Bilateral Brief

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Embassy of India 
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India-France Bilateral Brief 

Overview 

India and France established diplomatic relations soon after India’s independence in 1947 and  have enjoyed close and friendly relations since then. Launched on 26 January 1998, the Strategic  Partnership with France was the first-ever for India with a Western nation, and the first for France  with a non-Western nation. The Strategic Partnership embodied the core vision of both countries to  enhance their respective strategic autonomy by drawing upon a strong and enhanced bilateral  cooperation. Defence and security, civil nuclear matters and space constitute the principal pillars of  this strategic cooperation. In recent years, the partnership has broadened to include cooperation in  artificial intelligence, blue economy, environment, innovation, science and technology, sustainable  development, renewable energy, and trilateral cooperation with a focus on the Indo-Pacific. 

  1. The core of India-France partnership is underpinned by our shared democratic values, belief in  multilateralism as a means to tackle global challenges, respect for international law, and strong  economic, cultural, academic, and people-to-people ties. The year 2023 marked 25 years of India France strategic partnership when Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official visit on 13-14 July as  the guest of honour at the French National Day. During the visit, both sides adopted the Horizon 2047  Roadmap, setting the course for the next 25 years until 2047, a year that will mark centenaries of  India’s independence and diplomatic relations between both countries. 
  2. Prime Minister Modi paid an official visit to France on 13-14 June 2026 (Nice) and 16-18 June  2026 (Evian and Paris). In Nice, both leaders jointly inaugurated the Bharat Innovates event that  showcased 120 deep-tech startups from India across 13 sectors, and brought together innovators, technology institutions and close to 500 investors, venture capitalists and business leaders from India,  France and around the world. Both leaders also held bilateral talks, which was their first after the  India-France bilateral relationship was elevated to the level of a Special Global Strategic Partnership in  February 2026. Major outcomes of the meeting include setting up of a high-level mechanism to double  bilateral trade within five years, the establishment of a dialogue on economic security, the adoption of  Innovation Roadmap 2030, the signing of 19 agreements between institutions in the innovation  ecosystem of both countries, the creation of an India-France Joint Working Group on Artificial  Intelligence and its global governance, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on establishing a center of excellence in skilling in aeronautics at the campus of the Indian Institute of Technology in  Kanpur, and a declaration of intent on cooperation in the railways sector and other areas.  
  1. On 16-17 June, Prime Minister Modi participated in the G7 Summit in Evian, where he spoke in  the sessions on Forging New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity; Reviving  Balanced, Shared and Sustainable Economic Growth for All; and Ensuring a Safe, Rapid and  Efficient Rollout of AI. On 18 June, Prime Minister Modi visited Paris and delivered a keynote address at the VivaTech Summit, Europe's largest technology and startup event, where India was the Official  AI Country Partner, with the largest national pavilion showcasing more than 80 innovators and  startups in AI and deep-tech.  
  2. The visit of Prime Minister Modi followed a visit by President Macron to India (Mumbai and  New Delhi) on 17-19 February 2026, where he participated in the Artificial Intelligence Impact  Summit 2026. This was President Macron’s fourth visit to India. President Macron first visited  Mumbai, where the two leaders held bilateral talks and jointly inaugurated the 2026 India-France  Year of Innovation. On this occasion, both leaders agreed to elevate relations to a Special Global  Strategic Partnership to guide bilateral cooperation in the coming decades. The upgrading of relations  reflects the growing ambitions and vision shared by the two leaders on India-France relationship. The  leaders established an annual Foreign Ministers Comprehensive Dialogue for regularly reviewing the  progress of bilateral cooperation and implementation of the elevated partnership, and the Horizon  2047 Roadmap, in particular, in the areas of economic security, global issues and people to people  exchanges. 
  3. In February 2025, Prime Minister Modi had paid a visit to France and co-chaired the AI Action  Summit in Paris along with President Macron. During the visit, PM Modi had also visited Marseille,  where both leaders jointly inaugurated India’s Consulate General in Marseille and paid respects to  Indian soldiers who lost their lives during World War I at Mazargues War Cemetery. In 2024,  President Macron had paid a state visit to India as the Chief Guest for the 75th Republic Day of India  on 26 January 2024. For the two leaders to be the guests of honour at successive national days  respectively was unprecedented, and a high point in the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the  declaration of the strategic partnership between the two countries. 
  4. Both leaders have used the opportunities offered by multilateral summits to meet regularly and  review the progress of bilateral relations, in particular the Horizon 2047 Roadmap. For instance, both  leaders met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, in June 2025, and on the  sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, in November 2025. Both leaders also  maintained contact through telephone conversations . 

Other High-level Political Exchanges 

  1. Both sides have been able to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, with discussions  centering around bilateral issues and mutual global concerns, reflecting the strategic convergence  between the two countries. 
  2. Most recently, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, undertook an official visit to France (Paris and Marseille) in July 2026 during which she co-chaired  the India-France Economic and Financial Dialogue with Mr. Roland Lescure, Minister of Economy,  Finance, Industrial, Energy, and Digital Sovereignty of France, in Aix-en-Provence. As part of the visit,  

Finance Minister Seetharaman also participated as a panel speaker at Les Rencontres Economiques  d’Aix-en-Provence, highlighting India’s robust economic trajectory and the expanding role of its  middle class in driving global consumption.  

  1. External Affairs Minister (EAM), Dr. S. Jaishankar, visited France on 26-27 March 2026 to  participate in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with partner countries. On the sidelines, he called on  President Macron and also held a bilateral meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.  
  2. Earlier this year, in January 2026, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Barrot, EAM paid a visit  to France and addressed the 31st Conference of Ambassadors of France as the guest of honour. He was  the first non-European Foreign Minister to have been invited by the French side as the guest of honour  at this Conference. During the visit, EAM called on President Macron and held bilateral discussions  

with his counterpart. EAM also participated in the first India-Weimar Foreign Ministers’ meeting,  which included the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Poland. EAM also interacted with  French parliamentarians, including members of the India-France Parliamentary Friendship Group  and the Parliamentary Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee. He also held discussions with the  Executive Director of International Energy Agency, Mr. Fatih Birol, and the Director General of  UNESCO, Mr. Khaled El-Enany. 

  1. In 2025, EAM paid an official visit to France in early June during which he held discussions  with Foreign Minister Barrot and called on President Macron. During the visit, he also attended the  inaugural Mediterranean edition of Raisina Dialogue in Marseille, together with Foreign Minister  Barrot. The Mediterranean edition will now be an annual event in Marseille providing a platform for  conversations on Mediterranean linkages with India and the Indo-Pacific region that has the potential  to shape a common future for the region. 
  2. Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, visited Nice for the Bharat Innovates event on 14-16 June 2026. During his visit, the Minister visited Sophia Antipolis, Europe's top science  and technology hub, to boost India's deep-tech ties with European markets, and also launched the 

Unified Payments Interface at Galeries Lafayette Nice Massena. He also visited Paris on 17-18 June  2026 to participate in the Vivatech Summit 2026.  

  1. Minister Goyal had earlier visited Paris on 1-3 June 2025 for participating in the WTO  Ministers gathering on the sidelines of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting at the OECD  headquarters. The Minister had also held meetings with the French Minister of Economy Eric  Lombard, and French Foreign Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin. A CEO Forum Small-Group  Meeting was held on 3 June 2025 co-chaired by Minister Goyal and the then French Trade Minister  Laurent Saint-Martin. 
  2. Several high dignitaries and Ministers of both sides maintained exchanges on a regular basis,  including through bilateral visits and on the sidelines of multilateral events. 

(a) In January 2026, Minister of State of Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada  visited Paris for AI Impact Summit pre-event in Paris, and held bilateral interactions with his  counterpart, the Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs, Ms. Anne Le Hénanff.  Minister Prasada had earlier visited Paris from 10-13 June 2025 to attend the Vivatech Summit. 

(b) Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited France on 26-28  September 2025. During the visit, he met with the French Minister of Culture, Ms. Rachida Dati, and  discussed further strengthening India–France cultural cooperation, including collaboration in the  areas of transcription and translation of manuscripts, and in the field of museums, particularly with  regard to the ongoing cooperation on the Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum Project. 

(c) Minister of Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, visited Nice to participate in the third United  Nations Ocean Conference on 9-13 June 2025; 

(d) Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant visited Paris on 31 January-02 February 2026 during  which he met key French judicial counterparts, including Richard Ferrand, President of the  Constitutional Council, to discuss cooperation in judicial technology and training.  

(e) Dr P K Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, visited Nice on 6-7 June 2025 to co chair the seventh International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. 

(f) Shri Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Chairman, SEBI, visited Paris on 24-26 September, 2025 as a  speaker at the Financial Stability Engagement Group (FSEG) meeting hosted by AMF, France, on  impact of AI for securities regulators. 

(g) From France, Mr. François-Noël Buffet, French Minister of State of Interior, visited India on  23 April 2025, to jointly inaugurate the second edition of MILIPOL India along with Minister of State  for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai. 

 

(h) A delegation headed by Director General of National Security Guard (NSG) of India attended  MILIPOL Paris in November 2025, on the occasion of which a Letter of Intent on Cooperation  between NSG and National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN) of France in the field of counter terrorism was signed. 

  1. In terms of bilateral dialogues, on 13 January 2026, NSA Ajit Doval co-chaired the 38th India France Strategic Dialogue with Diplomatic Advisor to the French President Emmanuel Bonne and  Military Advisor to the President General Vincent Giraud in New Delhi. During the visit, Mr. Bonne  also met EAM and called on Prime Minister Modi. 
  2. India France Foreign Office Consultations were held on 13 April 2026 in Paris, co-chaired by  Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri and Secretary-General of the French Ministry for Europe and  Foreign Affairs, Mr. Martin Briens. During the visit, Foreign Secretary also called on Mr. Jean-Noël  Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, and met Mr. Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic  Advisor to the President of France. Last year, the Foreign Office Consultations were held in January  2025 in Paris. Apart from this, bilateral consultations on Indo-Pacific, global issues, UN, Middle-East,  disarmament and non-proliferation, counter-terrorism, health, and consular issues have been taking  place on a regular basis. 

Defence Cooperation 

  1. India and France have a strong and robust defence partnership with an increasing  Atmanirbharata element in it. The defence cooperation between the two sides is reviewed under the  Annual Defence Dialogue (Defence Minister-level) and by the High Committee on Defence Cooperation (Secretary-level). The sixth Annual Defence Dialogue co-chaired by Raksha Mantri Shri  Rajnath Singh and his counterpart Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs of France Ms  Catherine Vautrin was held on 17 February 2026 in Bengaluru, Karnataka. At the dialogue, both  countries renewed the ten-year defence cooperation agreement and also announced reciprocal  deployment of officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments. 
  2. There have been several high-level visits on the military side. French Chief of Staff, General  Pierre Schill, was on an official visit to India in February 2024 and then visited India again in October  2025 to participate in the UN Troop Contributing Countries’ Chief’s Conclave. From the Indian side,  the Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, visited France in April 2024, followed by a visit by  Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, in February 2025. French Navy Chief, Admiral Nicolas  Vaujour, visited India to attend 9th Conclave of Chiefs of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)  convened at Visakhapatnam on 20 February 2026. Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh visited France  in the first week of June 2026.

  1. Among the significant achievements in the defence partnership is the P-75 Scorpene Project of  which the last and the sixth submarine was commissioned in the Indian Navy in January 2025, and  the completion of delivery of 36 Rafale aircrafts by France to India in 2022. 
  2. On 28 April 2025, the Governments of India and France signed an Inter-Governmental  Agreement for the procurement of 26 Rafale-M aircrafts for the Indian Navy. In line with the  Government's thrust on Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the Agreement includes transfer of technology for  integration of indigenous weapons in India. It also includes setting up of a production facility for  Rafale fuselage as well as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities for aircraft engine,  sensors and weapons in India. 
  3. In November 2025, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Safran Aircraft Engine Services India  (SAESI) facility at the GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park near Hyderabad airport via  videoconferencing. The facility, set up by French aerospace major Safran, is India’s first deep-level  aircraft engine MRO centre established by a global original equipment manufacturer. It is designed to  service up to 300 LEAP engines (which power Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircrafts) a year,  and is expected to employ more than 1,000 technicians and engineers by 2035. Safran also officially  announced a new MRO shop dedicated to the M88 engine powering the Rafale fighter jet, in  Hyderabad, adjacent to the LEAP engine center. In addition, Safran signed a joint venture and  cooperation agreement with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to manufacture Safran’s Hammer  modular air-to-surface weapon. The Hammer can be integrated on multiple aircraft types, including  the Rafale and India’s single-seat HAL Tejas. Prime Minister Modi and President Macron virtually  inaugurated the H125 helicopter final assembly line at Vemagal, Karnataka on 17 February 2026.  
  4. India France joint defence exercises have grown in scope and complexity over the years.  Bilateral staff talks between respective services of the two militaries take place regularly. Bilateral  army exercise SHAKTI 2025 was held in France on 18 June-1 July 2025. The eighth edition of biennial  Ex-GARUDA between FASF and IAF was held at Mont-de-Marsan airbase in France on 12-29  November 2025. Both air forces also participate in multilateral exercises such as TARANG SHAKTI and MILAN. Both navies conducted bilateral exercise VARUNA in March 2025, and also participated  in multilateral exercises such as La Perouse. As a part of Operation Clemenceau, the French Carrier  Strike Group Charles De Gaulle visited India in January 2025. Milan 2026, the Indian Navy’s flagship  multilateral exercise was conducted in and around Visakhapatnam on 15-25 Feb 2026. French  Maritime Patrol Aircraft Atlantique 2 participated in the exercise. The French Armed forces  undertook the biennial Orion exercise during January-March 2026. 
  5. A letter of Intent on deepening the defence space partnership was signed on 26 January 2024  between India and France, which is a testimony to the increasing strategic co-operation in the field of  space. India participated as military observer in the AsterX-23 and AsterX-24 exercises in France. As a 

sign of increasing trust, the status of participation was enhanced from observer to a participant for the  exercise held in March 2025. 

  1. Both sides discussed maritime cooperation through India-France Maritime Cooperation  Dialogue led by Deputy National Security Advisor on the Indian side and Director General for  International Relations and Strategy on the French side. The last dialogue took place in Paris on 20 May 2026. The India-France Military Sub Committee Meeting was held at New Delhi on 12-13 May  2026. The French delegation was led by Vice Admiral Herve Hamelin. 
  2. Port calls are being held regularly. INS Tabar made a port call at Toulon in August-September  2024. The port call also included the harbour phase of Ex VARUNA 2024. INS Talwar made a port  call at La Reunion in October 2024. Indian Navy training ships INS Tir and CGS Sarathi visited La  Reunion in September 2025, as part of efforts to strengthen maritime cooperation between the two  countries. INS Sudarshini participated in Escale à Sete event from 31 March to 06 April 2026. The  port call of this ship commemorated 400 years of the French Navy, and the long standing Indo-French  friendship.  
  3. FRIND-X, an event between the defence technology and start-up ecosystems of India and  France was organised with an aim to provide a platform for collaboration in December 2024 in Paris.  Over 20 start-ups on both sides attended the event, which spanned different sectors, including AI,  drone technologies, space and quantum. 

Trilateral Cooperation 

  1. Apart from bilateral dialogues, India and France also have separate trilateral institutional  exchanges with Australia and UAE. Ministerial-level meetings as well as focal point meetings of both  mechanisms are being held regularly, including on the sidelines of multilateral events. On 7 May 2026,  India-France-UAE trilateral meeting at the level of Foreign Secretary took place in Abu Dhabi, UAE.  France is one of the original signatories to the MoU on India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor  that was signed on the margins of the G20 summit in Delhi on 9 September 2023. 
  2. In furtherance to the India-France Roadmap on Indo-Pacific of 2023, in February 2025, both  sides signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on Triangular Development Cooperation to identify and  implement sustainable development goals and climate-focused projects in priority sectors, including  digital innovation, digital public infrastructure, clean energy, green technologies, preservation of  biodiversity, women empowerment, education, health, nutrition, water, and sanitation. 

Space Cooperation 

  1. India and France have a rich history of space cooperation spanning over fifty years, built on a  strong partnership between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the French space 

agency, Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES). This long-standing partnership has matured over  the years, now encompassing multiple domains and underscoring the robust strategic partnership  between the two nations. ISRO and CNES continue to advance joint programmes in Earth observation,  space geodesy, human spaceflight, next-generation launch vehicle technologies, and planetary  exploration. 

  1. The first India-France Strategic Space Dialogue was held in Paris on 26 June 2023 led by then  Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra and the then Secretary General, Ministry for Europe and  Foreign Affairs, Anne-Marie Descôtes, where they identified areas for cooperation under the civil  space cooperation and defence space cooperation tracks. The second India–France Strategic Space  Dialogue, held in New Delhi on 4 March 2024, assessed progress of the inaugural meeting and  explored new opportunities under the broader Horizon 2047 Roadmap. 
  2. ISRO and CNES have concluded a joint declaration for cooperation in future launch vehicle  technologies, and an agreement for cooperation in joint earth observation mission TRISHNA,  maritime domain awareness and space situational awareness. Notable progress is being made in these  domains. While ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has launched French satellites on  commercial basis, Arianespace France has been a major provider of launch services to Indian  geostationary satellites. In the year 2024, Arianespace and NSIL signed an MOU, which establishes a  long-term partnership to jointly address global satellite launch demands using NSIL’s LVM-3 and  Arianespace’s Ariane-6 vehicles. 
  3. Industrial and Start-up Partnerships: The Indian Space Association (ISpA) and the French  Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 9  October 2023 during the second edition of the Indian Space Conclave in New Delhi. The agreement  aims to foster deeper understanding of space industry capabilities and explore business opportunities  between India and France, and promotes enhanced business-to-business (B2B) and startup-to-startup  collaborations, driving innovation and sustainable growth in the bilateral space sector.  
  4. During President Macron’s visit to India in February 2026, both sides reaffirmed their long standing cooperation in civil satellite development and human flight programs. An MoU between two  private firms was signed for maritime satellite ground infrastructure and surveillance. Three contracts  were signed for a French leader to supply electric propulsion to three Indian companies. A bilateral  private contract was signed to deploy optical stations for Space Situational Awareness. Both sides  prioritized LEO constellations for high-speed connectivity to underpin digital and AI innovation. 
  5. A Letter of Intent between CNES and ISRO concerning cooperation in the field of microgravity  research and human space exploration was signed during the Bharat Innovates event in Nice in June  2026, during Prime Minister Modi's visit.

Cyber Cooperation 

  1. India and France have a cyber dialogue mechanism to discuss cyber cooperation and related  matters. A dialogue on cyber security matters was held in Paris on 9 Jan 2024. 

Cooperation on Counter terrorism 

  1. India and France have a robust cooperation on topics relating to countering terrorism in all its  forms and manifestations, including under UN forums. The 17th Meeting of the Joint Working Group  on Counterterrorism was held in September 2025 in Paris. Further boosting the bilateral counter terrorism and intelligence cooperation, a Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed between National Security  Guard (NSG) and Groupe d'Intervention Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGN) of France. The LoI will  enhance operational efficiency and expertise sharing in joint fight against terrorism. India participated  in the fifth No Money for Terror conference, hosted by France in Paris on 19 May 2026.  

Civil Nuclear Cooperation 

  1. India and France have a deep cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including in  relation to the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant Project. India-France Special Task Force on Nuclear  Energy within the framework of the Indo-French Strategic Dialogue met twice in 2025. It was co chaired by Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri from the Indian side and the then Secretary-General of  the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ms. Anne-Marie Descôtes, from the French side.  Besides, both sides have agreed to work on establishing a partnership on Small Modular Reactors  (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR). During the visit of Prime Minister Modi in February  2025, both sides signed a letter of intent on SMRs and AMRs, and the Implementing Agreement  between India’s GCNEP, DAE, and France’s INSTN, CEA, for cooperation in training and education of  nuclear professionals. The cooperation on JNPP and exploration of SMRs and AMRs signifies a shared  vision for sustainable and efficient nuclear energy solutions. 
  2. In 2025, Dr V K Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, visited France in October and delivered a  keynote address at India Fusion Day organized by ITER in south of France. Over ten leading Indian  companies and more than 20 industry delegates participated in the 6th edition of World Nuclear  Exhibition (WNE) held in November 2025 in Paris showcasing their nuclear engineering capabilities,  advanced technologies and expertise across the nuclear sector. 
  3. The Second Nuclear Energy Summit was hosted by France and IAEA in Paris on 10 March  2026. The Summit was inaugurated by President Macron alongside DG, IAEA. From the Indian side,  Shri Shantanu Paraswar, Director (Operations), NPCIL had participated in the Summit.

Trade and Investment 

  1. Within the European Union, France is India’s third-largest trading partner, after the  Netherlands and Germany. For the year 2025-26, Indian exports to France amounted to Euros 6.1  billion. The bilateral trade between India and France has more than doubled in the last decade to  Euros 13.6 billion in 2025-26. Bilateral trade with France is expected to grow further with the signing  of India-EU Free Trade Agreement on 27 January 2026. 
  2. France is the 11th largest foreign investor in India with a cumulative investment of over Euros  10 billion from April 2000 to December 2025 which represents 1.55 percent of the total FDI inflows  into India. Top 5 FDI equity inflows are in: services sector (17.65 percent), cement and gypsum  products (8.37 percent), air transport (including air freight) (6.87 percent), miscellaneous industries  (6.54 percent) and petroleum and natural gas (6.20 percent). These five sectors represent 45.62% of  the total equity inflow from France from April 2000 to December 2025. Most big French groups have  their subsidiaries in India: 38 of the 40 French CAC 40 companies are already present in India, and  around 50-70 SMEs are also present in India, essentially in the mechanical and pharma-chemical  sectors. 
  3. Discussions during various high-level visits in 2024-25 focused on trade, technological  advancements, and energy security, reflecting a commitment to deepening ties for mutual economic  growth and global leadership. France considers India an important market for its products, and is  looking to increase the number of joint ventures and encourage investments in and from India. Both  countries are also moving to jointly develop technologies and integrate existing technologies. The  process of enabling Unified Payment Interface (UPI) in France has started. Several Indian companies,  including TCS and L&T Tech Service, have opened their innovation centres in France for joint  technology development. 
  4. Several events are routinely held in France to strengthen trade, investment, and technology ties  between the two countries, including promotion of Indian fashion and Indian textiles, round-table  conferences on opportunities in India’s first International Financial Services Centre at GIFT City,  Gujarat, round-table conferences with CEOs of major French companies in construction, automobile,  education, infrastructure, logistics and technology, and UPI and digital infrastructure. Several  delegations of companies from FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM regularly visit France and hold round table meetings, seminars and workshops in different sectors with their French counterparts. 

Financial Cooperation 

  1. The Reserve Bank of India entered into an MoU with Banque de France (the French central  bank) in March 2026 providing for regular high-level dialogues, exchanges of experts, and joint  projects in areas specific to central banks.

Digital Cooperation 

  1. During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Paris in July 2023, NPCI International Payments  Limited (NIPL) and France’s Lyra Collect executed an agreement to implement UPI in France and  Europe. The payment mechanism went live at the Eiffel Tower during President Macron’s visit to India  on 26 January 2024, as the first merchant in France to accept UPI. Subsequently, UPI payments were  launched at Galeries Lafayette on 3 July 2024 and at the La Vallée Village Concierge in 2025, with the  most recent expansion undertaken in June 2026 at Galeries Lafayette Nice Massena. As of June 2026,  approximately 9,000 successful transactions, amounting to nearly €930,000, have been recorded  since UPI’s launch in France. Efforts are now focused on expanding acceptance across key touchpoints  relevant to Indian tourists, including airports, retail, pharmacies, restaurants, museums, and  transport.  
  2. With a shared belief in the power of a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) approach for the  development of open, free, democratic and inclusive digital economies and digital societies, India and  France have advanced multi-stakeholder exchanges through the InFraStructures (India France  Structures) and InFinity (India France Innovation in Information Technology) platforms. There have  been three editions of the InFraStructures workshop in 2022, 2023 and 2025. Additionally, a half-day  session on DPI for 45 French civil servants was organized in 2023, 2024 and 2025.  
  3. Under the Station F-HEC Paris International Launchpad program, ten Indian startups  participated at Station F in May 2025 for a four-month program. Following MeitY’s engagements with  Station F-HEC for enrolling two more cohorts, the second cohort of ten Indian startups pitched at the  IndiaAI Demo Day, held at STATION F in Paris, on 24 June 2026. The startups cover a wide range of  sectors, from health and climate technologies to industrial AI, through space technologies and deep tech innovation, and presented cutting-edge solutions.  
  4. As part of the joint DPI cooperation efforts, India and France have mutually identified potential  high-impact initiatives in the areas of mobility, commerce and culture, as initial focus areas to  showcase the significant benefits of inter-connectedness between platforms accomplished by  leveraging open protocols. 

India France Year of Innovation 

  1. India and France are celebrating the India-France Year of Innovation in the year 2026, which was  jointly inaugurated by President Macron and Prime Minister Modi on 17 February 2026 in Mumbai.  Both leaders launched Indo-French Innovation Network as its flagship initiative. The Year of  Innovation will feature a series of events in both countries throughout the year, spanning diverse  sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital art, defence technology, and sustainability. 

These engagements aim to foster collaboration between startups, academic institutions, research  bodies, and industry leaders.  

  1. Bharat Innovates, a flagship programme of India’s Ministry of Education, was celebrated under  the India-France Year of Innovation in Nice on 14-16 June, 2026. It was jointly inaugurated by the two  leaders on 14 June in Nice. The event showcased 120 deep-tech startups and 45 Higher Education  Institution (HEI) innovations to over 2,000 global participants and facilitated over 1,350 high-value  B2B matchmaking sessions. This intensive engagement led to funding commitments of over Euros 220  million. Reinforcing these commercial milestones, the event advanced long-term systemic alignment  through a flagship academic framework linking 12 IITs and IISc with France’s prestigious UDICE  Group, alongside 7 incubator-level Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and an AIM–Dassault  Systèmes agreement to launch a School Innovation Lab. 

Cultural Cooperation 

  1. Indian culture enjoys a wide and discerning audience among the French population, reflected in  the numerous and frequent cultural activities held across France. Taking it to the next level, India  operationalised the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) in Paris on March 26, 2026. The  inaugural event was attended by Ms. Eléonore Caroit, French Minister Delegate for Europe and  Foreign Affairs as Chief Guest, and marked the opening of its first exhibition titled L’art de l’Inde  d’aujourd’hui (Living Arts of India) – an anthology of more than 80 art works by 40 artists from India  and beyond, celebrating India’s living artistic traditions. In addition, the SVCC organises cultural  events to bring the authentic flavour of Indian performing arts directly to the people of France, and  offers classes in Yoga, Hindi language, Indian classical music and Indian classical dances, making it a  living bridge between the two nations. In addition to the official cultural exchanges, a substantial  number of Indian artists perform in France on a commercial basis and/or at the initiative of various  local cultural associations making it a people-to-people endeavour. Further, one French sculptor and  one French painter were sent to Jaipur for a ten-day art residency sponsored by ICCR in May-June  2026. Some of their creations were showcased at the Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice in the presence of  Prime Minister Modi and President Macron. 
  2. A major highlight in recent years was the Festival of India, Namaste France 2023, which was held  at La Seine Musicale in Paris on 6-9 July 2023. The festival showcased renowned Indian visual and  performing artists spanning classical, modern, and contemporary traditions. It featured 18 concerts,  16 workshops, and seven panel discussions, along with a craft bazaar, a tribal paintings exhibition, a  photo exhibition on the Rabari nomadic tribe etc. The next edition of Namaste France will be hosted  in 2028 to mark the 30 years of India-France strategic partnership. In addition, several French cities  host Indian cultural festivals that showcase our culture through dance, music, films and gastronomy 

including Namaste Nantes, the India Carnival at Val-de-Reuil, Desi Week in Bobigny, the Indian  Festival in Grigny, Happy Inde in Nice and Ganga Sur Seine (Film Festival) in Paris. 

  1. India sets up a pavilion every year at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival where it was the  Country of Honour in 2022. In October 2025, India also participated in MIPCOM 2025 in Cannes, an  annual international trade show for the television industry. India established its pavilion under the  WAVES - World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit banner, highlighting its strengths in films,  OTT platforms, animation, and gaming. 
  2. Building upon the agreement signed between the National Museum in Delhi and France  Muséums Développement in December 2024, India and France are making progress in establishing  the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum as a global cultural landmark. Furthermore, discussions are ongoing  for cooperation on the National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal. 
  3. To mark the 30 years of India-France strategic partnership in 2028, a cultural year dedicated to  India will be celebrated at the French National Museum of Asian Arts (Musée Guimet) and an  exhibition dedicated to contemporary Indian photography will take place at the Musée du Quai Branly.  

Cooperation in Blue Economy 

  1. Both sides have decided to enlarge the scope of maritime cooperation to address issues of  sustainable use of marine resources, and work towards ocean governance, including through  coordination in relevant international bodies. In this regard, an India-France Roadmap on Blue  Economy and Ocean Governance was agreed to in February 2022 whose purpose was to exchange  views on respective priorities, share best practices and support ongoing and future cooperation. In  order to achieve this, an annual bilateral dialogue on the blue economy and ocean governance was  agreed. Its first meeting was held in Paris on 12 October 2023 where both sides had a detailed  discussion to explore cooperation on the agenda items across the institutional, economic and  infrastructure, scientific, academic, and cultural pillars of blue economy. 

Cooperation in Environment 

  1. India and France had launched International Solar Alliance (ISA) during COP21 in Paris in 2015,  and France is the current co-chair of ISA (2024-26). France also joined Coalition for Disaster Resilient  Infrastructure (CDRI) in July 2020 and held the rotating co-chair position for the April 2024–March  

2026 biennium alongside India. Notably, the 7th edition of International Conference on Disaster  Resilient Infrastructure (7 June 2025) was held in Nice which was the first time the conference was  held outside of India. Following this, on 21 April 2026, Mr Jean-Paul Seytre, Deputy Director General  for Global Affairs and Cultural and Economic Diplomacy of the French Ministry for Europe and 

Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the 7th Governing Council of the CDRI, in New Delhi, with Dr P.K. Mishra,  Principal Secretary to Prime Minister.  

  1. Apart from the above-mentioned cooperation in global issues, both sides have constituted a  Joint Working Group on Environment, the fourth meeting of which took place in July 2024. Ministries  of Renewable Energy on both sides also have an active cooperation through a Memorandum of  Understanding signed in 2021, which was renewed for five years during President Macron’s visit to  India in February 2026. 
  2. Green hydrogen has become a priority area of cooperation area for both India and France and  has been identified as one of the areas of interest in the above-mentioned MoU. Both countries have  even adopted a Road-map on Green Hydrogen in October 2022, including elements such as fostering  industrial partnerships, R&D to improve hydrogen technologies, certification, and establishing a  regulatory framework for developing a decarbonised hydrogen value chain. 

Cooperation in Health 

  1. Both countries are intensifying their cooperation in the field of health and medicine. As a first  step, a Declaration of Intent (DoI) has been signed on 23 January 2024 by both countries to cooperate  in the field of health and medicine. The DoI provides the basis for cooperation in new areas including  digital health, AI for healthcare, medical waste treatment technology, biotechnology, one health  approach for fight against antimicrobial resistance, exchange and training of skilled health  professionals. The first meeting of Joint Working Group in the field of healthcare was held on 28-29  January 2025 in Paris, when both sides held detailed discussions on anti-microbial resistance, digital  health and human resources for health. To push forward the collaboration in AI in Health, the Indo French institute for AI in global health was inaugurated in AIIMS, Delhi in February 2026 during  President Macron’s visit to India. This new center, jointly led by Sorbonne University, AIIMS, and the  Paris Brain Institute, aims to structure Indo-French scientific cooperation in the field of AI applied to  global health. 
  2. Apart from these, the Franco-Indian Campus (FIC) for Life Sciences and Health is a project  initiated by the French Government in 2022 that brings together 20 of the most prestigious French  and Indian higher education and research institutions and more than 80 research laboratories. The  

goal is to address jointly the global challenges related to life sciences and health, and build long lasting  cooperation between the two countries through student training. Previously, during Prime Minister  Modi’s visit to France in February 2025, India’s C-CAMP (Centre for Cellular and Molecular  Platforms) and France’s Paris Santé Campus entered into a partnership to establish an Indo-French  Life Sciences Sister Innovation Hub, which was reaffirmed during President Macron’s visit to India in 

  1. In February 2026, both sides announced establishment of the India-France Centre for Digital  Science and Technology. 
  2. On 19 February 2026, during the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, the French Health Data Hub  and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) launched a strategic collaboration to pilot India's  Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA) framework for secure and ethical health-data  sharing between the two countries. Supported by Paris Santé Campus and the iSPIRT Foundation, the  initiative's first proposed use case is a cardiology project involving Narayana Health and France's e Must registry. The project will compare myocardial infarction characteristics, use AI to analyse care  pathways and risk factors, and identify epidemiological differences to strengthen prevention strategies  in both countries. 
  3. To further the cooperation on infectious diseases and vector borne diseases, an LoI was signed  in February 2026 between Department of Biotechnology and French Institute ANRS MIE for joint  research projects in these areas. 

Cooperation in Education 

  1. India and France are committed to strengthening their academic ties and to foster exchanges of  students. The number of Indian students studying in France is estimated to be about 10,000, with the  target of having 30,000 Indian students in France by 2030. Among the Indian students who come to  France every year, the majority is for business management studies. With the New Education Policy  (NEP) 2020, French University campuses are also being welcomed in India. 
  2. In 2023, France launched a five-year validity Schengen visa for Indians who have studied in  France for at least one semester at Masters-degree level at a university recognized by the French  university system. In September 2024, the French government started international classes in about  35 French universities and schools. Usually spread over two semesters, the program allows non French speaker students to reach B2 level of French. There is no entrance exam to qualify for  admission in such schools. After successful completion of the international classes, direct admission  into a French-taught undergraduate programs and scholarships can be provided. 
  3. During President Macron’s visit to India in February 2026, a high level scientific and academic  programme, named RUSH (Rencontres Universitaires et Scientifiques de Haut Niveau), was organized  at AIIMS, New Delhi. This two-day high-level academic meeting gathered leading French and Indian  institutions to assess ongoing bilateral initiatives such as the Franco-Indian Health Campus,  International Classes and vocational training programmes. It also addressed shared concerns and  systemic challenges within both higher education systems, including quality assessment frameworks,  international student mobility, UGC regulations, and alignment with India’s National Education Policy  (NEP). 

Cooperation in Science and Technology 

  1. India and France have a rich history of cooperation in the fields of science and technology. The  cooperation ranges from health, digital, energy and oceans to applied mathematics. Several linkages  have been forged between both the sides, namely between MoES, MeITY, DST, DBT, and CSIR on the  Indian side, and ANR, CNRS, INSERM, INRIA, and Institut Pasteur on the French side. The broad  areas of cooperation are discussed and agreed upon annually under India-France Joint Committee on  Science and Technology. Its second meeting was held in January 2024, when a MoU between  Department of Science and Technology (DST) of India and L'Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR)  of France was signed. 
  2. The Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR/CEFIPRA),  registered in 1986, acts as one of the key institutions driving research activities between the two sides.  Projects under CEFIPRA include: Collaborative Scientific Research Programme (CSRP), Industry Academia Research Development Programme (IARDP), Raman-Charpak Fellowship Programme,  Indo-French Programme for Women in Science (PROWIS), Indo-French Emerging Project  Partnership Programme, High Impact Scientific Research Network Programme and  Seminars/Workshops on mutually agreed topics. Since its launch, over 250 fellows have been  supported under Raman-Charpak Fellowship. A total of 16 women scientists have been supported  under PROWIS since its launch in 2022. 
  3. The 39th Governing Body meeting of CEFIPRA was held in January 2026 in Paris, co-chaired  by Shri Abhay Karandikar, Secretary (DST) from the Indian side, and by Ms. Sabine Sciortino,  Director General of Global Affairs and Cultural and Economic Diplomacy from French Ministry for  Europe and Foreign Affairs. On the occasion of India-France Year of Innovation 2026 that also marks  the 40th anniversary of establishment of CEFIPRA, both sides plan to organize various activities as  part of Year of Innovation celebrations. 
  4. During the visit of President Macron to India in February 2026, both sides signed the Letter of  Intent to establish a Centre on Advanced Materials between DST and CNRS, Memorandum of  Understanding for Scientific collaboration between DST and CNRS, and the Joint Declaration of  Intent on establishing an Indo-French Centre for Digital Sciences and Technology. 

Consular cooperation 

  1. In a significant development, and following the announcement made by Prime Minister Modi  and President Macron during the latter’s visit to India in February 2026, Indian nationals transiting  through the European territory of France exclusively by air have been exempted from the requirement  of a transit visa by the French authorities.
  2. In terms of broader exchanges on consular issues, the Second India-France Consular Dialogue  was held on 29 January 2026 in Paris. It was led by Joint Secretary, CPV Division, Ministry of External  Affairs from the Indian side and by Director, Directorate for French Nationals Abroad and Consular  Administration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the French side. The first Dialogue was held on July  21, 2020 in video-conference format. During the second dialogue, both sides discussed issues  pertaining to visas and consular matters. 
  3. In March 2018, during President Macron’s visit to India, the two sides signed Migration and  Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA) aimed at enhancing people to people contacts, fostering  mobility of students, academics, researchers and skilled professionals. The first JWG on MMPA was  held on 29 November 2022. The Young Professionals scheme mentioned under MMPA was  operationalized in 2024. 

Indian Community in France 

  1. There is a large presence of Indian diaspora in French mainland and its overseas territories. In  mainland France, the diaspora size is estimated at about 119,000, largely originating from the  erstwhile French colonies of Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam, Mahe and Chandernagore, and the states  of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Punjab. The estimated Indian-origin population in French Overseas  Territories is over 350,000: Reunion Island (over 300,000), Guadeloupe (over 57,000), Martinique  (over 8,000) and Saint Martin (over 1,900). There are over 50 Indian community organisations active  in France. 
  2. There had been a long-standing request from the Indian-origin communities in Guadeloupe  and Martinique for registration under the scheme of Overseas Citizen of India, which has been granted  through a notification dated 11 July 2024 from the Ministry of Home Affairs of India. As of 01 June  2026, fourteen OCI cards have been issued to people of Indian origin in Guadeloupe and Martinique. 

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July 2026

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