National

International Relations, Summits & Deep-Tech

• 18th BRICS Summit & New Delhi Declaration (2026):
  • Summit Host: Held in New Delhi under India’s chairmanship and led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • 10 Global Governance Reform Proposals: PM Modi called on BRICS to transition from “rule-takers into rule-shapers,” proposing a 10-point roadmap focusing on UN Security Council and international financial institution reforms, as well as creating a Seafarers’ Emergency Support Network.
  • New Delhi Declaration Highlights:
    • MSME Ecosystem: Strong focus on strengthening MSMEs and global value chains, welcoming the Jaipur Consensus to explore a BRICS Invoice Discounting Mechanism.
    • AI & Technology Governance: Pushed for safe, secure, inclusive AI and implemented the statement on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence.
    • Trade Reforms: Reaffirmed support for non-discriminatory, rules-based multilateral trade under the WTO, opposing unilateral tariffs and sanctions, and supporting WTO accession for Ethiopia and Iran.
    • Health Security: Established a dedicated sub-working group to advance an integrated early warning system for mass infectious diseases.
• BRICS BioDesign Initiative:
  • Launched at the Andhra Pradesh Med-Tech Zone (AMTZ) in Visakhapatnam by Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood to foster cross-border medical technology innovation and affordable devices across the Global South.
• India–China Direct Flight Resumption:
  • Direct commercial flight operations between India and China (Guangzhou to New Delhi) set to resume after a six-year hiatus.

Banking, Economy & Capital Markets

• RBI Directive on Tata Sons (NBFC-Upper Layer):
  • Regulatory Order: The Reserve Bank of India rejected Tata Sons’ application to surrender its Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) licence, holding that as an Upper Layer (NBFC-UL) entity under Scale-Based Regulations, it must prepare for a mandatory public listing.