27 September 2026
Team India secured 10th position at the 48th WorldSkills Competition, Shanghai 2026, which concluded in Shanghai, China.
India won 6 Silver Medals and 20 Medal for Excellence, improving on its 13th-place finish at WorldSkills Lyon 2024, where it had won four Bronze Medals and 12 Medal for Excellence.
The six Silver Medals were won by Smriti Nambiar in Bakery, Mohammed Salam in Dental Prosthetics, Kovid Ajay Gangrade in Digital Interactive Media Design, Parth Vohra in Industrial Design Technology, Mehrunissa Begum in Logistics and Freight Forwarding, and Saniya Joshi in Retail Sales.
Smriti Nambiar was recognised as Best of Nation for India.
The six-day event was held from 22-27 September 2026 and brought together over 1,400 young competitors from around 70 countries and regions.
India fielded its largest-ever contingent of 70 competitors participating across 63 skills.
Medal for Excellence are awarded to competitors who demonstrate a high level of professional proficiency against internationally established WorldSkills standards.
India's rank:
10th
Medals:
6 Silver Medals and 20 Medal for Excellence
Edition:
48th WorldSkills Competition
Indian contingent:
70 competitors across 63 skills
Previous edition:
13th at WorldSkills Lyon 2024
Why it matters for exams: India's rank and medal tally at international skill competitions is a recurring current affairs question.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
28 September 2026
A 60-member Indian Armed Forces contingent departed for Oskemen, Kazakhstan, to take part in the ninth edition of the India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise KAZIND.
The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 28 September to 11 October 2026.
The Indian contingent is drawn mainly from a battalion of the Garhwal Rifles, along with troops from other arms and services and personnel from the Indian Air Force.
The Kazakhstan Armed Forces will field a contingent of matching strength, comprising primarily personnel from its Land Forces.
The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and strengthen the joint capability of both forces to undertake joint counter-terrorism operations in a sub-conventional environment under a United Nations mandate.
KAZIND-2026 focuses on joint counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain, with emphasis on air mobility and the integrated employment of Unmanned Aerial Systems and Counter-UAS capabilities.
A Joint Command Post and an Intelligence and Surveillance Centre will be established, and the training will culminate in a validation exercise against a simulated terrorist threat.
Exercise:
KAZIND-2026 (ninth edition)
Partner country:
Kazakhstan
Venue:
Oskemen, Kazakhstan
Dates:
28 September to 11 October 2026
Indian contingent:
60-member, mainly Garhwal Rifles
Why it matters for exams: Names, editions and venues of India's bilateral military exercises are standard exam material.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
Development assistance in the form of concessional Lines of Credit (LOCs) is extended by the Government of India under the Indian Development and Economic Assistance Scheme (IDEAS) through the Exim Bank of India.
In total, more than 260 LOCs worth over US$ 26 billion have been extended to nearly 62 countries across the world.
These LOCs cover around 600 projects in sectors like railways, roads, agriculture, industry, airport, sports stadiums, port, hospitals, disaster management, hydroelectricity, power transmission and Information Technology.
In keeping with the high priority attached to neighbouring countries under India's Neighbourhood First Policy, India has extended LOCs worth US$ 7.86 billion to Bangladesh, more than US$ 2 billion to Sri Lanka, US$ 1.43 billion to Maldives, over US$ 1 billion to Mauritius, US$ 750 million to Nepal and US$ 745 million to Myanmar.
More than 160 LOCs worth nearly US$ 10 billion have gone to Africa and around 60 LOCs to Asia.
Commitment across Latin America stands above US$ 715 million, and that to Oceania and the Commonwealth of Independent States at around US$ 155 million each.
Number of LOCs:
more than 260 LOCs
Total value:
over US$ 26 billion
Countries covered:
nearly 62 countries
Projects:
around 600 projects
Largest neighbourhood recipient:
Bangladesh, US$ 7.86 billion
Implementing bank:
Exim Bank of India
Why it matters for exams: IDEAS, the Exim Bank's role and the biggest recipients of Indian Lines of Credit are frequently asked in economy and international relations sections.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
Background
Guided by the development priorities of partner countries, the Government of India extends grant assistance across sectors such as physical and social infrastructure, energy including clean energy transition, connectivity, healthcare and education, disaster resilience and Digital Public Infrastructure.
Over 80 projects have been completed in the last decade across countries in the neighbourhood, the Indian Ocean Region, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Major projects include the Afghan-India Friendship Dam and the Parliament Building in Afghanistan.
In Mauritius they include the Metro Express, the Supreme Court Building, a Civil Services College and a social housing project.
In Nepal they include the Jayanagar-Bardibas Cross Border Rail Link and Integrated Check Posts at Nepalgunj and Birgunj.
In Sri Lanka they include the Indian Housing Project, a multi-specialty hospital in Dickoya and a cultural centre in Jaffna; in Maldives, the National College for Police and Law Enforcement and the Ministry of Defence building.
In Myanmar, India built Sittwe port under the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Corridor and the Myanmar Institute of Information Technology.
Other projects include the Gandhi Mandela Centre of Specialization for Artisan Skills in South Africa.
Projects completed in last decade:
over 80 projects
Afghanistan:
Afghan-India Friendship Dam, Parliament Building
Mauritius:
Metro Express, Supreme Court Building
Nepal:
Jayanagar-Bardibas Cross Border Rail Link
Myanmar:
Sittwe port under Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Corridor
Why it matters for exams: Matching Indian-built projects to the correct partner country is a standard question format in international relations.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The ITEC scheme of the Ministry of External Affairs provides fully funded training opportunities at Indian training institutions for civilian, defence and paramilitary government professionals from Global South countries.
Courses are offered both on a multi-country basis and on a country-specific customised basis, and include special training packages such as Sagar Amrut for Pacific Island countries and the Quad infrastructure fellowship for Indo-Pacific countries.
Course offerings are differentiated into ITEC-Security for paramilitary officials, ITEC-Executive for senior officials and ITEC-Professionals for practising members of regulated professions.
Since its inception in 1964, the scheme is estimated to have trained close to 400,000 government officials from countries of the Global South.
The scheme currently offers about 12000 slots in almost 400 courses each year for civilian and paramilitary training, and around 3900 slots in over 100 courses each year at defence establishments.
Applications are made through Indian embassies and candidates must be nominated by their governments; the process is administered through a web-based portal.
The scheme is implemented by the DPA-II Division, which also deputes Indian experts abroad and sets up Centres of Excellence in IT.
Inception:
1964
Officials trained:
close to 400,000
Civilian/paramilitary slots a year:
about 12000 slots in almost 400 courses
Defence slots a year:
around 3900 slots
Pacific Island package:
Sagar Amrut
Why it matters for exams: ITEC is India's oldest soft-power capacity-building instrument and its launch year and scale are frequently asked.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The DPA-II Division of the Ministry of External Affairs is the nodal division for implementing the India for Humanity Scheme, in place since 2018.
Under the scheme India offers full financial assistance to implement 60-day artificial limb fitment camps in countries abroad.
The camps are conducted by a travelling team of prosthetic experts from BMVSS, an NGO based in Jaipur, in partnership with the concerned Indian Mission and local hospitals or health departments.
A total of 35 artificial limbs fitment camps have been organised, fitting approximately 20,000 limbs.
The camps have been held in countries including Vietnam, Myanmar, Malawi, Iraq, Egypt, Senegal, Tanzania, Namibia, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Syria, Uganda, Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, Fiji, Lebanon, Cambodia, Palestine, Mongolia, Madagascar and Papua New Guinea.
The same division also runs Centres of Excellence in IT projects abroad: a total of 58 CEIT projects in 47 countries have been implemented, training nearly 2 lakh trainees in subjects like high performance computing, AI/ML and big data.
Camps organised:
35 artificial limbs fitment camps
Limbs fitted:
approximate 20,000 limbs
Camp duration:
60-day
Implementing NGO:
BMVSS of Jaipur
CEIT projects:
58 CEIT projects in 47 countries
Why it matters for exams: India for Humanity and the CEIT projects are examples of India's humanitarian and technology diplomacy that exams ask about by number and partner.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Ministry of External Affairs publishes country-wise data on the Indian Diaspora Abroad. The table is titled Data on Indian Diaspora Abroad (as of January 2026). It counts 19520317 PIOs and 17760528 NRIs, a total of 37280845 Overseas Indians. PIOs means Persons of Indian Origin and NRIs means Non-Resident Indians. Canada records the largest figure with a total of 3247980 Overseas Indians. Australia records 845800 and Fiji records 318364.
Total Overseas Indians:
37280845
PIOs:
19520317
NRIs:
17760528
Canada:
3247980
Why it matters for exams: Diaspora totals and the PIO–NRI distinction are standard questions in Kerala PSC and UPSC general awareness.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Ministry of External Affairs lists India's Social Security Agreements country by country. Agreements with Belgium, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Hungary, Denmark and the Czech Republic are shown as Active. Also Active are the agreements with South Korea, Norway, Germany, Finland, Canada, Japan, Sweden, Austria, Portugal, Australia, Brazil and the United Kingdom. An Understanding on Social Security between India And Quebec is listed separately under Canada (Quebec). The agreements with Argentina and Poland are shown as Signed and Yet to enter into force. Such agreements protect the social security contributions of Indian professionals posted abroad.
Status of MoU/Agreement:
Active
Argentina and Poland:
Signed and Yet to enter into force
Listed separately:
Canada (Quebec)
Why it matters for exams: Bilateral social security agreements recur in UPSC international relations and in Kerala PSC questions on migrant welfare.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Ministry of External Affairs publishes a List of Labour Mobility Agreements, marked As on May 2026. The list is grouped under the Gulf Region, Europe and Oceania/South East Asia. In the Gulf Region the oldest is the Agreement on Regulation of the Employment of Indian Manpower with Qatar, signed 11-04-1985. Oman signed an MOU in the field of Manpower on 08-11-2008 and the UAE an MOU on cooperation in the field of Manpower on 11-02-2018. In Europe, Germany signed an Agreement on Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership on 05.12.2022 and Finland a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement on 05.03.2026. A Memorandum of Understanding Between the EU and India on a Comprehensive Framework of Cooperation on Mobility is dated 27/01/2026.
List position:
As on May 2026
Qatar agreement signed:
11-04-1985
EU–India mobility MoU:
27/01/2026
Finland agreement signed:
05.03.2026
Why it matters for exams: Labour mobility and migration partnership agreements are frequently asked in Kerala PSC questions on Gulf migration.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Overseas Indian Affairs Division of the Ministry of External Affairs is dedicated to the multitude of Indian Nationals settled abroad. It is positioned as a Services Division and provides information, partnerships and facilitation for all matters related to Overseas Indians. Overseas Indians comprise Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). The Division has four functional service divisions: Diaspora Services, Financial Services, Emigration Services and Management Services. It works to connect the Indian Diaspora community with its motherland and to build networks with and amongst Overseas Indians. It is also engaged in initiatives for the promotion of trade and investment, emigration, education, culture, health and science and technology.
Functional service divisions:
Diaspora Services, Financial Services, Emigration Services, Management Services
Overseas Indians comprise:
Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
Why it matters for exams: The structure of the ministry division handling emigration is a standard polity and governance question for Kerala aspirants.
Kerala PSCUPSC