International Relations Current Affairs 2026 for Government Exams

On 16 July 2026, Ukraine's Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) approved Serhii Koretskyi, CEO of Naftogaz of Ukraine, as the country's new Prime Minister, succeeding Yulia Svyrydenko. He secured 289 votes in the 450-member Parliament. Nominated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as part of a cabinet reshuffle, Koretskyi was chosen for his energy-sector leadership to strengthen Ukraine's winter preparedness and energy security, despite having no prior political experience.

The United Nations released the Preliminary Report of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI — the first UN-commissioned scientific assessment of AI. It warns that AI development is outpacing global governance and urges governments to strengthen regulatory frameworks. The report was prepared by a 40-member panel of scientists from all five UN regions, co-chaired by Turing Award laureate Yoshua Bengio and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa. It highlights a global AI imbalance: the USA holds 75% of global compute capacity and 59 AI models, China 15% and 35 models, while the rest of the world has just 10% and 13 models.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar launched India's campaign for election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term at the UN Headquarters in New York. The campaign is themed 'SHANTI: Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity'. India's priority areas include countering terror financing, strengthening maritime security and responsible AI governance. Elections are scheduled for June 2027, where India will contest against Tajikistan for the sole Asia-Pacific seat. India has served 8 times as a non-permanent UNSC member (most recently 2021-22). The UNSC has 15 members — 5 permanent (China, France, Russia, UK, USA) with veto power and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

India launched its official campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar unveiled the campaign and the SHANTI vision at UN Headquarters, New York (announced 13 July 2026). SHANTI stands for Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity, with pillars covering peacekeeping, maritime security, counter-terrorism and terror financing, responsible use of AI, sustainable development and reform of global institutions. India will contest the single Asia-Pacific Group seat against Tajikistan in elections due June 2027, requiring a two-thirds majority (at least 129 of 193 votes). It would be India's 9th stint on the Council.

The Government of India declared a one-day national mourning on Monday, 13 July 2026, as a mark of respect for Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir (the 'Father Emir') of Qatar, who passed away at the age of 74. The national flag flew at half-mast across India. Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, overseeing the Gulf nation's rapid socio-economic transformation, before handing power to his son, the current Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in 2013. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as a 'visionary leader' and a close friend of India. Qatar announced a four-day national mourning. Sheikh Hamad voluntarily handed over power to his son Sheikh Tamim in 2013.

Prime 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.

An 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.

PM Narendra Modi visited Australia 8–10 July 2026 at the invitation of PM Anthony Albanese, with the Third India–Australia Annual Leaders' Summit held in Melbourne. The visit produced 18 major outcomes under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (elevated 2020): a Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation; agreement to accelerate CECA negotiations (the full FTA building on the 2022 ECTA); and, on 9 July, an administrative arrangement operationalising the 2015 India–Australia Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, clearing the way for uranium commerce. The leaders also welcomed the signing of the ACITI Partnership MoU — Australia–Canada–India Technology and Innovation Partnership — a trilateral first announced at the G20 Johannesburg Summit (November 2025), pairing Australia's critical minerals, India's clean-energy market scale and Canada's innovation capacity. Cultural outcomes included progress on repatriating a First Nations ancestor held in India and Telugu human remains held in Australia.

PM 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.

India 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.

India hosted the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers' Meeting in Gurugram, Haryana, focusing on energy security, sustainability, innovation and affordable energy access among member nations.

Under India's BRICS Presidency 2026, the Indore Declaration was adopted at the BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting in Indore, Madhya Pradesh - a farmer-centric roadmap for food security, climate-resilient agriculture and seed sovereignty.

The 52nd G7 Summit took place under France's presidency with the theme 'Forging New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity'. Leaders adopted declarations on Ukraine, critical minerals, cancer care, migrant smuggling and online safety.

India is chairing BRICS in 2026 for the fourth time (after 2012, 2016, 2021) under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'. The 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled in New Delhi on 12-13 September 2026.

PM Modi participated in the G7 Outreach Session as a special invitee, representing the Global South and presenting India's vision for inclusive, sustainable growth. He also held bilateral talks with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines.

India hosted the foreign ministers of Australia, Japan and the US Secretary of State, launching the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration, the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework and an Indo-Pacific energy-security initiative.

PM Modi joined the PMs of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, elevating ties to a 'Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership' focused on green hydrogen, offshore wind and the circular economy; the 4th summit will be hosted by Finland.

A Bahrain-proposed UN Security Council resolution to reopen the Strait of Hormuz got 11 votes in favour but was vetoed by Russia and China, underscoring great-power divisions over the West Asia crisis.

EAM Dr S. Jaishankar attended the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Partner Countries at Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay, France, covering Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, maritime security, UNSC reform and West Asia, with India stressing Global South priorities.

The 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (9-19 March, New York) saw 190 member states adopt the Agreed Conclusions; India's delegation was led by MoS Savitri Thakur.

PM Modi inaugurated the 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue, themed 'Samskara', with about 2,700 participants from 110 countries. Finnish President Alexander Stubb was the Chief Guest.

The Summit concluded with the New Delhi Declaration, endorsed by over 90 countries and international organisations - the first major AI-governance framework from the Global South, favouring flexible guardrails over rigid compliance.

India hosted the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam - the first in the series hosted by a Global South nation - drawing 20+ heads of state and delegations from over 100 countries, structured around three Sutras: People, Planet and Progress.

The Summit generated over US$200 billion in expected AI-related investment; the New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments were announced by 13 leading global and Indian frontier-model developers.

The 16th India-EU Summit took place at Hyderabad House, co-chaired by PM Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa - the first time the EU's top leadership jointly attended.

The World Economic Forum met in Davos, Switzerland under the theme 'A Spirit of Dialogue', drawing nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries; the WEF also released its Global Risks Report 2026.

India fielded one of the largest delegations - 10 states (with five CMs and two deputy CMs) and four Union ministers - to pitch investment opportunities; the WEF launched a report on India in the new geoeconomic order.

India hosted, for the first time, the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in New Delhi.

MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh led India's delegation at the inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva (6–7 July 2026), reaffirming India's 'AI for All' vision. The Dialogue was established under UNGA Resolution 79/325 (following the Global Digital Compact, September 2024), co-chaired by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, with ITU chief Doreen Bogdan-Martin as Vice-Chair; it received the first report of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI.

On 7 July 2026, PM Narendra Modi was conferred the Bintang Adipurna — Indonesia's highest civilian honour — by President Prabowo Subianto at Istana Merdeka (Presidential Palace), Jakarta. "Adipurna" is the highest class of the Bintang Republik Indonesia award, whose grandmaster is the Indonesian President; it recognises exceptional service to the unity, continuity and prosperity of Indonesia. Modi is only the second Indian PM to receive it after Jawaharlal Nehru (1995, during Indonesia's 50th independence anniversary). Modi dedicated the award to the people of India. The honour adds to the long list of top foreign civilian awards conferred on Modi.

Alongside the FTA, India and the EU signed a Security and Defence Partnership (maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyberdefence) and a mobility/migration agreement expanding legal pathways for Indian students and skilled workers.

ADNOC Gas agreed to supply 0.5 million metric tonnes of LNG per year to Hindustan Petroleum for ten years in a ~US$3 billion deal, making India a top LNG customer of the UAE.

The Central African Republic held tense general elections amid warnings over contested results, drawing international attention to regional stability.

Seychelles conferred its new presidential distinction 'Guardian of the Blue Horizon' on PM Modi for India's role in maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. India also handed over the made-in-India fast patrol vessel L'Espoir to the Seychelles Defence Forces during the visit.

During the Sri Lanka visit, the VP announced extension of the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme from the fourth to the sixth generation for Indian-origin (Malaiyaha) Tamils, with simplified documentation.

During PM Modi's first bilateral visit to Ethiopia, ties were elevated to a Strategic Partnership, eight MoUs were signed, and Modi was conferred Ethiopia's highest civilian honour.

PM Narendra Modi made a three-day State Visit to Seychelles at the invitation of President Patrick Herminie, addressing its National Assembly. India and Seychelles signed nine agreements spanning UPI/digital payments, healthcare, extradition, shipping and space, plus a Rs 1,250 crore umbrella line of credit routed through EXIM Bank, with 19 total outcomes aimed at making the Indian Ocean Region an 'Ocean of Opportunity'.

Indian NSA Ajit Doval met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi on the sidelines of the BRICS NSA Meeting, discussing the gradual normalisation of bilateral ties after border tensions.

PM Modi and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni upgraded ties with 15 outcomes, agreeing a Defence Industrial Roadmap, an MoU on critical minerals and raising the bilateral trade target from EUR 14 billion to EUR 20 billion.

PM Modi made a two-day visit to Norway - the first by an Indian PM in 43 years - holding bilateral talks with PM Jonas Gahr Store in Oslo and elevating ties to a Green Strategic Partnership.

During PM Modi's visit, ties were elevated to a strategic partnership with a Roadmap 2026-2030 covering semiconductors, critical minerals and clean energy, including a Tata Electronics-ASML MoU.

PM Modi held talks with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and signed five agreements, including expanding UAE crude storage in India's strategic reserves to 30 million barrels and a Framework for Strategic Defence Partnership.

This was the first bilateral visit by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka. He met President Dissanayake and PM Harini Amarasuriya, and India and Sri Lanka signed six MoUs under India's grant-assistance framework.

President Lee Jae-myung made a state visit to New Delhi, with India and South Korea signing 15 MoUs and a joint declaration to resume CEPA-upgrade negotiations; Korea joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and the International Solar Alliance.

The Austrian Chancellor visited India, with agreements on film co-production, food safety, road-infrastructure cooperation and a space-industry seminar, plus letters of intent on military cooperation and counter-terrorism.

On the sidelines of the G7 meeting, Jaishankar held bilateral talks with counterparts from France, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, the UK, Germany and Ukraine, and also met French President Emmanuel Macron.

EAM Jaishankar visited Brussels, Belgium for engagements with EU leadership, following up on the January 2026 India-EU Summit and the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.

PM Modi spoke with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on the West Asia conflict, stressing dialogue, the safety of Indian nationals and unhindered energy and goods transit.

During President Alexander Stubb's state visit, India and Finland elevated ties to a 'Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability', signing 11 outcomes including a 6G joint task force and an Indo-Finland Startup Corridor.

PM Modi and Canadian PM Mark Carney announced a deal to strengthen economic ties, alongside the CEPA Terms of Reference, marking a reset in India-Canada relations (bilateral trade ~US$8.7 billion in 2024-25).

PM Modi made a state visit to Israel at PM Netanyahu's invitation, visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and met President Isaac Herzog, with ties elevated to a 'Special Strategic Partnership'.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva led the largest-ever Brazilian delegation to India, attended the AI Summit and held bilateral talks; India and Brazil set a bilateral trade target of US$30 billion by 2030.

PM Modi announced a 'Special Global Strategic Partnership' with France, agreeing a 'Roadmap of Shared Prosperity' (including a double-taxation-avoidance agreement) and continued submarine cooperation.

Emmanuel Macron visited India and participated in the AI Impact Summit; he and PM Modi held bilateral talks and jointly inaugurated the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 in Mumbai.

President Dr Patrick Herminie made his first state visit to India as President; the two sides signed nine agreements and unveiled the 'SESEL' Vision for the partnership.

The UAE President visited India; the two sides signed a Letter of Intent for a Strategic Defence Partnership and pledged to double bilateral trade to US$200 billion, with UAE investment in Gujarat's Dholera zone.

Chancellor Merz made his first official India visit, accompanied by 23 leading German CEOs; the two sides signed multiple agreements spanning defence, semiconductors, critical minerals, telecom and bioeconomy.

The two leaders recast ties around semiconductors, critical minerals and green fuels and launched a German-Indian CEO Forum; Germany agreed to join Exercise MILAN and deploy a Liaison Officer at the IFC-IOR.

PM Modi undertook a state visit to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman, integrating India's West Asia and Africa outreach, including India's first full-fledged PM visit to Jordan (75 years of ties).

President Vladimir Putin made a State visit to India for the 23rd Annual Summit with PM Modi - his first in four years - marking 25 years of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

India and Jordan signed MoUs on renewable energy, water resources and digital transformation, with PM Modi calling for doubling bilateral trade to US$5 billion in five years; Jordan expressed intent to join the ISA and CDRI.

As a summit outcome, India and Russia agreed to open new Indian Consulates in Yekaterinburg and Kazan to deepen economic and people-to-people ties.

The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a 60-day extension of the ceasefire to negotiate final terms. The conflict had disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of global petroleum.

India's Ministry of External Affairs welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire and called for an early end to the conflict to ensure unimpeded trade flow through the Strait of Hormuz, which is vital to India's energy security and diaspora interests.

India announced a US$175 million Special Economic Package for Seychelles - a US$125 million rupee-denominated Line of Credit plus US$50 million in grants - covering an Extradition Treaty, UPI, Jan Aushadhi and agriculture.

The US sharply escalated pressure on Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, declaring airspace around Venezuela closed; Venezuela wrote to the UN Security Council on 17 December citing 'US aggression'.

India and Canada agreed to expedite the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by end-2026, aiming to double bilateral trade by 2030, and to begin negotiations on a General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA).

G7 leaders welcomed the conclusion of India-EU FTA negotiations and urged early signing. The deal, the largest ever concluded by either side, covers about 2 billion people and nearly 25% of global GDP, with signing expected by end-2026.

G7 leaders set a target to reduce dependence on any single supplier outside the G7 and partner countries for rare earths and permanent magnets to below 60% by 2030, aiming for 50% as soon as possible.

India and the US signed a framework on 'Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths', covering mining, processing, recycling and related investments.

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.

The deal gives 100% duty-free access for India's exports, with India reducing tariffs on ~95% of NZ goods. India excluded sensitive sectors - dairy, onions, sugar, honey and gems & jewellery - and secured a framework for up to $20 billion NZ investment over 15 years.

India and New Zealand signed an FTA in New Delhi - concluded in roughly nine months, one of India's fastest. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and NZ Trade Minister Todd McClay signed the pact.

India and Canada formally launched negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, signing the Terms of Reference in New Delhi with a target to raise bilateral trade to about US$50 billion by 2030.

The 7th Joint Committee Meeting under the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was held in Tokyo, focusing on balanced trade, expanding exports in textiles, pharma and agriculture, and supply-chain cooperation.

India and Israel signed 16 economic, security and diplomatic agreements (agriculture, cyber, AI, education), welcomed Terms of Reference for Free Trade Area negotiations, and agreed on 50,000 Indian workers over five years.

As part of PM Modi's Israel visit, the two sides finalised an accord to send about 50,000 Indian workers to Israel over five years, deepening labour-mobility ties.

India and the US announced a framework for an interim trade agreement under which India would cut tariffs on US industrial and many agricultural goods, and US reciprocal tariffs on Indian exports would be reduced to 18%.

The agreement aims to raise bilateral merchandise trade to US$250 billion by 2030-31 (from ~US$136 billion in 2024-25) and services trade to US$100 billion, cushioning Indian exporters against higher US tariffs.

About 99.5% of India's exports get preferential access to the EU, while India offers preferential treatment to ~97% of EU exports; India will cut auto tariffs gradually from 110% to 10% and reduce wine and spirits duties.

After nearly two decades of talks, India and the EU concluded their landmark FTA - the largest either side has concluded - covering about 2 billion people and roughly 25% of global GDP across 20 chapters.

India and New Zealand announced the successful conclusion of FTA negotiations; New Zealand agreed to eliminate duties on 100% of tariff lines, granting zero-duty access to all Indian exports on entry into force.

India and Oman signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in Muscat (70 years of ties), making Oman the second Gulf nation after the UAE to conclude an FTA with India.

The summit produced 16 intergovernmental agreements and around 15 MoUs, adopted an economic 'Programme 2030' and set a revised bilateral trade target of US$100 billion by 2030.

India and the EU held technical discussions on key FTA chapters - market access, rules of origin, services, technical barriers and sustainability - ahead of the deal's conclusion in January 2026.

Putin pledged uninterrupted shipments of oil, gas and coal to India, and both sides advanced the India-EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) FTA, aiming for zero tariffs on around 90% of goods by 2028.

India and Finland announced joint hosting of the World Circular Economy Forum in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in September 2026, deepening cooperation on sustainability and the circular economy.

During the April 2026 engagements, Sri Lanka agreed to join the India-led International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), expanding regional cooperation on wildlife and big-cat conservation.

Turkey enacted legislation restricting social-media access for children under 15, requiring strict age verification and parental controls on major platforms - part of a global trend on child online safety.

The UK Parliament passed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, barring anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 from ever legally buying cigarettes - effectively raising the smoking age by one year every year.

PM Modi unveiled India's 'MANAV Vision' for human-centric, ethical AI governance, built on five principles - Moral/ethical systems, Accountable governance, National sovereignty, Accessible design and Valid processes.