May 30, 2026

Kautilya

Diplomacy

India, Russia to Review Bilateral Agreements as Jaishankar and Lavrov Meet Ahead of BRICS Ministers’ Summit

Multilateral cooperation will form another key part of the dialogue. India and Russia are expected to discuss coordination within the United Nations, BRICS and G20, where both countries have often advocated a more multipolar global order and reforms in international governance. The timing is significant because India is hosting the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting immediately after Lavrov’s bilateral engagement with Jaishankar.

By Kautilya / May 13, 2026
Diplomacy Economy

Trinidad and Tobago Becomes First Caribbean Nation to Adopt India’s UPI Platform

The adoption of UPI is significant because it brings India’s globally recognised digital payment infrastructure to the Caribbean. UPI has transformed everyday transactions in India by enabling fast, seamless and low-cost payments, and its international expansion is increasingly becoming a part of India’s technology partnership with friendly nations. For Trinidad and Tobago, the rollout could support easier digital payments, strengthen financial connectivity and open new opportunities for fintech cooperation with India.

By Kautilya / May 13, 2026
Diplomacy

India Begins First Good Governance Training Programme for Seychelles Civil Servants at NCGG Mussoorie

The inaugural batch includes 29 senior officials from Seychelles, including Directors General and officers from key sectors such as defence, information technology, finance, judiciary, education, public administration and the Office of the President. The delegation is led by Alex Henderson, Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Policy Affairs in the Cabinet Office, Office of the President of Seychelles.

By Kautilya / May 13, 2026
Economy Infrastructure

AERB Clears Restart of Tarapur Unit-2 After Major Refurbishment and Safety Upgrade

Tarapur Unit-2 is part of the historic TAPS Units 1 and 2, India’s first nuclear power reactors based on the Boiling Water Reactor design. Both units began commercial operation in 1969, making them among the oldest operating commercial nuclear power units in Asia. The restart clearance is therefore significant not only as a technical achievement, but also as a demonstration of India’s ability to extend the life of legacy nuclear assets through modern safety upgrades and strict regulatory review.

By Kautilya / May 13, 2026
Economy

India’s Mineral Sector Crosses Major Milestone With 101 Auctioned Blocks Becoming Operational

The milestone also points to the impact of mining-sector reforms introduced over the past decade. Since 2015, India has shifted towards a more transparent and competitive auction-based system for allocating mineral resources. The Ministry said that FY 2025–26 recorded the highest-ever annual performance under the auction regime, with 212 mineral blocks auctioned in a single financial year, showing growing momentum in the country’s mineral allocation framework.

By Kautilya / May 13, 2026
Economy Infrastructure

India Pushes Nationwide EV Charging Rollout Under PM E-DRIVE Scheme at Bengaluru Conference

The PM E-DRIVE Scheme, formally known as the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement Scheme, has a total outlay of ₹10,900 crore and is aimed at accelerating EV adoption, creating charging infrastructure and strengthening India’s electric vehicle manufacturing ecosystem. The scheme covers demand incentives and infrastructure support for electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses, trucks, ambulances and other emerging EV segments.

By Kautilya / May 13, 2026
Health Intervention

CDSCO Tightens Drug Safety Reporting Rules, Asks Firms to File PSURs From Actual Launch Date

The issue arose because CDSCO observed cases where companies received approval for a new drug but launched it commercially much later. In some such cases, firms were submitting PSUR data from the original approval date instead of the actual market launch date. According to the regulator, this practice could lead to the loss of important post-launch safety information, especially adverse effects that may only become visible after wider use among patients.

By Kautilya / May 13, 2026
Economy

National Jute Board Expands ISRO-Backed Crop Monitoring System to Make India’s ‘Golden Fibre’ More Data-Driven

Two key digital tools have been developed under the initiative. The first is BHUVAN JUMP, a mobile application used for on-field jute monitoring. The second is PATSAN, or Prospective Assessment of Jute Using Mobile App-Based Field Observations, a web-based platform that provides near-real-time jute surveillance and analytics for officials and stakeholders. These tools help connect satellite observations with ground-level data, making crop estimates more reliable and actionable.

By Kautilya / May 13, 2026
Economy

RBI and European Central Bank Sign MoU to Strengthen Central Banking Cooperation

The new MoU updates the earlier agreement signed between the two central banks in 2015. According to the ECB, the renewed arrangement creates a framework for regular exchange of information, policy dialogue and technical cooperation between the two institutions. Technical cooperation may include joint seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest, helping both central banks share experience on evolving monetary, regulatory and financial-sector challenges.

By Kautilya / May 13, 2026