♦ Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held talks with Sabine Monauni, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein on 7January 2026, to explore ways to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries. The discussions focused on expanding trade, innovation and clean technology collaboration, while also exploring avenues to deepen bilateral ties after the operationalisation of the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA).
♦ The India–European Free Trade Association (EFTA) TEPA is scheduled to become operational from October 1. The four-nation EFTA bloc comprises European Free Trade Association members Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
♦ Under the agreement, the EFTA countries have committed investments worth $100 billion over 15 years, which is expected to facilitate the creation of one million direct jobs in India.
Posted Date: January 7, 2026Meetings
♦ The National Commission for Women (NCW) organised ‘Shakti Samvaad’, an interactive and capacity-building meeting with State Women’s Commissions (SWCs) at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 29 January 2026. All State Women’s Commissions across the country were participated in this meeting.
♦ Shakti Samvaad is aimed at strengthening institutional coordination, sharing best practices, and building the capacities of State Women’s Commissions.
♦ This is the third national-level Shakti Samvaad within a span of one year, following its successful editions held in Ayodhya and Mumbai, reflecting NCW’s sustained commitment to cooperative federalism in the sphere of women’s rights and welfare.
♦ The programme also featured the release of the book ‘Safarnama’ published by NCW. The two-day interactive session continues on 30 January.
Posted Date: January 29, 2026♦ Asia’s largest civil aviation event, Wings India 2026 programme, commenced at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad, on 28 January 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the programme via video conferencing. Highlighting infrastructure expansion, the Prime Minister said that the number of airports in the country has increased from 70 in 2014 to over 160 at present, while more than 100 aerodromes have been activated. He said the UDAN scheme has played a key role in strengthening regional connectivity, enabling around 1.5 crore passengers to travel on routes that did not exist earlier.
♦ The theme of Wings India 2026 is Indian Aviation: Paving the Future – From Design to Deployment, Manufacturing to Maintenance, Inclusivity to Innovation and Safety to Sustainability.
♦ The event features an elaborate and world-class international exhibition, static aircraft displays and aerobatic flying shows, a high-level global aviation conference, CEO roundtables, B2B and B2G meetings, an Aviation Job Fair and a Student Innovation Competition. Ministerial-level and official foreign delegations from 20 countries, including Cambodia, Ghana, Russia, Seychelles, Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore, Algeria, the Dominican Republic, Iran, the Maldives, Mongolia, Mozambique, Oman, Qatar, the European Union, the UK, France, Germany, and the USA, attended Wings India 2026.
♦ The event aims to be the most comprehensive aviation platform for policymakers, global CEOs, investors, innovators, airlines, airports, technology providers, training institutions and startups.
Posted Date: January 28, 2026♦ India and the European Union on 27 January 2026 announced the conclusion of the long-awaited India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), described as the “Mother of All Deals”. This marking a historic milestone in bilateral relations between two of the world’s largest economies. The announcement was made at the 16th India-EU Summit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the visit of European leaders to India.
♦ Covering two of the world’s largest economies – the 4th and 2nd globally – the India-EU FTA creates a combined market of over USD 24 trillion (around INR 2,091.6 lakh crore), unlocking vast opportunities for nearly two billion people. Designed as a modern, rules-based trade framework, the agreement responds to contemporary global challenges while enabling deeper market integration, resilient supply chains, and long-term economic cooperation.
♦ The FTA delivers unprecedented market access for Indian exports, with preferential access across 97% of EU tariff lines, covering 99.5% of India’s export value. Crucially, over 70% of tariff lines – representing more than 90% of India’s exports – will see immediate duty elimination, benefiting labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, marine products, gems and jewellery, toys, sports goods, tea, coffee, and spices.
♦ These sectors, currently facing EU import duties ranging from 4% to 26%, are central to employment generation and MSME growth in India. With zero-duty access from the FTA’s entry into force, Indian exporters are expected to gain enhanced competitiveness, deeper integration into European value chains, and greater certainty in long-term investment planning.
♦ On the other side, India has offered market access across 92.1% of its tariff lines, covering 97.5% of EU exports. This includes immediate duty elimination on nearly half of tariff lines and phased liberalisation over 5, 7, and 10 years on others. Enhanced access for high-technology European goods is expected to diversify India’s import sources, reduce input costs, and support domestic manufacturing and global value chain integration.
Posted Date: January 27, 2026♦ The Goa government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited. The partnership with the Elon Musk-owned firm will focus on providing high-speed satellite broadband connectivity to select locations with limited or no terrestrial network coverage, including government schools, healthcare facilities and disaster management centres.
♦ The MoU was signed between the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C) and Starlink in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, IT, Electronics and Communications Minister Rohan Khaunte, and chief secretary V Candavelou.
♦ Under the agreement, the two sides will explore collaboration in areas such as enhancing digital connectivity, improving emergency response and disaster management capabilities, and supporting smart governance initiatives in Goa.a
Posted Date: January 24, 2026♦ India and European Union agreed on advancing EU-India engagement in the transport ecosystem. Meeting the European Union Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said that the meeting focused on innovations such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel, prioritising environmentally friendly transportation and green aviation.
♦ During the meeting, they also held discussions on sustainability, innovation, and environmentally friendly transportation systems. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation between the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in areas such as coordination, joint certification, cyber security, and drone regulations.
Posted Date: January 23, 2026♦ India will host the AI Impact Summit from 16th to 20th February 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The summit will be the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South. It will bring together global leaders, policymakers, technology companies, innovators, and experts to showcase and deliberate on the transformative potential of AI across governance, innovation, and sustainable development.
♦ Artificial Intelligence is a key enabler of India’s development journey, strengthening governance and improving public service delivery. The India AI Impact Expo is expected to feature over 400 exhibitors across more than seven thematic pavilions, with participation of over 1.5 lakh visitors.
Posted Date: January 20, 2026India and Germany have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Telecommunications Cooperation, marking a significant step towards deepening bilateral collaboration in the fields of telecom and information and communication technologies (ICTs). The declaration was signed during the official visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to India from January 12 to 13.
♦ The JDI was signed by Amit Agrawal, Secretary (Telecom), on behalf of the Government of India, and Dr Philipp Ackermann, German Ambassador to India, representing the Government of Germany. It was concluded between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation.
♦ Under the agreement, both sides have committed to enhancing cooperation through the exchange of information and best practices, collaboration in emerging and future technologies, and joint efforts in areas such as policy and regulatory frameworks, telecom manufacturing, and facilitating ease of doing business in the telecom and ICT sectors.
The Ministry of Coal has executed Coal Mine Development and Production Agreements with Damodar Valley Corporation for three commercial coal blocks, namely Dhulia North, Mandakini B, and Pirpainti Barahat. It was auctioned under the 13th round of commercial coal mining.
♦ The Ministry informed that the execution of these agreements represents a significant milestone in India’s journey towards self-reliance in the coal sector.
♦ The projects are expected to generate annual revenue of about 4,621 crore rupees and attract an investment of nearly 7,350 crore rupees. It will also generate over 66 thousand direct and indirect employment opportunities, contributing to energy security, economic growth, and regional development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan in the Parliament House Complex in New Delhi on 15 January 2026. The theme of the conference is 'Effective Delivery of Parliamentary Democracy'.
♦ The high-level international parliamentary conference was chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and is being attended by 61 Speakers and Presiding Officers from 42 Commonwealth countries and four semi-autonomous parliaments.
♦ The conference deliberates on a wide range of contemporary parliamentary issues, including the role of Speakers and Presiding Officers in maintaining strong democratic institutions. The discussions focused on strengthening parliamentary democracy at a time when legislatures worldwide are navigating rapid political, technological and social transformations.
India and Israel on 14 January 2026, signed a Joint Ministerial Declaration of Intent to strengthen bilateral collaboration in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, marking a significant expansion of cooperation between the two strategic partners. The declaration was signed during a high-level visit by an Indian delegation led by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh, who was in Israel from January 13 to 15 to participate in the second global summit on “Blue Food Security: Sea the Future 2026” held in Eilat.
♦ Under the agreement, both sides will collaborate on joint research and development in advanced aquaculture technologies, including recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), biofloc, cage culture, aquaponics and aquarium systems such as oceanariums. Cooperation will also cover breeding of high-yield species, pathogen-free seed improvement strategies, broodstock development, genetic improvement programmes, mariculture and seaweed cultivation, as well as efficient water management using Israeli water-saving technologies.
♦ Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan chaired the 13th Meeting of the Council of National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (NITSER) in New Delhi on 13 January 2026. During the meeting, Mr Pradhan reviewed presentations on elevating academic and research standards, enhancing governance efficiency and further boosting innovation and entrepreneurship at National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indian Institutes of Engineering Science and Technology (IIESTs).
♦ The Minister stressed that the curricula provided in these institutes must be aligned with national priorities and should be industry-centric. He also suggested that the institutes create an industry-led curriculum committee for developing a curriculum based on emerging job roles and 21st century requirements. The Minister stated that the country’s premier technological institutions must also come under an accreditation framework.
Posted Date: January 13, 2026♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar on 12 January 2026, focusing on strengthening cooperation across a wide range of sectors. The meeting took place as part of Chancellor Merz’s first official visit to India, which coincides with the completion of 75 years of India–Germany diplomatic relations and 25 years of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership.
♦ During the talks, the two leaders reviewed progress under the Strategic Partnership and discussed ways to further intensify cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility.
♦ India and Germany signed 19 key MoUs and made eight key announcements, including a Joint Declaration of Intent to strengthen bilateral defence industrial cooperation and the establishment of a Chief Executive Officers’ Forum to bolster trade and investment.
♦ They also explored collaboration in defence and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people ties. Regional and global issues of mutual interest were also discussed.
♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also jointly inaugurated the International Kite Festival at the Sabarmati Riverfront, sharing festive moments that blended cultural celebration with diplomatic engagement.
Posted Date: January 12, 2026♦ The Vice-President of India, C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the Third International Conference on Indian Languages in New Delhi. The Conference was organised by Vaishvik Hindi Parivaar, Antarashtriya Sahyog Parishad, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, and the Department of Bharatiya Bhasha, University of Delhi.
♦ The event brought together scholars, language experts, and international delegates to discuss the protection, study, and global promotion of Indian languages.
Posted Date: January 10, 2026♦ On 9 january 2026, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan held bilateral talks with Fiji’s Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Tomasi Tunabuna, to strengthen cooperation in the agriculture sector. During the meeting at Krishi Bhawan, both sides discussed ongoing partnerships and identified new areas of collaboration.
♦ The two countries agreed to extend the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agriculture cooperation for another five years and establish a Joint Working Group (JWG) to advance sectoral engagement.
♦ The discussions covered capacity-building initiatives, student exchange programmes, training modules and technology sharing, particularly in small-scale farm machinery and digital agriculture.
Posted Date: January 9, 2026♦ India is hosting the second phase of specialized capacity building program in cancer care for BIMSTEC countries. The External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the specialised capacity building program in cancer care was inaugurated today at Tata Memorial Centre’s Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Vishakhapatnam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced this initiative at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit.
♦ The initiative by the External Affairs Ministry is aimed towards capacity building in the region, with Indian expertise in critical areas of healthcare. The four-week-long training program is focused on the critical domains of cancer care in Onco-Pathology, Onco-Nursing, Palliative Medicine, Preventive Oncology and Radiation Oncology. It includes advanced hands-on workshops on cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.
♦ A total of 35 cancer care experts from BIMSTEC countries are participating in the program. This initiative is in line with India’s Neighbourhood First, Act East and MAHASAGAR policies. It will strengthen health cooperation further among the BIMSTEC countries.
Posted Date: January 6, 2026