International Relations Current Affairs One-liners — Last 6 months

Thu, 07 May 2026

• On 7 May 2026 the second BRICS Employment Working Group meeting under India's 2026 BRICS Chairship concluded in Thiruvananthapuram, discussing social security, women's workforce participation, skills and digital technologies.
• On 7 May 2026 Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh held a video meeting with France's Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space Philippe Baptiste, who proposed closer cooperation in human spaceflight, as both sides noted 2026 is the Indo-French Year of Innovation.

Wed, 06 May 2026

• On 6 May 2026 PM Narendra Modi and Vietnam's General Secretary and President To Lam elevated India–Vietnam relations to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, in the 10th anniversary year of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and witnessed the exchange of MoUs on rare earths, digital payments and more.

Tue, 05 May 2026

• On 5 May 2026 India and Algeria held the inaugural meeting of their defence Joint Commission in New Delhi, co-chaired by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and Algeria's Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces Maj Gen Kaid Nour Eddine, and signed its Rules of Procedure.
• On 5 May 2026 India and the EU launched a third coordinated call for proposals on recycling EV batteries under Working Group 2 of the India–EU Trade and Technology Council, with a combined €15.2 million (~₹169 crore) funding pool and a deadline of 15 September 2026.

Mon, 04 May 2026

• The Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar, INS Sunayna, entered Yangon Harbour in Myanmar on 4 May 2026, coinciding with Chief of the Naval Staff Adm Dinesh K Tripathi's visit, in line with India's MAHASAGAR vision and Neighbourhood First policy.

Sun, 03 May 2026

• The Petroleum Ministry said on 3 May 2026 that the Marshall Islands-flagged LPG carrier MT Sarv Shakti, carrying 46,313 MT of Indian LPG cargo, had safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz and was expected at Visakhapatnam on 13 May 2026.

Thu, 30 Apr 2026

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development convened the first preparatory meeting of the BRICS Women's Working Group virtually on 30 April 2026 under India's BRICS Presidency, setting four priority areas.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, on 30 April 2026, where the India–Italy Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2026–27 was exchanged.

Tue, 28 Apr 2026

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 28 April 2026, saying Operation Sindoor showed terrorism epicentres are no longer immune, and held bilaterals with Kyrgyz, Kazakh and Belarusian counterparts.

Fri, 24 Apr 2026

• Project DANTAK of the Border Roads Organisation celebrated its 66th Raising Day at Thimphu on 24 April 2026, marking 65 years of work in Bhutan since its establishment in April 1961, during which it has built over 1,500 km of roads.

Thu, 23 Apr 2026

• Minister of State for Commerce Jitin Prasada co-chaired the 13th session of the India–Czech Republic Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) in Prague on 23 April 2026 with Czech Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Sechter, and the session's protocol was signed.
• President Droupadi Murmu accepted credentials from the envoys of Lao PDR, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia and Guinea-Bissau at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 23 April 2026.

Wed, 22 Apr 2026

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius held talks in Berlin on 22 April 2026, where a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and an Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Training were signed and exchanged.
• The 11th India–Egypt Joint Defence Committee met in Cairo from 20 to 22 April 2026, agreed a bilateral defence cooperation plan for 2026-27, and held the inaugural Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks on the sidelines.

Tue, 21 Apr 2026

• The 7th India–Bhutan Joint Group of Customs meeting was held in Munnar, Kerala, on 20–21 April 2026, co-chaired by CBIC Member (Customs) Yogendra Garg and Bhutan's Director General of Revenue and Customs Sonam Jamtsho.

Mon, 20 Apr 2026

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held talks in New Delhi on 20 April 2026 and announced a Joint Strategic Vision for the India–ROK Special Strategic Partnership for 2026–2030.

Sun, 19 Apr 2026

• The Centre for Trade and Investment Law of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade held a panel discussion in New Delhi, announced on 19 April 2026, on the WTO panel ruling on transnational subsidies in dispute DS 616 between the EU and Indonesia.

Fri, 17 Apr 2026

• The 17th Session of the India–Austria Joint Economic Commission was held in New Delhi, the Commerce Ministry said on 17 April 2026, with both sides welcoming the conclusion of India–EU FTA negotiations.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026

• Federal Chancellor of Austria Christian Stocker visited India on 16 April 2026, the first visit by an Austrian Chancellor in 40 years, and the two sides signed an audiovisual co-production agreement, letters of intent on military matters and counter-terrorism, and launched an India–Austria Working Holiday Programme.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron on 16 April 2026, and the two leaders agreed on the urgent need to restore safety and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tue, 14 Apr 2026

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a phone call from US President Donald Trump on 14 April 2026; the leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation under the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and stressed keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure.

Sun, 12 Apr 2026

• The Tisza Party led by Péter Magyar won Hungary's parliamentary election held on 12 April 2026, ending Viktor Orbán's 16-year rule; Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Mr. Magyar.

Sat, 11 Apr 2026

• Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal met Bhutan's Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chandra Bahadur Gurung on 11 April 2026, the third day of his Bhutan visit, and was briefed on Gross National Happiness and the Gelephu Mindfulness City.
• Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a virtual call with Saudi Commerce Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al Qassabi on 11 April 2026, stressing supply chain continuity and hoping for early progress on the India-GCC FTA.

Fri, 10 Apr 2026

• Indian Navy frigate INS Trikand concluded its port call at Mombasa, Kenya, on 10 April 2026, during which INSAS rifles and ammunition were handed over to the Kenya Navy.

Thu, 09 Apr 2026

• The Election Commission's International Election Visitors' Programme (IEVP) 2026 brought 38 delegates from 22 countries to watch the 9 April polls in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry during a two-day visit on 8–9 April.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 9 April 2026 congratulated General Phan Van Giang on his appointment as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Vietnam.

Tue, 07 Apr 2026

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7 April 2026 congratulated To Lam on his election as President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and spoke of deepening the India–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.