Ministry of External Affairs

September 16, 2024 4:31 PM

President Droupadi Murmu conferred with Fiji’s highest civilian award

President Droupadi Murmu was conferred with 'The Order of Fiji', the country's highest civilian award, by Fijian President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere on Tuesday. The award was presented during President Murmu's three-day state visit to Fiji, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian head of state to the South Pacific nation. In a special briefing, Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East) of India's Ministry of External Affairs, highlighted the significance of the award and other key events ...

September 16, 2024 4:33 PM

India to host first BIMSTEC Business Summit in New Delhi from August 6-8

India is preparing to host the first-ever BIMSTEC Business Summit in New Delhi from August 6-8, marking a significant step towards fostering greater regional collaboration in the Bay of Bengal region. The Ministry of External Affairs, in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), will organize this three-day event. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will inaugurate the summit, with Union Minister of Commerce and Industries Piyush Goyal and other leaders scheduled to deli...

September 16, 2024 4:34 PM

India advises its nationals not to travel to Bangladesh until further notice

Amid violent protests in Bangladesh India has advised its nationals to refrain from travelling to Bangladesh until further notice. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also strongly cautioned its citizens currently living in Bangladesh to be extremely vigilant and limit their movements "In view of ongoing developments, Indian nationals are strongly advised against travelling to Bangladesh till further notice," MEA said in an official statement on Sunday. "All Indian nationals presently i...

September 16, 2024 4:46 PM

India and Vietnam sign nine agreements to deepen strategic partnership & enhance cooperation

India and Vietnam signed nine agreements to deepen comprehensive strategic partnership and enhance cooperation in the fields of customs, agriculture, legal, radio and television broadcast, culture and tourism. This was stated by Secretary East of the Ministry of External Affairs Jaideep Mazumdar in New Delhi. Mazumdar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh in New Delhi. He said both the leaders agreed to further deepen the India-Vietnam rela...

September 16, 2024 6:08 PM

India, Belarus hold first-ever Consular Dialogue in Minsk

On June 28, India and Belarus conducted their first-ever Consular Dialogue in Minsk, marking a significant step in bilateral relations. The meeting focused on a wide range of consular issues, including the welfare of Indian students in Belarus and efforts to boost tourism between the two nations. The Indian delegation was led by Dr. Aman Puri, Joint Secretary (Consular, Passport and Visa Division) while the Belarusian delegation was led by Andrei Kozhan, Head of General Directorate for Consular...

September 16, 2024 6:10 PM

India, Pakistan exchange list of civilian prisoners, fishermen

India and Pakistan conducted their biannual exchange of lists detailing civilian prisoners and fishermen held in each other's custody on Monday, as confirmed by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This exchange, mandated by the 2008 bilateral Agreement on Consular Access, occurs every January 1 and July 1. India reported 366 civilian prisoners and 86 fishermen in its custody, while Pakistan listed 43 civilian prisoners and 211 fishermen believed to be Indian nationals. "The Government ...

September 16, 2024 6:12 PM

India rejects “deeply biased” US report on international religious freedom

The Indian government has strongly rejected the U.S. State Department's 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom, describing it as "deeply biased" and lacking in understanding of India's social dynamics. In a statement delivered during a weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticized the report, saying, "As in the past, the report is deeply biased, lacks an understanding of India's social fabric, and is visibly driven by votebank consi...

September 16, 2024 6:12 PM

EAM Jaishankar to lead Indian delegation at SCO summit in Kazakhstan

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will head the country's delegation at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Friday. The summit is scheduled for July 3-4 in Astana, Kazakhstan's capital city. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed during a weekly briefing, "The External Affairs Minister will be leading our delegation there." Kazakhstan has assumed the SCO presidency from India, which held the position ...

September 16, 2024 6:12 PM

Vikram Misri appointed India’s new Foreign Secretary

The Indian government has announced the appointment of Vikram Misri as the country's new Foreign Secretary. Misri, a 1989-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service, will succeed Vinay Mohan Kwatra in this crucial diplomatic role. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) approved the proposal put forward by the Ministry of External Affairs for Misri's appointment. Currently serving as the Deputy National Security Adviser, Misri will assume his new position on July 15, 2024, following the en...

June 17, 2024 10:27 AM

India Participates in the Summit on Peace in Ukraine

Pavan Kapoor, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, represented India at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held on June 15-16, 2024. The summit, hosted by Switzerland, brought together various international stakeholders to discuss pathways to peace in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Indian delegation actively participated in both the Opening and Closing Plenary Sessions of the Summit. However, India did not align itself with any communique or document that emerged from the ev...