G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting held in Milwaukee, US; India's Piyush Goyal attends
The G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting under the United States' G20 Presidency was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on 30 September and 1 October 2026, hosted by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Its agenda covered structural excess capacity, updating the Most-Favoured-Nation principle, ending forced labour in supply chains and the weaponisation of trade in food. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal represented India; the G20 Leaders' Summit is due in Florida in December 2026, and the United Kingdom holds the Presidency in 2027.
Exam angleHost city (Milwaukee); G20 Presidency 2026 (US) and 2027 (UK)
US completes troop withdrawal from Iraq, ending 12-year mission against Islamic State
On 30 September 2026, the US military announced it had completed the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq, ending its 12-year mission against the Islamic State group. The last troops left the air base at Erbil in the Kurdish region under a deal agreed between Baghdad and Washington two years earlier. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi presided over the handover ceremony.
Exam angleEnd of US anti-IS mission in Iraq; last base Erbil
Second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) begins at Subic Bay, Philippines
The second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) began at Subic Bay, Philippines, on 28 September 2026, with Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish and maritime forces of ASEAN member states. Its theme is 'Anchored in Trust, United at Sea'. The exercise supports India's Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR vision.
Exam angleVenue (Subic Bay, Philippines); Indian ships; edition
15th UN Crime Congress opens in Abu Dhabi on 26 September 2026; Arjun Ram Meghwal leads India
The 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, organised by UNODC, was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 26 September to 1 October 2026. Union Law Minister of State (Independent Charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal led India and highlighted India's new criminal laws, digital justice and action against cybercrime and terrorism. The Congress theme linked crime prevention and the rule of law to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the digital age.
Exam angleVenue (Abu Dhabi) and organiser (UNODC) of 15th UN Crime Congress
IBSA foreign ministers meet in New York on 24 September 2026, seek comprehensive UN Security Council reform
The foreign ministers of India (S. Jaishankar), Brazil (Mauro Vieira) and South Africa (Ronald Lamola) met in New York on 24 September 2026 on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly. They called for comprehensive UN Security Council reform, including permanent seats for India, Brazil and Africa, and for reform of global governance institutions to give developing countries a greater say. They noted that the IBSA Fund has supported 53 projects in 43 countries over two decades.
Exam angleIBSA members (India, Brazil, South Africa); IBSA Fund
18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi adopts ‘New Delhi Declaration’; China to chair BRICS in 2027
India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on 12–13 September 2026 under its chairship, and leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration. It backed reform of global governance and stronger cooperation under three pillars: political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people. China will chair and host the BRICS Summit in 2027; India held over 400 meetings in 30 cities during its chairship.
Exam angleBRICS 2026 host city; declaration name; next chair (China)
Belgian PM Bart De Wever's first official India visit: aim to double bilateral trade in five years
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever visited India from 2 to 4 September 2026, his first official visit since taking office in February 2025, and held talks with the Prime Minister on 3 September. The two sides agreed to work towards doubling bilateral trade in five years and to set up an India–Belgium Investment Fast-Track Mechanism. Outcomes included a Letter of Intent on defence cooperation, a renewed MoU on renewable energy and a CBI–Belgian Federal Police MoU on cybercrime and transnational crime.
India and Uzbekistan elevate ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; $5 billion trade target by 2030
During PM Narendra Modi's state visit to Tashkent on 30–31 August 2026, India and Uzbekistan raised their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership after talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. They set a target of $5 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 and 11 agreements were signed, covering areas from critical minerals and uranium to trade, defence, digital payments and education.
Exam angleTies upgraded to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
India and Japan sign Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation
On 20 August 2026 in New Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation. It covers information sharing on Maritime Domain Awareness, Search and Rescue, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. The two sides noted that Japanese fighter aircraft would come to India for the first time for Air Force exercise Veer Guardian 26.
Exam angleIndia–Japan maritime pact; Veer Guardian = air force exercise
Lebanon's parliament abolishes the death penalty; life imprisonment with aggravated hard labour replaces it
On 11 August 2026, Lebanon's parliament voted to abolish the death penalty, replacing it with life imprisonment with aggravated hard labour for the gravest crimes. Lebanon had carried out no executions since 2004, and at least 85 people were on death row at the time.
Exam angleCountry that abolished the death penalty; what replaced it
Keiko Fujimori sworn in as President of Peru for 2026–2031
On 28 July 2026, Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as President of Peru for the 2026–2031 term at the Congress in Lima. She had won the June run-off by fewer than 50,000 votes. She is the country's ninth president in a decade.
Andy Burnham becomes UK Prime Minister after Keir Starmer resigns
On 20 July 2026, Andy Burnham became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after Sir Keir Starmer resigned. Burnham had been elected Leader of the Labour Party a few days earlier. He was Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 and returned to Parliament from Makerfield in June 2026.
Droupadi Murmu becomes first Indian President to visit Moldova and North Macedonia
President Droupadi Murmu made a state visit to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania from 19 to 25 July 2026. Her visit to Moldova on 20 July, where she met President Maia Sandu, was the first by an Indian President. Her visit to North Macedonia on 21–22 July was also the first ever by an Indian President.
Exam angleCountries visited for the first time by an Indian President
India and New Zealand elevate ties to Strategic Partnership during PM's Auckland visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Auckland on 10–11 July 2026 at the invitation of New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon, the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years. The two countries raised their ties to a Strategic Partnership with a 'Roadmap to 2030'. They aim to double bilateral trade to NZ$7 billion by 2030.
Japan PM Sanae Takaichi in New Delhi for 16th India–Japan Annual Summit (1–3 July)
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited India from 1 to 3 July 2026 for the 16th India–Japan Annual Summit in New Delhi. The two sides agreed to celebrate 2027, the 75th year of diplomatic ties, as the 'India–Japan Year of Shared Horizons'. A Joint Declaration on Economic Security and Joint Statements on Artificial Intelligence and on Energy Resilience were adopted.
PM Modi visits Seychelles: MoU to bring UPI, Jan Aushadhi pact; India gifts fast patrol vessel
During his State Visit to Seychelles on 27–29 June 2026, PM Modi held talks with President Patrick Herminie and attended the golden jubilee of Seychelles' independence as Guest of Honour. The two countries signed agreements including an MoU between NPCI International and the Central Bank of Seychelles to implement UPI, a Jan Aushadhi pact, an extradition treaty and a space cooperation agreement. India handed over the Made-in-India fast patrol vessel PS Lespwar, built by Goa Shipyard, to the Seychelles Coast Guard. The visit also marked 50 years of India–Seychelles diplomatic relations.
Exam angle50 years of ties; UPI MoU; President Patrick Herminie
UAE sets 15 years as minimum age for social media accounts under new child-safety rules
On 18 June 2026 the UAE Cabinet, chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, set 15 as the minimum age to create social media accounts. Users aged 15–16 get only limited access with parental controls, and parental consent cannot override the rule. Platforms must use real age verification and have 12 months to comply.
PM Modi attends 52nd G7 Summit at Evian-les-Bains, France, as an invited guest
The 52nd G7 Summit under France's presidency was held at Evian-les-Bains on 15–17 June 2026; India was invited along with South Korea, Kenya and Brazil. On 16 June PM Modi addressed the outreach session on 'Forging New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity', and at the summit he stressed the safety of Indian seafarers. The G7 members are the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, with the EU also attending.
Exam angleVenue Evian-les-Bains; host presidency France
First-ever Indian PM visit to Slovakia; ties raised to Comprehensive Partnership, PM gets highest state honour
On 15 June 2026 PM Narendra Modi held talks in Bratislava with Slovak PM Robert Fico, in the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia. The two sides raised ties to a 'Comprehensive Partnership' and agreed on an MoU on digital technology, an MoU on labour migration, an India Chair in Artificial Intelligence and a defence Letter of Intent. Slovak President Peter Pellegrini conferred Slovakia's highest state honour, 'The Order of the White Double Cross, First Class', on the Prime Minister.
Exam angleComprehensive Partnership; Order of the White Double Cross
SpaceX prices record USD 75 billion IPO at USD 135 a share; listed on Nasdaq
SpaceX priced its initial public offering on 11 June 2026 at USD 135 a share, raising USD 75 billion, and began trading on Nasdaq the next day. The issue valued the company at about USD 1.77 trillion and was reported as a record, far larger than Saudi Aramco's 2019 IPO. Elon Musk keeps about 82% of the voting power.
India and Italy upgrade ties to a Special Strategic Partnership; trade target of EUR 20 billion by 2029
During Prime Minister Modi's visit to Italy on 19-20 May 2026, he and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni raised India-Italy relations to a Special Strategic Partnership in a Joint Declaration issued on 20 May. They set a goal of EUR 20 billion in bilateral trade by 2029 and agreed on a defence industrial roadmap and critical minerals cooperation. 2027 will be the Italy-India Year of Culture and Tourism.
3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo raises ties to a Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership
The 3rd India-Nordic Summit was held in Oslo, Norway, on 19 May 2026, hosted by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Prime Minister Modi met the leaders of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. They raised the India-Nordic relationship to a Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership. The earlier summits were held in Stockholm (2018) and Copenhagen (2022).
Exam angleHost city; name of new partnership; earlier summit venues
India and Sweden establish a Strategic Partnership at Gothenburg; Joint Action Plan 2026-2030
On 17 May 2026 Prime Minister Modi and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson met in Gothenburg and raised India-Sweden ties to a Strategic Partnership. It rests on four pillars, including security dialogue, a next-generation economic partnership and emerging technologies. They endorsed a Joint Action Plan for 2026-2030 and aimed to double trade and investment within five years.
Exam angleVenue of India-Sweden summit; Joint Action Plan period
India and the Netherlands elevate ties to a Strategic Partnership, adopt 2026-2030 roadmap
On 16 May 2026 Prime Minister Modi held talks with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten in The Hague. The two countries raised their relationship to a Strategic Partnership and adopted the Roadmap of India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership for 2026-2030. Cooperation covers trade, defence, semiconductors, critical minerals, water management and clean energy.
India and UAE sign defence partnership framework and LPG, strategic petroleum reserve pacts in Abu Dhabi
On 15 May 2026 Prime Minister Modi began a five-nation tour (UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Italy) with a short visit to Abu Dhabi, where he met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two sides signed a framework for a Strategic Defence Partnership, an MoU on strategic petroleum reserves and a long-term LPG supply agreement. UAE investments of about USD 5 billion in India and a ship-repair cluster at Vadinar were also agreed.
Exam angleCountries in PM's May 2026 tour; India-UAE energy pacts
Péter Magyar of Tisza Party becomes Hungary's Prime Minister, ending Viktor Orbán's 16-year rule
On 9 May 2026 the Hungarian Parliament elected Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party, as Prime Minister after his party's landslide win in the April 2026 election. Tisza won 141 of 199 seats. This ended Viktor Orbán's 16 years in power.
UAE announces exit from OPEC and OPEC+ with effect from 1 May 2026, after joining in 1967
On 28 April 2026 the United Arab Emirates announced that it would leave OPEC and the wider OPEC+ alliance from 1 May 2026. The UAE (as the emirate of Abu Dhabi) had joined OPEC in 1967 and had the group's third-largest crude production capacity after Saudi Arabia and Iraq. OPEC was founded in 1960; OPEC+ was formed in 2016.
Exam angleUAE leaves OPEC/OPEC+ from 1 May 2026; member since 1967
C.P. Radhakrishnan makes the first bilateral visit by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan visited Sri Lanka on 19–20 April 2026, the first bilateral visit by an Indian Vice President to the country. He met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. The visit covered the Indian Housing Project and India's USD 450 million assistance package for areas hit by Cyclone Ditwah.
Exam angleFirst bilateral visit by an Indian VP to Sri Lanka (19–20 April 2026)
Hungary election: Péter Magyar's Tisza wins 141 of 199 seats, ending Viktor Orbán's 16-year rule
In Hungary's parliamentary election on 12 April 2026, the Tisza Party led by Péter Magyar won 141 of the 199 seats, a two-thirds majority. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz-KDNP fell to 52 seats; turnout was a record of about 79.6 per cent. Orbán had been in power since 2010.
Exam angleHungary: Tisza 141/199 seats; Orbán in power since 2010
Vietnam's National Assembly elects Communist Party chief To Lam as State President for 2026–2031
On 7 April 2026 the 16th National Assembly of Vietnam unanimously elected Communist Party General Secretary To Lam as State President for the 2026–2031 term. He now holds both the top party post and the presidency. To Lam had earlier served as Minister of Public Security from 2016 to 2024.
Exam angleVietnam: To Lam is both party General Secretary and President
Balendra (Balen) Shah sworn in as Nepal's Prime Minister after RSP wins 182 of 275 seats
Balendra (Balen) Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party was sworn in as Prime Minister of Nepal on 27 March 2026. In the general election held on 5 March, the first since the 2025 anti-corruption protests, the RSP won 182 of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives. Shah, a former Mayor of Kathmandu, is Nepal's 47th and, at 35, youngest Prime Minister.
José Antonio Kast sworn in as President of Chile at Valparaíso
José Antonio Kast was sworn in as President of Chile on 11 March 2026 at the National Congress in Valparaíso. He had won the December 2025 run-off. His government marks Chile's sharpest shift to the right since the return of democracy in 1990.
Exam angleChile's President: Kast, sworn in at Valparaíso (Congress seat)
Mojtaba Khamenei named Iran's third Supreme Leader after Ali Khamenei is killed in US–Israeli strikes
On 8 March 2026 Iran's 88-member Assembly of Experts named Mojtaba Khamenei as the country's new Supreme Leader, Reuters reported citing Iranian state media. His father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989, was killed after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. Mojtaba is only the third Supreme Leader since the 1979 revolution, after Ruhollah Khomeini and Ali Khamenei, and the first to succeed his father.
Exam angleIran's third Supreme Leader; chosen by 88-member Assembly of Experts
Indonesia bans social media accounts for children under 16, a first in Southeast Asia
On 6 March 2026 Indonesia's Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid announced that children under 16 would no longer be allowed accounts on high-risk platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X and Roblox. The rule began phasing in from 28 March. Indonesia is the first Southeast Asian country to do this; Australia's under-16 ban took effect in December 2025.
Exam angleFirst Southeast Asian country with under-16 social media ban
Rob Jetten of D66 sworn in as the Netherlands' youngest-ever Prime Minister
On 23 February 2026, King Willem-Alexander swore in a new Dutch government led by Rob Jetten, the youngest Prime Minister in the Netherlands' history. Jetten's centrist Democrats '66 (D66) leads a three-party coalition with the Christian Democratic Appeal and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, holding 66 of 150 lower-house seats. The swearing-in came 117 days after the election.
Exam angleRob Jetten; party D66; youngest Dutch PM
US Supreme Court strikes down Trump's emergency global tariffs; Neal Katyal argued the winning side
On 20 February 2026, the US Supreme Court struck down much of President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs as an illegal use of emergency powers. Indian-origin lawyer Neal Katyal, a former Acting Solicitor General, argued the case for small businesses. Trump then announced a new temporary 10% global tariff under another law that limits such tariffs to 150 days.
Exam angleNeal Katyal; replacement 10% tariff for 150 days
Japan's Parliament re-elects Sanae Takaichi as PM after LDP wins two-thirds majority
On 18 February 2026, Japan's Parliament reappointed Sanae Takaichi as Prime Minister to form her second Cabinet, after a landslide general election win the previous week. Her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) now has a two-thirds majority in the 465-member lower house. Takaichi became Japan's first woman Prime Minister in October 2025.
Exam angleLDP; 465-seat lower house; second Takaichi Cabinet
BNP's Tarique Rahman sworn in as Bangladesh PM after the 12 February election
On 17 February 2026, Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairman Tarique Rahman took oath as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, after the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election held on 12 February. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka. The new government replaced the interim administration of Muhammad Yunus, in office since August 2024. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla represented India.
16th India–EU Summit in New Delhi; Security and Defence Partnership signed
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held the 16th India–EU Summit in New Delhi on 27 January 2026. Besides the free trade agreement, the two sides exchanged agreements including a Security and Defence Partnership covering counter-terrorism, maritime and cyber security, and documents on mobility, disaster risk management and green hydrogen.
Exam angleSummit number (16th) and the defence pact signed
United States formally exits the World Health Organization on 22 January 2026
The United States' withdrawal from the World Health Organization took effect on 22 January 2026, one year after it gave notice on 22 January 2025. President Donald Trump had signed the executive order on 20 January 2025. The US was WHO's largest single donor, providing about 18% of its budget.
WEF's 56th Annual Meeting held at Davos, 19–23 January, on the theme 'A Spirit of Dialogue'
The World Economic Forum's 56th Annual Meeting was held in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, from 19 to 23 January 2026 under the theme 'A Spirit of Dialogue'. Close to 3,000 leaders from 130 countries took part, including about 65 heads of state and government. Ahead of it, on 14 January, the WEF's Global Risks Report 2026 was released.
US forces capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in 'Operation Absolute Resolve'
On 3 January 2026, United States forces carried out strikes in and around Caracas and captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who were taken to the US to face charges in New York. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the developments constituted 'a dangerous precedent'. On 4 January, India's Ministry of External Affairs called the developments 'a matter of deep concern' and urged all sides to resolve issues peacefully through dialogue.
Exam angleCountry and leader involved; operation name
Bulgaria adopts the euro and becomes the 21st member of the euro area
On 1 January 2026, Bulgaria adopted the euro, becoming the 21st member of the euro area. The lev was converted at a fixed rate of 1 euro = 1.95583 lev and circulated alongside the euro during January. The EU Council had formally approved Bulgaria's entry on 8 July 2025.
India selected to chair the Kimberley Process from 1 January 2026, for the third time
The Kimberley Process Plenary selected India to chair the Kimberley Process from 1 January 2026; India became Vice Chair from 25 December 2025. The KP is a tripartite scheme of governments, the diamond industry and civil society to stop trade in 'conflict diamonds'. Its certification scheme began on 1 January 2003, and its 60 participants cover over 99% of the global rough diamond trade. This is India's third time as chair.
Exam angleKimberley Process = conflict diamonds; India chair 2026 (third time)
Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine ends in New Delhi; WHO SEARO building inaugurated
The second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, co-organised by WHO and India, and concluded on 19 December 2025, with the theme 'Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-being'. PM Modi addressed the closing on 19 December and, with WHO Director-General Dr Tedros, inaugurated the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office and launched AYUSH initiatives including the Ayush Mark. The WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine is at Jamnagar, Gujarat.
Exam angleSummit venue and theme; WHO GCTM location (Jamnagar)
UNESCO inscribes Deepavali on Intangible Cultural Heritage list at Red Fort session; India's 16th element
On 10 December 2025, Deepavali was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The decision came at the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee, held at the Red Fort, New Delhi, from 8 to 13 December, the first time India hosted it. Deepavali is India's 16th element on the list; earlier ones include Garba (2023) and Durga Puja in Kolkata (2021).
23rd India–Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi; 16 agreements and Programme 2030 adopted
President Vladimir Putin paid a State visit to India on 4–5 December 2025 for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit with PM Narendra Modi. The sides exchanged 16 agreements and adopted the Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of India–Russia Economic Cooperation till 2030 (Programme 2030), with a bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030. India announced a free 30-day e-tourist visa for Russians, and Russia agreed to join the International Big Cat Alliance.
Exam angleSummit number (23rd); trade target USD 100 bn by 2030