Operation Hardball: 24 Arrested, 1,000 kg Cocaine Seized in US-Led Crackdown on Bishnoi-Brar Syndicate

PM Modi Chairs 4th CCS Meet on West Asia Crisis: Supply Chain, Seafarers Safety, Fertiliser Stock Reviewed

This 4th special Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting signals India's proactive stance on securing energy and fertiliser supply chains amid multiple conflicts near the Strait of Hormuz, Red Sea, Black Sea, and Gulf of Aden. For exam aspirants, it links to energy security, geopolitics, and institutional mechanisms of the CCS. Prelims can test composition of CCS and number of meetings; Mains can explore India's strategy for supply chain resilience.

India Raises Concerns on US SRIA Law Allowing 100% Tariff on Russian Oil Buyers

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and conveyed India's concerns over the newly signed US 'Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act' (SRIA), which authorizes up to 100% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil and gas, including India. India reiterated its commitment to protect its economic interests and ensure energy security.

SRIA Signed: Jaishankar Conveys India's Energy Concerns Over US Tariffs Up to 100% on Russian Oil

In the first official discussion after Trump signed the Russia Sanctions Bill (SRIA), External Affairs Minister Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Rubio in New York and reiterated India's economic and strategic concerns over potential tariffs up to 100% on Russian oil buyers. India, a major importer of Russian crude, stressed its energy security needs for its 1.4 billion people. The meeting came as both nations work on a bilateral trade deal.

EAM Jaishankar at 81st UNGA: India-Liberia Launch 'Group of Friends' for Safety of Shipping and Seafarers

EAM Jaishankar at UNGA 81 condemned attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf and Red Sea, stressing that non-conflict countries bear the cost. India co-launched the 'Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers' with Liberia to build global support. This links India's maritime security, UN diplomacy, and safety of Indian seafarers.

India Engages US Congress on Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SRIA) Over Energy Security

India is actively engaging the US Congress to address concerns over the newly enacted Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SRIA), which could impose up to 100% tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy. Given India's 88% dependence on crude imports and Russia supplying nearly half of that, the legislation poses a direct threat to India's energy security and bilateral trade relations.

UK Arrests Indian Captain Ajay Pant Over Russian Oil Sanctions: Shadow Fleet Risks for Seafarers

The arrest of Indian captain Ajay Pant in the UK for alleged Russian oil sanctions violations marks a significant escalation in Western enforcement against Russia's shadow fleet. This case sets a legal precedent and raises critical questions about the liability of individual seafarers in geopolitical conflicts, directly impacting India's large merchant navy workforce.

India Deepens Engagement with Taliban: No Diplomatic Recognition, but High-Level Visits & Aid Continue

India has significantly upgraded its official engagement with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, marked by the Taliban Foreign Minister's visit to New Delhi and Taliban-appointed diplomats attending high-level Indian events. While still withholding formal diplomatic recognition, India's strategic shift is driven by protecting its $2-3 billion investment, exploiting the fractured Taliban-Pakistan ties, and countering Chinese influence in the region, raising critical questions for UPSC on the balance between realpolitik and human rights.

EAM Jaishankar Meets Putin Ahead of BRICS Summit; Bilateral Ties, Economic Cooperation Discussed

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar met President Putin in Moscow to deepen strategic ties ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi. The visit focuses on boosting bilateral trade and economic cooperation amid a complex global landscape.