India, Russia Hold 22nd Defence Commission Meet in New Delhi

05 Dec 2025 CW Team

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Russia’s Defence Minister Mr Andrei Belousov co-chaired the 22nd India–Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi on 4 December 2025. Both sides reaffirmed that the longstanding bilateral relationship is anchored in mutual trust, shared principles and deep respect. The meeting comes ahead of the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin.

During the session, Rajnath Singh reiterated India’s commitment to building a strong indigenous defence manufacturing base, aimed at supporting domestic requirements and boosting exports under the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. He also highlighted opportunities for expanding collaboration in advanced and emerging defence technologies.

Defence Minister Belousov underlined Russia’s intent to further deepen its relationship with India, noting that the partnership is rooted in decades of strategic cooperation. He stated that the Russian defence industry is prepared to support India’s pursuit of self-reliance in defence production. He also extended an invitation to Rajnath Singh to visit Russia in 2026 to co-chair the 23rd IRIGC-M&MTC session.

Both Ministers signed the protocol of the 22nd meeting, outlining ongoing initiatives and future areas of collaboration in defence and military technical cooperation.

Earlier in the day, Rajnath Singh and the visiting Russian Minister laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi, honouring the Indian personnel who sacrificed their lives in service of the nation. The ceremony also included an inspection of the Ceremonial Tri-service Guard of Honour by the Russian dignitary.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Lucknow Metro East-West Corridor Consultancy Contract Awarded

The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation has awarded the first construction-related consultancy contract for the Lucknow Metro East West Corridor to a joint venture of AYESA Ingenieria Arquitectura SAU and AYESA India Pvt Ltd. The firm was declared the lowest bidder for the Detailed Design Consultant contract for Lucknow Metro Line-2 under Phase 1B and the contract was recommended following the financial bid. The contract is valued at Rs 159.0 million (mn), covering design services for the corridor. Lucknow Metro Line-2 envisages the construction of an 11.165 kilometre corridor connecting Cha..

Div Com Kashmir Urges Fast Tracking Of Jhelum Water Transport Project

The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir has called for the fast-tracking of the Jhelum water transport project, urging district administrations and relevant agencies to accelerate planning and clearances. In a meeting convened at the divisional headquarters, the commissioner instructed officials from irrigation, public health engineering and municipal departments to prioritise the project and coordinate survey and design work. The directive emphasised removal of administrative bottlenecks and close monitoring to ensure timely mobilisation of resources and contractors. Officials were told to in..

Interarch Reports Strong Q3 And Nine Month Results

Interarch Building Solutions Limited reported unaudited results for the third quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2025, recording strong revenue growth driven by execution and a robust order book. Net revenue for the third quarter rose by 43.7 per cent to Rs 5.225 billion (bn), compared with Rs 3.636 bn a year earlier, reflecting heightened demand in pre-engineered building projects. The company’s total order book as at 31 January 2026 stood at Rs 16.85 bn, supporting near-term visibility. EBITDA excluding other income for the quarter increased by 43.2 per cent to Rs 503 million (mn),..