India’s cherished festival of lights, Deepavali, has earned a historic place on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Announced during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage at Delhi’s Red Fort, the inclusion marks a significant cultural milestone for the country. Delegates at the session celebrated the decision with chants of “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai,” reflectin

India and the United States have undertaken a fresh and detailed review of their Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, signalling renewed commitment to shaping a stronger, future-oriented bilateral relationship. The high-level consultation between India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and US Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker brought focus to a wide spectrum of cooperation that spans defence, trade, emerging technology, and geopolitics. Foreign Secretary Vikram M

India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has achieved a historic milestone, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) acknowledging it as the world’s largest real-time retail payment system. This recognition, featured in the IMF’s June 2025 report “Growing Retail Digital Payments (The Value of Interoperability)”, cements UPI’s position as the dominant force in global digital payments. More than a technological achievement, it represents India’s transformation into a globa

India has marked an important diplomatic milestone by opening a fully modern, state-of-the-art chancery for its Consulate General in Shanghai. This is the first major relocation of the mission in more than three decades, signaling an upgrade in India’s diplomatic, cultural, and commercial engagement with China’s most dynamic business hub. The new facility represents renewed intent, improved accessibility, and a stronger presence in East China at a time of evolving regional a

India and Russia have entered a new phase of strategic economic cooperation, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi signalling that the two nations may reach their ambitious USD 100 billion annual trade goal well before 2030. Speaking at the India–Russia Business Forum in New Delhi, PM Modi highlighted that the pace of bilateral engagement has strengthened significantly, driven by expanding business ties, a broader trade basket, and deeper trust between the two countries. This

A new Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report reveals a striking contrast in global talent dynamics: while international mobility among highly skilled professionals has fallen sharply for the first time since 2020, India has surged ahead as a rising hub for artificial intelligence and STEM expertise. Global cross-border talent migration dropped by 8.5% year-on-year — roughly 220,000 fewer professionals relocating — yet India expanded its global share of AI and STEM talent, posit

India and Russia reaffirmed the strength and long-term relevance of their relationship as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin met in New Delhi for the 23rd Annual India–Russia Summit on December 5, 2025. The meeting, held at Hyderabad House, marked Putin’s first official visit to India since 2021 and produced a comprehensive roadmap aimed at expanding cooperation across multiple sectors. Both leaders underscored that despite global tensions, sanctions,

Russia’s delivery of the first batch of nuclear fuel for Unit-3 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) arrived in India on the same day President Vladimir Putin began his state visit to New Delhi. This synchronised development highlighted not only the operational progress at India’s largest nuclear power project but also the strategic depth of Indo-Russian energy cooperation. The shipment, flown in by a special Rosatom cargo aircraft, represents the initial phase of a

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day state visit to India from December 4–5, 2025 marked a significant moment in New Delhi’s foreign-policy landscape. Arriving after a four-year gap and amid intense global scrutiny due to the ongoing Ukraine conflict, Putin’s presence in New Delhi reaffirmed the durability of India–Russia ties. The visit set the tone for a deeper strategic partnership, with both nations unveiling new frameworks in energy, defence, trade, technology,

Russia is intensifying efforts to expand its economic engagement with India, moving beyond traditional trade in energy and raw materials towards a broader, balanced, and investment-driven relationship. The focus is on increasing imports of Indian goods and services, while boosting Russian investments across multiple sectors in India. This renewed momentum was highlighted during high-level meetings between Russian officials and India’s leadership ahead of the 23rd India-Russia

On 4 December 2025, New Delhi hosted the 13th India–Netherlands Foreign Office Consultations (FOC), where officials from both nations explored avenues to deepen cooperation in critical technologies, innovation, defence, security, and priority areas under the Water, Agriculture, and Health (WAH) agenda. The meeting brought together India’s Sibi George, Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs, and Christiaan Rebergen, Secretary-General of the Netherlands’ Ministry

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a pivotal meeting with Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov in New Delhi on 4 December 2025, marking a significant moment in India–Russia defence cooperation. The meeting began with a solemn tribute at the National War Memorial, after which the leaders convened for detailed strategic discussions at the Manekshaw Centre. Their dialogue emphasised expanding long-term military collaboration, modernising India’s air-defence grid an

As Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi for a high-profile visit, Indian and international media were flooded with reports claiming that India had signed a fresh USD 2-billion agreement with Russia to lease a nuclear-powered attack submarine. The story suggested a major breakthrough in defence ties and portrayed the deal as newly finalised to strengthen India’s undersea warfare capabilities. However, within hours, the Indian government issued a firm rebuttal

The relationship between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin is one of the most enduring personal and strategic bonds in global diplomacy. Spanning over 25 years, their association has witnessed India’s transformation from a rising regional power to a global player, while Russia has navigated the complex post-Soviet geopolitical landscape. What started as formal diplomatic engagement has grown into a deep, multifaceted partnership shaped

New Delhi witnessed a rare diplomatic moment on 4 December 2025, as Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived for a two-day state visit. In a gesture that underscores the significance of the trip, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received Putin at Palam Airport. The reception included a red carpet welcome and traditional cultural performances, reflecting the longstanding strategic ties between India and Russia . The leaders shared a warm embrace and handshake before

India and the European Union have taken a significant step toward strengthening maritime security by jointly organising a high-level workshop on safeguarding critical undersea cables. Held in New Delhi and coordinated by the National Maritime Foundation (NMF) and the EU’s ESIWA+ initiative, the workshop brought together military officers, coast-guard representatives, policymakers, and private cable-sector experts from India, the EU, and several Indian Ocean countries. The ce

The forthcoming visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India on December 4–5, 2025, marks a defining moment in the long-standing and strategically vital partnership between New Delhi and Moscow . Taking place amid global political shifts, sanctions pressure, conflict-driven realignments, and an increasingly multipolar world, the summit symbolizes not merely a ceremonial engagement but a recalibration of a historic alliance. For India, the visit offers an opportunity to

Sri Lanka is reeling under one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent memory after Cyclone Ditwah tore through the island, triggering massive floods, landslides, and large-scale devastation across 22 districts. Entire towns were submerged, hilly regions collapsed under mudslides, and thousands were displaced overnight. With the death toll rising past several hundred and many still missing, the scale of destruction has overwhelmed local authorities and pushed the nation

A Humanitarian Crisis in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka is battling one of its most devastating natural disasters in recent years after Cyclone Ditwah unleashed unprecedented flooding, landslides, and large-scale destruction across the island. Entire districts have been submerged, communication lines have been severed, and thousands of families have been displaced. As the crisis deepens, urgent foreign assistance has become vital to support search-and-rescue operations, medical needs,

The 2025 India–Russia Annual Summit, scheduled for 4–5 December, marks another significant chapter in the long-standing partnership between New Delhi and Moscow. With Russian President Vladimir Putin visiting India, the summit arrives amid a delicate geopolitical environment, characterized by rising global tensions and Western pressure on Russia. For India, the summit presents an opportunity to reaffirm its strategic autonomy while deepening cooperation across multiple sect