International Relations
Bilateral ties, multilateral forums, treaties and India's foreign policy
The environment, another casualty of war in West Asia
A peer-reviewed study published in the journal *One Earth* (2026) found that the Israel-Gaza conflict generated approximately 33.2 million tonnes of CO₂ equi...
LPG tanker Shivalik reaches Gujarat’s Mundra Port after crossing Strait of Hormuz
The Indian LPG tanker Shivalik safely arrived at Gujarat's Mundra Port after successfully navigating the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing West Asia conflict...
India in talks for six FTAs with Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile and others
The Commerce Ministry confirmed that India is currently in active Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with six countries: Australia (CECA), Sri Lanka (ET...
EU, UN discussing Black Sea type initiative for Strait of Hormuz: Kaja Kallas
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on March 16, 2026, that the European Union and the United Nations are discussing a "Black Sea model" initiative...
India ‘engaged’ with U.S. on trade deal, says Commerce Secretary as officials warn of delays
India's Commerce Secretary confirmed that India remains "engaged" with the US on a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), but government officials are warning of d...
India, US trade deal to be signed once tariff architecture is in place: Official
A senior Indian government official stated in March 2026 that the interim trade agreement between India and the United States will be formally signed once th...
DPIIT notifies changes in FDI norms for China, other land border sharing countries
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) notified amendments to India's FDI policy under Press Note 3, relaxing investment restric...
EU, India focus on implementing FTA, defence deal: Ursula von der Leyen
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar focused on implementing the India-EU Free Tr...
Shipping wars stitch higher costs into India’s apparel exports
India's apparel exporters are absorbing sharply higher logistics costs due to the West Asia conflict, with war surcharges and route diversions adding Rs 12 t...
India’s basmati rice exports to stay steady despite Middle East conflict: Crisil
CRISIL Ratings projects India's basmati rice export volume to remain broadly stable in the current and next fiscal year, with growth of up to 2% over the 6.0...
India's trade deficit narrows on month to $27.1 billion in Feb; Tariff uncertainty, Iran conflict loom
India's merchandise trade deficit for February 2026 stood at USD 27.1 billion — narrower than January 2026's USD 34.68 billion but sharply higher than Februa...
India’s exports to US fall 13 pc in Feb; trade gap with China crosses USD 100 bn
India's merchandise exports to the United States declined approximately 12.88% year-on-year to USD 6.88 billion in February 2026, attributed to the impact of...
'Distorted picture of India': MEA slams US report recommending sanctions on RSS, R&AW
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its 2026 Annual Report, recommending targeted sanctions — including asset f...
India-US trade deal to be signed when Trump re-establishes tariff rates, Trade Secy says
India's Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal stated that India remains engaged with the US for a "mutually beneficial" trade agreement, but will sign only after...
India inks terms of reference with Philippines, Maldives for trade pact talks
India's Department of Commerce inked Terms of Reference (ToR) with the Philippines for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and with the Maldives for a Free ...
Iran war begins to bomb the GST bonanza. What can happen?
Escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia following the conflict that began on February 28, 2026, are threatening to reverse the consumer demand boost ge...
Support measures for exporters on anvil to deal with West Asia crisis
The Commerce Ministry is finalising a support package for Indian exporters hit by disruptions arising from the West Asia conflict that escalated on February ...
The balancing act: How India is stepping up engagement with Iran as Hormuz crisis deepens
India has adopted a direct diplomatic engagement strategy with Iran to secure safe passage for Indian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been ef...
Return of Russian oil signals US pragmatism
The US Treasury Department issued a 30-day temporary waiver (codified as General License 133) allowing Indian state and private refiners to purchase Russian ...
Why Iran differs from Ukraine in terms of economic fallout for India and the world
Economists and policy analysts are drawing comparisons between the economic fallout of the current Iran conflict (2026) and the Russia-Ukraine war (2022), fi...