India and France deepen ties

Table of Contents☰

What’s in today’s article?

Why in news?
Indo-France Bilateral Relations
What are the key pillars of India-France Cooperation?
News Summary: India and France deepen ties
What are the key outcomes of the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron?
Key announcements made during the visit

Why in news?

French President Emmanuel Macron visited India as the Chief Guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations.
During this visit, India and France made significant decisions with the primary focus on enhancing collaboration in the defence sector.

Indo-France Bilateral Relations

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1948, India and France have enjoyed 75 years of close and friendly relations.
In 1998, India and France elevated their diplomatic relationship to Strategic Partnership which completed 25 years in January, 2023.
This Strategic Partnership, first for France outside the EU, has been instrumental in the comprehensive growth of India-France relationship.

Key Pillars of India-France Cooperation

Defence Cooperation: The Agreement on Defence Cooperation signed in 2006 and renewed for another 10 years in 2016 gives the framework for all defence cooperation activities between India and France.
- A DRDO office was opened in the Embassy in 2023 for strengthening technology cooperation.
- The procurement of Rafale jets as part of India’s air power is a testament to the deep defence ties.
Space Cooperation: ISRO and the French Space Agency, CNES have been carrying on various joint research programmes and collaborating in satellite launches.
- For example, on 22 June 2022, GSAT-24 communication satellite of New Space India Ltd (NSIL) was successfully launched on-board Ariane-5 from Kourou, French Guiana.
Civil Nuclear Cooperation: An agreement on civil nuclear cooperation was signed between India and France in 2008.
- France is involved in the construction of the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project. However, the progress here has been slow (the first pact was agreed in 2008).
- The two sides have also agreed to establish a partnership on Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR).
Economic Cooperation: They have important bilateral investments and trade and commercial cooperation, particularly in sectors involving IT corridors, smart-cities, railways, capital and trade exchanges, skill development, etc.
- Bilateral trade reached an impressive $13.4 Bn in 2022-23, marking a significant 7.72% increase from the previous year.
- France has emerged as the 11th largest investor in India, with FDI inflow of $10.5 Bn from April 2000 to March 2023.
Digital Cooperation: India-France Roadmap on Cyber security and Digital Technologies was one of the outcomes of the visit of the PM of India to France in 2019.
- In July 2023, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was launched from the Eiffel Tower, offering secure and convenient transactions for Indian visitors and NRIs.
Culture and Tourism Cooperation: There are many Indo-French cultural associations which organise various events across France.
- For example, the Government of India organised ‘Namaste France’ cultural festival in several cities of France in 2016.
Marine and Maritime Cooperation: Indo-French Maritime Cooperation is based on the India-France Roadmap on Blue Economy and Ocean Governance adopted in 2022.
Community in France: The Indian community, including NRIs in mainland France number around 109,000, largely originating from French enclaves of Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam, Mahe and Chandernagore.

News Summary: India and France deepen ties

French President Emmanuel Macron was on a two-day State visit to India. He was also the Chief Guest for India’s Republic Day.
- The 2nd Infantry Regiment of the French Foreign Legion also participated in this year’s Republic Day Parade.
This year, we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership.
- PM Modi was the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade held on 14 July 2023 in Paris.

Key outcomes of the visit

Roadmap for India-France Defence Industrial Partnership
- The main goal of this roadmap is to find areas to work together on making military equipment.
- This includes designing, developing, and producing things together, as well as creating supply chains for defence goods between the two countries.
- It aims to foster collaboration in cutting-edge technologies, including robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous vehicles, platforms, and cyber defence.
- The defence roadmap will cover both air and space technologies, maritime technology, including underwater domain awareness.
Defence-space partnership
- The two sides also signed a new agreement for a defence-space partnership that will see them collaborate on space situational awareness.
Airbus-TATA chopper deal
- Tata and Airbus Helicopters have entered into an industrial partnership for the production of H125 helicopters, fostering collaboration in the defence sector.
- Two mega multi-billion-dollar defence deals in the pipeline between the two countries are currently in the cost negotiation phase. These are:
  - The 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers, and
  - Three additional Scorpene-class conventional submarines.
Cooperation in satellite launches
- An MoU was sealed between New Space India Ltd and France’s Arianespace, signifying cooperation in satellite launches and advancing space exploration initiatives.
Introduction of the Young Professional Scheme
- The scheme facilitates:
  - the exchange of individuals between 18-35 years of age, and
  - extension of visa validity to five years for Schengen visas for Indian students pursuing master’s degrees in France.
Other areas of cooperation
- Both sides also agreed on cooperation in healthcare, which would include education, training and research, and the use of AI in healthcare.

Key announcements made during the visit

Year 2026 as the India France Year of Innovation.
Operationalization of UPI at Eiffel Tower.
Setting up of a Solar Academy in Senegal under the STAR-C program of International Solar Alliance (ISA).
- STAR-C programme aims to boost solar power ecosystems in the poorest countries.
- The initiative is run by ISA in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
Establishment of India’s Consulate in Marseille and French Bureau de France in Hyderabad

Q1) What is NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)?

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of the Government of India. It is the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).