India-Netherlands Sign 17 Pacts Including Semiconductors & Renewable Energy Under New 5-Year Strategic Partnership Roadmap (2026-30)

US-Saudi Civil Nuclear Pact Submitted to Congress for 90-Day Review Under Atomic Energy Act

The US has submitted a civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress for a mandatory 90-day review under the Atomic Energy Act. The deal is tied to Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel via the Abraham Accords, but faces hurdles due to Saudi demands for Palestinian statehood and Israeli opposition. This has implications for nuclear non-proliferation and Middle East geopolitics.

India-Australia ECTA: Zero Tariff on Indian Goods, 200% Export Growth, PACTS & Quad in Focus

India-Australia ties are no longer just cricket—ECTA zero-tariff access, PACTS on critical technologies, space tracking and Quad security now anchor the relationship. Indian exports to Australia have grown ~200% in five years. This is a high-value bilateral story for IR, economy, science-tech and security questions.

US Envoy Visits Tata-Lockheed C-130J Plant as India Seeks 80 MTA Under Make in India

US envoy's visit to Tata-Lockheed Martin JV highlights India's push for 80 Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) under Make in India. The C-130J Super Hercules, already operated by IAF, is a top contender. The visit underscores deepening US-India defence ties and India's integration into global aerospace supply chain.

BRICS Summit: India Keeps AI Insulated from National Rivalries as China Pitches Open Source Community

This editorial analyses AI governance at a crossroads: the US government is disregarding frontier AI developers' call for a global development slowdown, while the BRICS Summit offers an open-source, collaborative alternative. India's 'middle path'—opposing weaponisation but not joining protests against US-led models—is a key mains theme for IR, S&T, and security.

US-China Mid-September AI Safety Talks: First Bilateral Dialogue Under Trump 2.0

The US and China are preparing for their first official bilateral AI safety dialogue since President Trump's return to office, set for mid-September 2026. The talks aim to address risks from frontier AI, including cyberattacks and model distillation, at a critical juncture for global AI governance.

India’s Nuclear Doctrine Faces Review Amid China-Pakistan Alignment, Tech Disruptions

India's nuclear doctrine, unchanged since 2003, is being re-evaluated due to China-Pakistan strategic convergence, disruptive technologies (AI, hypersonic, cyber), and a multipolar geopolitical landscape. The article stresses reviewing operational capabilities without altering core principles like No First Use (NFU) and massive retaliation.

US-China Establish Super Intelligence (SI) Dialogue, Create AI Incident Communication Channel

The US and China have agreed to set up a dedicated communication channel for AI incidents and launched a 'Super Intelligence (SI) Dialogue' to discuss risks and benefits. This marks a significant step in bilateral AI governance amid superpower rivalry, with implications for global tech standards and India's positioning.

Bangladesh-U.S. MoU on Civil Nuclear Cooperation; Both NPT Parties with IAEA Safeguards

Bangladesh and the US signed a strategic MoU on civil nuclear cooperation in New York on September 25, 2026, aiming to expand the Rooppur nuclear plant. This strengthens US-Bangladesh ties and reinforces the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, as both countries are NPT parties with IAEA safeguards in force. For UPSC aspirants, this is a key example of international energy cooperation and its implications for India's neighbourhood.