News articles and essays on the Indian diplomacy at work around the world.
The gathering comes under India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026 and forms an important part of the diplomatic and security calendar ahead of the BRICS Leaders’ Summit expected later this year. The NSA-level meeting will bring together National Security Advisers and Heads of Delegation from BRICS member countries to discuss evolving threats that go beyond conventional military conflict.
Vivek Aggarwal, a senior Indian Administrative Service officer currently serving as Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, has been elected to the post for the term from July 2026 to June 2027. His selection was approved during the FATF Plenary, the organization’s highest decision-making forum.
The restoration drive has delivered benefits that extend beyond environmental conservation. Large-scale projects have created substantial employment opportunities in rural areas, providing income support to communities while improving soil health, water availability, and agricultural productivity. Government programmes focused on watershed development, afforestation, and natural resource management have played a crucial role in achieving these outcomes.
This explains why the Japanese Ramayana is not a simple copy of Valmiki’s Ramayana. In the Buddhist world, Rama appears through traditions such as the Dasaratha Jataka, where Rama becomes Rama-Pandita, a figure of patience, discipline and moral wisdom. This Buddhist Rama is less focused on royal conquest and more focused on restraint. The story becomes a lesson in conduct, duty, obedience and emotional control. The epic hero becomes a moral exemplar.
The meeting will be chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and is likely to focus on emerging geopolitical developments, terrorism, regional instability, and the growing impact of new technologies on global security. Senior representatives from several BRICS countries are expected to participate, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu. Officials from newer BRICS members are also anticipated to attend the discussions.
For India, the deal would strengthen the “Make in India, Make for the World” push in defence manufacturing. The BrahMos export journey began with the Philippines contract, which proved that India could supply advanced missile systems to a friendly partner in the Indo-Pacific. A Vietnam deal would deepen that momentum and show that Indian defence exports are moving from basic platforms and support equipment toward strategic systems with regional impact.
A major focus of the dialogue was defence cooperation. Both sides emphasized the importance of enhancing industrial collaboration, promoting co-development and co-production initiatives, and expanding opportunities for defence technology partnerships. The engagement reflects a shared commitment to strengthening security cooperation and building resilient defence supply chains.
The name TRISHNA is also meaningful. In Sanskrit and many Indian languages, Trishna means thirst. This gives the mission a poetic connection with its purpose. A satellite named after thirst will help the world understand water stress, crop thirst, land heat and climate pressure. It is a powerful example of how scientific missions can carry civilisational symbolism.
UPI’s presence at symbolic locations such as the Eiffel Tower already gave India’s digital payment system high visibility in Europe. A wider rollout will move the platform from symbolic acceptance to deeper practical use. This can help Indian visitors pay more easily at tourist locations, transport points, retail outlets and service centres as acceptance expands.
The two sides emphasized the importance of enhancing business-to-business engagement, improving market access, and creating favorable conditions for greater commercial exchanges. They also discussed measures to boost investment flows and strengthen collaboration in areas such as innovation, tourism, education, and cultural exchanges.
