India and France have set a goal to increase the number of Indian students studying in France to 30,000 by 2030, up from around 10,000 currently. This announcement coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron elevating bilateral relations to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership.”
President Macron visited India from February 17 to 19, 2026, at PM Modi’s invitation, attending the Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit 2026 and jointly launching the India–France Year of Innovation 2026 in Mumbai. This marked Macron’s fourth visit to India, following PM Modi’s trip to France in February 2025.
On education, the leaders reaffirmed the target of 30,000 Indian students in France by 2030 and highlighted initiatives such as International Classes, which help students prepare for French universities. They also welcomed the creation of a Mumbai hub uniting ESSEC Business School and CentraleSupélec, along with planned updates to agreements on mutual recognition of academic qualifications. A visa-free transit facility for Indian nationals through French airports was also announced, to be reviewed after a six-month pilot.
The India–France Year of Innovation 2026 will encourage collaboration in science, technology, AI, healthcare, sustainable development, culture, and education. Plans include a binational digital sciences and technology centre between INRIA and India’s Department of Science and Technology, and a research centre for AI in healthcare involving Sorbonne University, AIIMS New Delhi, and the Paris Brain Institute.
In defence, France remains a key partner for India. The leaders agreed to expand joint research and production in air, naval, and land systems, as well as dual-use technologies. They welcomed the Technical Arrangement signed in November 2025 between France’s DGA and India’s DRDO, and noted ongoing discussions on helicopter and jet engine collaboration. They also praised the procurement contract for 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets.
A significant milestone was the inauguration of the H125 Final Assembly Line, India’s first private-sector helicopter manufacturing facility, developed by TATA Advanced Systems and Airbus, under the Make in India initiative. India confirmed participation in the International Space Summit hosted by France in July 2026, and President Macron invited PM Modi to the 2026 G7 Summit, which Modi accepted.
The leaders condemned terrorism, expressing support for India’s right to self-defence, while stressing the importance of dialogue and diplomacy on global conflicts including Ukraine, Iran, and Gaza.
On trade and technology, both leaders noted steady growth in bilateral commerce, with particular focus on MSMEs, startups, AI, and innovation-driven enterprises. The India-France CEO Forum was highlighted as a key platform for strengthening business ties. They welcomed amendments to the bilateral tax treaty to encourage investment, and praised the adoption of UPI in France, the first European country to accept it in flagship stores, committing to wider acceptance of secure digital payments for Indian tourists.
