German Chancellor Friedrich Merz makes first official visit to India; visa-free transit for Indians announced
German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz began his first official visit to India on 12 January 2026, holding talks with PM Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad that produced a joint statement and a list of outcomes including visa-free transit through Germany for Indian passport holders.
Summary
Friedrich Merz, Federal Chancellor of Germany, paid an official visit to India on 12–13 January 2026, his first official visit to India and his first visit to Asia as Chancellor, accompanied by 23 leading German CEOs and industry leaders. PM Narendra Modi welcomed him in Ahmedabad, where the two leaders paid tribute at Sabarmati Ashram, joined the Kite Festival, addressed the India-Germany CEOs Forum and held talks on 12 January. The outcomes included joint declarations of intent on defence industrial cooperation, semiconductors, critical minerals and telecommunications, a green ammonia offtake agreement between AM Green and Uniper, and visa-free transit for Indian passport holders through Germany. The visit came after 25 years of the Strategic Partnership in 2025, with 75 years of diplomatic relations being marked in 2026.
Key facts
- Visit
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz, 12–13 January 2026
- Significance
- First official visit to India; first visit to Asia as Chancellor
- Talks venue
- Ahmedabad, 12 January 2026
- Delegation
- 23 leading German CEOs and industry leaders
- Key outcomes
- JDIs on defence industry, semiconductors, critical minerals, telecom; AM Green–Uniper green ammonia offtake
- Visa
- Visa-free transit through Germany for Indian passport holders
- Milestones
- 25 years of Strategic Partnership (2025); 75 years of diplomatic ties (2026)
Practice MCQs 3 questions
In which city did PM Narendra Modi hold talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on 12 January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Ahmedabad
PIB (PMO): PM Modi welcomed Chancellor Merz in Ahmedabad, and the two held restricted and delegation-level talks there on 12 January 2026.
Consider the following statements about German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to India in January 2026: 1. It was his first visit to Asia as Federal Chancellor. 2. 2026 marks 75 years of India–Germany diplomatic relations. 3. The visit followed the 7th India–Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations held in Berlin. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (PMO Joint Statement): statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the 7th IGC was held in New Delhi on 25 October 2024.
Which travel facility for Indian passport holders was announced during German Chancellor Merz's visit to India in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Visa-free transit through Germany
PIB (PMO List of Outcomes): the announcements included visa-free transit for Indian passport holders transiting through Germany.