India
6 checked stories, newest 6 Nov 2026.
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India and EU conclude talks on India joining Horizon Europe research programme
Background fact, detailsBackground fact: The European Commission is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium
Details
India and the European Commission said on 6 November 2026 that negotiations on India's association with Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship research and innovation programme, are complete. The agreement still has to be signed and cleared by both sides before Indian researchers can get funding directly.
- India and the European Commission concluded negotiations on India's association with Horizon Europe, announced on 6 November 2026
- Horizon Europe is the EU's flagship research and innovation programme, described as worth Euro 93.5 billion
- The association agreement must still be signed and the procedures completed by both sides
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UN First Committee approves regional arms control draft 180 to 2; India and Israel vote no
Revise first UN and other international bodies were asked in CLAT 2022, 2023 and 2026
A UN committee on disarmament and security backed a draft on controlling ordinary weapons region by region, 180 votes to 2. India and Israel were the only two against, as India says security worries do not stop at regional borders.
Exam angle, detailsExam angle: UN bodies, voting records and India's stand on disarmament are regular international affairs questions.
Details
On 2 November 2026 the UN General Assembly's First Committee approved a draft resolution on conventional arms control at regional and subregional levels, tabled by Pakistan and Belarus, by 180 votes to 2 with no abstentions. India and Israel were the only two against; India said security concerns cannot be confined to regional boundaries.
- Draft titled 'General and complete disarmament: Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels'
- Approved by the UNGA First Committee on 2 November 2026: 180 in favour, 2 against, no abstentions
- India and Israel were the only countries to vote against
- Tabled by Pakistan and Belarus
- India's First Secretary Anmol Sher Bedi said conventional arms control is a global matter and India is not convinced it should be pursued mainly in regional and sub-regional contexts
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India names AI and maritime security as priorities for its 2028-29 Security Council bid
India said artificial intelligence and safety at sea are its main themes as it seeks a two-year seat on the UN Security Council from 2028.
Exam angle, detailsExam angle: The Security Council has 15 members: five permanent with a veto (the power to block a decision) and ten elected for two years.
Details
India's Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish (Parvathaneni Harish), said on 29 October 2026 at a Security Council open debate that AI and maritime security are priorities for India's candidature for a non-permanent seat for 2028-29. The election is next year, with polling reported for June, and India and Tajikistan are competing for the one Asia-Pacific seat.
- Statement made at a UNSC open debate on emerging technologies and maritime security on 29 October 2026
- India is a candidate for a non-permanent seat for the two-year term starting 2028
- India and Tajikistan compete for the single Asia-Pacific Group seat (per NDTV)
- Election expected June 2027
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UN General Assembly again urges end to US embargo on Cuba; India votes in favour
The UN General Assembly voted 130 to 17, with 25 abstaining, to call for an end to the US trade and financial embargo on Cuba. India voted in favour.
Exam angle, detailsExam angle: The UN General Assembly has 193 members, one vote each, so tallies of votes and abstentions are easy to test.
Details
On 28 October 2026 the 193-member UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for an end to the US economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba. The recorded vote was 130 in favour, 17 against and 25 abstentions. India voted in favour. Support was lower than last year, when more than 160 countries backed the text.
- Vote on 28 October 2026: 130 for, 17 against, 25 abstentions
- The Assembly has 193 members
- India voted in favour
- It was the 34th time the Assembly has called for an end to the embargo
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India ends Asian Para Games with a record 114 medals, fourth in the table
India won a record 114 medals, 30 of them gold, at the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya and finished fourth. The Hangzhou 2023 haul was first counted as 111 and later cut to 108.
Exam angle, detailsExam angle: Sports GK asks about hosts, records and medal counts of major games.
Details
India finished its campaign at the fifth Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya on 23 October 2026 with a record 114 medals, 30 of them gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze. India placed fourth in the medal table. The Hangzhou 2023 haul was first counted as 111 medals and later cut to 108 after three medals were stripped for doping.
- India won a record 114 medals: 30 gold, 35 silver, 49 bronze
- India finished fourth in the medal table
- India's campaign ended on 23 October 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
- Previous best at Hangzhou 2023: first counted as 111 medals, later 108 after three were stripped for doping
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US issues 30-day waiver letting Indian refiners buy Russian oil already at sea
In early March 2026 the US gave Indian refiners 30 days to buy Russian oil already loaded on ships at sea, as the Iran war squeezed supplies. The permission ran until 3 April.
Exam angle, detailsExam angle: India became a big buyer of discounted Russian crude after 2022; G7 price cap of USD 60 set in 2022.
Details
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a 30-day waiver for Indian refiners to buy Russian oil stranded at sea amid the Iran war. The OFAC licence covered cargoes loaded by 5 March, valid to 3 April.
- Announced about 5 March 2026 by Treasury Secretary Bessent
- Licence covers Russian crude and products loaded on vessels as of 5 March; transactions allowed to the end of 3 April (expiry about 12:01 am Washington time on 4 April)
- Limited to oil already stranded at sea, so little benefit to Moscow, per Bessent
- A separate later general licence ran to mid-May
Test yourself
1.Which language was the first to be declared a classical language of India, in 2004?
Correct. Tamil was declared classical on 12 October 2004, the first of India's classical languages.
Not quite. Tamil was declared classical on 12 October 2004, the first of India's classical languages. It goes into your error book.
2.In which year was Sanskrit declared a classical language of India?
Correct. Sanskrit received classical status in 2005, a year after Tamil.
Not quite. Sanskrit received classical status in 2005, a year after Tamil. It goes into your error book.
3.The nadaswaram, a double-reed wind instrument of South India, is traditionally accompanied by a pair of which drums?
Correct. The nadaswaram is played in pairs with thavil drums at temples and weddings in South India.
Not quite. The nadaswaram is played in pairs with thavil drums at temples and weddings in South India. It goes into your error book.