♦ India and Canada have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties, with both countries agreeing to conclude negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2026. The commitment was announced during the 2026 Canada-India Trade and Investment Forum, where Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Canadian Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu held discussions aimed at deepening economic cooperation and expanding commercial opportunities for businesses in both countries.
♦ Both sides identified several sectors with strong potential for collaboration, including clean energy, critical minerals, agri-food, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies and skills development.
♦ As part of the initiative, the two countries launched the Canada-India Trade and Investment Forum, which will serve as a platform to connect business leaders from both nations and encourage new commercial partnerships and investment opportunities.
Posted Date: May 28, 2026Meetings
♦ India and US signed key bilateral framework aimed at securing the supply, mining, and processing of critical minerals and rare earth elements.
♦ The landmark agreement was exchanged between External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Delhi on 26 May 2026.
♦ The External Affairs Minister said the framework will strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains, help both nations collaborate on financing, and also help with the effective management of critical minerals and rare earths.
Posted Date: May 26, 2026♦ India hosted the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on 26 May 2026.
♦ This was headed by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
♦ Top diplomats from Australia, Japan and the United States discussed regional and global issues and strengthened cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
♦ The Quad countries announced a new Indo-Pacific energy security initiative aimed at strengthening regional resilience against disruptions in global energy markets amid rising geopolitical tensions and volatility in oil and gas supplies.
♦ They unveiled the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework, aimed to support the development of secure critical minerals supply chains, which are essential for advanced technologies, economic growth, and the resilience of our industrial bases.
♦ Under the initiative, the Quad countries intend to mobilise up to USD 20 billion in government and private sector support through new and existing mechanisms to strengthen critical minerals supply chains, including mining, processing and recycling projects.
♦ The framework was announced alongside the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
Posted Date: May 26, 2026♦ I ndia and Spain on 25 May 2026 held high-level discussions to expand bilateral cooperation in astrophysics, emerging technologies and industrial research during a meeting between Union Minister Jitendra Singh and a Spanish delegation led by Eva Ortega-Paíno in New Delhi on 25 May 2026. The meeting, held at Kartavya Bhavan, focused on strengthening collaboration in science, technology and innovation, with particular emphasis on astrophysics, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, digital transformation and industrial innovation.
♦ According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the talks reflected the growing momentum in India-Spain scientific engagement and both countries’ shared commitment to strengthening partnerships in futuristic and technology-driven sectors. The discussions covered a wide range of areas including circular economy, digital health, medical devices, advanced materials, biotechnology, space sciences and innovation-led industrial research.
Posted Date: May 25, 2026♦ India and Russia held high-level Army talks on 24 May 2026 to expand defence cooperation and improve joint military capabilities. The 5th Sub Working Group (Land) meeting was held in New Delhi under the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC).
♦ The IRIGC-M&MTC is the institutional mechanism for military and military-technical cooperation between India and Russia. The Indian Army and the Russian Land Forces use this platform for discussions on training, capability development, and operational coordination.
Posted Date: May 24, 2026♦ India and Cyprus elevated their bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides held wide-ranging talks in New Delhi on 22 May 2026, resulting in several agreements and new initiatives spanning defence, cybersecurity, education, culture and maritime cooperation.
♦ The two countries signed six agreements/ Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and announced a series of strategic initiatives aimed at deepening cooperation across multiple sectors.
♦ Among the key agreements signed was an MoU on establishing a Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism, reflecting the growing focus on security cooperation between the two nations.
♦ Another agreement was signed between India’s Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service and the Diplomatic Academy of Cyprus for diplomatic training cooperation.
♦ India and Cyprus also signed an MoU on innovation and technology between Cyprus’s Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy and India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
♦ A technical arrangement was also concluded for cooperation on search and rescue operations between the Larnaca Joint Rescue Coordination Center of Cyprus and India’s Ministry of Defence.
♦ In the education sector, both sides signed an MoU on cooperation in higher education and research, while another agreement was inked to strengthen cultural cooperation for the period 2026–2030.
♦ Cyprus also announced its decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative under the pillar focused on trade, connectivity and maritime transport, signalling closer alignment with India’s Indo-Pacific vision.
♦ As part of the bilateral initiatives, India will gift a Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri (BHISM) Cube to Cyprus. The two countries also announced the celebration of the first-ever India-Cyprus Space Day on May 18, 2026.
Posted Date: May 22, 2026♦ The National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) and the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in the areas of corporate governance, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices, and capital markets.
♦ NISM, established by the Securities and Exchange Board of India, and IICA, functioning under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, will collaborate on capacity building, research, policy support and institutional cooperation across emerging areas of financial and corporate regulation.
♦ According to the official statement, the two institutions will jointly design and conduct certification courses, executive education modules, training programmes and capacity building initiatives, including programmes for SEBI officers and officials from other regulatory and financial sector institutions.
Posted Date: May 21, 2026♦ Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Management Development Institute Gurgaon to collaborate on executive education programmes aimed at developing future-ready leadership within the organisation.
♦ The agreement was signed at SAIL’s Corporate Office in New Delhi between SAIL’s Management Training Institute (MTI) and MDI Gurgaon.
♦ The partnership will focus on combining academic expertise with practical industry application through customised leadership programmes and innovation-driven learning initiatives for SAIL executives.
♦ The collaboration will include strategy-focused executive education, action learning projects aimed at measurable business outcomes, overseas learning programmes, joint research and consulting initiatives, as well as case studies specifically designed for SAIL’s operational and managerial requirements.
Posted Date: May 21, 2026♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on 20 May 2026 and decided to elevate India-Italy ties to the level of a Special Strategic Partnership. They announced that 2027 will be observed as the “Year of Culture and Tourism” between the two countries.
♦ The two sides also decided to establish a Foreign Ministers-led mechanism to review implementation of the India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025–2029, adopted during the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024.
♦ India and Italy reaffirmed their target of expanding bilateral trade to 20 billion euros by 2029, while emphasising the need for resilient industrial and technology partnerships. The two countries identified sectors such as clean technologies, semiconductors, automotive manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical technologies, textiles, tourism, digital technologies, ports, infrastructure and critical raw materials as key areas for future investment and collaboration.
♦ India and Italy agreed to facilitate greater mobility for students, researchers and skilled professionals, especially in STEM sectors. The two countries also welcomed a Joint Declaration of Intent to facilitate mobility of Indian nurses to Italy and continued discussions on a Social Security Agreement.
♦ Italy also signed an MoU related to participation in the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in Gujarat.
Posted Date: May 20, 2026♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the third India-Nordic Summit in Oslo on 19 May 2026, highlighting India’s growing strategic and economic engagement with Nordic nations across sectors such as sustainability, clean energy and emerging technologies. The summit brought together leaders from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden to discuss ways to expand cooperation in trade, climate action, innovation and technology.
♦ Ahead of the summit, the Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with Iceland Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir, Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
♦ During his meeting with Frostadottir, PM Modi discussed cooperation in green technologies, carbon management, sustainable fishing and the Blue Economy.
♦ In talks with Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, the leaders discussed strengthening cooperation in artificial intelligence, 5G and 6G networks, quantum technologies and the circular economy. The two sides also underlined the importance of early implementation of the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement.
♦ PM Modi also met Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to further strengthen the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership, with discussions focusing on sustainability and digitalisation.
♦ The five Nordic countries together account for a combined economic output of over USD 1.9 trillion and are considered global leaders in green transition and innovation-driven development.
Posted Date: May 19, 2026♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo on 18 May 2026, with the two countries agreeing to elevate bilateral ties to a Green Strategic Partnership aimed at expanding cooperation in clean energy, blue economy and sustainable development.
♦ The discussions took place during PM Modi’s first visit to Norway and the first Prime Ministerial visit from India to the Nordic nation in more than four decades.
♦ The leaders also discussed opportunities arising from the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, particularly in trade expansion, technology collaboration and job creation.
♦ The two sides exchanged views on regional and global developments, with Norwegian Prime Minister Støre expressing strong support for India and the international community’s fight against terrorism. Both countries also agreed to deepen cooperation in multilateral forums.
Posted Date: May 18, 2026♦ India’s space regulator-cum-promoter the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) held strategic engagements with the Italian Space Industry Study Group at the Space Meetings Veneto 2026 in Italy’s Venice, officials said on 16 May 2026. Nine Indian space-tech companies - Astrogate Labs, Astrobase Space Technologies, VyomIC, Suhora, Kepler Aerospace Ltd, Hyspace Technologies, TakeMe2Space, Jarbits Pvt Ltd and Dhruva Space - were part of the delegation.
♦ The event, organised by Advanced Business Events and supported by the Italian Trade Agency and Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, brought together space industry companies, startups, policymakers and technology providers from multiple countries.
♦ Among the agreements announced during the visit, Karnataka-based Astrobase Space Technologies signed an MoU with Italy’s Impulso Space to support customer access and explore launch opportunities through integrated mission management and launch service networks.
♦ Kepler Aerospace signed a framework agreement with Apogeo Space to expand ground station as a service (GSaaS) infrastructure and strengthen satellite collaboration between India and Europe.
Posted Date: May 16, 2026♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17 May 2026 received ‘Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross,’ one of the oldest and most distinguished honours of Sweden, instituted in the 18th century.
♦ The award was conferred on Modi as he visited Gothenburg in Sweden.
♦ Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden conferred the award upon the prime minister.
♦ The award is Sweden’s highest honour conferred on foreign Heads of Government in recognition of exceptional public service and contribution towards strengthening relations with Sweden.
♦ Modi is the first Asian leader to be conferred the award.
♦ This is Prime Minister Modi's 31st international honour.
♦ Modi arrived in Sweden for a two-day visit.
Posted Date: May 17, 2026♦ India and the Netherlands decided to elevate their relationship to the strategic partnership level following extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten amid shifting global geopolitics.
India’s Tata Electronics has signed a deal with Dutch technology giant ASML to build a major semiconductor plant in western India, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Netherlands during his European tour on 16 May 2026. The agreement will support the development of Tata’s semiconductor facility in Dholera, Gujarat.
♦ Modi’s also visit to the iconic Afsluitdijk dam in the Netherlands.
♦ Netherlands handed back 11th-century Chola dynasty copper plates to India, in an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signifying the strengthening of ties between the two countries.
♦ Mr. Modi also said India and the Netherlands can coordinate in the global arena and work together on securing global projects. He added that the two countries are collaborating to build a trusted and transparent supply chain.
Posted Date: May 16, 2026♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi held high-level talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on 15 May 2026, marking the first stop of his six-day tour covering the UAE and Europe. India and the United Arab Emirates signed a series of agreements across energy, defence, maritime infrastructure and emerging technologies.
♦ During the discussions, the UAE announced investments worth USD 5 billion in India through multiple entities. The investments include USD 3 billion by Emirates New Development Bank (ENDB) in RBL Bank, USD 1 billion by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) alongside the National Infrastructure & Investment Fund (NIIF) in infrastructure projects, and another USD 1 billion by International Holding Company in Sammaan Capital.
♦ The two countries also deepened cooperation in the energy sector. Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) signed a strategic collaboration agreement to enhance the UAE’s participation in India’s strategic petroleum reserves and explore the creation of strategic gas reserves in the country. Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) and ADNOC also finalised a long-term LPG supply arrangement.
♦ In the defence sector, the two countries signed a Framework for Strategic Defence Partnership aimed at deepening industrial collaboration and expanding cooperation in advanced technologies, maritime security, cyber defence, training, secure communications and information exchange.
♦ India and the UAE also expanded maritime cooperation through an MoU between Cochin Shipyard Limited and Drydocks World, Dubai for establishing a ship repair cluster at Vadinar under India’s Maritime Development Fund Scheme.
Posted Date: May 15, 2026♦ A two-day meeting of BRICS foreign ministers kicked off in New Delhi on 14 May 2026. The meeting was chaired by Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of the Republic of India. The meeting brings together diplomats from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa along with newer member countries. It comes as the war in Iran has disrupted global energy supplies and driven up oil prices and coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing.
♦ During the meeting, the Foreign Ministers of BRICS Member Countries exchanged views on global and regional issues of mutual interest.
♦ On the second day, BRICS Member and Partner Countries participates in a session themed "BRICS@20: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
♦ The BRICS Foreign Ministers held their last meeting on the margins of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) on 26 September 2025. The meeting was chaired by India in its capacity as the incoming BRICS Chair for 2026.
Posted Date: May 14, 2026♦ India and Uzbekistan held the 17th Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi on 13 May 2026, focusing on strengthening ties in trade, investment, energy, technology and education. Both sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations with a focus on trade and investment, tourism, technology, innovation, energy, cooperation in educational and cultural fields, and other consular issues.
♦ India and Uzbekistan share ties that go back deep into ancient history. India was one of the first countries to recognise the state sovereignty of Uzbekistan after its independence.
♦ The protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries was signed in Tashkent in 1992, according to the MEA. The two countries elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership in 2011.
Posted Date: May 13, 2026♦ India and Japan held the second round of the India-Japan Economic Security Dialogue in New Delhi on 11 May 2026, with discussions focusing on strengthening cooperation in strategic sectors such as critical minerals, semiconductors, clean energy, pharmaceuticals and emerging technologies. The dialogue was co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri along with Japan’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Takehiro Funakoshi and Vice Minister for International Affairs in Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Takehiko Matsuo.
♦ According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Economic Security Dialogue serves as the institutional mechanism to oversee progress under the Economic Security Initiative announced by the prime ministers of India and Japan during the 15th Annual Summit in Tokyo in August 2025.
♦ The discussions focused on industrial and technological collaboration in five sectors — critical minerals, semiconductors, information and communication technology including artificial intelligence and telecom, clean energy, and pharmaceuticals.
Posted Date: May 11, 2026♦ India hosted the 35th Plenary and Working Groups meetings of the ISO TC 20 / SC 14 ‘Space Systems and Operations’ subcommittee of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) at New Delhi. This was organised by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The event witnessed participation of 131 international delegates from 13 countries representing National Standards Bodies, experts from International Space Agencies including ISRO from India, Space Industry, and Academia.
♦ The event covered the entire lifecycle of space systems — from design and production to launch, operations and space-based services — with key focus areas including: Mission safety, Interoperability, Space debris mitigation, Long-term sustainability of space operations.
Posted Date: May 8, 2026♦ The Ministry of Women and Child Development convened the first preparatory meeting of the BRICS Women’s Working Group in virtual mode under India’s BRICS Presidency to promote women-led development and social transformation. Guided by the theme of India’s BRICS chairship — “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability” — the meeting featured in-depth discussions on key global issues concerning women, including governance and leadership, financial and digital inclusion, entrepreneurship and skill development, as well as women’s role in climate action, food security, and nutrition.
♦ India holds the BRICS chair in 2026 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability,” reflecting a people-centric and humanity-first approach articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 2025.
♦ BRICS was formalised during the first meeting of its Foreign Ministers on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2006. The inaugural BRICS Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009.
Posted Date: May 1, 2026