♦ India and the Netherlands have announced the establishment of India-Netherlands Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The JTIC marks an important milestone in further strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the two countries.
♦ The MoU was signed between the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
♦ The JTIC will serve as a dedicated mechanism to review bilateral trade relations, promote two-way investment, address trade and investment barriers, and explore collaboration in sectors of mutual interest.
Posted Date: December 21, 2025Meetings
♦ President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 26th National Conference for the Chairpersons of Public Service Commissions (PSC) in Hyderabad on 19 December 2025. Organised by the Telangana Public Service Commission (TGPSC), the two-day conference aims to bring together the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and State PSCs as a premier national platform for dialogue, institutional introspection and cooperative reforms.
♦ Speaking on the occasion, President Murmu emphasised the critical role of Public Service Commissions in the governance framework of India.
♦ The conference concludes on 20 December 2025
Posted Date: December 19, 2025♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said on 17 December 2025, marking the beginning of his official engagements in the Sultanate.
♦ The visit holds particular significance as India and Oman share a comprehensive strategic partnership rooted in centuries-old historical links, longstanding trade relations and strong people-to-people ties. It also coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and follows the State visit of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to India in December 2023.
♦ Prime Minister Modi arrived in Oman after completing his maiden visit to Ethiopia, during which India and Ethiopia elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership.
Posted Date: December 17, 2025♦ The Union Cabinet approved the proposed Free Trade Agreement between India and Oman on 12 December 2025, clearing the way for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister.
♦ The approval comes ahead of the Prime Minister’s three-nation tour to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman from December 15 to 18, a visit expected to strengthen India’s economic and strategic engagement across West Asia and Africa. The Prime Minister will travel to Oman on December 17 and 18 at the invitation of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. This will be his second visit to the country and coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
♦ India and Oman share a long-standing strategic partnership built on trade links, energy cooperation and deep cultural ties. The Cabinet’s decision follows the Oman Shura Council’s approval of the proposed FTA a day earlier. Negotiations for the agreement began officially in November 2023.
♦ According to official figures, bilateral trade has remained strong. Trade between the two countries stood at 8.947 billion US dollars in 2023–24 and rose to 10.613 billion US dollars in 2024–25. Investment flows have been similarly robust, with more than 6,000 India–Oman joint ventures operating in Oman. These ventures account for an estimated 7.5 billion US dollars in capital over time, including formal outward investment and third-country investments channelled by Indian companies. Oman’s cumulative FDI equity inflows into India between April 2000 and March 2025 amounted to 605.57 million US dollars.
Posted Date: December 12, 2025♦ India and Malaysia held the third meeting of their Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism and Combating Transnational Crime in New Delhi. The discussions were co-chaired by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism) Dr. Vinod Bahade and Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs Under Secretary Mohd. Azlan bin Razali.
♦ During the meeting, both sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and stressed the need for stronger international cooperation to counter global terror threats. They reaffirmed their commitment to deepen collaboration in multilateral platforms, including the United Nations, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
Posted Date: December 11, 2025♦ India and Italy signed the protocol of the India–Italy Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) on 11 December 2025, laying out a roadmap to strengthen their economic partnership.
The protocol was signed by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani.
♦ The two sides also witnessed the signing of several industry agreements across sectors. He said he underlined the need to deepen India–Italy cooperation by expanding trade, increasing investments, strengthening industrial linkages and leveraging the broader India–EU engagement to open new opportunities.
♦ The India-Italy Business Forum was held in Mumbai during Tajani’s visit.
Posted Date: December 11, 2025♦ India and Brunei held the inaugural meeting of their Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Cooperation in New Delhi on 9 December 2025, marking a key step forward in strengthening bilateral defence ties.
♦ The discussions focused on expanding military-to-military exchanges, enhancing joint training initiatives, deepening maritime security collaboration, and strengthening cooperation in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). Both sides also explored opportunities in defence industry partnership, capacity building, and technology cooperation.
♦ The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Amitabh Prasad, and Brunei’s Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence, Poh Kui Choon. Ahead of the discussions, the two officials signed the Terms of Reference for establishing the JWG — a move expected to streamline and institutionalise future cooperation.
Posted Date: December 9, 2025♦ NMDC, India’s largest iron ore producer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, to facilitate new initiatives in the areas of cybersecurity and promote the adoption of modern digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), across NMDC’s operations.
♦ This MoU was signed by Satyendra Rai, Executive Director (Digital Transformation), on behalf of NMDC, and Prof. Ashoke De, Dean, R&D, IIT Kanpur in the presence of Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, senior officials from NMDC and representatives from IIT Kanpur.
♦ Through this partnership, NMDC will work with IIT Kanpur across key areas such as cybersecurity risk assessments; policy, governance and compliance support; Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) integration and advancement; security operations and incident response; capacity building and knowledge sharing; and joint research and innovation.
Posted Date: December 8, 2025♦ The 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) began at the Red Fort in New Delhi on 8 December 2025.
♦ The session was chaired by Vishal V. Sharma, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of India to UNESCO.
♦ The session concludes on 13 December.
♦ This marks the first time India is convening the session.
♦ India has nominated Diwali – the festival of light, brotherhood, compassion, and collective celebration – as its submission for the UNESCO Intangible Heritage list this year.
♦ The event coincides with the twentieth anniversary of India’s ratification of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
♦ The session focuses on protecting living cultural traditions recognized by communities as part of their identity, including practices, knowledge, expressions, objects, and spaces passed down through generations.
♦ Adopted on October 17, 2003, during UNESCO’s 32nd General Conference in Paris, the Convention responded to global concerns over cultural traditions, performing arts, rituals, craftsmanship, and knowledge systems being threatened by globalization, social change, and limited resources.
♦ It emphasizes the role of communities, indigenous groups, and individual practitioners in safeguarding heritage, while promoting global cooperation and awareness among younger generations.
♦ The Intergovernmental Committee advances the objectives of the 2003 Convention and ensures their effective implementation across member states.
Posted Date: December 8, 2025♦ Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the EARTH Summit 2025 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. He also launched more than 13 new services and products under the ‘Sahakar Sarathi’ initiative.
♦ The new offerings include Digi KCC, Campaign Sarathi, Website Sarathi, Cooperative Governance Index, ePACS, the World’s Largest Grain Storage Application, Shiksha Sarathi and Sarathi Technology Forum.
Posted Date: December 6, 2025♦ Russian President Vladimir Putin met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 5 December 2025. Both countries exchanged sixteen agreements in areas related to defence, trade, economy, healthcare, academics, culture and media.
♦ Addressing a joint press meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that India-Russia friendship will give the strength to face global challenges, and this very trust will enrich the shared future of both nations.
♦ Moscow has been India's top arms supplier for decades and has said that it wants to import more Indian goods in an effort to grow trade to $100 billion by 2030 that so far has been skewed in its favour due to New Delhi's energy imports.
♦ The Department of Posts today signed a Bilateral Agreement on the International Tracked Packet Service (ITPS) with JSC Russia Post. The launch of ITPS with Russia is expected to particularly benefit MSMEs, artisans, start-ups and rural entrepreneurs, enabling them to sell their products on Russian e-marketplaces with competitive logistics rates and dependable delivery timelines.
Posted Date: December 5, 2025♦ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov co-chaired the 22nd meeting of the India–Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) at the Manekshaw Centre in the New Delhi on 4 December 2025.
♦ Both sides reaffirmed that the India–Russia partnership is anchored in deep trust, shared principles and long-standing mutual respect.
♦ At the conclusion of the meeting, both ministers signed the protocol outlining ongoing and future areas of defence collaboration.
Posted Date: December 4, 2025♦ India and the Netherlands held the 13th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi on 4 December 2025, reviewing progress across key areas of the bilateral partnership and exploring new domains of cooperation.
♦ The talks were led by Secretary Sibi George from the Indian side and Christiaan Rebergen, Secretary General in the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from the Netherlands. The previous round was held in The Hague in May 2024.
♦ During the consultations, the two delegations reviewed cooperation in critical technologies—including semiconductors and AI—science and technology, green hydrogen, shipping, defence, and security. Progress under the Water, Agriculture and Health (WAH) agenda also came up for discussion. Both sides expressed the intent to add greater strategic depth to the partnership.
♦ The two sides highlighted the strong cultural ties and people-to-people links, appreciating the role of the Indian community in the Netherlands as a key bridge between the countries.
Posted Date: December 4, 2025