India-france

Modi, Macron pledge to keep working closely for betterment of planet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada.The two leaders shared a warm hug as they met, reflecting the close bond between India and France.Prime Minister Modi later took to X (formerly Twitter), describing the meeting as a pleasure and highlighting the strong India-France partnership. "It's always a delight to interact with my friend, President Emmanuel Macron and exchange perspectives on a wide range of issues. India and France will keep working closely for the betterment of our planet," he posted.The meeting with Macron was one among several high-level bilateral engagements undertaken by PM Modi at the 51st G7 Summit in Kananaskis, where he met with leaders from Mexico, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, France and Canada, reaffirming India's commitment to strengthening global partnerships.Kicking off his bilateral engagements, Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson of the ..

Madhya Pradesh, France sign PoU to boost cultural, tourism ties for 3 years

A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Madhya Pradesh, France and a French language institute here on Friday to strengthen long-term cooperation in the field of culture and tourism. This will make Madhya Pradesh a new centre of cultural and tourism cooperation between India and France, an official said. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and French Ambassador to India Dr Thierry Mathou hailed the agreement and said it will further strengthen cultural relations between the two countries, which already share strong ties in multiple fields. The agreement, signed in the presence of Yadav at his residence 'Samatva' in Bhopal, seeks to strengthen long-term cooperation between France and Madhya Pradesh in the field of culture and tourism, the official said. The tripartite MoU was signed by French Ambassador Mathou, MP's Principal Secretary (Tourism and Culture) Shiv Shekhar Shukla and President of Alliance Francaise de Bhopal, Akhilesh Verma. The language institute, ..

Jaishankar meets Macron, thanks France for strong anti-terror support

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met President Emmanuel Macron here and thanked him for France's strong message of support in the fight against terrorism. Jaishankar is on a three-nation visit to Europe to boost bilateral ties and reaffirm India's policy of zero-tolerance against terrorism, especially in the wake of April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Honoured to call on President @EmmanuelMacron of France. Conveyed greetings of PM @narendramodi. Thanked him for France's strong message of support in the fight against terrorism, Jaishankar said in a post on X after the meeting. Our discussions reflected the trust, comfort and ambition of our Strategic Partnership, he added. Jaishankar was in Brussels on Wednesday where he met top European Union leaders and discussed ways to further strengthen the EU-India strategic partnership. The April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives prompted India to carry out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan

India-France joint military exercise to be held from June 18 to July 1

A joint exercise between the militaries of India and France is scheduled to be held from June 18 to July 1, aiming to enhance the joint military capability of both sides to undertake multi-domain operations, the Indian Army said on Thursday. Exercise Shakti 2025 will be held at La Cavalerie in France. "The 8th edition of Exercise #Shakti, a joint military exercise between #India and #France is scheduled from 18 June to 01 July 2025 at #LaCavalerie, #France," the Indian Army said in a post on X. "The aim of the exercise is to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake Multi Domain Operations in a Sub Conventional scenario," it said. The joint exercise will facilitate developing interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between armies of both the nations, the officials said.

Goyal highlights 'India Opportunity' at India-France Business Conference

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal addressed the India-France Business Conference on Tuesday (local time), highlighting the 'India Opportunity', driven by a skilled and talented workforce and the government's commitment to ease of doing business, and how it offers promising avenue for French companies.In a post on X, Goyal stated, "It was a pleasure to address the India-France Business Conference, which brought together several Indian and French companies. Highlighted the 'India Opportunity', driven by a skilled & talented workforce and the government's commitment to ease of doing business, and how it offers promising avenues for French companies. Encouraged companies from both sides to collaborate by building on shared interests and leveraging each other's competencies. Deeper engagement between our businesses will play a significant role in further strengthening the India-France strategic partnership."He also addressed the India-France CEO Forum Small Group .

Ravi Shankar Prasad asks Indian diaspora in France to back anti-terror push

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad exhorted members of the Indian community in France to make every effort to showcase Brand India as a beacon of peace that is fighting against the global curse of terrorism. Addressing a gathering of community leaders and prominent members of the Indian diaspora in Paris on Monday evening, the all-party delegation led by Prasad conveyed the message that the terrorist attack in Pahalgam last month was a deliberate attempt to undermine peace and development in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. India's response with Operation Sindoor was precise, targeted, proportionate and non-escalatory and targeted at Pakistan-backed terrorist camps. When I see the growth of India, I am very proud of all of you because you are the brand ambassadors (of the country), said Prasad. Please properly showcase Brand India, that we are for peace, we are for amity. But if innocent Indians are killed by terrorists, they will have to pay a cost. That is the winning Operation

Indian, French Navies conclude 23rd Varuna Exercise with fleet review

The 23rd edition of bilateral exercise Varuna between Indian and French navies culminated on Saturday, following which French Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle and INS Vikrant did a fleet review some 80 nautical miles off the Goa coast. It saw the two navies working on below the surface and above the surface warfare domain as well as interacting with Indian submarines and aircraft like MiG29Ks and Rafale. The fleet review by French Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle and INS Vikrant took place at 4pm. The senior officials from both the navies had a debriefing before the culmination of the exercise. Captain Georges Antoine Florentin, commanding officer of Charles de Gaulle, and Rear Admiral Jacques Mallard, chief of the French strike group, told PTI on board the aircraft carrier that the aim was to work together to improve interoperability. Varuna 2025 that started on March 19 had an exhilarating array of maritime exercises and complex manoeuvres across the sub-surface, surface, and

MMRDA denies graft charges, accuses Systra of misrepresenting facts

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Tuesday accused French consultancy firm Systra of "misrepresenting facts" to the French government after receiving suspension and termination of contract notices, calling it "an attempt to deflect attention from contractual breaches". In a late-evening statement, MMRDA, a state planning and development agency, dismissed media reports about corruption allegations levelled by Systra as "biased and unverified." Systra had never submitted any formal representation to relevant authorities, including the chief minister of Maharashtra, before the notices were issued, it claimed. "Notably, no such allegations were ever raised before any official forum prior to these notices," MMRDA stated, adding that the allegations of graft were made only after MMRDA issued suspension and termination notices. "This clearly indicates that the allegations are an afterthought aimed at deflecting attention from their own contractual breaches," .

India, France hold talks on disarmament, non-proliferation in Paris

The two sides discussed developments in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation relating to the nuclear, chemical, biological domains, as well as outer space security, MEA said

PM Modi arrives in Delhi after concluding 'successful' visit to France, US

During his visit, PM Modi co-chaired AI summit in France and in the US, he also met Donald Trump - the first meeting of the two leaders after Donald Trump assumed charge as the 47th US President

India offers multi-barrel rocket system Pinaka to France amid growing ties

He emphasised that an acquisition of this system by France would be another milestone in Indo-French defence ties. PM Modi concluded his three-day visit to France on Wednesday

India, France sign pact on modular reactors, launch roadmap on AI

France reiterated its firm support for India's permanent membership of the UNSC

India, France to ensure standards governing AI reflect democratic values

India and France on Wednesday said they share the importance to build a framework to ensure conception, design and development of AI for the public interest and is respectful of human rights and fundamental freedoms. In a joint declaration issued a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi co-chaired the AI Action Summit along with President Emmanual Macron, the two sides also said that in view of the upcoming India-France Year of Innovation in 2026, the two nations will take part in the development of this emerging technology. Acknowledging the progress in developing artificial intelligence, India and France will seek to ensure that norms and standards governing their use reflect democratic values, and harness the potential of artificial intelligence for human development and common good, the 'India-France Declaration on Artificial Intelligence' said. India and France recalled their joint commitment to promote safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems to accelerate

PM Modi departs for key US trip after completing two-day France visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday departed for the US to meet President Donald Trump after wrapping his two-day visit to France where he co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron with whom he also held bilateral discussions. In the US, PM Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with President Trump in both restricted and delegation-level formats. Modi will be the fourth foreign leader to visit Trump in the weeks after the American leader's inauguration as the 47th President of the US in January. In France, during the bilateral talks, Modi and Macron on Wednesday called for enhancing trade and investment ties between the two countries and committed to further deepening their engagement in the Indo-Pacific and various global forums and initiatives. Modi and Macron jointly inaugurated India's new consulate in France's Marseille. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit alongside Frenc

India, France intend to jointly develop advanced nuclear reactors

India and France on Wednesday expressed an intent to jointly develop modern nuclear reactors, emphasising that nuclear power was crucial for energy security and transition to a low-carbon economy. The two countries signed a letter of intent on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs), according to a joint statement issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. "Prime Minister Modi and President Macron stressed that nuclear energy is an essential part of the energy mix for strengthening energy security and transitioning towards a low-carbon economy," according to the statement. SMRs are compact nuclear fission reactors that can be manufactured in factories and then installed elsewhere. They typically have a smaller capacity than conventional nuclear reactors. The two leaders also acknowledged the strong civil nuclear ties between India and France and efforts in cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, ..

PM Modi arrives in French port city of Marseille, pays homage to Savarkar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Marseille in southern France and paid homage to the memory of freedom fighter V D Savarkar, who attempted a "courageous escape" at the port city. "Landed in Marseille. In India's quest for freedom, this city holds special significance. It was here that the great Veer Savarkar attempted a courageous escape, Modi said in a post on X after arriving there Tuesday night (local time). He added, "I also want to thank the people of Marseille and the French activists of that time who demanded that he not be handed over to British custody. The bravery of Veer Savarkar continues to inspire generations! During British colonial rule, freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar had attempted an escape from captivity on July 8, 1910, while he was being transported on board the British ship Morea to India to stand trial. He is known to have slipped out of the ship's porthole and managed to swim ashore before being captured by the French authorities and then han

Digital era calls for 'trust, transparency': EAM at India-France CEO Forum

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said the digital era calls for trust and transparency as he addressed the inaugural session of the 14th India-France CEO Forum on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit here. Talking about the summit, the plenary session of which was co-chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, Jaishankar said, The digital era calls for trust and transparency. These are indeed shared attributes between us. The summit is a reminder in itself of how much we could be doing in AI, software development and cyber security. 2026 has been designated the India-France year of innovation, the external affairs minister said. Jaishankar began his address by saying that India and France are two nations with a tradition of independent mindsets. This has been expressed, at different times, as the third way, as strategic autonomy or as a multi-polar world. But, it is not just that we think similarly. We also actively strive to ...

This is right time to invest in India: PM Modi invites French businesses

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited French businesses to invest in India, saying when France's technology and India's talent unite a global transformation will happen. Addressing the India-France CEO Forum here on Tuesday, Modi said this is the right time to come to India as it offers countless opportunities for investments and collaborations in areas such as defence, advanced technology, fintech, pharma among others. "I welcome you all to join India's development journey. When France's finesse and India's scale meet... When India's pace and France's precision join... When France's technology and India's talent unite... Then, not just business landscape, but global transformation will happen," he told the gathering of the business leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron also attended the event. Modi said the India-France CEO Forum plays a key role in strengthening economic ties and fostering innovation. "It is gladdening to see business leaders from both nations collaborate

AI Summit adds another aspect to India-France strategic ties: Foreign secy

The ongoing AI Action Summit in Paris has added yet another aspect to the growing India-France strategic partnership, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Tuesday. The plenary session of the mega event was co-chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. At a briefing held here on the prime minister's visit to France, Misri shared details about his broader engagements and the expected deliverables from the summit. The (AI Action) Summit adds yet another aspect to growing India-France strategic partnership, the foreign secretary said. He further said that in keeping with the India-France track record of cooperation in a number of areas, such as space, defence, nuclear and critical technologies, it is only natural that we cooperate in the AI sphere as well. In his address at the summit, Modi made a strong case for collective efforts to establish a global framework for artificial intelligence (AI) based on open source which enhances trust, transparen

India, France stress on democratised access to AI at Paris summit

India and France have emphasised on the need for democratised access to Artificial Intelligence (AI) resources and capacity building while recognising the importance of the techno-legal frameworks. Addressing a roundtable session in Paris through videoconferencing, principal scientific advisor to the government of India, Ajay Kumar Sood, said India and France need to synergise on various policy positions and technological initiatives, fostering benefits not only at the bilateral level, but also on a global scale by leveraging complementary knowledge and skill sets. The roundtable was held on the Sciences Po campus in Paris University on Monday on the margins of the AI Action Summit, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will co-chair with French President Emmaneul Macron on Tuesday. Sood said India's priorities in global AI policy and governance include responsible AI development and deployment, equitable benefit sharing, adoption of a techno-legal framework for AI governance, ...