Washington: US President Donald Trump had a productive conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the White House said on Friday, referring to the talks between the two leaders on Tuesday.

The New York Times reported that billionaire businessman Elon Musk joined the phone call between Modi and Trump on Tuesday when the two leaders discussed the situation in West Asia.

“President Trump has a great relationship with Prime Minister Modi, and this was a productive conversation,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

Elon Musk participated in a phone call on Tuesday with President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, an unusual appearance by a private citizen on a call between two heads of state during a wartime crisis.

the inclusion of Musk, confirmed by two US officials, suggests that the world’s richest man is back on better terms with the president.

Trump and Musk had a falling out last year following the billionaire’s departure from the government, where he had been tasked with slashing the work force.

The report said it is unclear why Musk was on the call or whether he spoke.

It was the first conversation between the two leaders since the West Asia conflict began on February 28.

During the conversation, Prime Minister Modi underlined the importance of ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible, noting that it is vital for global peace, stability and economic well-being.

Banaskantha (Gujarat), March 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat on March 31 to lay the foundation stone and launch multiple development projects, including a major drinking water scheme for the pilgrimage town of Ambaji and adjoining tribal areas, according to an official statement issued on Friday.

The Prime Minister will inaugurate Part I and Part II of the Rs 141-crore Ambaji drinking water project, which is expected to benefit around 78,000 residents across 34 villages and Ambaji town in Banaskantha district.

The scheme covers villages in Danta and Amirgadh talukas, regions that have long struggled with reliable access to drinking water due to their hilly and rocky terrain. At present, many of these areas are dependent on groundwater sources.

Officials from the Water Supply Department said the project marks a significant shift from groundwater dependence to a surface water-based supply system, which is likely to bring substantial public health benefits along with improved water availability.

The project has also been planned with future demand in mind, given the growing footfall at the Ambaji Temple, a prominent pilgrimage destination. Authorities said the infrastructure has been designed to cater to both current needs and anticipated expansion in the region.

Highlighting the broader policy framework, the department noted that Gujarat has been steadily advancing in water management through sustained planning and infrastructure development. The initiative forms part of the state’s larger push to expand access under the ‘Statewide Water Supply Grid’.

Under this grid, more than 3,300 km of bulk pipelines have already been laid, enabling surface water supply to over 15,000 villages and 251 urban centres, benefiting an estimated population of over five crore people.

Officials added that the state has significantly reduced its reliance on groundwater by implementing water supply schemes based on rivers, canals and reservoirs.

Further momentum is expected under Phase II of the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to expedite water connectivity in the remaining rural areas. For grievance redressal, a 24-hour rural helpline has also been put in place to address water-related complaints promptly.

New Delhi, March 27: The government on Friday said retail pump prices of petrol and diesel will not change, and the excise reduction is not being passed on as a price cut at the pump.

Instead, it directly reduces the under-recoveries being absorbed by public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) — Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation — who have continued to supply fuel to Indian consumers at prices well below their cost of supply, the Petroleum Ministry said.

At current international crude prices, under-recoveries stand at approximately Rs 26 per litre on petrol and Rs 81.90 per litre on diesel.

The combined daily under-recovery being absorbed by OMCs is approximately Rs 2,400 crore.

The excise reduction offsets Rs 10 per litre of these losses, ensuring OMCs can continue to supply fuel without disruption while keeping retail prices unchanged, said the ministry.

The government has reduced excise duty by Rs 10 per litre on both petrol and diesel with immediate effect.

“This decision has been taken in response to the steep and rapid rise in international crude oil prices, which have surged from approximately $70 per barrel to around $122 per barrel over the past month — an increase of nearly 75 per cent in under four weeks, driven by the ongoing conflict in West Asia and associated disruptions to global energy supply chains,” the ministry said.

The contrast with global fuel markets is instructive. Fuel prices have risen by 30 to 50 per cent across South and South-East Asian countries, 30 per cent in North America, and 20 per cent in Europe since the onset of the current crisis. India has held the line. That stability carries a fiscal cost, and the government has chosen to bear it.

Earlier in the day, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to take a hit on government finances to safeguard the Indian citizen.

“The government has taken a substantial impact on its taxation revenues to reduce the high losses being faced by oil marketing companies at this time of sky-high international prices,” he mentioned.

Alongside the excise reduction, the government has simultaneously introduced an export levy on diesel. At a time when international diesel prices have surged sharply, the levy is designed to disincentivise exports and ensure that refinery output is directed first towards meeting domestic demand.

Keeping Indian pumps fully supplied takes precedence over export opportunities, however commercially attractive those may be at current global prices. The government will continue to monitor the evolving global energy situation and take all measures necessary to maintain supply stability and price protection for Indian consumers.