India's narcotics challenge is undergoing a structural transformation. Situated between the Golden Crescent in the west and the Golden Triangle in the east, India is exposed to two major international narcotics corridors.
In May 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs of India (MEA), through the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), hosted the BRICS Young Diplomats Forum (BYDF) in New Delhi. The forum took place between 18–23 May, bringing together sixteen mid-career diplomats from eight BRICS countries and Heads of Diplomatic Academies from nine BRICS countries (SSIFS, 2026). Convened under India's 2026 BRICS Chairship theme, "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability", formally unveiled by External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar on 13 January 2026 (Prasar Bharati News Services Division, 2026), the Forum combined experiential learning, simulation exercises, and institutional dialogue to prepare the next generation of BRICS diplomats ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled for New Delhi later in the year.
Policy UpdatePragya Raghav Abstract India hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on 14-15 May 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, marking the first ministerial meeting of its 2026 chairship (MEA, 2026). Chaired by External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar,…
India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship placed the Contact Group on Economic and Trade Issues (CGETI) at the centre of the grouping’s economic agenda.
India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship has placed education on a sustained calendar of engagements, with the first and second Senior Officials’ Meetings held in April, followed by the BRICS Network University Conference and International Governing Board Meeting in July, the BRICS Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Symposium in August, and the third Senior Officials’ Meeting and 13th BRICS Education Ministers’ Meeting in Bhubaneswar from 5–7 August 2026.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) emerged from the Shanghai Five Mechanism established in 1996 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to address border disputes and build mutual trust. It was formally established as the SCO in June 2001 after Uzbekistan joined. Its founding framework focused on combating terrorism, separatism and extremism, while promoting political, security, economic and connectivity cooperation across Eurasia (Al Jazeera, 2026).
Social media platforms have transformed communications in international relations by enabling governments, diplomats, media organizations and citizens to participate in global information flows.