UAE and India Business

♦ The UAE and India Business Council has entered into strategic agreements to deepen industry engagements and amplify trade and investments between India and the UAE.

♦ As part of the three agreements, UIBC and the UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC), committed to closer institutional collaboration, ensuring greater coherence in advancing objectives of the UAE-India CEPA, and deepening the UAE-India economic partnership.

♦ UIBC and Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) entered into a pact for deepening cooperation across priority services sectors, including logistics, healthcare, IT/ITES, education, tourism, and engineering, while promoting B2B and B2G engagements and addressing market access challenges.

Shipment of organic products

♦ India and Australia signed a mutual recognition agreement to facilitate the shipment of organic products between the two countries.

♦ Under the mutual recognition arrangements (MRA), both will recognise each other's organic standards and certification systems.

♦ The pact, which was part of the trade deal, will help in the shipment of unprocessed plant products, excluding seaweed, aquatic plants, and greenhouse crops, processed food and wine.

♦ India's organic exports to Australia reached USD 8.96 million in 2024-25 with a total export volume of 2,781.58 metric tonnes, led by psyllium husk, coconut milk and rice.

Rajnath Singh

♦ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Moroccan counterpart Abdeltif Loudiyi on 22 September 2025 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation during a bilateral meeting in Rabat.

♦ The MoU establishes a robust institutional framework for collaboration between the two nations and opens avenues for joint exercises, military training, capacity building, and defence industry partnerships.

♦ cooperation covering counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber defence, peacekeeping operations, military medicine, and expert exchanges.

♦ The discussions highlighted the shared resolve to elevate the long-standing India–Morocco friendship into a stronger strategic partnership.

Government of India and Asian Development Bank

♦ The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 22 September 2025 signed a $125 million loan agreement to enhance urban livability and strengthen climate resilience in Assam, benefiting nearly 3.6 lakh residents across six district headquarters and Guwahati.

♦ The loan agreement for the Assam Urban Sector Development Project was signed by Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Mio Oka, Country Director, India Resident Mission, ADB.

♦ The project aims to deliver continuous, metered water supply, upgrade stormwater management systems, and improve urban governance through institutional reforms and capacity-building measures.

♦ Key infrastructure investments include construction of six water treatment plants with a combined capacity of 72 million litres per day; installation of 800 km of water distribution pipelines in Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Goalpara, Golaghat, and Nalbari; and deployment of a real-time monitoring system to maintain non-revenue water below 20%.

Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited

♦ Oil India Limited (OIL) has signed a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RVUNL) for developing 1.2 GW of renewable energy projects in Rajasthan.

♦ The signed projects include 1000 MW of solar power and 200 MW of wind power capacity to be established within RVUNL’s Renewable Energy Park.

♦ The formed joint venture company will harness OIL’s energy sector expertise and RVUNL’s extensive experience in power project development to deliver sustainable energy solutions.

IITKanpur and Vietnam

♦ Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and Vietnam National University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster academic and research collaboration in multiple fields.

♦ The agreement aims to establish a formal understanding to facilitate collaborative research, academic exchange, and scientific development on a reciprocal basis. 

♦ The agreement seeks to benefit researchers, faculty members, and students at both institutions, enhancing knowledge exchange and fostering innovation.

♦ Key areas identified for collaboration include: application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medical diagnosis and hospital implementation tailored for Vietnam, AI-driven education and research, including language learning technologies, infrastructure defect detection using advanced AI methods, smart city development initiatives, material prediction and innovative carbon-carbon material applications, and drone technology for rescue operations and agricultural productivity.

Oil India Limited and Hindustan Copper Limited

♦ Oil India Limited and Hindustan Copper Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 19 September 2025 to co-operate and collaborate for exploration and development of critical and strategic minerals including Copper and associated minerals.

♦ The Ministry of Mines said that this collaboration represents a milestone in the nation’s pursuit of mineral security. 

♦ Aligning with governments’ National Critical Mineral Mission, this partnership will play a pivotal role in securing strategic mineral resources essential for the nation’s energy security, industrial growth, and technological advancement. 

World-class Blue Ports

♦ India and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, have joined hands to build world-class Blue Ports.

♦ Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has signed a Technical Cooperation Programme agreement with FAO to strengthen Blue Port infrastructure in India. 

♦ Under the Blue Ports framework, the Department of Fisheries is leading the development of Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbours that combine technological innovation with environmental stewardship.

♦ Three pilot harbours, namely Vanakbara in Diu, Karaikal in Puducherry and Jakhau in Gujarat, have been approved with a total investment of 369.8 crore rupees.

Combined Commanders Conference (CCC)

♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 16th Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC) in Kolkata on 15 September 2025.

♦ Held once in two years, this conference is the apex-level brainstorming forum of the Armed Forces, that brings together the nation’s top civilian and military leadership to exchange views and lay the groundwork for the future development of India’s military preparedness.

♦ The theme of the Conference is ‘Year of Reforms – Transformation for the Future’, in line with the ongoing modernisation and transformation of the Armed Forces.

CarDekho Group

♦ The Ministry of Commerce and Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CarDekho Group, an autotech and finance solutions platform, to further strengthen the country’s start-up ecosystem across mobility, fintech, and emerging tech sectors.

♦ Under the collaboration, DPIIT and CarDekho Group will accelerate the growth of DPIIT-recognised startups by providing strategic mentorship, market access, technology infrastructure, and funding opportunities.

♦ Startups will gain access to CarDekho’s diverse platforms—CarDekho, InsuranceDekho, rupyy, BikeDekho, ZigWheels, PowerDrift, Revv, CollegeDekho, Crack-ED and others—opening avenues for collaborations and customer reach.

♦ The partnership will also explore hosting innovation challenges under the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge to promote entrepreneurship in areas such as electric mobility, auto-tech, finance and sustainability.

Modi held bilateral talks with Naveen Chandra.

♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritius Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam held wide-ranging bilateral talks in Varanasi on 11 September 2025.

♦ During the talks, PM Modi announced a special economic package for Mauritius to support infrastructure, healthcare, and employment generation.

♦ The package will fund the construction of the new 500-bed Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital, an AYUSH Centre of Excellence, a Veterinary School and Animal Hospital, and the provision of helicopters.  

♦ India unveiled a Special Economic Package worth nearly USD 680 million (MUR 30 billion) for Mauritius, covering health, infrastructure, and maritime security, during the ongoing state visit of Mauritian Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam.

♦ Further, projects worth an estimated $440 million will be undertaken on a grant-cum-line-of-credit basis, including the completion of a new ATC tower at SSR International Airport, development of Motorway M4 and Ring Road Phase II, and acquisition of modern port equipment. 

♦ Both sides also agreed in principle on redevelopment and restructuring of the Port of Mauritius and collaboration on surveillance and development of the Chagos Marine Protected Area.

♦ In addition, India will extend budgetary assistance of $25 million during the current financial year.

♦ Several significant agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to enhance cooperation in science and technology, oceanographic research, power sector development, public service capacity building through Karmayogi Bharat, and implementation of Phase II of Small Development Projects.

♦ The two countries also renewed their MoU in the field of hydrography and signed a landmark agreement on the establishment of a Telemetry, Tracking, and Telecommunications Station for satellites and launch vehicles, strengthening space research collaboration.

♦ In the field of education and research, IIT Madras and the Indian Institute of Plantation Management signed MoUs with the University of Mauritius, which PM Modi said would take cooperation in innovation, research, and education “to a new level.”

Ministry of Defence

♦ On 9 September 2025, the Ministry of Defence, signed an agreement to develop dual-use cutting-edge technologies and to link defence expertise with emerging ed-tech solutions.

♦ Innovations for Defence Excellence-Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX-DIO), its flagship initiative, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EdCIL (India) Limited under the new ASPIRE (Accelerating Strategic Progress in Research and Education) program.

♦ This partnership aims to extend iDEX’s innovation model to the civilian sector, targeting critical challenges and leveraging the strengths and expertise of both organisations to promote innovative technologies that reflect India’s growing emphasis on indigenous capabilities.

India and Israel Agreement

♦ India and Israel signed a bilateral investment agreement in New Delhi on 8 September 2025.

♦ The agreement was signed between Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the Finance Minister of Israel, Bezalel Smotrich.

♦ The agreement is expected to boost investments, provide greater certainty and protection for investors, and facilitate the growth of trade and mutual investments by ensuring an independent dispute resolution mechanism through arbitration. 

♦ It also includes provisions to safeguard investments against expropriation, ensure transparency, and enable smooth transfers and compensation for losses.

♦ The Agreement is expected to pave the way for increased bilateral investments between the two countries, which presently stands at a total of 800 million US dollars.

The 16th Defence Working Group (DWG)

India and Singapore held the 16th Defence Working Group (DWG) meeting in Singapore, reaffirming their commitment to deepen bilateral defence cooperation across multiple domains.

The meeting was co-chaired by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) in India’s Ministry of Defence, and Colonel Daxson Yap, Director of the Policy Office in Singapore’s Ministry of Defence.

The meeting also provided a platform to exchange views on regional security and expand cooperation in emerging areas.

Narendra Modi

♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging and productive talks with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong in New Delhi  on 4 September 2025.

♦ Five MoUs were concluded in important fields, including cooperation on a green and digital shipping corridor, promoting collaboration in the space sector, cooperation in training and R&D in the field of civil aviation, and cooperation in digital asset innovation.

♦ The two leaders adopted a Roadmap for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

♦ The Roadmap reflects the depth of bilateral cooperation and provides direction and momentum to it.

♦ This Roadmap will facilitate bilateral engagements across eight priority areas.

♦ These include economic cooperation, skills development, digitisation, sustainability, connectivity, healthcare and medicine, defence and security cooperation, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

BHARATI

♦ The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) launched its new initiative, BHARATI, to boost India’s agri-food exports.

♦ BHARATI has been designed to support 100 agri-food startups, promote innovation and boost exports to 50 billion dollars by 2030.

♦ BHARATI stands for Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement.

♦ Aligned with the government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Startup India, APEDA aims to accelerate export, foster innovation and strengthen India’s position in global agri-food trade.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated SEMICON India.

♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Semicon India 2025 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi on 2 September 2025.

♦ The conference, themed “Building a Robust, Resilient and Sustainable Semiconductor Ecosystem”, will run until September 4.

♦ It has brought together more than 20,000 participants, including CEOs of leading global chipmakers, policymakers, innovators, and students from across the country. 

♦ Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday presented the first made-in-India 32-bit processor chip named  Vikram-32 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inaugural ceremony of Semicon India 2025.

♦ The chip developed by ISRO’s Semiconductor Lab, along with test chips from four approved projects.

♦ The Vikram-32 is an engineering marvel, specifically designed and qualified to operate within the punishing conditions of space launch vehicles.

♦ It is built to withstand extreme temperatures and environmental stresses, a critical requirement for ensuring the reliability of space missions.

♦ Developed and fabricated at SCL's facility in Mohali, the 32-bit processor is capable of handling complex instructions and floating-point arithmetic, making it ideal for the demanding computations needed for satellite launches and vehicle guidance.

Tata Electronics Private Limited

♦ On 2 September 2025, Tata Electronics Private Limited and Merck  signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing India’s semiconductor and electronics manufacturing capabilities.

♦ The partnership will focus on semiconductor materials, fabrication infrastructure, and specialty chemical and gas distribution in India.

♦ Under the MoU, Merck will provide its complete range of products and services, including high-purity electronic materials, advanced gas and chemical delivery systems, turnkey fab infrastructure services for Tata Electronics’ upcoming Fab in Dholera, Gujarat. 

♦ The partnership further extends to localised warehousing, development of raw material supply chains, talent cultivation, and the establishment of industry standards in India.

♦ The MoU aligns with the India Semiconductor Mission and marks a significant step in establishing indigenous semiconductor capabilities.

♦ Tata Electronics is investing Rs 91,000 crore (USD 11 billion) to build India’s first semiconductor Fab in Dholera, which will manufacture chips for automotive, mobile devices, AI, and other key sectors for global customers.