CDS / OTA Current Affairs · Topic
CDS International Relations Current Affairs 2026
International relations is one of the largest current-affairs shares in recent CDS papers — about one question in seven in our analysis of eight papers. The paper tests groupings and their members, headquarters, summits and the outcomes of bilateral visits. These explainers read each joint statement and summit for exactly those facts. Every article carries ten practice MCQs and a note on how the topic is asked.
Latest articles
- 22 October 2026
From the Good Maharaja to a Defence Industry Dialogue
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's visit to India, 21-23 October 2026, produced four outcomes: a trade-doubling target, Poland joining CDRI, a Defence Industry Dialogue and a counter-terror…
- 19 October 2026
A Wire Across the Arabian Sea
India and Saudi Arabia reviewed their proposed electrical interconnection on 19 October 2026, with Saudi interest in EHV transmission, renewable integration, data-centre demand and grid code…
- 13 October 2026
8 Years From the Decision to the First Meeting
The first BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting adopted the Delhi Declaration, calling the Bay of Bengal a common security space. An explainer on BIMSTEC's membership, its 2024 Charter, the counte…
- 26 September 2026
The Treaty Nobody Can Sign Yet
India addressed the UN High-Level Meeting on pandemic preparedness on 25 September 2026, pressing for a fair Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system. An explainer on the WHO Pandemic Agre…
- 24 September 2026
ASEAN Has Eleven Members Now, and Most Notes Still Say Ten
India joined the 14th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers' Meeting and the 23rd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultation at Manila. An explainer on Timor-Leste's accession, what the East …
- 22 September 2026
The Buyer Who Stopped Needing You as Much
The 7th High-Level Meeting of the OPEC-India Energy Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 22 September 2026. An explainer on what OPEC is, why a producer-consumer dialogue exists, and how India'…
- 21 September 2026
100% One Way, 70% the Other: Reading the India–New Zealand FTA
India and New Zealand announced on 21 September 2026 that their Free Trade Agreement enters into force on 20 October 2026. An explainer on what the two tariff schedules actually contain, why…
- 17 September 2026
Baseload, Permits and Critical Minerals: India's Case at the G20 Energy Table
India led by Power Minister Manohar Lal at the G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial Meeting in Houston from 14 to 16 September 2026, under the US G20 Presidency. A CDS/OTA explainer on the three…
- 16 September 2026
Goa, Turmeric and the Bay of Bengal: Who Owns Traditional Knowledge
The Third BIMSTEC Conference on Traditional Medicine Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Intellectual Property Rights opened in Goa on 16 September 2026, alongside the Second BIMSTEC Nodal Grou…
- 14 September 2026
654 MW for 18 Hours: India's Emergency Power Line to Nepal
India approved export of up to 654 MW to the Nepal Electricity Authority for 18 hours a day from 13 September to 31 December 2026 after floods damaged Nepal's hydropower. A CDS/OTA explainer…
- 14 September 2026
India and MERCOSUR: A First Protocol, and Talks to Widen a 2004 Pact
On 14 September 2026 India and MERCOSUR signed the First Additional Protocol to their 2004 Preferential Trade Agreement, giving electronic Certificates of Origin the same legal validity as p…
- 12 September 2026
Three Mutuals at Bharat Mandapam: Reading the Modi-Xi Meeting
Prime Minister Modi met President Xi Jinping on 12 September 2026 on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, their first meeting since Tianjin in August 2025. A CDS/OTA explaine…
- 11 September 2026
Eleven Nations at Bharat Mandapam: India's BRICS Chairship Reaches Its Summit
The 18th BRICS Summit is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 12-13 September 2026 under India's fourth chairship, with the Business Forum and the Bharat Innovates Exposition on 11 Se…
- 6 September 2026
Across the Palk Strait: What the Raksha Mantri's Sri Lanka Visit Rests On
The Raksha Mantri visits Sri Lanka from 8 to 10 September 2026, announced on 6 September. An explainer on the India-Sri Lanka relationship — the 2025 defence MoU, Katchatheevu and the fisher…
- 3 September 2026
Flanders to Brussels: Reading the India-Belgium Joint Statement
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever visited India on 2-4 September 2026, producing a joint statement on UNSC reform, the India-EU FTA and defence co-production. An explainer on Belgium's pl…
- 1 September 2026
Bishkek at 25: What the SCO Summit Actually Decided
The 26th SCO Council of Heads of State met at Bishkek on 31 August-1 September 2026, the grouping's 25th year. An explainer on SCO structure, the Bishkek Declaration, English as a Charter la…
- 29 August 2026
Tashkent to Bishkek: India at the SCO's Twenty-Fifth Year
The Prime Minister left for Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic on 29 August 2026 for a state visit and the 26th SCO Summit. A CDS/OTA explainer on the SCO's structure, RATS, India's Central …
- 26 August 2026
India and Seychelles Talk Tuna: A Small Island State and a 19.7 Million Tonne Fishery
India and Seychelles held a high-level bilateral meeting on fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy on 25 August 2026. A CDS/OTA explainer on SIDS, the Indian Ocean tuna fishery, monitor…
- 23 August 2026
India's Largest Business Delegation to Japan and the Trade Gap It Went to Close
Piyush Goyal led 200-plus business representatives to Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka from 24 to 27 August 2026. A CDS/OTA explainer on the India-Japan CEPA, the Special Strategic and Global Partner…
- 22 August 2026
The Chennai Declaration: What BRICS Agreed on Science, and What It Binds
BRICS science ministers unanimously adopted the Chennai Declaration on 22 August 2026 at the STI Ministerial chaired by India. A CDS/OTA explainer on BRICS membership after expansion, India'…