8 young Indians have been recognised as part of the Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Trust’s 100 Young Leaders Awards 2026. The awards were presented by British Deputy High Commissioner to India Ben Mellor at a ceremony in New Delhi on September 9. The eight awardees are Aashraya Seth, Abhishek Gupta, Girish Mehta, Isha Jauhar, Pallavi Kejriwal, Samit Sakib Gore, Shakti Balasubramanian Yadav and Kavya Jain. They were selected from thousands of applications for their work in areas including education, health, environment, livelihoods and inclusion. India has the highest number of awardees. Some of them are expected to travel to London in October. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled together in a limousine in New Delhi after bilateral talks, marking their fourth car ride. They first rode together at last year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China and travelled on two other occasions. On Friday, the leaders headed to the INNOPROM industrial exhibition at Bharat Mandapam. Earlier, Modi gifted Putin a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, saying it could strengthen India-Russia people-to-people ties. The Ministry of External Affairs said discussions covered trade, energy, defence, space and people-to-people ties, alongside regional and global issues including West Asia and Black Sea conflicts. Modi reiterated India’s support for dialogue, diplomacy and peace efforts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural during their meeting, highlighting the Tamil classic’s international reach and cultural significance in diplomacy. Written by Tamil poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, the Thirukkural is a celebrated work of classical Tamil literature comprising 1,330 couplets across 133 chapters. Its themes include virtue, governance, wealth, friendship, relationships and love. The concise verses have allowed the work to travel beyond Tamil-speaking communities. Over the centuries, the Thirukkural has been translated into numerous languages, giving readers worldwide access to a text whose themes remain familiar despite its antiquity. Modi’s choice of a Russian translation underscored the enduring cultural power of literature in diplomatic exchanges.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other BRICS leaders at the Business Forum in New Delhi on Friday, projecting unity and calling for stronger trade, investment and business cooperation. Modi was seen holding hands with Pezeshkian as leaders walked side-by-side along a red-carpet corridor displaying BRICS INDIA 2026 branding. The forum was held a day before the BRICS Summit. Pezeshkian said BRICS must convert economic capacities into practical cooperation amid geopolitical uncertainty, supply-chain disruptions and economic pressure. Modi said BRICS represents 50 per cent of population, 40 per cent of GDP and over 25 per cent of trade, highlighting its growing economic strength. (PC: ET)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the BRICS Business Forum, highlighted the grouping’s economic achievements while raising India’s concerns over recent attacks on ships. He linked global trade progress to secure sea lanes, open supply routes and safe seafarers, reaffirming India’s support for freedom of navigation and maritime safety. Modi said BRICS nations account for 50% of the world’s population, 40% of global GDP and over 25% of global trade. Their combined GDP has grown nearly four-and-a-half-fold, almost twice the pace of global GDP growth. He also highlighted BRICS as innovation hubs and said the India-hosted forum was the largest. Modi stressed India’s commitment to removing trade barriers through free trade agreements with 40 countries.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his valuable efforts to strengthen BRICS cooperation ahead of the group’s highly anticipated summit in New Delhi, beginning September 12. Addressing the BRICS Business Forum, Pezeshkian also thanked India’s government and people for graciously hosting the meeting. He said BRICS cooperation could be transformed into tangible economic realities through private-sector representatives, businesses and entrepreneurs. Pezeshkian criticised the use of sanctions and called for a BRICS environment where one country cannot harm another’s trade interests by manipulating financial institutions. His remarks came as he decried what he described as US “military aggression”, while emphasising stronger economic cooperation among BRICS members.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Prince Rahim Aga Khan V in New Delhi on September 10 to discuss strengthening India’s partnership with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). Their discussions covered healthcare, agriculture, rural development, youth and women’s empowerment. Prince Rahim, the 50th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, is visiting India from September 9 to 15 and will also travel to Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Hyderabad. Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan separately discussed cooperation in education and sports with him. Both sides highlighted AKDN initiatives in water, sanitation, education and community development, while reaffirming dialogue, peace and efforts against radicalisation. (PC: X) 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has left for the United Kingdom on his first official overseas visit since taking office. The week-long trip aims to attract foreign investments and promote Tamil Nadu as a leading investment destination. Vijay is scheduled to meet European business leaders and industry representatives to encourage new ventures and expansion in the State. His delegation includes Public Works and Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna, SDAT member secretary Meghnatha Reddy and Guidance Tamil Nadu MD and CEO Deepak Jacob. Vijay will also study world-class motorsports infrastructure and related investment opportunities during the visit. 

India faces a delicate diplomatic challenge as Iran and the UAE, both BRICS members, remain on opposing sides of the escalating West Asian conflict. With New Delhi hosting BRICS 2026, India must preserve dialogue within the grouping while maintaining its strategic relationships across the region. The tensions have exposed divisions inside the expanded BRICS and complicated efforts to reach consensus on the conflict. India is expected to emphasise de-escalation, diplomacy, regional stability and uninterrupted maritime trade, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz. The situation tests India’s policy of strategic autonomy and its ability to act as a bridge between competing interests. (PC: X)

India is set to host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, bringing together leaders of the expanded grouping amid major global geopolitical and economic challenges. Under India’s chairship, the summit will focus on strengthening multilateralism, inclusive global governance, trade and investment, technology, food and energy security, healthcare, disaster resilience and critical supply chains. Leaders are also expected to discuss ongoing international and regional conflicts and disruptions to global trade and energy routes. India’s theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” reflects its effort to promote practical cooperation and a stronger Global South voice. (PC: X)