Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Kyrgyzstan’s capital on Monday to lead India’s delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting, scheduled for April 28. His visit underscores India’s active engagement in regional multilateral forums and its dedication to fostering stability across Eurasia. Image from News On Air Arrival and Warm Welcome Upon landing at Manas International Airport, Singh received a traditional welcome, including th

Global defence budgets continued their steady climb in 2025, reaching a historic high of $2.887 trillion, according to the latest report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). This marked the 11th consecutive year of growth in world military expenditure, with a real-terms increase of 2.9 percent from the previous year. While the pace of growth moderated compared to the sharp 9.7 percent rise in 2024, the overall trend reflects persistent geopolitic

India and New Zealand formally signed a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) today at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand’s Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay exchanged the documents in a ceremony that symbolises the deepening economic bonds between the two nations. Negotiations for this agreement, which resumed in March 2025, were completed in a record nine months by December 2025. Both countries view the

India and the United Kingdom have taken another significant step to strengthen their bilateral ties, with National Security Advisers Ajit Doval and Jonathan Powell holding comprehensive discussions in the national capital. The annual India-UK Strategic Dialogue, held on April 23, focused on deepening cooperation across technology, defence, security, and counter-terrorism, while advancing the shared goals outlined in the India-UK Vision 2035 roadmap. The talks underscored the

India and Egypt have reaffirmed and further strengthened their defence cooperation, agreeing on a comprehensive bilateral defence cooperation plan for 2026-27. This milestone emerged from the productive 11th meeting of the India-Egypt Joint Defence Committee (JDC), held in Cairo from April 20 to 22, 2026. Defence ties continue to serve as a vital pillar of the broader Strategic Partnership between the two nations. Both sides highlighted defence ties as a key pillar of their s

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung have ushered in a transformative phase in bilateral relations by announcing a comprehensive set of outcomes during the South Korean President’s state visit to India from April 19 to 21, 2026. The two leaders elevated the existing Special Strategic Partnership to a vibrant “futuristic partnership,” underpinned by an ambitious five-year roadmap covering 2026 to 2030. This development reflects the growing conv

In a significant development for regional diplomacy and international travel, India has resumed issuing tourist visas to China nationals after a five-year suspension. The decision marks a gradual shift toward restoring normalcy in bilateral relations that had remained strained since 2020. India moves to restore tourist visas for Chinese nationals after a five-year pause following the Galwan clash, marking a cautious step toward rebuilding bilateral ties. | News18 Background:

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has emphasised India's measured and constructive diplomatic approach to the ongoing tensions in West Asia, noting that the country stands ready to contribute meaningfully to peace efforts at the appropriate time. Speaking during his official visit to Germany, Singh praised the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for guiding India's foreign policy with a focus on dialogue, neutrality, and strategic engagement with all parties involved. Ima

A special photo exhibition in New Delhi has brought renewed focus to India’s significant yet often underappreciated role during the Korean War. Organised at the India International Centre, the exhibition presents a compelling visual archive of India’s diplomatic, humanitarian, and peacekeeping efforts during a defining moment of the Cold War. Through rare photographs and historical records, it highlights how India contributed meaningfully without direct military engagement. T

India and Germany are advancing their strategic defence partnership through a series of high-level bilateral talks, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening security cooperation in an increasingly complex global environment. The discussions coincide with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s official visit to Berlin, signalling a renewed push to deepen collaboration across defence, technology, and industrial sectors. Image from DD India Renewed Diplomatic Engagement The v

India is nearing the completion of the first tranche of its proposed bilateral trade agreement with the United States , signalling a renewed push to deepen economic engagement between the two countries. The development reflects steady progress in negotiations that aim to strengthen trade flows, improve market access, and build a more structured economic partnership. Union minister Piyush Goyal | Moneycontrol Negotiations Enter Final Stage Union Commerce and Industry Minister

During a high-level meeting in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung underscored the importance of peace and stability in an increasingly uncertain global environment. Addressing a joint press conference, both leaders highlighted that amid geopolitical tensions and economic disruptions, cooperation between like-minded nations is essential to maintain balance and ensure long-term global security. Their statements reflected a converge

In a significant boost to bilateral relations, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung concluded his three-day state visit to India on a high note, describing the country as an “ultra-high-speed growth country” with immense potential to reshape global production and supply chains. The visit, the first by a South Korean president in eight years, culminated in productive summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that opened new avenues for economic, technological, and strate

India is poised to strengthen its defence partnership with Europe as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh begins a three-day official visit to Germany from April 21 to 23, 2026. The visit comes at a crucial time when India is actively expanding its global defence engagements and seeking advanced technological collaborations to modernise its armed forces. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. File Photo: PTI | Firstpost Strengthening Bilateral Defence Cooperation The visit reflects a re

India has expressed deep concern following reports that Indian-flagged oil tankers came under fire while passing through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz . The incident has once again drawn attention to the fragile security environment in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, where even minor disruptions can have far-reaching global consequences. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri | PTI Image | News18 Diplomatic Engagement and Official Response In the wake of

India and China successfully concluded their first dedicated bilateral consultations on Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) matters in the national capital on April 16-17. This important diplomatic engagement highlights the growing emphasis both nations are placing on coordinated efforts within multilateral frameworks to promote regional peace, security, and shared prosperity. The consultations were led by India's SCO National Coordinator, Ambassador Alok A. Dimri, and

The recent meeting between Narendra Modi and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker has opened a new chapter in India–Austria relations. This visit, significant both symbolically and strategically, reflects a growing recognition of India’s expanding role in global affairs. It also marks one of the most important diplomatic engagements between the two countries in decades, signalling a shared intent to strengthen cooperation across multiple domains. Chancellor Stocker’s visit,

India’s external trade landscape showed signs of resilience and recovery in March 2026, as merchandise exports registered a steady rise while the trade deficit narrowed significantly. Despite global economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, the latest data reflects a balanced improvement driven by stronger export performance and moderated imports. This trend offers cautious optimism for India’s trade outlook in the coming months. (Representative image) | Moneycontrol

As geopolitical tensions intensify across West Asia, India has voiced strong concern over the growing threat to global maritime security. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has unequivocally termed recent attacks on merchant vessels as “completely unacceptable,” highlighting the serious implications such disruptions pose to international trade and energy security. His remarks come at a time when critical sea routes are witnessing instability, raising alarms across globa

India has rolled out a revised framework for the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme, introducing significant updates to both the fee structure and application process. Effective from April 1, 2026, these changes reflect an effort to bring greater uniformity, transparency, and efficiency to a system that serves millions of people of Indian origin living across the world. The move is seen as part of a broader administrative overhaul aimed at streamlining services while stre