31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations

♦ India has reaffirmed its commitment to climate multilateralism and the principles of equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), calling for a fair, equitable and ambitious outcome at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Antalya, Türkiye.

♦ Delivering India’s opening statement at the conference, Narendra Bhooshan, Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, thanked Türkiye and Australia for their leadership of COP31. He also commended the efforts of all parties and negotiating groups to strengthen climate multilateralism.

♦ India aligned itself with the statements delivered by the G77 and China, the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) and the BASIC group, the statement said.

♦ India reiterated its commitment to the framework, which it said must be guided by equity and the principle of CBDR-RC.

Google Arts Culture

The Ministry of Culture on 5 November 2026 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google Arts & Culture to digitise India’s cultural heritage and make it accessible to audiences in India and abroad. The agreement was signed at a virtual ceremony in the presence of Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal and Google Arts & Culture Vice President and Founder Amit Sood.

• The partnership will cover monuments and archaeological sites protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), national museum collections, manuscripts being documented under Gyan Bharatam, and crafts, performing arts and living traditions supported by the Ministry’s institutions.

• Google Arts & Culture has previously worked with institutions under the Ministry, including the ASI, the National Museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art, to bring their collections to wider audiences.

Indian Coast Guard

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) held their 9th High-Level Meeting (HLM) at Mirissa, Sri Lanka, on 3 November 2026. The Indian delegation was led by Paramesh Sivamani, Director General, Indian Coast Guard, while the Sri Lankan delegation was headed by Rear Admiral Ruwan Rupasena, Director General, Sri Lanka Coast Guard.

• The meeting focused on key areas of mutual interest, including Marine Pollution Response, Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR), and Maritime Law Enforcement.

1st International Maize Conference

The 1st International Maize Conference 2026 began at the JD Convention Centre in Hyderabad on 2 November 2026. The conference, themed “Maize Revolution for Food, Feed, Fodder, Fuel and Sustainability in the Changing World” (M4FS), focused on high-yielding varieties and hybrids, improved nutritional quality, efficient resource utilisation, mechanisation, robust seed systems and maize’s growing role in food, feed, fodder and energy security.

• Several scientific publications were released during the programme, and awards were presented to eminent scientists and researchers in recognition of their contributions to maize research and development.

• Being held from 2–4 November, 2026, in Hyderabad, the conference provides a platform for national and international experts to shape a roadmap for a productive, profitable and sustainable maize sector in India.

• The conference underscored the importance of collaborative, farmer-centric research to bridge yield gaps, improve seed access, strengthen breeding programmes, enhance nutritional quality and develop sustainable maize value chains.