International Relations Current Affairs — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Mon, 17 Aug 2026
Army contingent leaves for India–Thailand exercise MAITREE-XV
An Indian Army contingent left on 17 August 2026 for Thailand for the 15th edition of the India–Thailand joint military exercise MAITREE, to be held from 18 to 31 August 2026 in Surat Thani.
India hosts 8th BRICS Youth Energy Summit virtually
India hosted the Eighth BRICS Youth Energy Summit virtually on 17 August 2026 under its BRICS Chairship, with more than 100 participants.
Sun, 16 Aug 2026
Army Chief Gen Dhiraj Seth leaves for Nepal visit; to be made Honorary General of Nepali Army
Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth left on 16 August 2026 for an official visit to Nepal from 17 to 19 August, during which the President of Nepal is to confer on him the Honorary Rank of General of the Nepali Army.
Jared Kushner meets Hamas leaders in Egypt to push 15-point Gaza road map that Israel rejected
US envoy Jared Kushner held a rare meeting with Hamas leaders in Egypt on 16 August 2026 to push the US-backed 15-point road map for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which Israel had rejected the previous week.
INS Sudarshini concludes Lokayan 2026 port call at Ponta Delgada, Azores
The Indian Navy's sail training ship INS Sudarshini concluded its port call at Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Portugal, on 16 August 2026 as part of Lokayan 2026.
Sat, 15 Aug 2026
Fri, 14 Aug 2026
Eighth IN–USN Explosive Ordnance Disposal exercise concludes at Kochi
The eighth edition of the Indian Navy–US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Exercise 2026 concluded at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi, on 14 August 2026.
NCB brings back fugitive drug trafficker Virender Singh Basoya from UAE
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) secured the return of fugitive drug trafficker Virender Singh Basoya from the UAE on 14 August 2026, after his arrest there on an INTERPOL Red Notice.
Fri, 31 Jul 2026
Thu, 30 Jul 2026
Maldives' Favara instant payment system linked with India's UPI; cross-border corridor goes live
On 30 July 2026 the integration of the Maldives Instant Payment System 'Favara' with India's UPI went live, letting people in the Maldives send money in real time to UPI-enabled bank accounts in India.
Fifth India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks: Rs 4,000 crore line of credit, 12 new projects
At the fifth India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks in Thimphu (30–31 July 2026), the two sides exchanged a Rs 4,000 crore concessional Line of Credit agreement for energy projects and approved 12 new projects worth Rs 332 crore.
Wed, 29 Jul 2026
Tue, 28 Jul 2026
Mon, 27 Jul 2026
Sat, 25 Jul 2026
Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List
The 'Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath' in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on 25 July 2026 at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, becoming India's 45th World Heritage property.
INS Sudarshini leaves Boston after SAIL 250 events under Lokayan 26
Indian Navy sail training ship INS Sudarshini departed Boston, USA on 25 July 2026 as part of its ongoing Lokayan 26 voyage, after representing India at the SAIL 250 celebrations and the International Naval Review 250.
Fri, 24 Jul 2026
India hosts BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction; Joint Statement adopted
Under India's BRICS Chairship 2026, the NDMA hosted the 3rd BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in New Delhi on 24 July 2026, chaired by MoS Home Nityanand Rai, which unanimously adopted the BRICS Joint Statement on DRR.
Bucharest University of Economic Studies confers Honorary Doctorate on President Murmu
The Bucharest University of Economic Studies conferred an Honorary Doctorate on President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony in Bucharest, Romania on 24 July 2026.
Thu, 23 Jul 2026
President Murmu in Romania – first State Visit by an Indian President in nearly three decades
President Droupadi Murmu reached Bucharest on 23 July 2026 on the last leg of her State Visits to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania, and held talks with Romanian President Nicușor Dan at Cotroceni Palace – the first State Visit by an Indian President to Romania in nearly three decades.
US final Section 301 measures: India placed in lower tariff tier at 10%
The US Trade Representative on 23 July 2026 announced final measures under Section 301 of the US Trade Act, 1974, following its forced-labour investigation of 60 economies, placing India in the lower tier with an additional 10% ad valorem duty, down from the 12.5% proposed on 2 June 2026.
India and Israel conclude second round of FTA negotiations in New Delhi
India and Israel concluded the second round of negotiations for the proposed India–Israel Free Trade Agreement, held from 20 to 23 July 2026 at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi.
India concludes its Eighth Trade Policy Review at the WTO
India's Eighth Trade Policy Review (TPR) at the World Trade Organization in Geneva concluded on 23 July 2026, with 68 WTO Members participating; the Indian delegation was led by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal.
16th BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting concludes in Chandigarh
The 16th BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting concluded in Chandigarh on 23 July 2026 under India's BRICS Chairship, with members unanimously adopting the 16th BRICS Health Ministerial Declaration.
Wed, 22 Jul 2026
Tue, 21 Jul 2026
President Murmu holds talks in Skopje and addresses the Assembly of North Macedonia
On 21 July 2026, President Droupadi Murmu held talks with North Macedonia's President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova at Villa Vodno and addressed the Assembly of North Macedonia, on the first visit by an Indian President to the country.
BRICS Network University Governing Board backs Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge Systems as new theme
The Ministry of Education convened the virtual International Governing Board meeting of the BRICS Network University on 21 July 2026, after the first BRICS NU conference on Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge Systems on 20 July.
India hosts 8th Meeting of BRICS Heads of Prosecution Services
The Department of Legal Affairs hosted the 8th Meeting of BRICS Heads of Prosecution Services in virtual mode on 20–21 July 2026, presided over by Attorney General R. Venkataramani.
PM Modi congratulates Andy Burnham on assuming office as UK Prime Minister
On 21 July 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Andy Burnham on assuming office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Mon, 20 Jul 2026
India becomes a Party to the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 20 July 2026, becoming the 123rd WTO Member to do so and a Party to the Agreement.
President Murmu makes first-ever Indian presidential visit to Moldova
President Droupadi Murmu reached Chisinau on 20 July 2026 on the first leg of State Visits to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania, the first visit by an Indian President to Moldova, and held talks with President Maia Sandu.