Morning news wrap: MHA directs states to conduct mock drills, Donald Trump administration blocks billion-dollar Harvard funding; and more

The Union home ministry has asked several states to conduct mock drills on May 7 for effective civil defence, government sources said.

Following the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, India has initiated flushing and desilting of reservoirs on the Chenab River to improve water storage for the winter months.

Sunil Gavaskar criticized the BCCI for altering its rules to accommodate MS Dhoni as an “uncapped player” ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.


Here are top five stories of the morning:


MHA directs states to conduct mock drills for civil defence readiness


Amid indications of an imminent confrontation with Pakistan, the govt on Monday moved to prepare the country for any contingency, with the home ministry asking all states and Union Territories to conduct civil defence exercises or drills across the country’s 244 categorised civil defence districts on Wednesday. Read full story

India prepares dams to store more water, lines up multiple actions to choke Pakistan

The move is part of the country’s detailed roadmap, prepared after suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) following the Pahalgam terror attack last month, to prevent and regulate flow of western rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab - to the Pakistan. Read full story

Trump administration blocks billion-dollar Harvard funding

The Trump administration has announced that Harvard University will be barred from receiving any new federal research grants until it complies with a set of demands laid out by the White House. Read full story


Sunil Gavaskar urges cap on uncapped player salaries in IPL

Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for altering its rules to accommodate MS Dhoni as an “uncapped player” ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Read full story


'Pakistan's grandstanding flops again': UNSC meet yields no outcome

Although the 15-member UNSC did not release a statement after the meeting, India said, "Pakistan’s grandstanding has flopped again today as in the past." Read full story