India and France elevate ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership; Modi and Macron launch Year of Innovation in Mumbai
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron elevated India–France relations to a 'Special Global Strategic Partnership' and jointly inaugurated the 2026 India–France Year of Innovation in Mumbai on 17 February 2026.
Summary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron elevated India–France relations to a 'Special Global Strategic Partnership' and jointly inaugurated the 2026 India–France Year of Innovation in Mumbai on 17 February 2026. Macron was on an official visit from 17 to 19 February — his fourth visit to India — and attended the AI Impact Summit. The leaders set up an annual Foreign Ministers Comprehensive Dialogue to review the elevated partnership. Macron invited Modi to the G7 Summit France hosts in 2026, and France reiterated support for India's permanent membership of the UN Security Council. Modi announced an Indo-French Centre for Digital Science and Technology, a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics and a Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in France. Static link: the India–France Strategic Partnership marked its 25th anniversary in 2023, when the two sides adopted the Horizon 2047 Roadmap to guide ties up to 2047.
Key facts
- Date and place
- 17 February 2026, Mumbai
- Leaders
- PM Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron
- Elevation
- Special Global Strategic Partnership
- Launched
- 2026 India–France Year of Innovation
- Visit
- 17–19 February 2026; Macron's fourth visit to India
- New mechanism
- Annual Foreign Ministers Comprehensive Dialogue
- G7
- Modi invited to the G7 Summit hosted by France in 2026
- Static
- Strategic Partnership's 25th anniversary in 2023; Horizon 2047 Roadmap adopted
Practice MCQs 5 questions
To what level did India and France elevate their relations on 17 February 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Special Global Strategic Partnership
PM Modi and President Macron agreed to elevate relations to a 'Special Global Strategic Partnership'.
In which city did PM Modi and President Macron jointly inaugurate the 2026 India–France Year of Innovation?
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Correct answer: B — Mumbai
The Year of Innovation was inaugurated in Mumbai on 17 February 2026.
Which new mechanism did India and France establish on 17 February 2026 to review the elevated partnership?
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Correct answer: D — An annual Foreign Ministers Comprehensive Dialogue
The leaders established an annual Foreign Ministers Comprehensive Dialogue to review bilateral cooperation and the Horizon 2047 Roadmap.
Consider the following statements about President Macron's February 2026 visit to India: 1. It was his fourth visit to India. 2. He invited PM Modi to the G7 Summit to be hosted by France in 2026. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per the India–France Joint Statement of 17 February 2026.
Consider the following statements about India–France relations: 1. The India–France Strategic Partnership marked its 25th anniversary in 2023. 2. The Horizon 2047 Roadmap was adopted to mark the 25th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The Joint Statement notes that the two countries celebrated 25 years of the Strategic Partnership in 2023 and adopted the Horizon 2047 Roadmap on that occasion.