Page 2 - Mea

India, Panama form 20-member inter-parliamentary group to boost ties

Earlier in September this year, on the sidelines of the UNGA Meeting, Panama President Jose Raul Mulino, underlined the importance of India-Panama ties

'No involvement': MEA clarifies after women barred from Afghan FM presser

Afghan FM Amir Muttaqi held a press meet at the Afghanistan embassy in Delhi after talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, but only male journalists attended and no joint briefing was held

UK PM Keir Starmer to visit India on Oct 8-9 on PM Modi's invitation

During the visit, the two leaders will meet in Mumbai on October 9 to review progress under the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, aligned with the Vision 2035 roadmap

Tech, self-reliance part of one basket: Jaishankar on global developments

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke about the responses to global developments, the changing approach towards a workforce for the global economy and different trade arrangements which will arise globally. He shared how nations must build capacities and how they can be transposable to people who relate to them.The EAM made the remarks at a panel discussion by the ORF on 'At The Heart of Development- Aid, Trade & Technology'.Speaking about the response to the challenges in the evolving world, Jaishankar said, "Technology, multi-polarity, self-reliance, south-south cooperation are part of one basket, which is a response to what is happening."He said that it is important for large countries to build capacities, be more self-reliant, and that it is the focus for India."You have to build multi-polarity by building national capacities. When you build national capacities and have national experiences, some of it is transposable to people who relate."Jaishankar gave the example .

Govt studying implications of proposed US curbs on H-1B visas: MEA

The ministry said the implications of the measure are being studied, including by Indian industry, which has already issued an initial assessment

MEA urges Indians to avoid non-essential travel to Nepal amid unrest

The ministry shared emergency contact numbers for assistance, stating that the Embassy of India in Kathmandu can be reached at +977-980 860 2881 and +977-981 032 6134, both also available on WhatsApp

MEA calls for 'restraint' after Israeli strikes kill Hamas leaders in Doha

Earlier in the day, Israel carried out a strike against Hamas leadership in the capital of Qatar, which killed five top Hamas leaders

No USAID funds used for voter turnout in India, govt tells Rajya Sabha

MoS for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the US Embassy confirmed no voter turnout projects were run in India between 2014-24

Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade, says MEA spokesperson

The MEA's remark came in response to Munir's comment, who warned that Islamabad would be prepared to use nuclear weapons if faced with an "existential threat" in a future conflict

From illness to violence: What's behind 1,203 lost Indian lives in Canada?

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that most deaths in Canada between 2020 and 2024 were caused due to medical illness or old age

India hit with 50% tariffs: How countries are reacting to Trump's trade war

India slammed Trump's 50% tariff as unjustified; Canada, Brazil, and China also face new US trade actions, prompting strong backlash, WTO threats, and fresh retaliation

Sandeep Arya appointed as India's next ambassador to Bhutan by MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday said Sandeep Arya has been appointed as India's next ambassador to Bhutan. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly. "Sandeep Arya (IFS:1994), presently Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Bhutan," the MEA said in a statement.

India, US 'actively involved' in trade talks: Govt a day after MEA rebuke

This follows a scathing response from the MEA a day earlier to US President Donald Trump's threat of higher tariffs on Indian goods for importing Russian oil

'India's position on the South China Sea is clear and consistent': MEA

India's position on the South China Sea is "clear and consistent," and it considers it as part of the global commons, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday. In response to a query raised during a special briefing here on the ongoing visit of Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr, MEA Secretary (East) P Kumaran said India has an "abiding interest" in peace and stability in the region. He was asked about the just-held India-Philippines bilateral naval exercise off the Philippines. According to reports, the exercise also took place in parts of the South China Sea.

India granted over 9.6 million e-visas since 2020: Govt tells Parliament

India has granted over 96 lakh e-visas to foreigners from 2020 till July 20 this year, the government informed Parliament on Thursday. In a written response to a query in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh also said the number of countries eligible for the e-visa facility has increased from 171 in 2020 to 181 in 2025. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was asked for the total number of e-visas granted and the increase in the number of countries eligible for the facility since 2020. "Total number of e-visas granted from 2020 to 20.07.2025 is 96,44,567," Singh said. The MEA was also asked about its role in assisting international pilgrims, including details related to Hajj and Sikh pilgrims. "Each year, the Saudi authorities announce a Hajj quota for India. In recent years, this quota has, on average, been set at 1,75,025 Indian pilgrims," Singh said. Regarding the Kartarpur Corridor, the Minister of State said, "Since its inauguration,

India criticises EU sanctions on Russia, including Gujarat refinery

The "Government of India considers the provision of energy security a responsibility of paramount importance to meet the basic needs of its citizens," said MEA

Committing assault, theft in US may lead to visa revocation: US embassy

Committing assault, theft or burglary in the United States won't just cause legal issues but could also lead to a visa being revoked and make that person "ineligible" for future US visas, the country's embassy in India has said. The stern warning comes in the backdrop of a viral video purportedly showing an Indian woman being held by police authorities after she allegedly tried to shoplift several items at a high-end store in the US. However, the veracity of the video, widely shared on various social media platforms, could not be independently verified. In a brief statement on Wednesday, the embassy also said America values law and order and expects foreign visitors to follow all US laws. The statement was shared on the X handle of the embassy. "Committing assault, theft, or burglary in the United States won't just cause you legal issues - it could lead to your visa being revoked and make you ineligible for future U.S. visas. The United States values law and order and expects fore

India engages Yemen, allies to aid Nimisha Priya in death row case: MEA

India on Thursday said it is in touch with local authorities in Yemen as well as with certain friendly nations in finding a solution to the case of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse on death row. Priya's execution was scheduled for July 16 but it was postponed. The nurse, hailing from Kollengode in Kerala's Palakkad district, has been found guilty of murdering a Yemeni citizen in July, 2017. "This is a sensitive matter and the government of India has been offering all possible assistance in the case," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing. "We have provided legal assistance and appointed a lawyer to assist the family. We have also arranged regular consular visits and been in constant touch with the local authorities and the family members to resolve the issue," he said. This included concerted efforts in recent days to seek more time for the family of Priya to reach a mutually agreeable solution with the other party, he said. "We continue to

'Argentina's lithium reserves of great interest to India', says MEA

Indian public sector companies are 'working out the implementation of the investments' in the Latin Amercian country to produce, refine, and export minerals, the MEA said

Ghana shows 'clear interest' in defence support from India: MEA secretary

'There is clear interest in having India's support in terms of equipment, training of the personnel, and being able to source equipment from India, which has now become a leader in defence exports.'