International Relations Current Affairs 2026 for Government Exams

The Bank of Canada unveiled a new CAD 20 banknote carrying the image of King Charles III, the first British monarch to appear on a Canadian note in over seven decades and the first change since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. Canada thus becomes the first Commonwealth country outside Britain to put King Charles on a banknote. The note is vertically oriented — only the second such Canadian note after the CAD 10 bill, which the International Bank Note Society judged the world's best design in 2018. Its reverse depicts the Vimy Ridge Memorial in France, and it carries floral emblems of Canada's 13 provinces and territories. Circulation begins in early 2027.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri hosted a Quad Sherpas' Meeting in New Delhi, convened to carry forward the outcomes of the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in New Delhi on 26 May 2026. The Sherpas of India, the United States, Japan and Australia reaffirmed the importance of focusing on concrete, action-oriented initiatives, and agreed to continue consultations ahead of the next Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The meeting comes as New Delhi anchors a dense season of plurilateral diplomacy, including India's 2026 BRICS chairship and the BRICS Chief Justices' Forum, underlining India's positioning across both Indo-Pacific and Global South groupings.

India and Belgium signed a defence cooperation Letter of Intent and agreed to double bilateral trade within five years during Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever's official visit to India from 2 to 4 September 2026. India will post a resident defence attache in Brussels. The two sides widened cooperation to semiconductors and micro-electronics, pairing Indian institutions with the Belgian research centre imec, renewed an MoU on renewable energy focused on green hydrogen and solar, and added critical minerals and fintech, moving the relationship beyond its traditional diamond trade base. The visit also framed the KSSL-Thales 70-mm rocket agreement announced the same week.

India and China held the 25th round of Special Representatives (SR) talks on the boundary question in Beijing on 25 August 2026, releasing an eight-point consensus a day later. NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi led the two sides. They agreed to advance a framework settlement guided by the 2005 Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles, finalise terms of reference for the Expert Group on Boundary Delimitation and the Working Group on Border Management under the WMCC, add two military hotlines in the Eastern and Middle Sectors, and reopen three border trading points. India hosts the 26th round in 2027.

Iran and Oman reached agreement on 15 August 2026 on a shipping route map for traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, lying between Iran's southern coast and Oman's Musandam Peninsula. The technical plan, negotiated since an 18 June 2026 MoU on safe navigation, involves Iran's defence, security and environmental authorities alongside Omani counterparts; Iran said full normalisation depends on the US lifting its naval blockade. The International Maritime Organization had recorded 65 confirmed vessel incidents and 17 seafarer deaths in the Strait and wider Middle East by 11 August 2026.

Saudi Arabia formally launched the Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition (MMDC), headquartered in Riyadh, to secure the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Aden after repeated Houthi attacks on shipping (Houthis had declared a naval blockade on Saudi-linked vessels on 20 July 2026). Following a Riyadh summit (30 July 2026) attended by 43 nations and the EU, 14 founding members — including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti and Comoros — signed on. Saudi Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem Al-Shehri became the coalition's first commander (6 Aug 2026), with Pakistan serving as deputy-commander nation for the first term; the MMDC entered its operational phase on 14 August 2026.

India's Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Culture organised "Suryapath Tiranga," a coordinated flag-hoisting relay that moved from east to west following the path of the rising sun, across 54 Indian diplomatic missions in 54 countries, to mark the 80th Independence Day. The 19-hour relay began at 1:30 AM IST in Suva, Fiji and concluded around 8:30 PM IST at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, passing through New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, Indonesia, Singapore, the Maldives, Pretoria, Riga, Reykjavik and London along the way. It was organised under the "Har Ghar Tiranga 2026" campaign (9-17 August 2026).

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.

The UN General Assembly on 4 September 2026 adopted an African-led resolution promoting maps that show continents in accurate relative sizes, endorsing the Equal Earth projection and moving away from the 16th-century Mercator projection in education and public mapping. Led by Togo and backed by the African Union, it passed with 164 votes in favour, 6 abstentions and 1 against — the sole opposing vote cast by the United States. Togo framed the issue as one of "cognitive justice", since Mercator maps make Greenland appear far larger than its true area relative to Africa. Togo plans to revise school textbooks by end-2026.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a two-day state visit to Uzbekistan on 29-30 August 2026 at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev - his fourth visit, coinciding with the 15th anniversary of the India-Uzbekistan strategic partnership and Uzbekistan's 35th Independence Day. The two sides signed 11 MoUs and agreements spanning culture, education, health, mining, tourism, finance, digital payments and Digital Public Infrastructure, and set a bilateral trade target of USD 5 billion by 2030. Modi was conferred Uzbekistan's highest state honour, the Order of 'Oliy Darajali Do'stlik' (Order of Highest Friendship), his 36th international honour. The visit immediately preceded the 26th SCO Summit at Bishkek.

The 4th Meeting of the India-Denmark Joint Working Group on MSME development, innovation and intellectual property was held in Copenhagen from 24 to 28 August 2026, between India's Ministry of MSME and the Danish Patent and Trademark Office. Talks covered technology adoption, technology commercialisation and IP-led growth. The Indian delegation was led by Dr Rajneesh, Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner (MSME); Denmark's was headed by Maria Skou, Deputy Director General of the DKPTO, with Ambassador Manish Prabhat participating. The delegation visited Aarhus University's Innovation 'Kitchen' and Agro Food Park on 28 August and joined the closing panel of TechBBQ, a Nordic startup event.

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.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan from 31 August to 1 September 2026 — the second leg of his Central Asia tour after Uzbekistan — at the invitation of President Sadyr Japarov, to attend the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek. Alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, he attended the opening of the 6th World Nomad Games, a biennial traditional sports event held in Bishkek from 31 August to 6 September. Modi held bilateral meetings with several SCO leaders and gifted President Japarov a ten-volume English Mahabharata translated by Bibek Debroy and a Ladakhi Tsugdul blanket.

The 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit was held at the Yrys Ordo Congress Hall in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 31 August and 1 September 2026, marking the grouping's 25th anniversary. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov chaired the Council of Heads of State and handed the rotating chairmanship to Pakistan. Members signed the Bishkek Declaration and adopted over 20 strategic decisions, approving institutional arrangements for the Universal Centre for Countering Security Challenges and the SCO Anti-Narcotics Centre Executive Committee. PM Narendra Modi, who reached Bishkek after a Uzbekistan leg, pressed his SECURE vision and coordinated counter-terror action, and met Vladimir Putin on the sidelines. Lahore was named SCO Tourist and Cultural Capital.

BRICS Tourism Ministers adopted the BRICS Tourism Ministers' Communiqué 2026, also called the Jaipur Declaration, by consensus at Jaipur, Rajasthan, on 21 August 2026, chaired by Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat under India's 2026 BRICS Chairship. Nine member states took part, including Brazil, Iran, South Africa and the UAE. The declaration set four priorities: AI and tourism, sustainability and responsible tourism, tourism skilling and capacity building, and seamless travel facilitation. It followed the 2nd BRICS Tourism Working Group meeting held in Jaipur on 19–20 August 2026, the preparatory stage already tracked in this digest.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a four-day visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic on 29 August 2026 — a bilateral leg in Uzbekistan on 29–30 August, then the 26th SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan on 31 August–1 September. His fourth visit to Uzbekistan, it features delegation-level talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on trade, critical minerals, defence, energy and digital connectivity, linking India's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision with Uzbekistan's Uzbekistan-2030 strategy. The two became Strategic Partners in 2011, with bilateral trade near USD 1 billion. The trip lands weeks before India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam on 12–13 September 2026.

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 Ministry of External Affairs announced that India will host the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 12 and 13 September 2026. India assumed the BRICS chairship on 1 January 2026 under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability", and has already held over 350 meetings across 25 Indian cities, including the BRICS Environment Ministers' and Tourism Ministers' meetings that adopted the Jaipur Declaration. The summit marks the 20th anniversary of the grouping, formed as BRIC in 2006. India previously chaired BRICS in 2012, 2016 and 2021.

The WHO Regional Office for Africa confirmed in August 2026 the closure of poliovirus type 2 outbreaks in five countries - Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of the Congo and Uganda - after an Independent Outbreak Response Assessment (OBRA) conducted between January and June 2026. The OBRA reviewed surveillance systems, laboratory evidence, epidemiological data, population immunity and vaccination campaign performance. Burundi's outbreak dated to March 2023, the Republic of the Congo's last detection to December 2023 and Uganda's to May 2024, while Guinea-Bissau has reported none since July 2021. Africa was certified free of wild poliovirus in 2020, so these were vaccine-derived type 2 outbreaks.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) hosted the BRICS ICT Track in Pune, Maharashtra from 17-21 August 2026 under India's 2026 BRICS Chairship, on the theme 'Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future'. The five-day event carried three components: the 7th BRICS Working Group on ICT Cooperation, the Digital BRICS Forum and Expo, and the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers' Meeting. India and Brazil signed an MoU on the sidelines covering AI, 5G/6G, Open RAN, IoT and Direct-to-Device connectivity. It caps a dense BRICS month: the Jaipur Declaration at the Tourism Ministers' Meeting and the Visakhapatnam Youth Ministers' Meeting that launched 'Friends of MY Bharat'.

The Cameroon-flagged general cargo vessel M/V LUTUF was seized by armed pirates on 17 August 2026 off Marraya in Somalia's Puntland region, with six Indian nationals among the crew. The hijacking revives concerns over piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Somali coast corridor, a shipping lane critical to India's crude and container trade. The Indian Navy has maintained continuous anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since 2008 and has escorted thousands of merchant ships; it also runs Operation Sankalp in the wider region. Puntland is a semi-autonomous state in north-eastern Somalia and a historic base for piracy networks.

BNP senior leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir (78) was elected the 23rd President of Bangladesh on 20 August 2026, winning the country's first contested presidential election in 35 years. He secured 255 of 343 votes cast in the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament), defeating Oli Ahmed of the Liberal Democratic Party, the nominee of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party opposition alliance, who polled 88 votes. The election was conducted under Chief Election Commissioner A.S.M. Nasir Uddin. Alamgir, a veteran BNP leader who earlier served as the party's Secretary General, resigned from that post and from the BNP's National Standing Committee before contesting the presidency.

India and Mauritius signed a Government-to-Government Memorandum of Understanding on oil and gas cooperation at Port Louis on 20 August 2026. It was signed by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri and Mauritian Minister of Commerce and Consumer Protection John Michael Tzoun Sao Yeung Sik Yuen. Alongside it, Indian Oil Corporation and the State Trading Corporation of Mauritius signed a five-year sales and purchase agreement covering petrol, diesel, marine gas oil and Aviation Turbine Fuel. The pact follows an announcement by EAM S. Jaishankar at the 9th Indian Ocean Conference in Port Louis in April 2026.

The 2nd BRICS 2026 Tourism Working Group Meeting was held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on 19 August 2026 under India's BRICS Chairship, hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and chaired by Tourism Secretary Bhuvnesh Kumar, discussing India's theme *'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'* across four priority areas including AI in tourism and responsible tourism. It followed the 1st (virtual) meeting on 25 May 2026 and feeds into the BRICS Tourism Ministers' Meeting on 21 August; delegates also visited Jaipur's UNESCO-listed Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Amber Palace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup Island (Etorofu in Japan) on 13 August 2026, becoming only the second Russian leader after Dmitry Medvedev to visit the disputed southern Kuril Islands — Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Habomai islets — which Japan calls the Northern Territories and claims as its own; the two countries have never signed a peace treaty formally ending their WWII-era territorial dispute. Japan's Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Nikolai Nozdrev in protest; Russia summoned Japanese Ambassador Akira Muto in response, with Moscow reserving the right to take countermeasures.

India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is hosting the BRICS ICT Track in Pune from 17 to 21 August 2026 under India's 2026 BRICS chairship, bringing together communications ministers, senior officials and ICT experts from BRICS member countries. The five-day track features three major components: the 7th BRICS Working Group Meeting for Cooperation in ICTs, the Digital BRICS Forum and Expo, and the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers' Meeting, scheduled for 21 August 2026. Deliberations are focused on four priority areas: Sustainable & Resilient ICT Ecosystems, Cybersecurity & Trustworthy ICT, Digital Skilling & Capacity Building, and Innovation, Startups & Entrepreneurship — reflecting India's chairship push to position digital cooperation as central to the bloc's 2026 agenda. The Pune ICT track runs the same week as the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi (which opposed the EU's CBAM), underscoring how India's 2026 BRICS chairship is coordinating parallel ministerial tracks — environment and digital/ICT — around a shared calendar of meetings before the bloc's leaders' summit.

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.

The United States imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane of Japan and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal on 18 August 2026. The measures, announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio under a presidential executive order, freeze any US-held assets of the two officials, block their access to the US financial system, and restrict their entry into the United States. The US government linked the action to ICC proceedings involving officials of states — including the US and Israel — that have not accepted ICC jurisdiction. By 19 August 2026, the US had sanctioned nine of the ICC's 18 judges, both deputy prosecutors, its former chief prosecutor, and one additional prosecution staff member. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the sanctions, calling the ICC a "kangaroo court", while Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen opposed the move, saying international tribunals must be allowed to carry out their mandates. The ICC condemned the sanctions and said it would continue its work.

BRICS environment ministers adopted a Joint Ministerial Statement on 18 August 2026 in New Delhi opposing the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), describing it as a unilateral trade measure tied to carbon pricing on imports of carbon-intensive goods such as iron, steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers and electricity. CBAM entered its definitive phase on 1 January 2026, requiring importers into the EU to purchase and surrender emission certificates for these covered goods. The statement was adopted at the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting, held under India's 2026 BRICS chairship and led by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav. It was supported by ministers and senior representatives from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and the newer BRICS members — the UAE, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Ethiopia. Beyond opposing CBAM, the bloc called for greater climate finance for developing countries and asked wealthy nations to triple adaptation finance by 2035, seeking more grants and concessional finance for climate-resilient infrastructure, disaster preparedness and water security. A June 2026 study in *Nature Climate Change* found that high-emission Indian steel exporters had already seen declining export volumes and revenue to the EU because of CBAM.

India hosted the BRICS Environment Working Group's Senior Officers' Meeting and the Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development on 17 August 2026, followed by the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting on 18 August 2026, both at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Held under India's BRICS Chairship 2026 theme — "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability" — the meetings focused on sustainable lifestyles, afforestation and forest-fire management, disaster resilience, circular economy and climate adaptation, and were set to produce a joint environmental outcome document. India's Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav led the deliberations.

Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army on Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth at the President's Office, Sheetal Niwas, Kathmandu, on 17 August 2026. General Seth, on an official visit to Nepal, also met Nepali Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel to discuss bilateral defence cooperation. The gesture continues a reciprocal military tradition dating back to 1950, under which the army chiefs of India and Nepal are conferred each other's highest honorary rank.

India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) signed Terms of Reference (ToR) to negotiate a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). SACU — the world''s oldest customs union — comprises South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini.

India and Bhutan signed a Line of Credit (LoC) worth approximately Rs 4,000 crore, reinforcing New Delhi''s development-partnership and "Neighbourhood First" ties with Thimphu.

The Government of India, through its Permanent Mission to the UN, donated five peacocks to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), Switzerland, reviving a heritage tradition linked to Ariana Park. The group comprises four blue peafowl and one rare white-feathered male, symbolising the UN's blue and white colours. The birds were handed over by Arindam Bagchi, India's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, to Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of UNOG. This is India's second such gift, after PM Indira Gandhi donated a breeding pair from Delhi Zoo in 1981.

India concluded the 16th BRICS Trade Ministers'' Meeting in Jaipur, Rajasthan (6-7 August 2026) under its BRICS Chairship 2026. Chaired by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, the meeting adopted a Joint Declaration and four annexes under the theme ''Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.'' Key outcomes: finalising the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2030 (for submission at the New Delhi Summit in September 2026), the Jaipur Consensus on a BRICS Invoice Discounting Mechanism, and principles for digitally delivered services — with focus on WTO reforms, MSMEs and resilient supply chains.

India hosted the Meeting of Heads of National Statistical Offices (NSOs) of BRICS countries on 3–4 August 2026 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, under the theme "Quality Statistics as a Driver of Change." The meeting was held as part of India's BRICS Presidency 2026. Related engagements included the 2nd BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group meeting (Hyderabad) and the 3rd BRICS Culture Working Group meeting (Bhopal). BRICS originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The Pacific island nation of Nauru officially adopted the name Republic of Naoero, confirmed by President David Adeang on 31 July 2026. "Naoero" is the indigenous Nauruan name. Nauru is the world smallest island nation (about 21 sq km), in the Pacific Ocean northeast of Australia, and a member of the Commonwealth and the Pacific Islands Forum.

India and Bhutan signed a concessional Line of Credit (LoC) worth Rs 4,000 crore (Nu 40 billion) during the Fifth India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks in Thimphu on 31 July 2026. The agreement was signed between the Export-Import (Exim) Bank of India and Bhutan's Ministry of Finance to support infrastructure and development projects. Bhutan is India's closest bilateral partner, sharing a 699 km border; its currency, the Ngultrum, is pegged to the Indian Rupee. India provides Bhutan hydropower support, free transit access and development assistance. Bhutan's capital is Thimphu and its PM is Tshering Tobgay (titled Lyonchhen).

India and China are set to resume border trade through the Nathu La Pass in East Sikkim from 1 August 2026, ending a six-year suspension that began in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and border tensions. A trial run was held on 30 July. Border trade via Nathu La was formally revived in 2006 (after being shut since the 1962 India-China war) and typically operates May-November. The reopening follows the 24th round of the India-China Special Representatives' dialogue (August 2025), where both sides agreed to resume trade through Nathu La (Sikkim), Shipki La (Himachal Pradesh) and Lipulekh (Uttarakhand).

On 31 July 2026, India and Bhutan signed a concessional Line of Credit (LoC) worth Rs 4,000 crore (Nu 40 billion) during the Fifth India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks in Thimphu. The agreement was exchanged between the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India and Bhutan's Ministry of Finance. The LoC is aligned with Bhutan's 13th Five-Year Plan (2024-29) and is earmarked mainly for energy (hydropower) projects. The Indian delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. A separate MoU between AIIMS New Delhi and Bhutan's KGUMSB was signed for medical research and exchange.

India intensified its campaign for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), stressing the need for comprehensive UNSC reforms through its SHANTI framework. SHANTI stands for Security, Humanitarian assistance, ANti-terrorism, Technology and Infrastructure. India has long argued that the UNSC's structure - with five permanent members (P5: US, UK, France, Russia, China) wielding veto power - no longer reflects contemporary geopolitical realities. India is currently a leading voice among the G4 (India, Brazil, Germany, Japan) seeking permanent seats.

The United States and Saudi Arabia signed a Section 123 Agreement (under the US Atomic Energy Act, 1954) allowing Saudi Arabia to develop a civilian nuclear programme, alongside a bilateral safeguards agreement. It was signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. Notably, the deal does not include uranium enrichment. It must be submitted to the US Congress for review. Some US lawmakers warned it could trigger a regional nuclear race, particularly in relation to Iran.

Andy Burnham became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 20 July 2026 after being invited by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace to form a government, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer. Formerly the Mayor of Greater Manchester and MP for Makerfield, Burnham had held cabinet posts under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. In his first address he pledged to focus on the cost-of-living crisis and end political instability.

India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) on 20 July 2026, becoming the 123rd WTO member to accept it. Adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in 2022 and in force since September 2025, it is the WTO's first multilateral agreement with an environmental sustainability objective. It bans subsidies for Illegal, Unreported & Unregulated (IUU) fishing, for fishing on unregulated high seas, and for harvesting overfished stocks.

Under India's BRICS Chairship 2026, the 12th BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting concluded in Hyderabad, Telangana on 18 July 2026, convened under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability." Union Labour & Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya led the Indian side. The meeting adopted the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Declaration and launched BRICS CONNECT, an India-proposed initiative for technical cooperation, skills forecasting, digital employment services and social security. The ILO Director-General commended India's social protection system for now reaching 1 billion people.

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 White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy released a report, "The Great Transshipment Scam," on 11 August 2026, naming India — alongside Canada, the EU, Israel, Japan, Mexico, South Korea and Taiwan — in Tier 1 ("Diversified Scale Leaders") of a framework tracking countries used to route Chinese goods around US tariffs. The report estimated the annual value of potentially illegal transhipments at about $60 billion (other models: $40-303 billion) across 40+ countries, and singled out the Pune-Gujarat-Chennai industrial belt as a possible corridor for China-linked pumps and compressors reaching the US. Washington said it would deploy AI-based customs screening to detect and penalise such routing, amid ongoing US-India trade talks and a 7 August 2026 US Senate vote approving tariffs of up to 100% on buyers of Russian energy.

The Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Busan, Republic of Korea (19-29 July 2026), with the inscription announced on 25 July 2026. With this addition, India now has 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Located near Varanasi, Sarnath is where the Buddha delivered his first sermon (the Dhammachakra Pravartana). The inscribed property includes the Dhamek Stupa, the Dharmarajika Stupa, the Chaukhandi Stupa, the Mulagandhakuti Vihara and the Ashokan Pillar - whose Lion Capital is India's State Emblem.

The Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) held in Busan, South Korea (Republic of Korea) on 25 July 2026. It becomes India's 45th World Heritage Site (WHS) and the fourth in Uttar Pradesh after the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. Sarnath, near Varanasi, is where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dhammachakra Pravartana) after attaining enlightenment, around 528 BCE, in the Deer Park (Mrigadava / Rishipatana). The inscribed property has two components — the Chaukhandi Stupa and the archaeological remains including the Dhamekh Stupa, Dharmarajika Stupa, Mulagandhakuti Vihara and the Ashokan Pillar. Sarnath was on UNESCO's Tentative List since 1998; India submitted its nomination in January 2025 for the 2025–26 cycle. With this, India ranks 6th globally and 2nd in Asia-Pacific in number of World Heritage Sites.

On 16 July 2026, Ukraine's Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) approved Serhii Koretskyi, CEO of Naftogaz, 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 — with no prior political experience — was chosen for his energy-sector leadership to strengthen Ukraine's winter preparedness, energy security and critical infrastructure amid the ongoing war.

The UN released the Preliminary Report of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI — the first UN-commissioned scientific assessment of AI. Prepared by a 40-member panel of experts from all five UN regions, it is co-chaired by Turing Award laureate Yoshua Bengio and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa. The report warns that AI development is outpacing global governance and urges stronger regulatory frameworks. It flags a global AI imbalance: the USA leads with 75% of global compute and 59 AI models, China with 15% compute and 35 models, and the rest of the world just 10% compute and 13 models.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar launched India's campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term at UN Headquarters, New York. The campaign theme is SHANTI: Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity. India's priorities include countering terror financing, maritime security and responsible AI governance. Elections are scheduled for June 2027, where India competes against Tajikistan for the sole Asia-Pacific seat. India has served as a non-permanent member 8 times (last in 2021-22).

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.

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.