1. PM Modi’s Gift Diplomacy (2024–25)
Purpose: Cultural diplomacy, soft power projection, GI-tag promotion
- France (Feb 2025, AI Summit – Paris):
Dokra artwork of musicians (Chhattisgarh, lost-wax technique) → President Emmanuel Macron - USA (Feb 2025, AI Summit sidelines):
- Vivek Vance → Wooden railway toy (eco-friendly)
- Ewan Vance → Jigsaw puzzles (Kalighat Pat, Santhal, Madhubani)
- Mirabel Rose Vance → Wooden alphabet set (Bihar)
- Germany (2024–25):
Sandstone replica of Konark Wheel (Odisha) → Chancellor Friedrich Merz - Canada (June 2025, G7):
Brass Bodhi Tree sculpture (Bihar) → PM Mark Carney - Argentina (July 2025):
- President Javier Milei → Hand-etched silver lion on fuchsite stone (Rajasthan)
- VP Victoria Villarruel → Madhubani painting (Sun motif, Bihar)
- Cultural gift → Silver replica of Ayodhya Ram Temple (UP)
- Mexico (2024–25):
Warli painting (Maharashtra) → President Claudia Sheinbaum - Trinidad & Tobago (July 2025):
Kalash with Sarayu river water + Silver Ram Temple replica → PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar - Mauritius (Mar 2025, National Day):
- President → Banaras metal casting pot + Sangam water
- First Lady → Banarasi saree (Sadeli box)
- Other gifts → Mithila makhana, Surat Sadeli box, Gangajal (Maha Kumbh 2025)
2. International Summits & Dialogues
NATO Summit 2025 – The Hague
- Members: 32 (incl. Finland & Sweden)
- First summit led by SG Mark Rutte
- Article 5 invoked only once (9/11, 2001)
- Defence goal:
- 3.5% GDP (core defence)
- +1.5% GDP (security infrastructure) → Total 5% by 2035
- Next summit: Türkiye (2026)
G7
- 50th G7: Fasano, Italy (June 2024)
- 51st G7: Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada (2025)
- 52nd G7: Évian-les-Bains, France (June 2026)
BRICS
- 17th BRICS Summit: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (July 6–7, 2025)
ASEAN-led Summits (2024)
- 44th & 45th ASEAN Summits: Vientiane, Laos
- Theme: ASEAN – Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience
- 27th ASEAN Plus Three Summit
- 19th East Asia Summit
- 21st ASEAN–India Summit
SCO
- 24th SCO Summit: Astana, July 2024
- 25th SCO Summit: Tianjin, China, Sept 2025
Raisina Dialogue 2025
- Edition: 10th
- Theme: Kālachakra – People, Peace and Planet
- Chief Guest: PM Christopher Luxon (New Zealand)
3. Climate, Energy & Environment
COP
- COP29: Baku, Azerbaijan
- COP30: Belém, Brazil (Accommodation crisis)
- Theme: In Solidarity for a Green World
- Indian delegation: Ms. Leena Nandan (MoEFCC)
World Hydrogen Summit 2025
- Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands
- India represented by: Santosh Kumar Sarangi (MNRE Secretary)
- Targets:
- Energy independence by 2047
- Net Zero by 2070
- Green Hydrogen hubs: Kandla, Paradip, Tuticorin
4. Regional Groupings & Initiatives
BIMSTEC
- 1st BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival:New Delhi
- Theme: SaptaSur – Seven Nations, One Melody
- 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave:Visakhapatnam
- Theme: Blue Economy, Innovation & Sustainable Partnerships
IORA
- 24th IORA Council of Ministers Meeting
- Host: Sri Lanka (Virtual)
- Theme: Sustainable Indian Ocean for Future Generations
SAARC
- Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES): Launched 1992
- Decision taken at 4th SAARC Summit (Islamabad, 1988)
Mercosur
- Full Members: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia
- Venezuela suspended (since 2016)
5. Defence & Strategic Affairs
- Project Seabird:
India’s largest naval infrastructure project (Karwar, Karnataka)
DG: Vice Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar - Mission Divyastra:
Linked to MIRV technology
6. Science, Technology & Economy
- Genome-edited rice varieties:
- DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala)
- Pusa DST Rice 1
India becomes 1st country to develop them
- GST & PAC Report:
- Indirect tax share declined (2017–20)
- PAC suggests GST reforms, not single GST
7. States & Governance
- Himachal Pradesh:
First state to launch Aadhaar-based face authentication for ration distribution - Telangana Agriculture Report 2025:
- Rice → No.1 producer in India
- Overall grain value → 4th
8. Miscellaneous High-Impact Facts
- Elon Musk launches “America Party”
- Mashreq becomes first UAE bank to get nod for GIFT City branch
- Zero Debris Charter: 12 nations (Seville, Spain – 2023)
Updated - 14 Dec 2025 ; 9:30 AM | Admin Team