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Stay updated with the most important International Current Affairs from 13 to 25 August 2026. This edition covers India’s global engagements, BRICS developments, India-Singapore cooperation, India-Mauritius relations, international summits, global health updates, diplomatic visits and other major world events relevant for competitive exams.
India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) for negotiations towards a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi.
The proposed agreement aims to expand preferential market access and strengthen trade and economic engagement between India and southern African countries. Negotiations will cover areas such as trade in goods, rules of origin, customs procedures, trade facilitation, safeguards, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade and dispute settlement.
SACU consists of Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa and is regarded as the world's oldest customs union.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia visited India during the period, adding momentum to India's engagement with Africa.
The visit featured on the Ministry of External Affairs' August 2026 diplomatic agenda and reflected India's continued efforts to deepen political, development and Global South partnerships with African countries.
Under India's BRICS Chairship 2026, the Competition Commission of India hosted a meeting of the Heads of BRICS Competition Authorities in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
The participating authorities discussed cooperation on competition law and emerging challenges in maintaining fair markets.
At the Udaipur meeting, the Competition Commission of India presented a collaborative BRICS study titled “Emerging Competition Landscape in the Renewable Energy Sector in BRICS.”
The BRICS competition authorities also adopted a joint statement on strengthening cooperation to promote fair competition, including in renewable-energy markets.
India participated in the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
India used the international platform to highlight conservation, land restoration and sustainable management of natural ecosystems.
At UNCCD COP17, India launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India.
The guide seeks to improve the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of grasslands and other open ecosystems that have historically received less conservation attention because of their limited tree cover.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav participated virtually in the event.
India and Thailand commenced the 15th edition of Exercise MAITREE at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp, Surat Thani, Thailand.
The exercise runs from 18 to 31 August 2026 and involves 85 personnel from each country.
India is represented primarily by personnel from the 9 Gorkha Rifles, while Thailand is represented by troops from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division.
Its objective is to strengthen interoperability, coordination and joint operational capabilities between the Indian Army and Royal Thai Army.
Detailed operational information should be placed under Defence & Security.
Chief of Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth undertook a three-day official visit to Nepal from 17 to 19 August 2026 at the invitation of Nepal Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel.
The visit focused on strengthening military-to-military relations and longstanding defence cooperation between India and Nepal.
During his Nepal visit, General Dhiraj Seth was conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army by Nepal's President Ramchandra Paudel.
The reciprocal tradition of conferring honorary General ranks on the army chiefs of India and Nepal reflects the historically close military relationship between the two countries.
India and Singapore strengthened their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the 4th India–Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) held in Singapore.
The discussions covered:
Semiconductors
Digital connectivity
Digital payments and fintech
Green economy
Healthcare
Food security
Advanced manufacturing
Green hydrogen
Sustainable shipping
Clean energy
Space technology
Cybersecurity
Small Modular Reactors
The Indian delegation included External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State Jitin Prasada.
One of the important initiatives discussed during the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable was a Green Lane Initiative for Semiconductors.
The initiative is intended to strengthen semiconductor supply-chain cooperation between the two countries.
India and Singapore also discussed development of green-hydrogen supply chains, sustainable shipping and wider clean-energy collaboration.
The cooperation is significant because both countries are seeking to expand low-carbon technologies and sustainable industrial development.
The two countries explored emerging areas including space technology and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
Cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing were also among the priority sectors identified during the roundtable.
During the 4th India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable, ministers witnessed the exchange of two Memoranda of Understanding and one Letter of Intent.
The outcomes form part of efforts to translate the India-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into sector-specific cooperation.
The 4th Singapore-India Hackathon is scheduled for 15–17 November 2026 in Singapore.
The initiative is intended to encourage innovation and collaboration among young people, students and technology ecosystems of the two countries.
Another important outcome associated with growing India-Singapore commercial engagement is the Singapore Business Federation's office in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
The development is expected to facilitate closer business and investment engagement between Singapore and India's technology and innovation ecosystem.
India and Mauritius signed a Government-to-Government MoU on cooperation in the oil and gas sector.
The agreement was signed during Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's visit to Mauritius from 20–21 August 2026.
It establishes a broader framework for cooperation across different segments of the energy value chain.
Indian Oil Corporation signed a five-year Sales and Purchase Agreement with the State Trading Corporation of Mauritius.
Under the agreement, India will provide assured supplies of petroleum products, including:
Petrol
Diesel
Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF)
to Mauritius.
The agreement significantly strengthens energy cooperation between India and Mauritius.
The petroleum agreements reinforce India's longstanding relationship with Mauritius, which covers trade, investment, development cooperation, maritime security, capacity building and energy.
Mauritius has historically been an important partner in India's engagement with the Indian Ocean region.
On 24 August 2026, envoys representing six countries presented their credentials to President Droupadi Murmu.
The Ministry of External Affairs listed the credential ceremony among India's major diplomatic engagements during the period.
India's National Security Adviser was scheduled to participate in the Special Representatives talks with China, an important mechanism dealing with India-China boundary questions and broader strategic engagement.
The engagement featured prominently on the Ministry of External Affairs' diplomatic agenda around 24–25 August.
The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa confirmed the closure of poliovirus type 2 outbreaks in five African countries:
Burundi
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
Republic of the Congo
Uganda
The decision followed Independent Outbreak Response Assessments conducted between January and June 2026.
The closure of the outbreaks reflects improvements in vaccination, disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, outbreak detection and community participation across affected African countries.
The development represents an important milestone in global efforts to eradicate poliovirus.
India's diplomatic activities during the period reflected continued emphasis on the Global South, particularly through engagements with African countries, Mauritius, BRICS partners and multilateral institutions.
Trade, technology, energy security, sustainable development and capacity building remained major pillars of India's international engagement during the period.
India-SACU development: Terms of Reference signed for PTA negotiations
SACU members: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa
SACU headquarters: Windhoek, Namibia
BRICS Competition Authorities Meeting: Udaipur, Rajasthan
UNCCD COP17 venue: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
India's new environmental publication: Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems
Exercise MAITREE-XV: India and Thailand
MAITREE-XV venue: Surat Thani, Thailand
MAITREE-XV: 18–31 August 2026
Indian Army Chief: General Dhiraj Seth
General Dhiraj Seth's foreign visit: Nepal
Honorary rank received: General of the Nepali Army
President of Nepal: Ramchandra Paudel
4th India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable: Singapore
India-Singapore partnership: Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Key India-Singapore areas: Semiconductors, digital payments, green energy, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, space and cybersecurity
4th Singapore-India Hackathon: 15–17 November 2026
India-Mauritius energy agreements: G2G oil and gas MoU + petroleum supply agreement
Indian minister visiting Mauritius: Hardeep Singh Puri
Mauritius visit: 20–21 August 2026
Petroleum supply agreement duration: 5 years
Indian company: Indian Oil Corporation
Mauritian partner: State Trading Corporation
Products covered: Petrol, diesel and ATF
WHO polio outbreak closures: Five African countries
Countries: Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
