed, followed by 557 per quintal for Cotton and 500 rupees per quintal for Sesamum. He said, for Grade A Paddy, the MSP will be 2 thousand 461 rupees per quintal, for Jowar Hybrid it will be 4 thousand and 23 rupees per quintal, for Bajra the MSP will be 2 thousand 900 rupees and for Tur, it will be 8 thousand 450 rupees per quintal. The Union Cabinet has also approved a Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal and Lignite Gasification Projects with a financial outlay of 37 thousand 500 crore rupees. Addressing media, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, the scheme marks a major step towards accelerating India’s coal and lignite gasification programme.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA has approved Ahmedabad (Sarkhej) – Dholera Semi High-Speed Double Line project with a total cost of nearly 20 thousand 667 crore rupees. The Union Minister said that as India’s first semi high-speed rail project, the project will serve as a pioneer project acting as a reference model for the phased expansion of semi high-speed rail across the country. The project will be completed upto 2030-31.
The Union Cabinet has also approved upgradation and modernisation of Nagpur International Airport through long term license involving Private Partner under Public Private Partnership. GMR Nagpur International Airport Limited (GNIAL) will take up the transformation of Nagpur’s Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport into a world-class facility. The phased development envisaged to reach the ultimate capacity of handling 30 million passengers annually, positioning it as a key Airport in Central India.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the Union Cabinet’s decision of approving an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for kharif crops for the marketing season 2026-27 will ensure that crores of food providers in the country receive fair and profitable prices for their produce. In a social media post, Mr Modi said that this decision will bring greater prosperity to the lives of the farmers of the country.
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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested five accused persons in connection with the alleged irregularities and paper leak related to the NEET UG-2026 examination. The five accused persons in the case, three from Jaipur, one from Gurugram and one from Nashik and several other suspects are currently being examined. The agency has also carried out searches today at multiple locations across the country based on emerging leads. During the searches and arrests, several incriminating materials and electronic devices, including mobile phones, have been seized. The agency is also coordinating with the Special Operations Group, Rajasthan, which had conducted a preliminary enquiry in the case.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to reduce the consumption of fuel has made a profound influence resulting in curtailing the use of petrol and diesel. Setting an example, the Prime Minister himself significantly reduced his convoy size, prompting several BJP chief ministers and other leaders to adopt similar measures. In keeping with the Prime Minister’s appeal, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed an immediate 50 per cent reduction in the fleet of vehicles. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has also announced that he will use a minimum number of vehicles for his convoy and asked his ministerial colleagues to do the same. He also encouraged people to use public transport. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced limits on official vehicles used by ministers, MLAs and other public representatives. She has urged Delhi residents to adopt carpooling and make greater use of buses and metro services instead of private vehicles. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma also announced to reduce his convoy size. Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat announced that he will travel within Gujarat using trains, state transport buses and public transport. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary has announced that he will undertake official travel only when necessary. Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Prime Minister on Sunday urged the people to reduce petrol and diesel consumption and use public transport to conserve foreign exchange.
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The government of West Bengal has lifted all restrictions on the inter-state movement of potato, onion, fruits, vegetables, oil seeds, food grains, animal products and other essential products. Earlier, restrictions were placed by the erstwhile TMC government. It is learnt that huge losses were incurred by the potato farmers and other entities by this restriction. Before coming to power the BJP had assured the farmers or the lifting of the restriction.
On the other hand in a significant development, the government of West Bengal decided to hand over the cases related to the teachers recruitment, municipal recruitment and cooperative services recruitment scams to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Today, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the former TMC government had not taken any step in these cases to safeguard the corrupt officers. He informed the media that the current government of West Bengal would take zero tolerance to institutional corruption.
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The Assam Government will introduce the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the State Legislative Assembly on the 26th of this month. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcement while addressing the media after chairing the first Cabinet meeting of the new term. Dr Sarma took oath as the Assam Chief Minister for his second consecutive term yesterday.
Chief Minister Sarma said a special session of the Assam Assembly will be held from the 21st to the 26th of May, during which the newly elected MLAs will take oath. He added that the UCC Bill would be tabled on the concluding day of the session.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a six-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE),the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy on Friday. Briefing media in New Delhi this evening, Secretary (West) in Ministry of External Affairs Sibi George informed that on the first leg of his five-nation visit, Mr Modi will reach the UAE on Friday, where he will meet President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He said, the two leaders will exchange views on bilateral issues, in particular energy cooperation, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.
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External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met his Maldivian counterpart Iruthisham Adam in New Delhi today, on her first official visit to India. In a social media post, Dr Jaishankar said that during their meeting, they underlined the Neighbourhood first policy and reviewed bilateral cooperation. Dr Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to Maldives’ progress and development. Dr Jaishankar also met his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira and exchanged views on bilateral, regional and global issues. The External Affairs Minister said that India values Brazil’s support and perspectives on India BRICS Chairship. Senior officials from Iran, Kazakhstan, Nigeria and Uzbekistan have arrived in New Delhi to attend the two-day BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting beginning tomorrow.
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US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing today for a high-stakes summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. During their two-day talks beginning tomorrow, the two leaders are expected to discuss a range of critical issues, including war the involving Iran, US arms sales to Taiwan, trade, and artificial intelligence and tariff amid growing economic and technological rivalry between the world’s two largest economies. The US President has brought along several top business and technology executives on his visit to China, underscoring the importance of economic and technological issues in bilateral relations.
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In Weightlifting, India’s Gyaneshwari Yadav bagged two medals, a silver and a bronze at the Asian Senior Championships in Gandhinagar today. Gyaneshwari won a silver in the snatch section in the 53kg category and then an overall bronze medal in the event with a combined lift of 194kg.
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In Thailand Open Badminton, star shuttlers PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth progressed to the pre-quarterfinals of Singles events in Bangkok. In Women’s Singles, a two-time Olympic medallist, PV Sindhu defeated Tung Ciou-Tong of Chinese Taipei 21-9 21-12. She will take on Amalie Schulz of Denmark in the Round of 16 tomorrow.
Young Devika Sihag outclassed world No. 26 Natsuki Nidaira of Japan, She will meet Thai player Pitchamon Opatniputh. In another match, Malvika Bansod beat Wen Yu Zhang of Canada. She will meet Chen Yufei of China.
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India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heat wave to severe heat wave conditions over West Madhya Pradesh and West Rajasthan for the next two days. East Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra are expected to reel under heat wave conditions tomorrow.
The Weather agency also predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya tomorrow.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN: –
- Union Cabinet increases Minimum Support Prices (MSP) of 14 Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2026-27.
- Cabinet also gives nod for promotion of Surface Coal and Lignite Gasification Projects worth 37 thousand 500 crore rupees.
- CBI arrests five persons in connection with NEET UG-2026 paper leak case; Raids continue in several states.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi reduces his convoy size, prompting BJP Chief Ministers and other leaders to adopt austerity measures.
- West Bengal government decides to hand over recruitment scams probe to CBI; Lifts all inter-state restrictions on the movement of essential products.
- In Weightlifting, India’s Gyaneshwari Yadav bags a silver and bronze at Asian Senior Championships in Gandhinagar.
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