India-EU FTA: Additional Preferential Steel Quota of 694,853 Tons, but CBCT Levy Applies

BRICS Summit 2026: India Hosts Xi Jinping, Putin Amid Western Sanctions, TRIPS Waiver, CBAM Concerns

India hosts the 2026 BRICS summit (September 12-13) with Xi Jinping, Putin and Iran's President amid escalating Western sanctions against key members. The article explains why India may need BRICS as a risk mitigant against the weaponisation of the Western financial system, covering SWIFT bans, TRIPS waiver denial, Chabahar sanctions and CBAM trade barriers. For exams, this is a ready case study on Global South's push for alternative financial architecture.

India Retains 80% of Steel Exports to EU via FTA Front-Loading, Quota at 19 Lakh Tonnes

Despite EU's new steel quota curbs from July 2026, India secured front-loading of FTA concessions to retain 80% of its steel exports. This strategic negotiation protects India's export interests and provides a boost to the upcoming India-EU FTA, while CBAM remains a separate challenge.

EU AI Act: High-Risk Compliance Deadline Extended to Dec 2027; India Seeks Opportunity

The EU AI Act, applicable from August 2, 2026, creates a risk-based regulatory framework for AI. While Indian firms face compliance challenges due to the Act's treatment of post-approval updates, India can build a services industry around the required paperwork and, via the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, become a recognised participant in the EU's conformity assessment ecosystem.

BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026: India Pushes MSME Focus, WTO Reforms, and Local Currency Trade

At the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India leveraged its 2026 chairship to prioritize MSME development, launching the inaugural SME Forum and a report on MSME competitiveness. The declaration also reiterated concerns over unilateral trade measures, pushed for WTO/IMF/World Bank reforms, and supported Ethiopia and Iran's WTO accession. This is critical for understanding India's role in the Global South and multilateral trade dynamics.

BRICS Summit 2026: India Chairs 18th Summit, Adopts New Delhi Declaration with 140 Paragraphs on Trade, Health, Tourism

The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi under India's presidency adopted the New Delhi Declaration, expanding the group to 10 full members and 10 partner countries. Key initiatives include Seafarers' Emergency Support Network, NIMHANS as nodal mental health centre, and condemnation of Pahalgam terror attack. The summit avoided mention of a common BRICS currency or Ukraine, focusing instead on cooperation.

BRICS as a Reformist Non-Western Bloc: Key Data on NDB, Intra-BRICS Trade & De-dollarisation for India's Global South Strategy

BRICS has evolved from a loose grouping into a formidable Global South platform, challenging Western-dominated institutions. For India, it serves as a strategic bridge to both the West and developing economies, offering concrete mechanisms like the NDB (120 projects, $39 billion) and local currency trade to reduce dollar dependence. Key for Mains: analyse BRICS as reformist (not anti-Western) and its role in multipolar world order.

BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026 Condemns Unilateral Tariffs, Pushes WTO Reform

BRICS nations adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026, unanimously condemning unilateral tariffs and non-tariff measures that distort trade. The declaration supports WTO reform, restoration of the appellate body, and special treatment for developing countries. This is crucial for understanding global trade dynamics and India's stance on multilateralism.

India-EU FTA: Steel Quota 1.64 MT, EU Car Imports May Rise Sixfold to 1 Lakh Units

India and the EU are close to finalizing a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA). India has secured a 1.64 million tonne steel export quota to the EU, while the EU wins a massive tariff-rate quota for car imports, potentially increasing EU car imports into India sixfold. This deal has major implications for India's steel industry, its auto sector, and its trade relations with other partners.