India and the United States  are on the verge of concluding the first phase of a long-awaited bilateral trade agreement, a move expected to significantly reshape economic ties between the two democracies. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal  has confirmed that a joint statement outlining the framework of the deal is likely within days, with a legally binding agreement targeted for signing by mid-March. The agreement is being seen as a landmark step in resetting

India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have taken a decisive step toward strengthening their economic and strategic partnership by agreeing on the Terms of Reference (ToR) to formally begin negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The move clears the path for long-awaited talks and signals a renewed push to deepen India’s engagement with one of the world’s most economically and energy-rich regions. The announcement was confirmed by Union Commerce and

India and China  recorded a historic milestone in 2025, with bilateral trade reaching a record $155.6 billion, reflecting a year-on-year growth of over 12 percent. The achievement was confirmed by Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, and marks a significant rebound in economic engagement between the two Asian giants after years of strained relations following the 2020 military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The surge in trade underscores the resilience o

India and the United States  have finalised a significant trade agreement that signals a major reset in bilateral economic relations. Following direct engagement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi  and US President Donald Trump, Washington announced a steep reduction in tariffs on Indian exports, cutting duties from levels as high as 50 per cent to a uniform 18 per cent. The move ends a period of escalating trade tensions and is being seen as a breakthrough that could reinv

India and Kyrgyzstan have launched the 13th edition of their annual joint military exercise, KHANJAR-XIII, at Misamari in Assam’s  Sonitpur district. The exercise, scheduled to run from February 4 to February 17, marks a continued effort by both nations to deepen defence ties and enhance military cooperation in response to evolving regional and global security challenges. The joint drill reflects the growing strategic partnership between India and Kyrgyzstan and highlights th

India and the United States  have reached a major trade agreement that significantly reduces US tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, marking a decisive reset in bilateral economic relations. The agreement follows a direct engagement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi  and US President Donald Trump , signalling a political and strategic commitment to stabilising trade ties after a period of heightened tensions. Over the past year, Indian exports had faced sharply elevated tariffs

The Union Budget 2026–27 has allocated over ₹11,180 crore for financial assistance to foreign governments and contributions to international organisations, marking a recalibration of India’s external development strategy. The allocations reflect New Delhi’s evolving diplomatic priorities as it balances regional responsibilities, geopolitical pressures, and its growing role in multilateral institutions. The Ministry of External Affairs remains a key conduit for India’s oversea

India and Saudi Arabia  conducted a high-level security and counter-terrorism dialogue in Riyadh on January 28, 2026, signaling a renewed commitment to address evolving threats in the Gulf and South Asia regions. The meeting came just days after India signed a Letter of Intent for a Strategic Defence Partnership with the United Arab Emirates , highlighting New Delhi’s growing strategic footprint in the Gulf. This timing underscores India’s careful balancing of partnerships am

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 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

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

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

Context on the Author and Ideological Positioning Before engaging with the substance of the Wall Street Journal opinion piece titled “The Hindu Attacks on India’s Christians”, it is necessary to understand the ideological background from which the article emerges. Its author, Tunku Varadarajan, has long been a consistent and vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi . His writing frequently frames Modiji , Hindu political expression, and India’s civilizational identity thr

India has taken a center stage at Gulfood 2026, the world’s largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition, as the official Partner Country. This marks a historic moment for Indian agri-food exports, underscoring the country’s growing global influence in the food and beverage sector. For the first time in the event’s 31-year history, Gulfood has expanded across two major venues the Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai  reflecting the

India and the European Union  have concluded a long-pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking one of the most significant economic partnerships India has entered into in recent decades. Announced on January 27, 2026, during the India–EU  Summit in New Delhi, the agreement brings to a close nearly twenty years of negotiations and signals a renewed commitment to deeper economic and strategic cooperation between the two sides. The pact comes at a time when global trade is faci

India’s energy transition is unfolding at a pace and scale that is reshaping traditional development narratives. A recent international report highlights that India is electrifying its economy faster than China  did at a comparable stage of development—while relying significantly less on fossil fuels per capita. This shift reflects how technological advances, policy direction, and global cost reductions in renewables are enabling a cleaner pathway to growth. With the US and E