Current affairs
News for UPSC, SSC and defence exams, with the reason it matters.
July 2026
India and Lesotho hold 6th Joint Bilateral Commission for Cooperation in New Delhi
- The 6th Joint Bilateral Commission meeting was held in New Delhi on 30 July 2026.
- It was co-chaired by senior officials of the two foreign ministries.
- Talks covered development aid, training, and disaster relief.
Why it matters
[Mains] Lesotho is a small kingdom fully surrounded by South Africa. India's outreach to it is part of South-South cooperation with African partners.
President Murmu makes first Indian presidential State Visit to Romania in nearly 30 years
- President Murmu's State Visit to Romania began on 23 July 2026.
- It was the first such visit by an Indian President in nearly three decades.
- She held talks with Romanian President Nicusor Dan in Bucharest.
Why it matters
[Mains] Romania was the last stop of a tour that also covered Moldova and North Macedonia. Romania is a member of both the EU and NATO. Closer ties support India's wider outreach to Central and Eastern Europe.
Third India-Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne: uranium supply, A$500 million AustralianSuper investment
- PM Modi and Australian PM Anthony Albanese held the third India-Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne.
- The visit opened the way for Australian uranium supply to India.
- AustralianSuper announced a A$500 million investment in India's National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).
Why it matters
[International Relations] Australia holds the world's largest uranium reserves. India needs uranium to reach 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047.
IIM Bangalore to open its first overseas campus in Indonesia; PM Modi gets Bintang Adipurna
- During PM Modi's visit to Indonesia, IIM Bangalore announced its first overseas campus.
- It will be set up in the Singhasari Special Economic Zone in East Java.
- The campus is meant to serve students across the ASEAN region.
Why it matters
[International Relations] Indonesia is India's maritime neighbour and a key ASEAN partner under the Act East Policy.
India joins first UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva
- MoS External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh led India at the first UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva.
- The Dialogue was set up under UN General Assembly Resolution 79/325.
- It follows the Global Digital Compact, adopted with the Pact for the Future in September 2024.
Why it matters
[Global] This is the first universal UN forum on governing AI. Every member state has a seat. A scientific panel feeds it evidence. India hosted the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in February 2026.
India-Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement comes into force
- The India-Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement came into force on 4 July 2026.
- It was signed in New Delhi on 8 September 2025 by Nirmala Sitharaman and Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
- It protects investors against expropriation and offers dispute settlement through arbitration.
Why it matters
[Economy] Bilateral investment pacts give foreign investors legal certainty. India ended many older treaties after 2016 and now signs new ones on its 2015 Model BIT lines. Israel joins recent partners such as the UAE and Uzbekistan.
16th India-Japan Annual Summit: first defence co-development pact and 1,000 biogas plants
- PM Modi and Japan's PM Sanae Takaichi held the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit in New Delhi on 2 July 2026.
- It was Takaichi's first official visit to India.
- The two sides signed their first defence co-development project agreement.
Why it matters
[International Relations] India and Japan hold an annual summit, alternating between the two capitals. Their ties are a 'Special Strategic and Global Partnership'.