News articles and essays on the Indian diplomacy at work around the world.
The International Big Cat Alliance is an inter-governmental international organisation headquartered in India. It has been established for the conservation of seven major big cat species — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma. Of these, five species — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard and cheetah — are found in India, giving the country a special role in global big cat conservation.
According to Jaishankar, the discussions involved a comprehensive review of India–Trinidad and Tobago relations and focused on implementing commitments made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Caribbean region last year. Both sides also explored new ideas and collaborative initiatives across multiple sectors.
According to Naval News, the proposed purchases are linked to India’s earlier US$500 million defence line of credit for Vietnam. Of this, projects worth around US$300 million have already been identified, including 14 high-speed patrol boats and three to four offshore patrol vessels, depending on final tender costs. The remaining US$200 million may be used for upgrading Vietnam Navy ships and procuring submarine batteries.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. Mackenna is scheduled to arrive in Delhi late on May 9. His programme includes engagements in New Delhi and Bengaluru, with meetings involving senior Indian ministers, business organisations and industry representatives. The visit is expected to combine diplomatic dialogue with strong business outreach, reflecting the growing economic importance of India-Chile relations.
According to the Ministry of Finance, cumulative enrolments under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana have crossed 27.43 crore as of April 29, 2026. The scheme has paid ₹21,512.50 crore for 10,75,625 claims, making it one of the largest low-cost life insurance platforms in the country. PMJJBY provides life insurance cover of ₹2 lakh in case of death due to any reason, at an annual premium of ₹436.
According to the joint statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the discussions were held in line with the Terms of Reference signed by the trade ministers of both countries on March 2, 2026. Both sides described the engagement as constructive and productive, while reaffirming their commitment to an ambitious, balanced and mutually beneficial trade agreement.
The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, while the Australian side was headed by Bernard Philip, First Assistant Secretary, International Policy. The talks focused on strengthening military-to-military engagement, maritime cooperation, defence industry collaboration, training exchanges and interoperability across domains.
As part of India’s Chairship responsibilities, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has been mandated to convene three SME Working Group Meetings and the inaugural BRICS MSME Forum. The move places MSME development at the centre of India’s BRICS economic agenda, especially at a time when small businesses across emerging economies continue to face challenges in accessing timely and affordable credit.
The French side described India as a trusted partner in space and research cooperation. Prof. Baptiste expressed interest in strengthening collaboration across Earth observation, launch systems and space exploration. He also proposed deeper cooperation in human spaceflight, including astronaut training, microgravity experiments and long-term collaborative opportunities linked to India’s space ambitions.
The European Union is already one of India’s most important trade partners. Official EU data says India–EU trade in goods stood at €120 billion in 2024, while services trade reached €59.7 billion in 2023, more than doubling from €30.4 billion in 2020. The European Commission has also said the FTA could potentially double EU goods exports to India by 2032 and save around €4 billion every year in duties on European products.
