International Relations
Bilateral ties, multilateral forums, treaties and India's foreign policy
Israel, GCC trade pact talks lose steam, UK FTA likely to be implemented by May
The India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed in July 2025 after three years of negotiations, is on track for implementation by early May 2026, with offici...
U.S. approves over $16 billion in arms sales to Gulf states hit by Iran war
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked an emergency waiver under the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), declaring that an "emergency exists that requires the...
Unfenced border in focus amid arrest of seven foreigners who crossed to Myanmar via porous border
Seven foreigners — six Ukrainians and one US citizen — were arrested in India on the night of March 13 for illegally crossing into Myanmar from the northeast...
Oil, power, and politics of disruption
The ongoing US-Israel war against Iran (initiated February 28, 2026, under Operation Epic Fury) has effectively disrupted transit through the Strait of Hormu...
India to pitch for strengthening WTO at upcoming ministerial: Officials
Ahead of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaounde, Cameroon (March 26–29, 2026), Indian officials have outlined India's overarching agenda: advo...
Iran may let more Indian vessels pass Hormuz Strait: Lloyds List
Maritime data company Lloyd's List Intelligence reported that nine Indian-owned or Indian-linked ships have exited through Iran's permitted corridor in the S...
Modi discusses West Asia situation with leaders of Qatar, France, Jordan, Oman, Malaysia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held separate telephonic conversations with five world leaders — the Amir of Qatar, French President Emmanuel Macron, King Abdul...
India rolls out ₹497 crore RELIEF scheme to support exporters amid West Asia conflict
The central government unveiled the RELIEF scheme — Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation — with a total financial outlay of ₹497 cro...
Food security and agriculture issues top India’s agenda at WTO meet
At the upcoming 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaounde, Cameroon (March 26–29, 2026), India has placed food security and agricultural safeguards a...
Govt launches ₹497-crore RELIEF for exporters with deadline relief, insurance cover, MSME aid
The Government of India launched the Rs 497 crore Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) scheme to provide targeted, time-lim...
Iran-Israel war: Brent tops $114 as Strait of Hormuz remains closed; Petrol, diesel prices in India hold stable
Brent crude oil prices crossed $114 per barrel on March 19, 2026, briefly touching $119 after Iranian forces struck Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG complex — building...
West Asia crisis: Govt launches Rs 497-cr scheme to give relief to affected exporters
The Government of India launched the Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) scheme with a financial outlay of Rs 497 crore to...
India to extend Myanmar pulse deal for 5 years to secure ‘dal’ supplies amid global supply chain shocks
India is set to extend its bilateral pulse import deal with Myanmar for an additional five years, securing guaranteed supplies of pigeon peas (tur/arhar dal)...
Iran war: Why Ras Laffan and South Pars attacks compound India’s worries
Israel struck Iran's South Pars gas field — the world's largest natural gas reserve — in a major military escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict. Iran retali...
Attacks on Qatar’s LNG facilities could impact India but we have diversified sources as well: Officials
Iranian forces struck Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City — the world's largest LNG export complex — as part of retaliatory strikes following Operation Epic F...
India hopes to implement FTA with UK by May 1, EU by November-end
A senior Indian government official confirmed that India aims to implement the India-UK Free Trade Agreement by May 1, 2026, and have the India-EU FTA ratifi...
West Asia troubles to delay India’s FTA talks with GCC countries and Israel
The ongoing Iran-Israel conflict has directly disrupted India's trade negotiation calendar with both the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Israel, senior go...
RELIEF scheme to help exporters mitigate losses from logistics disruptions due to West Asia crisis
The Government of India unveiled the RELIEF scheme — Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export promotion — a ₹497 crore insurance and logistics suppor...
LPG supply a ‘matter of concern’, says India as Israel & Iran strike West Asia gas fields
India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal formally described the LPG supply situation as a "matter of concern" — a deliberate shift f...
Government announces ₹497 crore RELIEF scheme for exporters impacted by West Asian crisis
The government launched the ₹497 crore RELIEF (Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) scheme under the Export Promotion Mission to su...