What Happened
- French President Emmanuel Macron will visit India from 17 to 19 February 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Macron will attend the India-AI Impact Summit (16-20 February 2026) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi — the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South.
- PM Modi and President Macron will hold wide-ranging bilateral discussions to further strengthen cooperation under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, the long-term vision document for the India-France Strategic Partnership.
- The two leaders will jointly inaugurate the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 in Mumbai, covering technology, startups, research, environmental protection, and cultural exchange.
- Discussions will also cover key regional and global issues, including cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Static Topic Bridges
India-France Strategic Partnership (1998) and Horizon 2047 Roadmap
France was the first country with which India entered into a Strategic Partnership, on 26 January 1998. After India's nuclear tests in May 1998, France was the first major power to engage with India constructively rather than imposing sanctions. The relationship was further elevated in July 2023 when PM Modi visited Paris and both leaders adopted two framework documents: the Horizon 2047 Roadmap (setting the course for bilateral relations until 2047 — the centenary of India's independence, a century of diplomatic ties, and 50 years of the strategic partnership) and the Indo-Pacific Roadmap.
- Strategic Partnership established: 26 January 1998 (India's first-ever strategic partnership with any country)
- Horizon 2047 adopted: 13-14 July 2023 during PM Modi's visit to Paris
- Three pillars of Horizon 2047: (1) Partnership for Security and Sovereignty, (2) Partnership for the Planet, (3) Partnership for the People
- France is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and supports India's bid for permanent UNSC membership
- India and France conduct an annual Strategic Dialogue at the ministerial level
- France is the only EU member state with sovereign territories in the Indo-Pacific (Reunion, New Caledonia, French Polynesia), giving it direct strategic interests in the region
Connection to this news: Macron's visit to India will build on the Horizon 2047 framework, with the Year of Innovation 2026 launch representing a concrete deliverable under the "Partnership for the People" pillar that emphasises technology, research, and people-to-people exchanges.
India-France Defence Cooperation — Rafale and Beyond
India-France defence cooperation is one of the pillars of the strategic partnership. The landmark Rafale fighter jet deal — an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for 36 Rafale aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) — was signed on 25 January 2016 at a cost of approximately EUR 7.87 billion. More recently, on 28 April 2025, India and France signed an IGA for 26 Rafale-Marine (Rafale-M) fighter jets for the Indian Navy, worth approximately Rs 63,000 crore (approximately USD 7.5 billion). This makes the Rafale the backbone of both IAF's and the Indian Navy's future combat aviation capability.
- Rafale IAF deal: 36 aircraft (IGA signed 25 January 2016); inducted from September 2019; based at Ambala (17 Sqn "Golden Arrows") and Hashimara (101 Sqn "Falcons of Chamb")
- Rafale-M Navy deal: 26 aircraft (22 single-seater, 4 twin-seater); IGA signed 28 April 2025; CCS approval 9 April 2025; deliveries 2028-2030
- Scorpene submarines: 6 Kalvari-class submarines built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) under technology transfer from Naval Group (formerly DCNS); Project 75
- Joint exercises: Varuna (Navy), Garuda (Air Force), Shakti (Army)
- Defence procurement framework: Government-to-Government (G2G) route via IGA bypasses the standard DAP (Defence Acquisition Procedure) for strategic urgency
Connection to this news: With the recent Rafale-M deal signed in April 2025, the Macron visit provides an opportunity to review defence delivery timelines and explore further cooperation in areas like submarine technology (follow-on to Scorpene/Project 75-I) and space-based defence systems.
India-France Civil Nuclear Cooperation — Jaitapur Project
India and France signed the Agreement on the Development of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy in 2008. The centrepiece is the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP) in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district, which envisages construction of six European Pressurized Reactors (EPR) by EDF (Electricite de France) with NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd). At 9.6 GWe total capacity, Jaitapur would be the world's largest nuclear power complex. However, techno-commercial negotiations have faced prolonged delays.
- India-France Civil Nuclear Agreement: signed 2008
- Jaitapur project: 6 EPR reactors, 1,650 MWe each = 9.6 GWe total capacity
- Site: Jaitapur, Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra
- French partners: EDF (reactor design and construction), Framatome (formerly Areva — reactor components)
- MoU between EDF and NPCIL initialled during PM Modi's 2016 visit to France
- India's civil nuclear liability law (Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010) has been a persistent concern for foreign vendors, including French companies
- India joined the NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) waiver in 2008, enabling civil nuclear cooperation with France and other partners
Connection to this news: The bilateral talks during Macron's visit are expected to address progress on the Jaitapur project, which has been slow despite the strong political will on both sides. The Year of Innovation 2026 could provide new momentum for resolving techno-commercial issues.
India-AI Impact Summit 2026 — India's Global AI Ambitions
The India-AI Impact Summit 2026, hosted from 16-20 February at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, is the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South. The summit is structured around three "Sutras" (foundational pillars) — People, Planet, and Progress — and organises discussions around seven thematic "chakras." India has been building its AI governance credentials through co-chairing the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) and launching initiatives like IndiaAI Mission (budget of Rs 10,372 crore announced in March 2024).
- Venue: Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
- Dates: 16-20 February 2026 (five-day programme)
- Three Sutras: People, Planet, Progress
- India AI Impact Expo: 300+ exhibitors from 30+ countries across 10+ thematic pavilions
- India co-chaired GPAI (Global Partnership on AI) in 2024
- IndiaAI Mission: Rs 10,372 crore allocation announced March 2024 for building AI compute infrastructure, datasets, and applications
- Research Symposium on AI and its Impact: 18 February 2026, with IIIT Hyderabad as knowledge partner
- Previous major AI summits: UK AI Safety Summit (Bletchley Park, November 2023), France AI Summit (Paris, February 2025), South Korea AI Summit (Seoul, May 2024)
Connection to this news: Macron's participation in the India-AI Impact Summit reflects France's own significant AI ambitions (France hosted the Paris AI Summit in February 2025) and the growing India-France convergence on technology governance. The summit positions India as a leader in shaping AI governance norms for the Global South.
Key Facts & Data
- Macron visit dates: 17-19 February 2026
- India-France Strategic Partnership: established 26 January 1998 (India's first)
- Horizon 2047 Roadmap: adopted July 2023
- India-France Year of Innovation 2026: to be launched jointly by Modi and Macron in Mumbai
- Rafale IAF: 36 jets, IGA signed January 2016, delivered from September 2019
- Rafale-M Navy: 26 jets, IGA signed 28 April 2025, worth approximately Rs 63,000 crore; deliveries 2028-2030
- Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project: 6 EPR reactors, 9.6 GWe total capacity (world's largest if completed)
- India-AI Impact Summit: 16-20 February 2026, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi — first global AI summit in the Global South
- France is the only EU nation with sovereign Indo-Pacific territories
- Joint military exercises: Varuna (Navy), Garuda (Air Force), Shakti (Army)