India-Norway Sign 12 Bilateral Agreements
18 May 2026National
India and Norway signed 12 bilateral agreements on the sidelines of the Nordic Summit, setting a target to double bilateral trade by 2030 across sectors such as the blue economy and clean energy.
More International Current Affairs
PM Modi Visits New Zealand; India-New Zealand Ties Elevated to Strategic PartnershipPrime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging bilateral talks with New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon in Auckland on 11 July 2026, and the two leaders agreed to elevate India-New Zealand relations to a Strategic Partnership. It was the first visit by an Indian PM to New Zealand in 40 years and the final leg of Modi's three-nation tour (after Australia). Several MoUs were exchanged across defence, disaster management, tourism, sports and animal husbandry, along with a Maritime Cooperation Arrangement (MCA) between the two navies. The talks built on the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed in April 2026. New Zealand's capital is Wellington, while Auckland is its largest city.11 Jul 2026IIndia-Kyrgyzstan Inaugurate 'Manas and Mahabharata' Centre for Civilizational Studies in BishkekAn Indian delegation visited Kyrgyzstan from 4-7 July 2026 for the inauguration of the International Centre for Civilizational Studies 'Manas and Mahabharata' in Bishkek, exploring the parallels between India's Mahabharata and Kyrgyzstan's national epic, the Manas. The centre is a joint India-Kyrgyzstan initiative under the Ministry of External Affairs / Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The Manas is one of the world's longest oral epics and has been a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2009. Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan.10 Jul 2026IIndia-Australia 3rd Annual Summit: 18 Outcomes Sealed in Melbourne, Including Civil Nuclear Uranium DealPM Narendra Modi and Australian PM Anthony Albanese held the 3rd India-Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne, concluding Modi's 8-10 July 2026 state visit with 18 major outcomes. The most consequential was the finalisation of the administrative arrangement under the India-Australia Civil Nuclear Agreement (originally signed in 2015), enabling Australian uranium exports to India for exclusively peaceful use under IAEA safeguards. Other outcomes included the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation (JDDSC) - renewing the 2009 Joint Declaration on Security; the Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap (MSCR); a new Annual Defence Ministers' Dialogue; the Partnership for Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS); a sports collaboration roadmap; and approvals for Australian university campuses in India (including Victoria University, Gurugram). Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed the media. The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) remains under negotiation. The two nations completed six years of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2020.10 Jul 2026
4th BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting held in Kochi under India's BRICS ChairshipIndia hosted the 4th BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting on 8–9 July 2026 in Kochi, Kerala, preceded by the Working Group meeting (6–7 July). Ministers adopted a Joint Statement and launched two India-initiated deliverables — the BRICS Women Digital Repository of Best Practices and the BRICS Women Digital Capacity Building Guidelines — covering women's leadership, digital and financial inclusion, and women's role in climate action and food security.9 Jul 2026