International Relations for UPSC — 246 Topics

International Relations for UPSC — 246 Topics

~7 min avg read

International Relations covers India's foreign policy, bilateral relationships, regional organisations (SAARC, ASEAN, SCO), global bodies (UN, WTO, IMF), and geopolitical dynamics. GS Paper 2 in Mains is almost entirely IR-focused. Key themes include India's neighbourhood policy, diaspora, trade agreements, maritime security, and India's role in multilateral forums.

What is International Relations in UPSC Syllabus?

International Relations is a core UPSC Civil Services subject with 246 topics covering Prelims and Mains GS patterns. It appears in both the Preliminary examination (objective) and Mains GS Papers (descriptive answers).

Which International Relations Topics Are Most Important for UPSC Prelims?

India–China
India–USA
SAARC
United Nations
Trade Agreements

Explore other subjects:

16th BRICS Summit & India-China Border Agreement

Hard8 min

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19th East Asia Summit (EAS)

Hard7 min

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19th NAM Summit and India-Uganda Relations

Hard4 min

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19th NAM Summit and India-Uganda Relations

Hard8 min

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22nd India-Russia Annual Summit

Hard6 min

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2nd India-CARICOM Summit

Hard8 min

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2nd Retreat of the Foreign Ministers of the BIMSTEC

Hard10 min

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40th Charter Day of SAARC

Hard8 min

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50th G7 Summit: Key Highlights, PGII & Implications for India

Hard8 min

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6th AITIGA Joint Committee Meetings

Hard7 min

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7th India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations

Hard8 min

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Abraham Accords, I2U2 & Arab Peace Initiative: Middle East Diplomacy for UPSC

Hard4 min

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Annual Exchange of Nuclear Installation Lists: India and Pakistan

Hard8 min

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Arrest Warrants ICC and Hamas Leaders

Hard6 min

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Awards for PM Narendra Modi

Hard6 min

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Bilateral Groupings and Agreements

Hard7 min

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BIOPHARMACEUTICAL ALLIANCE

Hard6 min

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Brazil Declines Belt and Road Initiative

Hard7 min

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BRICS: Evolution, Expansion, and Significance for Emerging Economies

Hard5 min

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Chabahar Port Agreement

Hard12 min

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China’s ‘Xiaokang’ Border Defence Villages along the LAC

Hard8 min

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China’s ‘Xiaokang’ Border Defence Villages along the LAC

Hard6 min

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Codex Alimentarius Commission

Hard4 min

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Codex Alimentarius Commission: Membership and India's Role

Hard7 min

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Codex Alimentarius Commission: Membership & India's Role

Hard4 min

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Codex Alimentarius: Standards, Regional Variations, and India's Role

Hard7 min

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Codex Standards

Hard8 min

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Colombo Process

Hard8 min

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Colombo Security Conclave

Hard10 min

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Deepening India-Brazil Relations

Hard9 min

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Difference between ICC and ICJ

Hard8 min

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Dispute Settlement Body (DSB)

Hard8 min

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East Asia Summit

Hard7 min

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Eastern Maritime Corridor

Hard6 min

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Economic Community of West African States

Hard8 min

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Economic Community of West African States

Hard10 min

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Efforts Taken to bring Peace between Israel and Its Neighbours

Hard7 min

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FMR Review: Security Concerns - Infiltration, Drugs, Insurgency

Hard7 min

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Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

Hard7 min

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Free Movement Regime

Hard8 min

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G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration

Hard5 min

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G7: Origin, Members, and Significance for International Relations

Hard7 min

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Global Security Concerns: Emerging Threats & Challenges

Hard10 min

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GloBe Network: India Elected to Steering Committee, G20 Anti-Corruption Initiative

Hard5 min

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Government Initiatives Related to the Welfare of Indian Diaspora

Hard7 min

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Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

Hard7 min

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H-1B Visa Program

Hard8 min

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High Seas Treaty

Hard10 min

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Historical Context

Hard6 min

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How are India’s Relations with Brunei Darussalam and Singapore?

Hard4 min

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How are the New Members Elected to the UNSC?

Hard6 min

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However, it has faced criticism for being discriminatory, creating a divide between nuclear- armed and non-nuclear states.

Hard8 min

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How has been the India-Vietnam Relations?

Hard8 min

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How have Relations Between India and Sri Lanka Been?

Hard7 min

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How India-Indonesia Ties Evolved Overtime?

Hard6 min

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How is BIMSTEC Different from SAARC?

Hard8 min

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How is India’s Relations with Afghanistan?

Hard6 min

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ICC vs. ICJ: Key Differences for UPSC International Relations

Hard8 min

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India Acts East

Hard8 min

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India-Algeria Strengthen Defence Ties

Hard6 min

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India and Uzbekistan Signed BIT

Hard8 min

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India-Bangladesh Relations Amid Political Turmoil in Bangladesh

Hard7 min

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India-Bhutan Relations: PM Modi Awarded 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo'

Hard9 min

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India can significantly enhance Africa’s food security

Hard5 min

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India-China Border Infrastructure & Dispute Resolution Efforts

Hard6 min

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India-EU Trade Conundrum

Hard7 min

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India-France Relations

Hard7 min

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India-Indonesia Relations: 'Look East' to 'Act East' Policy & Trade

Hard4 min

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India Japan 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting

Hard7 min

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India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC)

Hard8 min

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India-Middle-East-Europe Corridor (IMEC)

Hard7 min

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Indian Diaspora

Hard8 min

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India-Nepal-Bangladesh Tripartite Agreement

Hard6 min

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Indian Expatriate

Hard7 min

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Indian Expatriate Community in Gulf Region

Hard8 min

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India Rejects China’s Claim Over Arunachal Pradesh

Hard8 min

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India’s Act East Policy

Hard10 min

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India’s Aid to Papua New Guinea

Hard6 min

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India's Capacity Building & Development Assistance: ITEC & Lines of Credit

Hard5 min

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India's Claim over Kalapani Region: Historical Basis

Hard8 min

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India’s Contribution to Counter-Terrorism Efforts

Hard6 min

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India’s EAM Visit to Maldives

Hard7 min

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India’s Engagement at ASEAN Meet

Hard7 min

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India's Internal Security Apparatus: Key Agencies & Laws

Hard8 min

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India’s Neighbourhood and Foreign Policy Initiatives

Hard8 min

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India’s Neighbourhood First Policy

Hard6 min

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India's Nuclear Disarmament Policy & Export Control Regimes

Hard8 min

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India’s Nuclear Program

Hard8 min

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India’s PM Visit to Ukraine

Hard6 min

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India’s Push for Security Council Reform: The G4 Model

Hard6 min

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India-Sri Lanka: Connectivity, ETCA, and Petroleum Pipeline Initiatives

Hard8 min

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India-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation: Mitra Shakti & SLINEX

Hard8 min

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India-Sri Lanka Economic Ties: Trade and Investment

Hard6 min

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India-Sri Lanka Petroleum Pipeline Project: Energy Security & Cooperation

Hard7 min

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India Sri Lanka Relations

Hard6 min

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India Stance on Myanmar Crisis

Hard7 min

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India Stands with the Philippines in the South China Sea

Hard8 min

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India Sugarcane Subsidy under WTO Scrutiny

Hard8 min

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India's UPI Adoption by Sri Lanka: Fintech & Economic Implications

Hard6 min

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India Targets Doubling Trade with Africa by 2030

Hard6 min

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India to Ratify Cape Town Convention

Hard5 min

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India-UAE Relations

Hard4 min

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India-Vietnam Enhance Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Hard6 min

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Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF): Objectives, Members, and Pillars

Hard8 min

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Indus River and its Tributaries

Hard8 min

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Indus Water Treaty

Hard7 min

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INDUS-X Summit 2024

Hard5 min

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Initiatives Taken to Combat Misinformation and Disinformation

Hard9 min

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International Cooperation on Green Hydrogen

Hard7 min

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International Criminal Court: Jurisdiction and Working

Hard7 min

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International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

Hard7 min

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International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Hard8 min

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International Treaties for Nuclear Programs

Hard6 min

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IPEF Ministerial Meeting 2024

Hard7 min

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Iran-Israel Conflict

Hard10 min

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Issue of Indians Jailed Abroad

Hard8 min

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Jurisdiction and Working

Hard8 min

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Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

Hard6 min

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Kalapani Border Dispute: India-Nepal Relations & Treaty of Sugauli

Hard6 min

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Kalapani Territorial Dispute: Nepal's Claims and Historical Context

Hard6 min

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Kartarpur Corridor Agreement Renewed

Hard5 min

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Katchatheevu Island

Hard8 min

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Key Facts About Africa

Hard8 min

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Key Facts About Vietnam

Hard7 min

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LAC vs. LoC: India-China Border Disputes and Management

Hard8 min

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LOBITO CORRIDOR

Hard7 min

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Maitri Setu: India-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge & Connectivity

Hard6 min

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Maldives’ President State Visit to India

Hard8 min

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MEA’s Development Aid

Hard7 min

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Misinformation, Disinformation and Hate Speech

Hard10 min

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Modern Threat of Nuclear Weapons

Hard7 min

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Myanmar Crisis: Conflict, Displacement, and Humanitarian Concerns

Hard7 min

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NBWL Approves Road Expansion in Ladakh

Hard6 min

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NBWL Approves Road Researches Expansion in Ladakh

Hard6 min

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Nepal’s Currency Featured Kalapani Region

Hard7 min

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Netherlands Becomes India’s 3rd Largest Export Destination

Hard6 min

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New Non-Permanent Members of UNSC

Hard8 min

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Nuclear Disarmament

Hard7 min

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Other Initiatives to Counter Terrorism

Hard7 min

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Other Maritime Disputes of India with Neighbouring Nations

Hard7 min

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Other US Nonimmigrant Visa Categories

Hard8 min

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Pravasi Bharatiya

Hard7 min

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Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)

Hard9 min

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Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA)

Hard5 min

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Prime Minister’s Visits to Singapore and Brunei Darussalam

Hard7 min

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Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting

Hard7 min

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Raisina Dialogue 2024

Hard6 min

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Regional Dialogue of Secretaries of Security Councils on Afghanistan

Hard7 min

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Related Events and Campaigns

Hard7 min

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Russian Consignment to India via INSTC

Hard7 min

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SCO Summit 2024

Hard6 min

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Shifting of Route of the Silk Road

Hard7 min

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SIPRI Report on Nuclear Arsenal

Hard8 min

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Sticking Points

Hard7 min

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St Martin’s Island

Hard8 min

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St. Martin's Island: Historical Evolution and Naming

Hard7 min

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Strengthening India-Indonesia Ties

Hard8 min

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Support and Promotion to India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)

Hard8 min

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Susta Region Dispute: India-Nepal Border Issue

Hard6 min

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Technology and Infrastructure Investment

Hard8 min

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The AfCFTA is a free trade agreement designed to facilitate duty-free trade within Africa

Hard8 min

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Third South Summit

Hard10 min

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Training 1000 Maldivian Civil Service Officers

Hard7 min

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Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Pipeline

Hard8 min

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UN Global Principles for Information Integrity

Hard10 min

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Unite Aware Platform

Hard4 min

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United Nations Day 2024

Hard7 min

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United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)

Hard10 min

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US Priority Watch List

Hard6 min

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What are 2+2 Meetings?

Hard6 min

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What are India’s Initiatives along the LAC?

Hard8 min

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What are India’s Sectoral Progress Highlighted in the G20 Rio Declaration?

Hard6 min

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What are Irritants in India-Ukraine Relations?

Hard6 min

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What are Key Findings of the Global Risks Report 2025?

Hard8 min

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What are Key Highlights of the 6th AITIGA Joint Committee Meetings?

Hard6 min

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What are Other Major Water Bodies Facing Territorial Disputes?

Hard7 min

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What are Other Maritime Corridors Significant for India?

Hard8 min

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What are the Different Frameworks for Nuclear Proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament

Hard7 min

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What are the Different Frameworks for Nuclear Proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament?

Hard7 min

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What are the Different Organs of the UN?

Hard8 min

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What are the Dynamics of India-Ukraine Relations?

Hard5 min

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What are the Historical Efforts of Nuclear Disarmament Efforts

Hard8 min

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What are the Historical Efforts of Nuclear Disarmament Efforts?

Hard10 min

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What are the Key Agreements Signed During the Visit

Hard5 min

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What are the Key Agreements Signed During the Visit?

Hard5 min

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What are the Key Developments in India-US Defense Cooperation?

Hard7 min

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What are the Key Facts About India and Bhutan?

Hard8 min

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What are the Key Highlights of the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement

Hard5 min

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What are the Key Highlights of the `22nd India-Russia Annual Summit?

Hard5 min

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What are the Key Highlights of the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit

Hard7 min

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What are the Key Highlights of the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat?

Hard7 min

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What are the Key Highlights of the Pact Signed Between India-UAE?

Hard9 min

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What are the Key Highlights of the Summit?

Hard8 min

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What are the Key Outcomes of the Visit?

Hard8 min

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What are the Key Takeaways of Raisina Dialogue 2024?

Hard6 min

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What are the Major Areas of Cooperation Between India and Brazil?

Hard8 min

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What are the Major Areas of Cooperation between India and France

Hard8 min

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What are the Major Aspects of India-Myanmar Relations?

Hard7 min

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What are the Other Conventions related to Seas

Hard6 min

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What are the Other Development Partnerships of MEA?

Hard8 min

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What are the Other Major Developmental Projects along India’s Border

Hard12 min

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What are the Points of Tensions Between India and Bangladesh?

Hard9 min

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What are the Reasons for the Iran-Israel Conflict?

Hard8 min

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What are the Regions of Border Dispute Between India and Nepal?

Hard5 min

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What is Act East Policy?

Hard8 min

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What is a War Crime?

Hard7 min

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What is BAPS Temple

Hard6 min

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What is Diaspora?

Hard8 min

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What is Dispute Related to Katchatheevu Island?

Hard10 min

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What is Group of 77 (G77)

Hard8 min

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What is Indus Water Treaty (IWT)?

Hard8 min

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What is Inland Water Transport (IWT)?

Hard7 min

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What is Nuclear Disarmament

Hard8 min

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What is Nuclear Disarmament?

Hard8 min

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What is Raisina Dialogue?

Hard7 min

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What is Salami Slicing Technique in Maritime Disputes?

Hard8 min

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What is the BIMSTEC Grouping?

Hard6 min

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What is the Border Dispute between India and China?

Hard7 min

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What is the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Hard7 min

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What is the Colombo Process?

Hard6 min

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What is the Difference Between Look East Policy and Act East Policy?

Hard9 min

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What is the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC)

Hard8 min

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What is the Hybrid Renewable Energy System Project of Sri Lanka?

Hard6 min

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What is the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)?

Hard8 min

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What is the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA)?

Hard8 min

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What is the International Criminal Court?

Hard4 min

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What is the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)?

Hard8 min

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What is the Line of Actual Control (LAC)?

Hard7 min

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What is the ‘Order of the Druk Gyalpo’ Award?

Hard4 min

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What is the Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan?

Hard5 min

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What is the RoDTEP Scheme?

Hard7 min

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What is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation?

Hard5 min

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What is the Significance of ASEAN for India and Japan?

Hard6 min

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What is the Significance of INSTC for India?

Hard7 min

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What is the Silk Road?

Hard4 min

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What is the Status of India’s Trade with Israel and Iran?

Hard8 min

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What is the UN Charter?

Hard8 min

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What is the United Nations Security Council?

Hard4 min

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What is the World Trade Organization (WTO)?

Hard8 min

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What were the Key Outcomes of PM’s Visit to Brunei Darussalam?

Hard10 min

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Why are Germany and India Important for Each Other?

Hard7 min

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Why International Cooperation is Needed in Promotion of Green Hydrogen?

Hard7 min

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Why is Bhutan Important for India?

Hard8 min

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Why is the Chabahar Port Important for India?

Hard6 min

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Why is the UAE Important for India

Hard4 min

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Why is Ukraine Important for India’s Defence Sector?