Places in News

Every place on this map

1. GazaPalestineThe Palestinian coastal strip at the centre of the Israel-Hamas war since October 2023.
2. West BankPalestineThe Palestinian territory west of the Jordan river, under Israeli occupation since 1967.
3. Golan HeightsSyriaThe Syrian plateau held by Israel since 1967.
4. Lebanon (south)LebanonThe zone of Hezbollah-Israel fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border.
5. Yemen (Houthis)YemenYemen's Houthi movement has attacked Red Sea shipping near Bab-el-Mandeb since 2023.
6. ChabaharIranThe Iranian port where India runs the Shahid Beheshti terminal on a 10-year deal signed in 2024.
7. GwadarPakistanPakistan's deep-sea port in Balochistan, built by China.
8. AfghanistanAfghanistanUnder Taliban rule since 2021, landlocked between Iran, Pakistan, Central Asia and China.
9. Ukraine (Donbas)UkraineThe eastern Ukrainian region (Donetsk and Luhansk) on the front line of the Russia-Ukraine war since 2022.
10. CrimeaUkraineThe Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.
11. Zaporizhzhia NPPUkraineEurope's largest nuclear plant, held by Russia in the war zone.
12. KaliningradRussiaRussia's Baltic exclave between Poland and Lithuania, cut off from mainland Russia.
13. TransnistriaMoldovaThe Russian-backed breakaway strip of Moldova on the Ukraine border.
14. Nagorno-KarabakhAzerbaijanThe former Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan; Baku took full control in September 2023.
15. GreenlandDenmarkThe world's largest island, an autonomous Danish territory in the Arctic.
16. SvalbardNorwayNorway's Arctic archipelago, home to India's Himadri research station at Ny-Alesund.
17. Sudan (Darfur)SudanSudan's western region at the heart of the army-versus-RSF civil war since April 2023.
18. Sahel coup beltMali, Burkina Faso and NigerMali, Burkina Faso and Niger, where juntas seized power in 2020-23.
19. TigrayEthiopiaEthiopia's northern region, site of the 2020-22 war.
20. DR Congo (east)DR CongoThe conflict zone of eastern DR Congo, where M23 rebels took Goma.
21. Chagos (Diego Garcia)MauritiusThe Indian Ocean archipelago including Diego Garcia, the US military base.
22. TaiwanTaiwanThe island China claims and the US arms; the world's chip-making centre through TSMC.
23. Spratly IslandsSouth China SeaThe disputed reefs and islands of the South China Sea, claimed by six parties.
24. Senkaku IslandsJapanThe disputed islands in the East China Sea, administered by Japan and claimed by China as Diaoyu.
25. HambantotaSri LankaSri Lanka's southern port, leased to a Chinese firm for 99 years in 2017.
26. KyaukphyuMyanmarMyanmar's port built by China, with oil and gas pipelines to Yunnan.
27. SittweMyanmarMyanmar's port built by India under the Kaladan project.
28. EssequiboGuyanaThe oil-rich region of Guyana claimed by Venezuela.
29. HaitiHaitiThe Caribbean state in crisis from gang violence.
30. Canada-USA BorderCanada and USAThe longest border between any two countries, about 8,900 km.
31. AgasthyamalaiKeralaThe Supreme Court took note of large-scale encroachment in this Western Ghats biosphere reserve straddling Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
32. AhmedabadGujaratIndia's bid city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games won Cabinet approval.
33. Aksai ChinLadakhIndia continued to assert its claim over this Ladakh plateau under Chinese control amid the ongoing boundary negotiations.
34. Alaknanda RiverUttarakhandThe Centre told the Supreme Court it opposes any new hydroelectric project in the Alaknanda-Bhagirathi basin.
35. AmaravatiAndhra PradeshParliament moved to declare it the state's sole permanent capital, and it also hosted the launch of India's first open-access quantum reference facility.
36. Ana Sagar LakeRajasthanThe 12th-century artificial lake built by Anaji Chauhan was in the news over lake conservation and urban water management amid pollution, siltation and encroachment pressures.
37. Aravalli RangeRajasthanA multi-state study tied this range to dust storms and air pollution reaching the Indo-Gangetic Plain, spotlighting its ecological role.
38. ArmeniaArmeniaIndia's growing defence supplies to Yerevan, including rocket systems, sit at the heart of its de-hyphenated Caucasus policy and the friction with Azerbaijan.
39. Arunachal PradeshArunachal PradeshThe eastern sector of the boundary dispute follows the McMahon Line here, and the SR talks' consensus covered reopening Himalayan trade points and increasing Kailash Mansarovar Yatra batches.
40. AssamAssamThe state's floods were the worst in the Northeast, with over 25,000 people in relief camps, while Guwahati battled severe urban flooding.
41. Asuka and FujiwaraJapanThe archaeological sites of Japan's ancient capitals were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List at the 48th session.
42. Atacama DesertChile and PeruGrowing light pollution is threatening the world's darkest skies over this premier astronomy site.
43. AustraliaAustraliaThe third annual summit with this Quad partner covered defence, trade and critical minerals cooperation.
44. AustriaAustriaThe Austrian Chancellor's first visit to India in over four decades produced a defence letter of intent and a deeper technology partnership.
45. AzerbaijanAzerbaijanNew Delhi began resetting ties with Baku through fresh foreign-office consultations after a year of strain over Operation Sindoor, with Azerbaijan key to India's Pakistan-bypassing trade corridor to Central Asia.
46. Bab el Mandeb StraitYemen and DjiboutiIt featured among the key global chokepoints as shipping disruptions and tariff pressures slowed the IMEC corridor's progress and forced vessels to reroute.
47. BahrainBahrainThe Gulf state, which hosts the US Fifth Fleet and a large Indian diaspora, was in the news after Iranian drone and missile strikes hit US-linked military sites.
48. BangladeshBangladeshDhaka-origin undocumented migrants were the main target of India's new district-level deportation policy with 90-day verification timelines.
49. Banni GrasslandsGujaratAn NTPC solar project was flagged as an ecological threat to this vast Kutch grassland, a critical habitat for migratory birds.
50. Bara HotiUttarakhandThis area was named as the flashpoint of the middle sector in India-China border negotiations.
51. Bhagirathi RiverUttarakhandThe Centre told the Supreme Court it opposes any new hydroelectric project in the Alaknanda-Bhagirathi basin.
52. Bhitarkanika Wildlife SanctuaryOdishaA study found microplastics and toxic heavy metals across this Ramsar mangrove site.
53. BhojshalaMadhya PradeshThe protected monument's religious character and management remained under judicial consideration, with archaeological surveys and legal proceedings continuing over its identity as a Saraswati temple versus a mosque.
54. BiratnagarNepalIndian Railways ran the first direct commercial container freight train from Kolkata Port to this Nepali city.
55. Brahmaputra RiverAssamThe river and its basin were named priority areas under the extended River Basin Management scheme, including flood protection for Majuli Island.
56. BuniaDemocratic Republic of the CongoThe town near the epicentre of an Ebola outbreak , linked to the Bundibugyo virus with no approved vaccine , was visited as the death toll in eastern Congo crossed 1,700.
57. BusanSouth KoreaThe port city hosted the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (July 19-29), which added 25 new properties to the list by consensus.
58. CambodiaCambodiaPhnom Penh's army trained with India in the CINBAX counter-terrorism exercise under a UN peacekeeping framework.
59. Caspian SeaCentral Asia and West AsiaIts hydrocarbon basin and transit routes featured in India's energy-security and INSTC calculations with Azerbaijan. It emerged as a backdoor logistics route between Russia and Iran during the West Asia conflict. A study warned this landlocked sea is shrinking, threatening its unique ecology and the economies of its littoral states. The world's largest inland water body kept shrinking from climatic and human causes - reduced river inflow, water withdrawal and higher evaporation - prompting a regional cooperation declaration on its falling level.
60. Cauvery RiverKarnatakaThe tribunal authority upheld Karnataka's release order to Tamil Nadu, while Karnataka's Mekedatu reservoir proposal kept the dispute alive.
61. CeutaSpainMigrants crossed into the Spanish enclave from Morocco, prompting Spain to deploy troops; at least 18 deaths were reported.
62. ChadChadThis Central African nation quit the International Criminal Court, the latest exit from the Hague-based tribunal.
63. Chilika LakeOdishaAsia's largest brackish lagoon drew attention for conservation gains - rising dolphin numbers and fish productivity - alongside continuing human-pressure concerns.
64. ChinaChinaBeijing's backing was sought by Dhaka for the Teesta project, and China separately dragged India to the WTO over solar tariffs.
65. Cocos (Keeling) IslandsAustraliaIndia commissioned a telemetry tracking terminal here to support the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
66. ColombiaColombiaBogota co-hosted the first Santa Marta conference on moving away from fossil fuels with the Netherlands.
67. ColomboSri LankaThe Sri Lankan capital hosted the fourth India-Sri Lanka diving exercise DIVEX 2026 with INS Nireekshak.
68. D-Day Landing BeachesFranceThe Second World War D-Day landing beaches were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as sites of memory at the 48th session in Busan.
69. Dal LakeJammu & KashmirSatellite analysis across 1980-2020 showed this iconic Srinagar lake shrinking and fragmenting, mirroring Wular's decline.
70. DarjeelingWest BengalA committee was tasked with preparing a framework for a 'permanent political solution' to the century-old Gorkha demand for a separate administrative identity covering Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, the Terai and the Dooars.
71. Deendayal PortGujaratIt topped India's major ports in FY26 cargo at 160 million tonnes as the dozen major ports crossed 915 million tonnes.
72. DelhiDelhiThe capital drew twin alarms: ground-level ozone emerging as a major pollutant alongside PM2.5, and the country's lowest total fertility rate at 1.4.
73. Democratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the CongoThe Bundibugyo-strain Ebola outbreak here, the country's 17th, was declared a WHO public health emergency of international concern.
74. Dhansiri RiverAssamThe Brahmaputra's south-bank tributary swelled at Numaligarh, keeping the flood situation in Assam's Golaghat district critical.
75. DholeraGujaratThe special economic zone here was notified as the site of India's first semiconductor fabrication plant.
76. Dolma La PassChinaThe roughly 5,600-metre pass on the Mount Kailash parikrama circuit was in focus with the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra resuming in 2026 after a five-year halt.
77. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam IslandOdishaThe Agni-5-based Divyastra missile with MIRV technology completed its second flight trial from here.
78. Dudhwa Tiger ReserveUttar PradeshTwenty-five Himalayan griffon vultures died here from suspected secondary poisoning, spotlighting scavenger conservation risks.
79. EgyptEgyptCairo hosted the 11th Joint Defence Committee meeting and the Cyclone-IV special-forces exercise, deepening the 2023 strategic partnership.
80. El FasherSudanReports of crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing by the Rapid Support Forces put this North Darfur capital in focus.
81. Elephanta IslandMaharashtraArchaeologists identified ancient water reservoirs on this Mumbai harbour island, revealing new details of its early settlement history.
82. Evian-les-BainsFranceFrance chose Evian-les-Bains to host the 2026 G7 Leaders' Summit.
83. FarakkaWest BengalThe 30-year India-Bangladesh Ganga water-sharing treaty signed on December 12, 1996 expired, with a confrontation brewing in Bihar over its terms.
84. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife SanctuaryMadhya PradeshThree cheetahs were moved here as the second site for population expansion.
85. GenevaSwitzerlandThe 79th World Health Assembly convened here, shaping global health decisions including the pandemic accord.
86. Ghepan LakeHimachal PradeshIt was placed in the highest-risk category for glacial lake outburst floods, endangering downstream settlements and a hydropower project near Sissu.
87. Gilgit-BaltistanLadakhChina reaffirmed that the CPEC corridor passes through this Pakistan-occupied region, which India claims as its own.
88. GlasgowUnited KingdomThis Scottish city hosted the 2026 Commonwealth Games, where India won 39 medals and finished fourth.
89. Glaw LakeArunachal PradeshThe pristine Eastern Himalayan lake inside the Kamlang Tiger Reserve was designated India's 101st Ramsar site.
90. Great Nicobar IslandAndaman & Nicobar IslandsReports noted that environmental and tribal scrutiny of the island's Rs 81,000-crore infrastructure project remains incomplete.
91. GuwahatiAssamBRICS nations adopted the Guwahati Declaration against drug trafficking here, while the city also battled severe urban flooding.
92. GwaliorMadhya PradeshIndia signed an MoU to build its first Telecom Manufacturing Zone here for 5G/6G hardware.
93. Hara Mangrove ForestsIranOil residues reached the protected mangrove ecosystem of the Mehran River delta, posing a serious environmental threat to the reserve.
94. Hasdeo-Arand ForestChhattisgarhA Rajasthan state power utility's plan to divert 1,742 hectares and fell 4.48 lakh trees here sparked an outcry.
95. Hindu Kush HimalayaCentral and South AsiaIts development investment partnership released a roadmap to unlock climate finance for this 3,500-km, eight-country mountain region.
96. Hollongapar Gibbon SanctuaryAssamA canopy bridge was built over a railway track here to reconnect gibbon habitat.
97. Hormozgan ProvinceIranUS strikes landed near the Strait of Hormuz in this southern Iranian province as the West Asia crisis intensified.
98. IndonesiaIndonesiaThe Prime Minister's state visit yielded cooperation pacts, including India's help in conserving the Prambanan Temple.
99. IndoreMadhya PradeshThe 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting here adopted the Indore Declaration.
100. Indus RiverLadakhThe river system at the centre of the 1960 treaty stayed in abeyance as India dismissed the arbitration court's ruling.
101. IranIranTehran's reopening of the Strait of Hormuz under a Pakistan-brokered pause in the West Asia crisis eased India's energy-supply fears, while Chabahar remained central to its connectivity plans.
102. IsraelIsraelTel Aviv was a party to the Pakistan-mediated two-week ceasefire with Iran and the United States after weeks of escalation.
103. IturupRussiaThe island, called Etorofu by Japan, sits at the heart of the Russia-Japan dispute that has blocked a formal peace treaty ending Second World War hostilities.
104. JamaicaJamaicaThe External Affairs Minister's visit celebrated Girmitiya-descendant bonds with the island nation.
105. JapanJapanThe 16th annual summit advanced the Special Strategic partnership across technology, security and economic cooperation.
106. JodhpurRajasthanThe Jodhpuri Mojari craft from here earned a geographical indication tag, alongside Pithora art of Chhota Udepur.
107. Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-LipulekhUttarakhandNepal's Prime Minister acknowledged that Nepal had been encroaching on Indian territory in this disputed trijunction area.
108. KalpakkamTamil NaduThe indigenous 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor here attained criticality, advancing stage two of India's nuclear programme.
109. Kanha National ParkMadhya PradeshSix tiger deaths from canine distemper put over a hundred of the park's tigers under watch.
110. KarnatakaKarnatakaThe state announced a ban on social media use for children under 16, part of a wider child-safety regulatory push.
111. KasauliHimachal PradeshMiocene fossils from the Kasauli Formation helped revise the evolutionary history of the Jamun genus, placing its early diversification in India.
112. Kashmir HimalayaJammu and KashmirA glacier survey flagged five high-altitude lakes in this region as critically prone to outburst floods, sharpening GLOF concerns in the state.
113. Kaziranga National ParkAssamA gharial was spotted here after a long gap, and India's first satellite-tagged soft-shell turtle was released in the park.
114. KenyaKenyaFour mountain bongos arrived in Kenya en route to native forests after years in a Czech zoo.
115. KeralaKeralaParliament passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to change the state's name to 'Keralam' in the Constitution, an exercise of the Article 3 power to alter state names.
116. Kharg IslandIranThis Iranian oil-export island faced disruption risks as the West Asia war threatened shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
117. KhavdaGujaratA record 3.37 GWh battery-storage system was commissioned at its hybrid renewable park, the site of the world's largest planned 30 GW solar-wind project.
118. KochiKeralaThe CMLRE's Bhavasagara centre here was designated India's first national repository for deep-sea fauna.
119. Kolleru LakeAndhra PradeshThe Central Empowered Committee ordered Andhra Pradesh to immediately remove fish ponds from this lake.
120. Konkan PetroglyphsMaharashtraOver 1,500 prehistoric petroglyphs across nearly 70 Konkan sites, some 10,000-12,000 years old, are being pushed for UNESCO recognition.
121. Kuno National ParkMadhya PradeshTwo cheetahs flown in from Botswana were released here under Project Cheetah.
122. Kuril IslandsRussiaJapan protested the Russian President's visit to the islands, which Russia administers but Japan claims as its Northern Territories (Etorofu), separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific.
123. KuwaitKuwaitKuwait featured in the same round of news as Iranian drone and missile strikes targeted US-linked military facilities across the Gulf.
124. LadakhLadakhProtests in Leh and Kargil revived demands for full statehood and Sixth Schedule cover after the 2019 UT transition, with locals citing a representation deficit, tribal land safeguards and high graduate unemployment.
125. Lake OntarioCanada and USAUS federal agencies were directed to call it 'Lake America' while Canada kept Lake Ontario, sparking a cross-border naming row.
126. Lipulekh PassUttarakhandThe pass reopened for cross-border trade with China after six years; it also serves as a key Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route to the Tibetan trading town of Taklakot.
127. Lohit RiverArunachal PradeshThe proposed Kalai-II project on the Lohit was flagged as a threat to the critically endangered White-bellied Heron.
128. MachilipatnamAndhra PradeshIndia's I-2SEA undersea cable landed at Machilipatnam, cutting dependence on the congested Mumbai landing strip.
129. MaharashtraMaharashtraThe state enacted a law mandating one-third reservation for women farmers in agricultural schemes.
130. Majuli IslandAssamSediment studies here reconstructed the Brahmaputra's 3,200-year climate history.
131. MaldivesMaldivesThe Favara-UPI corridor went live, letting Indians pay in the Maldives through home payment apps.
132. MauritiusMauritiusIndianOil signed a five-year pact to meet all of Mauritius's petrol, diesel and aviation fuel imports.
133. MayurbhanjOdishaA severe pre-monsoon nor'wester battered Mayurbhanj district, Odisha.
134. MeccaSaudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye signed a joint defence pact in Mecca: an attack on one is treated as an attack on all.
135. MelillaSpainThe Spanish enclave faced renewed migrant pressure with Ceuta, the EU's only land frontiers with Africa.
136. Mexico CityMexicoNISAR satellite data showed the metropolis sinking rapidly from excessive groundwater extraction.
137. MoldovaMoldovaPresident Droupadi Murmu paid the first-ever Indian presidential visit to Moldova.
138. Mongla PortBangladeshChina and Bangladesh set up a joint economic zone at Mongla Port, drawing strategic attention.
139. Mount KailashTibet (China)The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra resumed in 2026 after a five-year halt, with pilgrim batches set to increase under the SR talks consensus; the sacred mountain is revered in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bon.
140. Mount OlympusGreeceThe wider Mount Olympus area joined the UNESCO World Heritage List at the 48th session in Busan.
141. MuscatOmanThe UN Secretary-General launched the Muscat Plan of Action, led by Oman, to revive global dialogue.
142. Musi RiverTelanganaThe Krishna tributary entered Phase-I of Telangana's riverfront development project.
143. MyanmarMyanmarMyanmar-origin migrants were named in India's new deportation framework; origin-country acceptance is the diplomatic hurdle.
144. NamanganUzbekistanThe eastern Uzbek city hosted the 7th India-Uzbekistan DUSTLIK military exercise.
145. Namdapha National ParkArunachal PradeshIndia's record dragonfly checklist of 234 species drew heavily on a two-decade survey of this Arunachal park's insect life.
146. Narmada RiverGujaratThe Sleemanabad Tunnel was proposed to link the Narmada and Son basins for water transfer.
147. Nathu LaSikkimThe Indo-China border pass, reopened in 2006 after its post-1962 closure, resumed cross-border trade with China after six years.
148. National Chambal Gharial SanctuaryMadhya PradeshThe Supreme Court took suo motu notice of illegal sand mining in this tri-state sanctuary.
149. NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Hague returned 11th-century Chola copper plates during the PM's state visit.
150. New ZealandNew ZealandThe Prime Minister's visit marked a new chapter in India-New Zealand ties.
151. Nilgiri HillsTamil NaduA forest fire here was contained; the Blue Mountains sit at the meeting point of the Western and Eastern Ghats.
152. North MacedoniaNorth MacedoniaPresident Murmu paid the first-ever Indian presidential visit to North Macedonia.
153. NorwayNorwayThe PM's two-day visit elevated ties to a Green Strategic Partnership and brought a top Norwegian honour.
154. Nun-Kun MassifLadakhThe twin 7,000-metre peaks in Ladakh are a key site for glacier studies and mountaineering research.
155. OdesaUkraineA Russian missile strike on a merchant vessel at Odesa killed ten crew, including four Indians.
156. OmanOmanThe India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement entered into force.
157. Padma BarrageBangladeshBangladesh approved the New Padma Barrage for irrigation, salinity control and climate resilience.
158. PahalgamJammu and KashmirFlash floods from cloudburst-like events devastated the town, exposing Himalayan vulnerability to extreme weather.
159. PakistanPakistanIslamabad brokered the US-Iran-Israel ceasefire dubbed the Islamabad Accord.
160. Palk StraitIndia and Sri LankaThe long-running fishermen dispute across this strait figured in the Vice-Presidential visit, with a humanitarian approach agreed.
161. Pamba RiverKeralaHeavy rain in the Sabarimala catchment flooded the Pamba, Kerala's third-longest river.
162. Paracel IslandsSouth China Sea (disputed)Satellite imagery suggests China is building its largest South China Sea military base on the Paracels.
163. Prambanan TempleIndonesiaIndia agreed to help Indonesia conserve Prambanan, the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia.
164. Puga ValleyLadakhLadakh's Lieutenant Governor laid the foundation for a geothermal pilot plant here at 14,000 feet, tapping one of India's hottest known geothermal fields.
165. PunjabPunjabThe Supreme Court flagged Punjab's deepening drug crisis as a national public-health emergency.
166. RakhigarhiHaryanaIndia's largest known Harappan site stayed in focus as ancient-DNA studies from its excavated skeletons reshaped debates on South Asian population origins.
167. Red SeaNortheast Africa and West AsiaEscalating attacks on commercial vessels disrupted this trade lane, forcing ships onto longer and costlier routes and underlining its centrality to global commerce.
168. RomaniaRomaniaPresident Murmu's week-long Eastern Europe tour included Romania, signalling strategic focus on the region.
169. Rub' al KhaliSaudi ArabiaThe Empty Quarter is the world's largest contiguous sand desert, spanning Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Yemen.
170. Sabang PortIndonesiaIndia and Indonesia moved to jointly develop Sabang Port at the mouth of the Malacca Strait.
171. Santa MartaColombiaThe Colombian coastal city hosted the first international conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels.
172. Saranda ForestJharkhandThe Supreme Court directed Jharkhand to notify Asia's largest contiguous sal forest as a wildlife sanctuary.
173. Sariska Tiger ReserveRajasthanSariska completed 18 years of the world's first tiger reintroduction programme.
174. SarnathUttar PradeshThis ancient Buddhist site became India's 45th World Heritage Site at the 48th World Heritage Committee session in Busan. The ancient Buddhist site of the Buddha's first sermon was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List at the 48th session in Busan, becoming India's 45th such site.
175. Satkosia Tiger ReserveOdishaOdisha set up a high-level panel to examine village relocation from Satkosia Tiger Reserve.
176. Saudi ArabiaSaudi ArabiaRiyadh joined the India-conceived International Big Cat Alliance as its 26th member.
177. Sea of AzovRussia and UkraineReported Russian air strikes in its waters raised security concerns.
178. Segur PlateauTamil NaduThe Supreme Court upheld removal of commercial activity from this Nilgiri elephant corridor.
179. SeychellesSeychellesThe PM's visit highlighted maritime security cooperation in the western Indian Ocean.
180. Shipki LaHimachal PradeshCross-border trade between India and China resumed through the pass after six years. The Sutlej enters India from Tibet near this historic trade point on the Line of Actual Control.
181. Siachen GlacierLadakhStrategic attention on the glacier and its supply routes intensified amid India-China and India-Pakistan boundary tensions.
182. SikkimSikkimSikkim became the first state with a fully paperless judiciary under the e-Courts mission.
183. SingaporeSingaporeThe Shangri-La Dialogue was held in Singapore; India signed a $700-million BrahMos deal with Vietnam on its sidelines.
184. SivakasiTamil NaduThe fireworks-manufacturing hub was flagged for illegal production as regulators pushed safer alternatives after festival accidents.
185. Siyom RiverArunachal PradeshAn expert panel deferred the 1,000 MW Siyom barrage over seismic and landslide risks.
186. SomnathGujaratThe Somnath temple marked 75 years since its post-Independence reopening.
187. Sone RiverBiharBihar and Jharkhand signed a new pact to share the Sone's waters, 53 years after the Bansagar agreement.
188. South China SeaEast and Southeast AsiaChina tightened administrative control in the region, which carries over half of India's trade via the Malacca Strait and sits at the centre of overlapping claims by China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. China issued management measures for the Huangyan Dao National Nature Reserve in the disputed sea, a move set to deepen the maritime row with the Philippines, which claims the shoal as Scarborough.
189. South SudanSouth SudanIndia condemned an attack on UN peacekeepers (UNMISS) in Jonglei State.
190. Sri LankaSri LankaThe first-ever Indian Vice-Presidential visit brought expanded OCI eligibility for Indian-origin Tamils and a Trincomalee energy-hub push.
191. Strait of HormuzIran and OmanIts closure and reopening during the West Asia crisis directly threatened India's Gulf energy imports, which meet about 60% of its needs. Iran proposed licensing and toll fees on undersea fibre-optic cables passing through the strait. The West Asia conflict revived global anxiety over this chokepoint, through which a large share of the world's oil moves; India pushed its fair, firm and focused diplomatic approach while diversifying energy sources. Iran and Oman agreed to reopen the strait for 60 days; about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes through this key chokepoint.
192. Subansiri Lower DamArunachal PradeshIndia's largest hydel project (2,000 MW) with the Northeast's tallest concrete gravity dam.
193. Subansiri RiverArunachal PradeshThe Brahmaputra's largest tributary hosts India's biggest hydel project.
194. SundarbansWest BengalA Kolkata study found microplastics disrupting the delta's food web and weakening its blue-carbon function.
195. SurinameSurinameThe EAM's Caribbean-South America tour honouring Girmitiya links included Suriname.
196. Taiwan StraitChina and TaiwanSightings of Chinese government vessels in the strait rose from 30 to 55 during June 2026, underlining its role as a busy and contested Indo-Pacific flashpoint connecting the East and South China Seas.
197. Tamirabharani RiverTamil NaduThe Madurai Bench declared the Tamirabharani a deity and legal person, extending river personhood jurisprudence.
198. Tawang TractArunachal PradeshChina claims roughly 90,000 sq km in Arunachal Pradesh including the Tawang Tract, defining the eastern sector dispute.
199. Teesta RiverWest BengalThe disputed Himalayan river returned to headlines as Bangladesh sought Chinese support for its Teesta project.
200. Thar DesertIndia and PakistanA Great Indian Bustard chick hatched in Kutch after a decade, under the first inter-state conservation initiative.
201. Thotlakonda Buddhist SiteAndhra PradeshDelegates of the 2026 BRICS Youth Ministers' Meeting visited this ancient Buddhist site on the Andhra coast.
202. TrincomaleeSri LankaTrincomalee was pushed as a joint India-Sri Lanka energy hub with a proposed fuel pipeline and WWII-era oil tank farms.
203. Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and TobagoThe EAM's Girmitiya-heritage tour of the Caribbean included Trinidad and Tobago.
204. Tungabhadra DamKarnatakaThirty-three new spillway gates were inaugurated in late June 2026 alongside a water-sharing consensus among Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The dam irrigates the Krishna basin and supports the Hampi region.
205. Tuti IslandSudanThe Nile-confluence island became a war focal point under a 2023-25 RSF blockade.
206. UgandaUgandaUganda confirmed an Ebola case imported from DRC as WHO declared a global health emergency.
207. UlaanbaatarMongoliaThe Mongolian capital hosted UNCCD COP17 (Aug 17-28, 2026) on land restoration and drought resilience.
208. Umiam LakeMeghalayaAfter protests, Lumpongdeng Island in this Shillong reservoir was dropped from a proposed luxury resort project.
209. UmroiMeghalayaThe Meghalaya military station hosted PRAGATI 2026, a multilateral Indian Ocean Region army drill.
210. United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab EmiratesIndia and the UAE signed a strategic defence partnership framework, adding to counter-terror and maritime cooperation.
211. United KingdomUnited KingdomThe India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement entered into force, cutting tariffs on 99% of lines.
212. United StatesUnited StatesWashington moved to add a $103,265 fee on every new H-1B petition, with direct stakes for India's tech workforce.
213. Uttar PradeshUttar PradeshUnseasonal thunderstorms killed multiple people in the state.
214. UzbekistanUzbekistanTashkent hosted the 7th India-Uzbekistan DUSTLIK exercise; ties were later elevated at the SCO summit.
215. VenezuelaVenezuelaA 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Venezuela's coast; India launched Operation Amistad to evacuate citizens.
216. VietnamVietnamIndia signed a $700-million BrahMos missile deal with Vietnam, a landmark defence export.
217. Western GhatsIndiaThe Centre reissued the draft notification for an Ecologically Sensitive Area across 56,825 sq km of these hills spanning six states. The Centre declared the biodiversity hotspot an eco-sensitive area, with the notification stuck at its sixth draft amid state-level resistance.
218. Wular LakeJammu & KashmirThis Ramsar-listed lake registered significant shrinkage in the same long-term satellite study that flagged Dal Lake's decline.
219. Yamuna RiverUttar PradeshThe Supreme Court set up an expert committee for a Yamuna cleanup roadmap.
220. YaoundeCameroonThe Cameroonian capital hosted the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference, which ended without consensus.
221. Zojila PassLadakhA deadly avalanche near Zojila renewed debate over the Srinagar-Leh lifeline.