May 18, 2026 — Quick roundup of developments from India and abroad.
Delhi rejects Dutch concerns
India’s Ministry of External Affairs pushed back strongly against reported Dutch criticism over the state of minority rights and press freedom. Speaking in The Hague, MEA secretary (West) Sibi George said such questions reflect “a lack of understanding” of India’s long history and cultural diversity. He described India as a “noisy democracy” where freedom of expression and a free press persist, and stressed India’s plural character as the context for interpreting domestic developments.
India continues buying Russian oil despite US waiver lapse
At a media briefing, Sujata Sharma, joint secretary in India’s petroleum ministry, said India has been buying Russian crude before, during and after the US waiver period and will continue to do so where it makes commercial sense. Her remarks to Reuters came after the US allowed a sanctions waiver permitting some countries to import Russian seaborne oil to lapse. Sharma said there is no shortage of crude for India and that existing supply ties will keep energy flows steady. The row recalls previous US pressure on New Delhi: in August last year Washington threatened a 50% tariff on certain Indian exports over continued Russian oil purchases.
Family incentives in Andhra Pradesh as fertility falls
The southern state of Andhra Pradesh announced cash incentives aimed at encouraging larger families amid a falling fertility rate. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu unveiled a package that would pay 30,000 rupees for a third child and 40,000 rupees for a fourth. The policy is a reversal of earlier family-planning emphasis and replaces a prior proposal that had offered 25,000 rupees for a second child. The move responds to a Total Fertility Rate that has dropped to about 1.9 births per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1.
Modi begins Norway visit on Nordic tour
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Oslo for what India called the third India–Nordic Summit, marking the first Indian prime ministerial visit to Norway in over four decades. Modi is scheduled to meet King Harald V and Queen Sonja, and hold talks with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. India’s foreign ministry said the summit will focus on cooperation in technology and innovation, the green transition and renewables, sustainability and the blue economy, defence, space and Arctic issues. The Norway stop follows Modi’s visits to the Netherlands and Sweden earlier in his four-nation European tour.
India condemns drone strike near UAE nuclear plant
India expressed deep concern after a drone strike hit an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE, sparking a fire. The foreign ministry called the attack “a dangerous escalation,” urged restraint, and appealed for a return to dialogue and diplomacy. Barakah is the only operating nuclear power plant on the Arabian Peninsula and provides a significant share of the UAE’s electricity.
What to watch
Expect continued scrutiny of India’s energy ties as global geopolitics shift, further debate over domestic policies on civil liberties in diplomatic exchanges, and more announcements from state governments responding to demographic change. Prime Minister Modi’s Nordic engagements will be watched for concrete deals on renewables, technology and trade.