President Droupadi Murmu's First-Ever State Visits to Moldova, North Macedonia; Romania After 30 Years

BRICS 2026: President Xi Jinping Confirms India Visit After 7-Year Hiatus; Trade Normalisation Key Agenda

China confirms President Xi Jinping will attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi (Sept 12-13, 2026) – his first visit to India in seven years (since Mamallapuram informal summit, Oct 2019). The visit signals a diplomatic thaw amid gradual normalisation after the Galwan clash (2020). Key focus: bilateral trade talks, border peace, and expanding BRICS/Global South coordination.

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.

Xi Jinping Visits India After 7 Years for BRICS Summit; Business Ties Still Strained by Suspicion

Xi Jinping's first India visit in seven years, around the annual BRICS summit, marks a diplomatic thaw after the 2020 border clashes. However, business ties remain constrained by visa delays, investment restrictions, and equipment hold-ups, reflecting a deep trust deficit. For exams, this is a data-rich case of geopolitical reconciliation and its economic limits.

PM Modi Visits Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic for 26th SCO Summit – Key Strategic Takeaways

PM Modi’s visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic signals India’s deepening engagement with Central Asia—a region rich in uranium, natural gas, and hydro-power. The 26th SCO Summit offers a platform to counter China’s influence, explore connectivity via the INSTC and Chabahar, and address security threats from Afghanistan and radicalism. This is a high-stakes diplomatic push for India’s energy security and strategic autonomy.

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.

Parliamentary Panel Recommends Polar Ambassador & Full Arctic Council Membership for India

A Parliamentary panel has urged India to appoint a dedicated Polar Ambassador and seek full membership of the Arctic Council to strengthen its role in polar diplomacy, especially as Russian research activities pause due to the Ukraine conflict. This move shifts India's Arctic policy from purely scientific to include geopolitics, strategy, and critical mineral extraction.

India Bars Sheikh Hasina from Political Activities; Extradition Request Under Review

India has informed a Parliamentary panel that former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina cannot conduct political activities from Indian soil. Dhaka has sent an extradition request, which India is legally examining, while also urging early renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty and normalization of visa services for Bangladeshi nationals.