Author: Bhakti Narayanan

India has initiated its leadership under the BRICS framework for 2026 by hosting the first Health Working Group meeting, bringing together senior health officials from nine member countries to strengthen collaboration on global health priorities. The virtual session was chaired by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava and included participation from nations across four continents, reflecting the expanded scope of the BRICS grouping. The discussions focused on a wide range of public health challenges, including tuberculosis research, digital healthcare systems, and mental wellness. India has structured its presidency around a theme centered on resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability, aligning with…

The United States Embassy in India shared a message from US President Donald Trump, congratulating Taranjit Singh Sandhu on his appointment as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. In his post on Truth Social, Trump acknowledged Sandhu’s extensive diplomatic experience and his role in strengthening ties between India and the United States. He also expressed optimism about Sandhu’s leadership and his ability to guide Delhi’s development while continuing to promote international engagement. Trump emphasized Sandhu’s tenure as India’s Ambassador to the United States, noting that his contributions significantly advanced bilateral relations. He described Sandhu as a dedicated diplomat who consistently worked…

India’s trade surplus with the United States saw a noticeable decline in the financial year 2025–26, largely due to slower export growth and a sharp rise in imports. The shift comes amid tariff measures introduced by US President Donald Trump, which have affected the pace of Indian exports. According to official data released by the commerce ministry, India’s exports to the United States reached $87.31 billion during the year, showing only a slight increase compared to $86.51 billion in the previous financial cycle. In contrast, imports from the US grew significantly, climbing to $52.90 billion from $45.63 billion. This imbalance…

India’s automobile industry achieved its highest-ever annual sales across all major vehicle categories in the financial year 2025–26, marking a strong recovery and expansion phase for the sector. The surge in demand was supported by recent policy measures such as GST 2.0 reforms, multiple reductions in repo rates, and revised income tax slabs, all of which improved affordability and boosted consumer confidence. According to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, passenger vehicle sales increased by 8% to reach 4.64 million units during the year. Commercial vehicles recorded a growth of 12.6%, totaling 1.08 million units, while three-wheelers expanded…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump, during which the two leaders discussed key global security concerns, with a special focus on developments in West Asia. A central point of their dialogue was the need to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure, and stable, given its critical role in global energy and trade movement. The leaders also reviewed ongoing progress in bilateral relations between India and the United States. They expressed satisfaction over the steady expansion of cooperation across multiple sectors, including strategic, economic, and technological areas. Both sides reaffirmed their…

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Manfred Weber in New Delhi, highlighting the positive momentum in India–European Union relations and reaffirming commitment to deeper cooperation. Both leaders welcomed the growing convergence between India and the European Union, emphasizing the importance of sustaining this upward trajectory in bilateral ties. The discussions reflected a shared vision of strengthening strategic and economic engagement. A key focus of the meeting was the early ratification of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is expected to significantly boost trade and investment flows between the two sides. The agreement is being viewed as a major…

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is likely to visit India next month following a constructive and productive meeting with India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Washington. The discussions reflected the ongoing strengthening of bilateral ties between India and the United States, with both sides focusing on expanding cooperation in key strategic sectors such as defense, trade, and critical technologies. According to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, the talks emphasized shared priorities including critical minerals, defense collaboration, and multilateral engagement through the Quad framework, highlighting the growing depth of the partnership. The meeting between Rubio and Misri took place…

PM Modi Highlights Record Solar Capacity Growth in IndiaPrime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India’s achievement of recording its highest-ever annual solar capacity addition, marking a significant milestone in the country’s renewable energy journey. The development underscores India’s growing leadership in the global clean energy transition. According to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, India added around 45 GW of solar capacity in 2025-26, nearly doubling the pace seen in the previous year. The expansion reflects the country’s strong commitment to energy security, sustainable development, and its long-term vision of a greener economy. The rapid growth has been driven by large-scale solar deployments…

India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during high-level discussions held in Manila. The meeting focused on reviewing progress in bilateral cooperation and identifying new avenues for collaboration across sectors. The discussions were co-chaired by Periasamy Kumaran, Secretary (East) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Leo M Herrera-Lim, Undersecretary for Policy at the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs. Officials from both sides assessed the implementation of key decisions taken during the ASEAN-India Summit held in 2025. A major focus of the meeting was enhancing cooperation under the…

India and Bangladesh have taken a significant step toward reinforcing their diplomatic relationship, as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and his delegation in New Delhi. The discussions centered on enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors while also addressing key regional and global developments affecting both nations. During the meeting, both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining close communication and building stronger engagement frameworks. The dialogue reflected a shared commitment to expanding bilateral ties, which are rooted in historical connections and strong people-to-people interactions. Officials highlighted that continued collaboration could unlock opportunities worth millions of dollars…