GS2 · IROn 11 October 2026 India condemned attacks on two tankers near the Strait of Hormuz. Two of 11 Indian seafarers on MT PETRO DOLPHIN were reported missing; all 11 Indians on MT VALTHERA were safe. In a second statement India condemned Houthi attacks on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Marshall Islands flag. · Mains GS-II: India and West Asia, diaspora and seafarer safety; GS-III: energy security.
12 Oct 2026GS2 · IRThe External Affairs Minister visited Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Ethiopia from 6 to 10 October 2026. Ghana handed over its acceptance of the International Big Cat Alliance and signed two MoUs; trade with Côte d'Ivoire is above US$1.5 billion; and India will hold a Jaipur Foot camp in Ethiopia.
UPSC angle: Prelims: IBCA, AU in G20, ITEC. · Mains GS-II: India-Africa relations, Global South.
11 Oct 2026GS2 · IROn 8 October 2026 India condemned attacks over the previous days on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which killed and injured civilians. MEA said targeting civilian infrastructure is completely unacceptable and expressed solidarity with the people and government of Saudi Arabia.
UPSC angle: Prelims: places in news. · Mains GS-II: India-West Asia relations.
8 Oct 2026GS2 · IR (India–Africa)The Indian Council of Agricultural Research signed a five-year MoU with Ghana's CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Accra, on 7 October 2026 in the presence of both Foreign Ministers. The first phase focuses on tomato research; the MoU also covers cassava and yam processing, post-harvest cold chain, and exchange of scientists and germplasm.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ICAR, Ghana. · Mains GS-II: India-Africa development partnership.
7 Oct 2026GS2 · Energy diplomacyThe 7th High-Level Meeting of the OPEC-India Energy Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 22 September 2026, co-chaired by the Petroleum Minister and OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais. Talks covered oil market stability, energy security and timely investment. The dialogue began in 2015; the 8th meeting will be in Vienna.
UPSC angle: Prelims: OPEC HQ; India not a member.
22 Sep 2026GS2 · West AsiaThe first meeting of the India-Kuwait Joint Defence Committee was held in New Delhi on 28 August 2026. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in training, exercises, military medicine, staff talks, defence industry and R&D. It is a step to operationalise the defence MoU signed during the Prime Minister's visit to Kuwait in December 2024.
UPSC angle: Mains: India's growing defence ties with Gulf states.
28 Aug 2026 
