India’s merchandise exports reached a new all-time high of $45.2 billion in May 2026, marking an impressive 18 percent increase from the same month last year. This robust performance reflects the country’s growing competitiveness in global markets and the effectiveness of sustained efforts to strengthen its manufacturing and export base. Despite a rise in imports to $73.41 billion, the merchandise trade deficit stood at $28.21 billion, remaining largely stable compared to the

In a significant diplomatic milestone, India and Slovakia have upgraded their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership. This development took place during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic state visit to Bratislava, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since the country’s independence in 1993. The elevation of ties reflects a shared vision for enhanced cooperation across multiple strategic domains, including advanced manufacturing, digital technol

In a vibrant demonstration of the close friendship between India and France, French President Emmanuel Macron shared a warm selfie with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their bilateral meeting in the scenic city of Nice. Captioned simply as “Nice!”, the image captured the cordial and productive spirit of the discussions held on June 14, 2026. Prime Minister Modi, on the first leg of his Europe visit, arrived in Nice on June 13 and joined President Macron to inaugurate the

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is making significant strides in lunar technology, developing advanced landers capable of operating for up to 200 days on the Moon's surface. This initiative marks a transformative advancement over the approximately 14-day lifespan of previous missions, such as Chandrayaan-3, and underscores India's growing capabilities in sustained space exploration. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan recently highlighted this collaborative effort with t

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spotlighted India’s emergence as a global innovation leader, emphasizing the country’s transition from a consumer of technology to a vital provider of solutions for the world. On June 14, 2026, he jointly inaugurated the three-day Bharat Innovates 2026 event in Nice alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, marking a significant milestone in the India-France Year of Innovation. This flagship initiative brings together over 120 Indian deep-te

In a significant development in Indian politics, around 20 Lok Sabha MPs from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have announced their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a lesser-known regional party with roots in Tripura and operations in West Bengal. The move, which follows internal unrest within the TMC after its performance in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections, has the potential to alter parliamentary dynamics and strengthen the National Democrat

India continues to advance its strategic partnership with France, placing a strong emphasis on enhancing indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities in the proposed acquisition of additional Rafale fighter jets. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri recently highlighted this priority during a briefing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s engagements in France, reflecting New Delhi’s commitment to greater local production and technological collaboration. This initiative aligns with In

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended a warm welcome to the landmark peace agreement between the United States and Iran, viewing it as a significant step toward restoring calm and stability in West Asia following months of conflict. In a statement shared on X, the Prime Minister highlighted the devastating global economic fallout and the tragic loss of lives that the hostilities had inflicted across multiple nations. He expressed India's sincere hope that the full impleme

India and Bangladesh have agreed to enhance coordination on border patrols, intelligence sharing, and joint efforts against cross-border crimes, marking a constructive step toward managing their extensive shared frontier amid ongoing migration-related concerns. The agreement emerged from the successful conclusion of the 57th Director General-level Border Coordination Conference between India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh’s Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), held in

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted the transformative contributions of women in advancing India’s progress across diverse sectors. In a recent message, he emphasized how Nari Shakti is playing a pivotal role in science, governance, innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology, thereby strengthening the nation’s journey toward a developed India. Over the past decade, concerted efforts have promoted women-led development, turning policy initiatives into widespread imp

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 11th meeting of the NITI Aayog Governing Council on June 11, 2026, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. Held under the theme ‘Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat@2047’, the meeting brought together Chief Ministers from all 28 states and administrators of Union Territories in a notable display of cooperative federalism. This full participation highlighted a strong commitment to aligning national and state-level efforts t

As the calendar turns to the first anniversary of the devastating Air India Flight AI171 crash, the pain felt by families of the victims remains as raw as it was on that fateful day. On June 12, 2025, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London Gatwick from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, plummeted just seconds after takeoff, resulting in one of India’s most tragic aviation disasters. The incident claimed 260 lives — 241 of the 242 people on boar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to make history with a state visit to the Slovak Republic from June 14 to 16, 2026. This marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1993. The trip, part of a broader European engagement that also includes France, is anticipated to open significant new avenues for cooperation across defence, trade, investment, emerging technologies, renewable energy, and cultural exch

In a landmark development for India’s energy sector and the progress of the Northeast region, the Government of India, along with the states of Assam and Nagaland, signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 11, 2026. This agreement opens the door for renewed exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the resource-rich Disputed Area Belt (DAB) along the Assam-Nagaland border, resolving a long-standing impasse that had stalled operations for o

In a significant development for India's defence modernisation, the Indian Army has received a batch of over 100 indigenous jet-powered kamikaze drones. Delhi-based defence firm SMPP has delivered 106 units of the Peacekeeper (Agniveg) system, comprising 100 operational drones and six training variants. This induction strengthens the Army's ability to conduct deep strikes with precision and resilience in contested environments, marking an important step forward in enhancing o

India and Nepal have achieved a significant milestone in bilateral financial cooperation with the official launch of a real-time peer-to-peer (P2P) cross-border remittance linkage between India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Nepal’s National Payments Interface (NPI). The service became operational around June 6–9, 2026, offering instant, secure, and convenient money transfers between the two neighbouring countries. This initiative, spearheaded by NPCI International Pa

The Indian government has provided strong assurances regarding the country’s energy supplies, confirming that adequate stocks of crude oil, petroleum products, LPG, and LNG are available to meet domestic requirements for nearly two months. This statement aims to address public concerns arising from ongoing tensions in West Asia and disruptions in key shipping routes. Officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas have emphasised that the supply chain remains stable

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has urged both India and Bulgaria to build upon their longstanding friendship and transform it into a more dynamic and forward-looking partnership. During his official visit to Sofia on June 10, 2026, Dr. Jaishankar engaged in high-level discussions that underscored the potential for deeper collaboration between the two nations. In his meetings with Bulgarian leaders, including Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Foreign Minister Velisla

India has reached a significant milestone in its aerospace and defence sector with the successful maiden test flight of the first indigenously assembled Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft. The aircraft took off from the Tata-Airbus Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara, Gujarat, on June 10, 2026, marking a proud moment in the nation's journey towards greater self-reliance in critical defence technologies. This achievement highlights the growing capabilities of Indian in

In a moving demonstration of remembrance and resolve, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is preparing a complex high-altitude operation to recover the mortal remains of Lance Naik Dorje Morup, one of its brave personnel who lost his life on Mount Everest during the tragic 1996 climbing season. Nearly 30 years later, this mission offers the possibility of closure for his family and stands as a tribute to the courage of Indian jawans who serve in the harshest environments. T