International Relations Current Affairs — Last 6 months · Page 11 of 11 | Daily News + MCQs

🌐 International Organisations 📍 Kerala Important

2nd BRICS Employment Working Group meeting concludes in Thiruvananthapuram

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 France

India and France review science and space cooperation in the Indo-French Year of Innovation

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Vietnam Must know

India and Vietnam elevate ties to Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during To Lam's State Visit

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Africa Important

Inaugural India–Algeria defence Joint Commission meets in New Delhi

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.

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🌿 Environment & Ecology 📍 Europe Important

India and EU launch €15.2 million joint call on EV battery recycling under the TTC

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.

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🛡️ Defence & Security 📍 Myanmar Important

Indian Ocean Ship Sagar (INS Sunayna) arrives at Yangon, Myanmar

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.

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💹 Trade & Industry 📍 India Important

West Asia update: LPG carrier MT Sarv Shakti crosses Strait of Hormuz with Indian cargo

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.

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🌐 International Organisations 📍 World Important

Ministry of WCD convenes first preparatory meeting of BRICS Women's Working Group under India's Presidency

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Italy Important

India and Italy exchange Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan 2026–27 during Rajnath–Crosetto talks

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.

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🌐 International Organisations 📍 Asia Must know

Rajnath Singh at SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Bishkek calls for unified front against terrorism

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Bhutan Must know

BRO's Project DANTAK marks 66th Raising Day in Bhutan

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Europe Important

India and Czech Republic hold 13th Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation in Prague

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 India

Envoys of Lao PDR, DR Congo, Namibia and Guinea-Bissau present credentials to President Murmu

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Germany Must know

India and Germany sign Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap during Rajnath Singh's Berlin talks

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Egypt Important

India and Egypt hold 11th Joint Defence Committee in Cairo; agree defence cooperation plan 2026-27

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Bhutan Important

India and Bhutan hold 7th Joint Group of Customs meeting in Munnar, Kerala

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 South Korea Must know

India and South Korea adopt Joint Strategic Vision during President Lee Jae Myung's State Visit; CEPA upgrade talks to resume

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.

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🌐 International Organisations 📍 India

IIFT's CTIL holds panel on WTO ruling on transnational subsidies in EU–Indonesia stainless steel dispute (DS 616)

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Europe

17th India–Austria Joint Economic Commission held in New Delhi

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Europe Important

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker visits India; agreements on audiovisual co-production, military cooperation and vocational training

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 France Important

PM Modi and President Macron discuss West Asia, agree on restoring freedom of navigation in Strait of Hormuz

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 United States Important

PM Modi receives call from US President Trump; leaders discuss West Asia and the Strait of Hormuz

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.

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🌐 International Relations 📍 Europe Important

Péter Magyar's Tisza Party wins Hungary's parliamentary election

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Bhutan

Manohar Lal holds infrastructure talks in Bhutan, briefed on Gelephu Mindfulness City

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Saudi Arabia

Piyush Goyal and Saudi Commerce Minister discuss supply chains amid West Asia conflict

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Kenya

INS Trikand concludes Mombasa port call; INSAS rifles handed over to Kenya Navy

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.

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🌐 International Relations 📍 Kerala Important

38 foreign delegates from 22 countries watch Assam, Kerala and Puducherry polls under IEVP 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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Vietnam

Rajnath Singh congratulates Vietnam's Phan Van Giang on appointment as Deputy PM and Defence Minister

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.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Vietnam

PM Modi congratulates To Lam on election as President of Vietnam

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.

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