Acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft

♦ India and France on 28 April 2025 signed a Rs.63,000 crore defence agreement for the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft.

♦ The agreement was signed at the Defence Ministry headquarters at South Block in New Delhi. 

♦ The Indian Navy urgently requires new carrier-borne fighter jets to replace its aging MiG-29K fleet, which has faced operational challenges due to maintenance issues.

♦ The government-to-government contract includes the purchase of 22 single-seater and four twin-seater Rafale M jets, specially configured to meet Indian requirements and integrate with Indian aircraft carriers.

♦ The Rafale M jets will operate alongside the existing MiG-29K fleet on INS Vikrant, enhancing the Indian Navy’s combat capabilities.

♦ The Indian Air Force already operates 36 Rafale aircraft acquired through a separate deal signed in 2016, with squadrons based in Ambala and Hasimara.

Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF)

♦ The Inaugural Army-to-Army Staff Talks between the Indian Army and the Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF) took place in New Delhi.

♦ The discussions focused on the Annual Defence Cooperation Plan covering Joint Exercise Sada Tanseeq, training, military education, domain expert exchanges and engagements in areas of mutual interest. 

♦ Both sides also explored avenues of collaboration in operational logistics, battlefield management systems and niche technologies to enhance interoperability and capability development.

India-South Africa Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment (JWGTI)

♦ A nine-member Indian delegation visited Pretoria, South Africa, to participate in the second session of the India-South Africa Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment (JWGTI).

♦ Led by Economic Adviser Priya Nair from the Department of Commerce, the Indian delegation, engaged in wide-ranging discussions with their South African counterparts.

♦ The South African side was co-chaired by Malose Letsoalo, Chief Director, Bilateral Trade Relations, Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.

♦ Key areas of collaboration discussed included pharmaceuticals, healthcare, agriculture, MSMEs, and jewellery manufacturing.

♦ The agenda also covered the revival of the CEO Forum, investment cooperation, market access for agricultural products, recognition of Indian Pharmacopoeia, local currency settlement systems, fast payment and unified payment linkages, and discussions on a potential India-Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Preferential Trade Agreement.

♦ between the two countries reached USD 19.25 billion in 2023-24.

♦ Indian businesses have invested over USD 1.3 billion in South Africa since April 2000, spanning diverse sectors such as pharmaceuticals, information technology, automotive, banking, and mining.

United Arab Emirates

♦ A multinational air combat event, Desert Flag-10, was inaugurated at the Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates on 21 April 2025.

♦ India has deployed MiG-29 and Jaguar fighter jets for this exercise. 

♦ The exercise is hosted by the UAE Air Force and includes air forces from 11 other nations such as US, UK, Australia, Germany, France, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Turkey. 

♦ Desert Flag-10 concludes on 8 May 2025. 

♦ The primary objective of this exercise is to engage in complex fighter operations, facilitating the exchange of operational knowledge and best practices among the air forces. 

World Press Photo of the Year

♦ A heartbreaking photo of a nine-year-old Palestinian boy who lost both arms in an Israeli airstrike has won the 2025 World Press Photo of the Year.

♦ The image, taken by by Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf for the New York Times.

♦ Abu Elouf, who was evacuated from Gaza in late 2023, lives in the same apartment complex as Mahmoud in Doha, Qatar. 

♦ The jury picked 42 winning images from over 59,000 entries submitted by photojournalists around the world.

India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise DUSTLIK-VI

♦ The 6th edition of the India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise DUSTLIK-VI commenced at the Foreign Training Node in Aundh, Pune on 16 April 2025.

♦ The exercise will continue till April 28 and aims to enhance interoperability and cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries.

♦ DUSTLIK is an annual military training initiative held alternately in India and Uzbekistan.

♦ The previous edition took place in the Termez District of Uzbekistan in April 2024.

♦ This year’s (2025) exercise focuses on Joint Multi-Domain Sub-Conventional Operations in a semi-urban scenario.

♦ It will simulate counter-terrorism missions involving territory capture, establishment of a Joint Operations Centre at the battalion level, population control measures, raids, search-and-destroy operations, and coordinated use of air assets.

India-Middle-East-Europe-Economic Corridor (IMEEC)

♦ India and Italy have decided to expand cooperation in areas of trade, defence, clean energy and high technology while vowing to work jointly in implementing the ambitious India-Middle-East-Europe-Economic Corridor (IMEEC).

♦ Ways to deepen India-Italy cooperation under the framework of Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025-29 figured prominently during talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani. 

♦ The two ministers also exchanged views on global and regional developments of mutual interest with Jaishankar welcoming Italy's continued focus on the Indo-Pacific.

♦ The IMEEC initiative was firmed up on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi.

♦ An agreement was signed by India, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the US and some other G20 partners for the corridor.

Worlds Best Airport

♦ Singapore's Changi airport was crowned as the World’s Best Airport for the 13th time now by air transport rating organisation Skytrax.

♦ Doha Hamad Airport has been ranked as the second-best airport globally, while also earning recognition for being the World’s Best Airport for Shopping and the Best Airport in the Middle East.

♦ These rankings reflect outstanding performance in customer satisfaction, infrastructure, services, and innovation.

The World’s Best Airports

Country Partnership Framework (CPF)

♦ Mauritius became the first African country to sign a Country Partnership Framework (CPF) with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) on 10 April 2025.

♦ Mauritius is the first country in the Africa region, and the fourth country after Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Cuba to sign the CPF.

♦ This partnership aims to provide a structured approach for the ISA and Mauritius to collaborate on solar energy initiatives, aligning with Mauritius's national priorities.

♦ The CPF is a strategic initiative developed by ISA to facilitate long- and medium-term cooperation with its member countries.

♦ The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization, launched in 2015 by India and France, aimed at promoting solar energy as a sustainable solution for energy access and climate change, with the goal of mobilizing USD 1 trillion in solar investments by 2030.

President Droupadi Murmu

♦ President Droupadi Murmu was conferred the Doctorate Honoris Causa degree by the Constantine the Philosopher University in Slovakia on 10 April 2025.

♦ The president was awarded the Doctorate of Honoris Causa in recognition of her distinguished career in public service and governance, advocacy for social justice and inclusion, and contribution towards education, empowerment of women, and preservation and promotion of cultural and linguistic diversity. 

♦ President Murmu arrived in Slovakia at the invitation of Slovakian President Peter Pellegrini.

♦ It is the first visit by an Indian president to Slovakia in 29 years.

♦ She arrived in Slovakia after completing the first leg of her visit in Portugal. 

India and Nepal

♦ India and Nepal signed an agreement on 9 April 2025 to enhance cooperation in agriculture and further deepen their partnership.

♦ The agreement was inked by India’s Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Nepal's Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ram Nath Adhikari at the 3rd BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministerial level meeting held in Kathmandu, Nepal. 

♦ This agreement aims to strengthen the ongoing collaboration between the two nations, particularly in areas such as enhancing crop productivity, improving post-harvest management and agri-marketing systems, and promoting climate resilience and sustainable agricultural practices.

India and Russia

♦ India and Russia have agreed on six new strategic projects to boost bilateral investment cooperation.

♦ The decision was taken during the eighth session of the India-Russia Working Group on Priority Investment Projects held in New Delhi on 9 April 2025. 

♦ The session aimed at strengthening economic ties between India and Russia by identifying and advancing collaborative projects in sectors of mutual interest. 

♦ The India- Russia Investment Forum witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 80 Indian and Russian businesses, including entrepreneurs, financial institutions, cargo companies, business chambers, researchers, and officials

Shivraj Singh Chouhan

♦ Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Israel’s Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter signed agreements related to bilateral cooperation in agriculture in New Delhi on 8 April 2025.

♦ The deal focusses on a range of crucial areas, including soil and water management, horticultural and agricultural production, post-harvest and processing technology, agriculture mechanisation, animal husbandry, and research and development. 

South Korea and India

♦ South Korea and India held a joint forum on growth strategy and discussed measures to expand bilateral cooperation in trade on 4 April 2025.

♦ At the Seoul forum, the two sides explored ways to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, and emerging industries such as advanced manufacturing and renewable energy.

♦ The two countries upgraded their bilateral relations to a special strategic partnership in 2015 to boost comprehensive cooperation in trade, defence, and technology. 

♦ Meanwhile, South Korean defence giant Hanwha Aerospace has signed a 371.4 billion-won ($253.6 million) deal to export homegrown K9 self-propelled howitzers to India.

♦ Under the agreement, the company will deliver the K9 howitzers to the Indian Army by September 2030, in cooperation with Mumbai-based company Larsen & Toubro, according to Hanwha Aerospace.

India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (Ind-Aus ECTA)

♦ The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (Ind-Aus ECTA) marks its third anniversary of signing on 2 April 20525, a landmark achievement that has enhanced the economic partnership between India and Australia.

♦ Since the agreement's signing on 2nd April 2022, it has created pathways for robust trade, offering new avenues for businesses, entrepreneurs, and employment across both nations. 

♦ With the signing of the ECTA, India and Australia have fostered new economic opportunities, underlining the complementary strengths of both economies.

♦ Following the signing and implementation of the agreement, total bilateral trade reached USD 24 billion in 2023-24, marking an impressive 14% growth in India’s exports to Australia as compared to 2022-23. 

♦ The ECTA has brought tangible benefits across several sectors, notably textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and agriculture.

♦ Exports on new lines, such as Calcined Petroleum Coke, High-Capacity Diesel Generating Sets, and Air Liquefaction Machinery, demonstrate the expanding trade opportunities facilitated by the agreement.

♦ Sectors like electronics and engineering hold significant potential for future exports, offering promising prospects for further growth and innovation.