16th India–EU Summit: 'Towards 2030' strategic agenda, Security and Defence Partnership adopted
The 16th India–EU Summit on 27 January 2026 produced the 'Towards 2030' Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda, a Security and Defence Partnership, a mobility MoU and a Green Hydrogen Task Force, alongside the FTA.
Summary
European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Chief Guests at the 77th Republic Day — the first EU participation in India's Republic Day — held the 16th India–EU Summit with PM Narendra Modi on 27 January 2026. Outcomes included 'Towards 2030: A Joint India–EU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda', a Security and Defence Partnership, the launch of negotiations on a Security of Information Agreement, an MoU on a comprehensive mobility framework, an EU pilot Legal Gateway Office in India, an NDMA–DG ECHO arrangement on disaster risk management, a Green Hydrogen Task Force, renewal of the S&T cooperation agreement for 2025–2030, and exploratory talks on India's association with Horizon Europe. President Droupadi Murmu hosted the EU leaders at Rashtrapati Bhavan that evening.
Key facts
- Date
- 27 January 2026, New Delhi
- EU leaders
- António Costa (European Council), Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission)
- Republic Day link
- Chief Guests of 77th Republic Day; first EU participation
- Overarching document
- Towards 2030: Joint India–EU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda
- Defence
- Security and Defence Partnership; talks on Security of Information Agreement
- Mobility
- MoU on mobility framework; EU pilot Legal Gateway Office in India
- Clean energy
- Green Hydrogen Task Force
- Science
- S&T agreement renewed 2025–2030; Horizon Europe exploratory talks
Practice MCQs 3 questions
What is the title of the overarching document adopted at the 16th India–EU Summit in January 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Towards 2030: A Joint India–EU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda
PIB (PMO, List of Outcomes): 'Towards 2030: A Joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda' is the overarching document.
Consider the following outcomes of the 16th India–EU Summit (27 January 2026): 1. A Security and Defence Partnership 2. Constitution of a Green Hydrogen Task Force 3. India's full membership of the Horizon Europe programme Which of the above were outcomes of the summit?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB (List of Outcomes): Security and Defence Partnership and a Green Hydrogen Task Force were outcomes; on Horizon Europe only exploratory talks for an association agreement were launched.
Who were the Chief Guests of India's 77th Republic Day celebrations in 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen
PIB (President's Secretariat): European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were Chief Guests of the 77th Republic Day.