India is set to host the second India–Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (IAFMM) on January 31, 2026, marking a significant milestone in diplomatic relations. Co-chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates  (UAE), the meeting will bring together foreign ministers and senior representatives from all 22 member states of the League of Arab States (LAS), along with the Arab League Secretary-General. This is the first time India is hosting the ministerial on its soil, highlighting

India’s landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union represents one of the most consequential trade developments in recent decades. Finalised after nearly twenty years of negotiations, the agreement is set to reshape bilateral commerce, expand export opportunities, and strengthen India’s integration into global supply chains. The timing is particularly significant, coming amid rising protectionism and uncertainty in global trade, especially in key markets such

India has entered a decisive new phase of economic transformation, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi  declaring that the country has boarded a “speedy express” toward next-generation reforms. Ahead of Union Budget 2026 , the Prime Minister’s message signals a shift from incremental policy changes to deeper, technology-driven structural reforms designed to strengthen India’s long-term growth foundations. This phase is being positioned as critical for shaping India’s trajectory

Bangladesh  has experienced a sharp escalation in communal violence over the past year, with religious minority communities facing widespread attacks on their lives, homes, businesses, and places of worship. Multiple domestic and international reports indicate that Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and indigenous groups have increasingly become targets of mob violence, arson, sexual assault, and intimidation, creating a climate of fear and insecurity across several regions of th

India’s civil aviation industry is entering a decisive phase of expansion, emerging as one of the world’s most promising aviation markets. With rising passenger demand, large-scale infrastructure development, and supportive policy reforms, the sector is attracting strong interest from global investors, aircraft manufacturers, and aviation service providers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi  has called on both domestic and international stakeholders to participate in this growth s

Operation Sindoor  has marked a significant turning point in India’s national security strategy, reflecting a more assertive and technologically driven approach to countering cross-border terrorism. Launched in response to the Pahalgam  terror attack, the operation demonstrated India’s resolve to respond with speed, precision, and strategic clarity. It sent a clear message that terror infrastructure and its enablers will face direct and credible consequences. Speaking at the

India and the European Union  have finalised one of the most ambitious and wide-ranging trade agreements in recent global economic history. The India–EU  Free Trade Agreement (FTA), concluded after nearly two decades of negotiations, is expected to significantly strengthen trade, boost manufacturing, create jobs, and deepen strategic cooperation between the two major economic partners. Leaders on both sides have described the pact as a transformative milestone that reflects s

India and the European Union  have finalised one of the most significant Free Trade Agreements in recent global trade history, bringing to a close nearly two decades of negotiations. Concluded on January 27, 2026, the agreement is expected to fundamentally reshape economic ties between the two partners, deepen market integration, and unlock large-scale opportunities across manufacturing, exports, and investment. With bilateral goods trade already at $136.5 billion in FY25 and

India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri  has directly linked the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel to India’s long and painful experience with cross-border terrorism, reinforcing New Delhi’s consistent and uncompromising stance against terror. Speaking at an International Holocaust Remembrance Day event in New Delhi, Misri said India is “too familiar with such mindless brutality,” reflecting decades of terror attacks that have targeted Indian civilians and security forces throu

India is preparing for a historic expansion of its aviation infrastructure, with plans to develop a nationwide network of more than 400 airports by 2047. Prime Minister Narendra Modi  announced the ambitious target while addressing the Wings India 2026 aviation summit, outlining a long-term vision to make air travel affordable, accessible, and deeply embedded in India’s development journey. The expansion is positioned as a key pillar of India’s roadmap to becoming a developed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  set the tone for the Budget Session of Parliament by outlining a reform-focused vision aimed at strengthening India’s long-term economic foundations. Addressing the media ahead of the session, the Prime Minister called for sustained reforms, productive parliamentary debate, and policy continuity to support India’s next phase of growth. He stressed that the session is critical for shaping economic priorities that will define India’s medium- and lo

Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation  (UAC), a subsidiary of the state-owned Rostec Group, has signed a preliminary agreement with India’s Flamingo Aerospace for the supply of six Il-114-300 regional turboprop aircraft. The agreement was announced during Wings India 2026, the country’s flagship civil aviation exhibition held in Hyderabad . The signing reflects a growing focus by both nations on strengthening cooperation in civil aviation, moving beyond traditional defence par

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited  (HAL) and Russia’s  United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) have signed a joint venture agreement to manufacture the SJ-100  regional passenger aircraft in India. The agreement was formalized at the Wings India 2026 civil aviation exhibition in Hyderabad , marking one of the most significant steps taken by India in decades toward large-scale commercial aircraft manufacturing. The partnership represents a strategic shift for HAL , which has traditional

India’s Budget Session for the financial year 2026–27 formally commenced on January 28, with President Droupadi Murmu  addressing a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. As per parliamentary tradition, the President’s address marked the official opening of the session and outlined the government’s broad vision, priorities, and legislative agenda for the year ahead. In her speech, President Murmu  highlighted the government’s focus on inclusive growth, social justice

On the morning of January 28, 2026, Maharashtra’s  Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, a senior political leader, died in a catastrophic plane crash near Baramati Airport in Pune district. The private aircraft, a Learjet 45 (registration VT-SSK) operated by VSR Aviation, was approaching the runway when it crash-landed and burst into flames. All five people on board — including Pawar, his security personnel, and two pilots — were killed on impact. The flight had departed from Mu

The recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) represents a historic milestone in bilateral economic relations. Signed during high-level talks in New Delhi in January 2026, the pact is being hailed as a transformative development for both India and the EU. Leaders from both sides have described it as a defining moment in global trade, opening the door for deeper economic integration while strengthening strategic partnerships in a rapidly evolving globa

As India moves closer to the presentation of the Union Budget 2026–27, expectations are building around a fiscal roadmap that prioritises employment generation, export competitiveness, and support for labour-intensive industries. Against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty and evolving trade dynamics, the government appears set to balance fiscal discipline with targeted interventions aimed at sustaining growth and protecting vulnerable sectors. Pre-budget deliberation

India and the European Union  have taken a decisive step toward reshaping their economic relationship by setting a target to operationalise their long-pending Free Trade Agreement by the end of 2026. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal  confirmed that negotiations have concluded, marking the end of nearly two decades of intermittent talks. The agreement now enters the final phase involving legal vetting, translation into the European Union’s official languages, and ra

The 16th India–European Union  Summit held in New Delhi marked a defining moment in India’s external economic engagement, as both sides formally concluded negotiations on a long-pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The summit brought together Prime Minister Narendra Modi , European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, signalling renewed political momentum behind one of the world’s most ambitious trade pacts. After nearly eight

After nearly two decades of negotiations, India and the European Union  have concluded one of the most ambitious free trade agreements of the modern era, a deal that is set to transform economic relations between two of the world’s most influential markets. Often described as the “mother of all trade deals”, the India–EU  Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signals a decisive shift toward deeper economic integration, strategic alignment, and long-term cooperation at a time when global