During the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the Russian air force has used the Tu-160M bombers to launch devastating cruise missile strikes on Ukraine.

Why the US curbs on Russia's crude oil is relevant to the UPSC exam? What is the significance of topics such as India-US civil nuclear deal, BMI, Army role in Viksit Bharat, and At home event have on both the preliminary and main exams?

The Ministry of External Affairs confirms the deaths of twelve Indian nationals in the Russian Armed Forces, with 16 missing. Efforts are ongoing for their repatriation. This update includes the recent death of Binil Babu from Kerala.

Russia also accounts for about 65% of India’s arms imports over the past 20-odd years. Besides, they argued, India needs to nurture the relationship to offset warming ties between Russia and China, India’s chief rival.

Indian Oil Corp (IOC) , the country's top refiner, has bought 7 million barrels of spot Middle Eastern and African crude oil via tenders, including a rare purchase of Abu Dhabi's Murban, as U.S. sanctions are expected to hit supplies from Russia,

OPEC's share in India's crude oil imports edged up in 2024, rising for the first time in nine years, while top supplier Russia's share remained steady, data obtained from trade sources showed.

Russia will facilitate Vietnam’s participation in the BRICS bloc of developing economies as a “partner country.”

External affairs minister S Jaishankar took a sharp jibe at Pakistan, comparing the neighbouring country with a "cancer" that is now impacting its own people

India faces another economic challenge as new US sanctions on Russian oil producers and tankers will impact imports, potentially ending price discounts. With India relying heavily on Russian oil, higher prices could exacerbate inflation and depress consumption.

In the session titled “ Original Sin: Israel, Palestine, and the Revenge of West Asia ”, journalist and author Stanly Johny and journalist Salil Tripathi discussed the immediate situation in West Asia, particularly Israel’s ceasefire with Gaza and its hostage release deal with the Hamas; and traced the history of the conflict.