Oceania Current Affairs — Last 12 months | Daily News + MCQs

🛡️ Military Exercises 📍 Rajasthan Must know

Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 opens at Jodhpur with seven partner air forces under the theme 'Power in Partnership'

The second edition of the IAF's multilateral air exercise Tarang Shakti was inaugurated at Air Force Station Jodhpur on 26 September 2026 and runs until 12 October, with air forces of seven friendly foreign countries.

For: State PSC · State Police · State Staff Selection +2 4 MCQs

🛡️ Defence & Security 📍 Tamil Nadu Important

ICG Ship Shaunak sails from Chennai to Perth for QUAD-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission

On 25 September 2026 Indian Coast Guard Ship Shaunak sailed from Chennai for Perth, Australia, under the QUAD-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission with Sea Riders from all four Quad countries on board.

For: State PSC · State Police · State Staff Selection +2 2 MCQs

💹 Trade & Industry 📍 India Must know

India–New Zealand FTA to enter into force on 20 October 2026, with zero duty on all Indian exports

On 21 September 2026, Piyush Goyal and New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay announced that the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement will enter into force on 20 October 2026.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +8 4 MCQs

🛡️ Defence & Security 📍 New Zealand Important

India and New Zealand hold 2nd Defence Strategic Dialogue in Wellington

India and New Zealand held the second Defence Strategic Dialogue in Wellington on 24 August 2026, focusing on maritime security and joint training under their new Strategic Partnership.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🛡️ Military Exercises 📍 Australia Important

IAF concludes Exercise Pitch Black in Australia and Udara Shakti in Malaysia

The Indian Air Force announced on 22 August 2026 that it had concluded Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia and Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 in Malaysia.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 3 MCQs

🔬 IT, AI & Digital 📍 Delhi

DigiLocker-linked 'AAERI Verify' launched to speed document checks for students going to Australia

MeitY's National e-Governance Division and AAERI unveiled 'AAERI Verify', a DigiLocker-integrated document verification platform for Indian students applying to Australian universities, in New Delhi on 7 August 2026.

For: State PSC · Judiciary 1 MCQs

🛡️ Military Exercises 📍 Australia Important

IAF joins Exercise Pitch Black 2026 at RAAF Base Darwin with Rafale jets

The Indian Air Force began participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin on 20 July 2026, fielding Rafale fighters; the exercise runs till 7 August 2026.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 New Zealand Must know

India and New Zealand elevate ties to Strategic Partnership; Roadmap to 2030 endorsed in Auckland

During PM Modi's 10–11 July 2026 visit to Auckland, the first by an Indian PM to New Zealand in 40 years, India and New Zealand became Strategic Partners and endorsed a Roadmap to 2030.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +8 4 MCQs

🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Australia Must know

3rd India–Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne: new defence declaration and 18 outcomes

PM Narendra Modi and PM Anthony Albanese held the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne on 9 July 2026, announcing a Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation among 18 outcomes.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +8 4 MCQs

🚄 Energy & Power 📍 Australia Must know

India and Australia finalise Administrative Arrangement enabling uranium supply to India

At the Melbourne summit on 9 July 2026, India and Australia finalised the Administrative Arrangement that operationalises their 2014 Civil Nuclear Agreement and enables Australian uranium exports to India.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +8 3 MCQs

🔬 Research & Discoveries 📍 Australia Important

CSIR and IP Australia sign agreement on access to the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library

CSIR and IP Australia signed an agreement on access to India's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library at the India–Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne on 9 July 2026, taking the number of patent offices with access to 18.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 3 MCQs

🎓 Education 📍 Australia Important

15 skilled youth to represent India at Global Skills Challenge 2026 in Australia

The Skill Development Ministry sent off a 30-member Team India on 21 June 2026 for the Global Skills Challenge 2026 in Australia, a preparatory event ahead of WorldSkills Shanghai.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🛡️ Defence & Security 📍 Australia Important

Second India–Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue held in New Delhi

On 1 June 2026, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy PM and Defence Minister Richard Marles co-chaired the second India–Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Australia Important

10th India–Australia Defence Policy Talks held in New Delhi

On 8 May 2026 the 10th India–Australia Defence Policy Talks were held in New Delhi, co-chaired by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and Australia's First Assistant Secretary Bernard Philip, with both sides looking ahead to the first India–Australia Joint Staff Talks later this year.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🌐 Agreements & MoUs 📍 Australia Important

India–Australia ECTA completes four years

The India–Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), signed on 2 April 2022, completed four years on 2 April 2026, with all Indian exports eligible for zero-duty access to Australia from 1 January 2026.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 3 MCQs

🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 India Important

Piyush Goyal meets EU, UK, Canada and New Zealand trade ministers at WTO MC14

On 29 March 2026, on the sidelines of WTO MC14 in Yaoundé, Piyush Goyal met trade ministers of the EU, UK, Canada and New Zealand to review India's FTAs and trade talks.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 3 MCQs

🏅 Football 📍 Australia

India lose 0–11 to Japan at AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 in Perth

India's senior women's football team lost 0–11 to Japan in their second Group C match of the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 at Perth Rectangular Stadium, Australia, on 7 March 2026.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · Defence +1 1 MCQs

🏅 Tennis 📍 Australia Important

Carlos Alcaraz beats Djokovic to win Australian Open 2026, becomes youngest man to complete career Grand Slam

Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in the Australian Open men's singles final in Melbourne on 1 February 2026, becoming the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🏅 Tennis 📍 Kazakhstan Important

Elena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to win Australian Open 2026 women's singles

On 31 January 2026 Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina beat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in Melbourne to win her first Australian Open and second Grand Slam title.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 3 MCQs

🏅 Other Sports 📍 Australia

England win two-day Melbourne Test, first Test victory in Australia since 2011

England beat Australia by four wickets in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 27 December 2025, finishing the match in two days for their first Test win in Australia since January 2011.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · Defence +1 3 MCQs

🌐 Agreements & MoUs 📍 India Must know

India and New Zealand conclude Free Trade Agreement negotiations

India and New Zealand announced the conclusion of Free Trade Agreement negotiations on 22 December 2025, giving zero-duty access to 100% of India's exports and a New Zealand commitment to facilitate USD 20 billion of investment over 15 years.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +8 3 MCQs

💹 Banking & RBI 📍 India Important

India and New Zealand conclude Financial Services Annex of FTA with 18 articles

India and New Zealand concluded negotiations on the Financial Services Annex of their Free Trade Agreement on 22 December 2025, with provisions on fast payment systems, fintech sandboxes and financial data.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🌟 Persons in News 📍 Australia

Australian PM Anthony Albanese marries Jodie Haydon; PM Modi congratulates

On 29 November 2025 Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon on their wedding.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · Judiciary 1 MCQs

🌐 Agreements & MoUs 📍 India Important

India, Australia and Canada launch ACITI technology and innovation partnership

India, Australia and Canada agreed on 22 November 2025 to enter into a new trilateral Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership, announced in a joint statement on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 India Important

PM Modi meets Australian PM Albanese on G20 sidelines in Johannesburg

PM Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met on 21 November 2025 on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

💹 Trade & Industry 📍 Australia

Piyush Goyal reviews India–Australia CECA talks with Don Farrell in Melbourne

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visited Melbourne on 8 November 2025 and reviewed progress of the India–Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations with Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell and Skills Minister Andrew Giles.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · Banking & Insurance +1 2 MCQs

💹 Trade & Industry 📍 New Zealand

Fourth round of India–New Zealand FTA negotiations concludes in Auckland and Rotorua

The fourth round of India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations concluded in Auckland and Rotorua on 8 November 2025 after five days of talks, the Commerce Ministry said.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · Banking & Insurance +1 3 MCQs

🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 New Zealand Important

Piyush Goyal in Rotorua: Māori welcome at Te Puia and India–New Zealand CEOs Roundtable

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal was given a traditional Māori welcome (Pōwhiri) at Te Puia in Rotorua, New Zealand, on 6 November 2025 and co-chaired the India–New Zealand CEOs Roundtable with New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🌾 Agriculture & Rural 📍 Chhattisgarh

APEDA facilitates export of 20 tonnes of fortified rice from Chhattisgarh to Papua New Guinea

APEDA said on 5 November 2025 that it had facilitated the export of 20 metric tonnes of fortified rice from Chhattisgarh to Papua New Guinea.

For: State PSC · Judiciary 1 MCQs

🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Australia

India and Australia hold 5th Energy Dialogue in New Delhi

India and Australia held the 5th India–Australia Energy Dialogue in New Delhi on 16 October 2025, co-chaired by Power Minister Manohar Lal and Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · Defence +1 2 MCQs