United States Current Affairs — Last 12 months | Daily News + MCQs

🌐 Summits & Conferences 📍 United States Important

G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting concludes in Milwaukee; India calls for WTO-compliant trade measures

At the concluding day of the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (US Presidency) on 2 October 2026, Piyush Goyal called for WTO-consistent remedies to trade distortions and backed the UK for the 2027 G20 Presidency.

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🛡️ 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.

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🛡️ 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.

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🌐 International Organisations 📍 India

India reaffirms commitment to pandemic preparedness at UN High-Level Meeting; calls for fair pathogen access and benefit sharing

On 25 September 2026 Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava represented India at the UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response in New York.

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🔬 IT, AI & Digital 📍 India Important

India endorses the Call to Action for 6G Leadership and Security at the G20 Innovation Ministerial

On 9 September 2026, India endorsed the Call to Action for 6G Leadership and Security, announced on the sidelines of the G20 Innovation Ministerial at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, joining over 20 like-minded governments.

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🌐 Summits & Conferences 📍 United States Must know

G20 Innovation Ministers adopt consensus statement at Chapel Hill

On 1–2 September 2026, the G20 Innovation Ministers' Meeting in Chapel Hill, US, adopted a consensus Innovation Ministerial Statement and the Carolina Principles for Emerging Technologies, with MoS Jitin Prasada leading India.

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🔬 Research & Discoveries 📍 United States Important

NASA launches Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to study dark energy and exoplanets

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope lifted off on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center on 30 August 2026, heading for the Sun–Earth L2 point about one million miles away.

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🛡️ Weapons & Induction 📍 United States

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.

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💹 Trade & Industry 📍 United States Must know

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.

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🛡️ Defence & Security 📍 United States

INS Sudarshini joins Grand Parade of Sails at Sail Boston 2026

Indian Navy sail training ship INS Sudarshini took part in the Grand Parade of Sails marking the start of Sail Boston 2026 on 12 July 2026, during her Lokayan 26 expedition.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 United States Important

PM Modi greets US on 250th Independence anniversary; INS Sudarshini sails into New York for Sail4th 250

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted President Donald Trump and the American people on the 250th anniversary of US independence on 4 July 2026, the day sail training ship INS Sudarshini sailed into New York for the Sail4th 250 celebrations.

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🛡️ Defence & Security 📍 United States Important

Indian Navy's tall ship INS Sudarshini arrives in Baltimore under Lokayan 26

Indian Navy sail training ship INS Sudarshini arrived at the Port of Baltimore, Maryland, USA, on 26 June 2026 as part of the transoceanic expedition Lokayan 26, ahead of Sail250 Maryland celebrations.

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🎭 Heritage & UNESCO 📍 Tamil Nadu Important

Smithsonian returns three Tamil Nadu temple bronzes, including a Chola Shiva Nataraja of c. 990 CE

On 13 May 2026 Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced the repatriation of three Tamil Nadu temple bronzes — a Chola Shiva Nataraja (c. 990 CE), a 12th-century Somaskanda and a 16th-century Saint Sundarar with Paravai — from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art.

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🏅 Tennis 📍 United States Important

Jannik Sinner wins Miami Open 2026, completes 'Sunshine Double' without dropping a set

On 29 March 2026 Jannik Sinner beat Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 to win the Miami Open and become the first man to complete the Indian Wells–Miami 'Sunshine Double' without dropping a set.

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🏅 Tennis 📍 United States Important

Aryna Sabalenka beats Coco Gauff to win Miami Open 2026 and complete 'Sunshine Double'

On 28 March 2026 world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to retain the Miami Open and become only the fifth woman to complete the Indian Wells–Miami 'Sunshine Double'.

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🏅 Tennis 📍 World Important

Jannik Sinner wins Indian Wells 2026, completes set of all six Masters 1000 hard-court titles

Italy's Jannik Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev 7-6(6), 7-6(4) in the Indian Wells final on 15 March 2026 to become only the third man, after Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, to win all six ATP Masters 1000 hard-court titles.

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🌐 International Relations 📍 Switzerland Important

US–Iran nuclear talks in Geneva end without a deal; Oman reports 'significant progress'

The third round of Oman-mediated indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran ended in Geneva on 26 February 2026 without a deal, with Oman's Foreign Minister reporting 'significant progress' and technical talks set for Vienna.

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🛡️ Military Exercises 📍 Himachal Pradesh Important

16th India–US Special Forces exercise Vajra Prahar begins at Bakloh

The 16th edition of the India–US Joint Special Forces Exercise Vajra Prahar began at the Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh, on 24 February 2026 and runs until 16 March.

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🌐 International Organisations 📍 India

MoS Savitri Thakur to lead Indian delegation at 64th UN Commission for Social Development

Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur was to lead India's delegation at the 64th session of the UN Commission for Social Development (CSocD) in New York.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 United States Important

US Ambassador Sergio Gor and envoys of Austria and Trinidad & Tobago present credentials to the President

President Droupadi Murmu accepted credentials from US Ambassador Sergio Gor, Austrian Ambassador Dr Robert Zischg and Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner Chandradath Singh at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 14 January 2026.

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🔬 Space 📍 India Must know

LVM3-M6 launches BlueBird Block-2, heaviest payload ever lifted from Indian soil

ISRO's LVM3-M6 lifted off from the Second Launch Pad at Sriharikota on 24 December 2025 and placed AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird Block-2, the heaviest payload launched from Indian soil, in low Earth orbit.

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🛡️ Defence & Security 📍 India Important

India signs ₹7,995 crore deal with US for five-year sustainment of Navy's MH-60R helicopters

On 28 November 2025 the Ministry of Defence signed Letters of Offer and Acceptance with the US government, worth about ₹7,995 crore, for five years of sustainment support for the Indian Navy's MH-60R helicopter fleet.

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💹 Trade & Industry 📍 India Important

India signs first structured LPG import contract with the US, about 2.2 MTPA for 2026

Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced on 17 November 2025 that Indian PSU oil companies have concluded a one-year structured contract to import about 2.2 MTPA of LPG from the US Gulf Coast for contract year 2026.

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🌐 Agreements & MoUs 📍 Malaysia Must know

India and US sign 10-year framework for major defence partnership in Kuala Lumpur

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed a 10-year 'framework for the US-India major defence partnership' in Kuala Lumpur on 31 October 2025.

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