French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to India has resulted in a major upgrade of bilateral ties, with New Delhi and Paris elevating their relationship to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership” and announcing 21 key outcomes spanning defence, technology, healthcare, energy, and innovation.
At talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two sides aligned their long-term “Horizon 2047” roadmaps, signalling deeper cooperation in strategic sectors such as defence manufacturing, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and advanced scientific research.
Among the most significant outcomes is a joint venture between Bharat Electronics Limited and Safran for the production of HAMMER missiles in India, alongside the inauguration of an H125 helicopter final assembly line at Vemagal in Karnataka.
The two countries also renewed their Agreement on Defence Cooperation and agreed on reciprocal deployment of military officers, underlining closer operational integration.
Technology and innovation featured prominently, with the launch of the India-France Year of Innovation, the creation of an Indo-French Centre for Digital Sciences and Technology, and new frameworks to link startup ecosystems.
In healthcare, the partnership expanded to include the launch of an Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at AIIMS, New Delhi, and an agreement to set up a joint centre for metabolic health sciences.
Economic and strategic cooperation was further strengthened through agreements on renewable energy, critical minerals, aeronautics skilling, and amendments to the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement to ease trade and investment flows. Together, the measures reflect a shared intent to anchor the partnership in long-term industrial capacity, innovation, and global stability.
Strategic & Political Overarching Ties
- Upgraded Partnership: Elevation of the India-France relationship to a "Special Global Strategic Partnership".
- Institutional Dialogue: Establishment of an annual Foreign Ministers Dialogue to monitor the implementation of the partnership and the Horizon 2047 Roadmap.
Defence & Security
- Aviation Manufacturing: Inauguration of the H125 Helicopter Final Assembly Line at Vemagal, Karnataka.
- Missile Production: Joint Venture between BEL and Safran to produce HAMMER missiles in India.
- Military Integration: Reciprocal deployment of officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments.
- Pact Renewal: Formal renewal of the Agreement on Defence Cooperation.
Technology, Innovation & Startups
- Year of Innovation: Official launch of the India-France Year of Innovation
- Startup Ecosystem: Strategic cooperation between T-Hub Hyderabad and Nord France for startup and tech growth.
- Advanced Materials: Letter of Intent to establish a Centre on Advanced Materials between DST India and CNRS France.
- Digital Sciences: Creation of an Indo-French Centre for Digital Sciences and Technology.
- Innovation Network Launch: Official Launch of Indo-French Innovation Network
- Critical Minerals & Emerging Tech
- Resource Security: Joint Declaration of Intent for cooperation in Critical Minerals and Metals.
- Defense Tech: Constitution of a Joint Advanced Technology Development Group focused on emerging technologies and defense.
- Scientific Research: New MoU for scientific collaboration between the Department of Science and Technology DST and the French National Centre for Scientific Research CNRS.
Healthcare & Life Sciences
- AI in Medicine: Launch of the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at AIIMS New Delhi.
- Metabolic Health: Agreement to establish an Indo-French Centre for Metabolic Health Sciences.
- Infectious Diseases: R&D cooperation on infectious diseases and global health research, DBT and ANRS.
Economy, Energy & Infrastructure
- Taxation: Amending Protocol on the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement to facilitate smoother trade.
- Renewable Energy: Renewal of the MoU on Renewable Energy Cooperation between the two nations.
- Aeronautics Skilling: Plan to establish a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics.
- Postal Cooperation: Letter of Intent between the Department of Posts, India, and La Poste, France