VidBodh AcademyThe art and science of civil services preparation
Student login

VidBodh · Current affairs

The monthly magazine, August 2026 · Global Affairs and International Relations › Major powers › United States

Printed on · vidbodh.com/current-affairs

Global Affairs and International Relations › Major powers

हिन्दी — Read in Hindi

United States

India and the United States: the relationship, its agreements and its disputes.

All 1 article shown; the 1 that changed from 1 to 31 August 2026 are marked.Show only these

India and the United States

Copy link to India and the United States

Prelims and Mains

India and the United States hold a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with a dense defence framework, but trade has been its sore point since 2025.

  • On 20 February 2026 the United States Supreme Court struck down the sweeping tariffs imposed under emergency powers.
  • Washington then imposed a temporary 10 per cent tariff on all countries under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, valid for 150 days from 24 February.
  • The two sides are negotiating an interim trade agreement as the first part of a wider bilateral trade agreement.
  • Technology cooperation runs through the Pax Silica framework, which India signed on 20 February 2026.
  • Indians receive about three of every four H-1B visas.

What changed

  1. 28 Aug 2026newly added

    • India signed a ₹292 crore government to government deal under the United States Foreign Military Sales route for about 60 Javelin anti tank guided missiles.
    • The interim trade agreement was still unsigned through August, and the Commerce Ministry said the two trade ministers would meet in late September.

    The Hindu, 28 Aug 2026: India signs Javelin procurement deal with U.S. (opens in a new tab) · Ministry of Commerce and Industry, 31 Aug 2026: Statement on the India and United States trade talks

Show history (3 other updates)

  1. 29 Sep 2026newly added

    • On 11 September the United States proposed scrapping the 60 day grace period that lets laid off H-1B and other employment visa holders stay on to find new work.
    • The new American law allowing tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the largest buyers of Russian oil is on the page on India between Russia and Ukraine; on 29 September the External Affairs Minister listed the trade talks, terrorism from Pakistan and visa restrictions as the sources of the recent "bump" in ties.
    • On 29 September the United States set a zero tariff on some medicines, among them drugs for rare diseases, imported from India and 19 other partners.

    News On AIR, 11 Sep 2026: Trump administration proposes scrapping 60 day grace period for laid off H-1B workers in US (opens in a new tab) · The Hindu, 17 Sep 2026: As U.S. readies 100% tariffs, Russia provided more than half of India's oil imports in July (opens in a new tab) · ThePrint, 29 Sep 2026: What led to bump in India US ties: Jaishankar lays out Delhi's concerns at Asia Society event (opens in a new tab) · News On AIR, 29 Sep 2026: US waives tariff on specialty drugs imported from India and 19 other countries (opens in a new tab)

  2. 24 Jul 2026Briefnewly addedAs the Section 122 surcharge lapsed, the United States imposed Section 301 duties on forced labour grounds, placing India in a 10 per cent tier, below the 12.5 per cent proposed in June; the tariff detail is in the Economy pages. The Hindu, 24 Jul 2026: As temporary tariffs expire, U.S. imposes 10% 'forced labour' tariffs on India (opens in a new tab)

  3. 17 Jun 2026Newnewly added

    • On 17 June the Prime Minister and the President met at the G7 summit in Évian, their first bilateral meeting since Operation Sindoor, and the Prime Minister first raised the safety of Indian seafarers.
    • On 3 June the United States Trade Representative proposed a 12.5 per cent tariff on India and 53 other economies after a Section 301 inquiry into goods made with forced labour, and on 23 June trade talks in New Delhi aimed at an interim pact before the Section 122 tariff lapsed on 24 July.
    • On 26 June India signed a declaration on secure AI supply chains at the second Pax Silica summit in Washington.

    Mains: Defence and technology ties have kept growing while trade has strained the partnership.

    The Hindu, 17 Jun 2026: Seafarers issue of 'utmost importance': Modi to Trump (opens in a new tab) · The Hindu, 3 Jun 2026: USTR proposes 12.5% additional duties on India, 53 other countries (opens in a new tab) · News On AIR, 23 Jun 2026: India and US open high level trade talks to recalibrate proposed bilateral trade agreement (opens in a new tab) · News On AIR, 26 Jun 2026: Pax Silica results (opens in a new tab)

See also: American tariffs and India's exports · The Artemis Accords · India, Russia and Ukraine

Also filed elsewhere

  • The Artemis Accords · on Space policy, private sector and governance

    The Artemis Accords are a set of principles, drafted by the United States in 2020, that a country signs to take part in NASA's Artemis programme to return to the Moon.

  • American tariffs and India's exports · on Trade policy, tariffs and trade agreements

    The United States is India's largest market for goods.