India – France Relations

During the official visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India (February 17–19, 2026), Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Macron announced a historic upgrade of their relationship to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership.”

A total of 21 major outcomes were announced, focusing on defense, innovation, and health. Here are the key points:

1. Defense & Aerospace: “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” Milestones

• H125 Helicopter Assembly Line: Inaugurated the first private-sector helicopter Final Assembly Line in Vemagal, Karnataka (a Tata-Airbus partnership). It will produce the world’s only helicopter capable of flying at Mt. Everest altitudes.
• HAMMER Missile Production: A new Joint Venture between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran was signed to manufacture HAMMER missiles in India.
• Aero-Engine MRO Facilities: Announced the establishment of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities for LEAP engines (commercial) and M-88 engines (for Rafale jets) in India.
• Rafale Expansion: Discussions advanced for the acquisition of 114 more Rafale jets, with a push for 50% indigenous content.

2. Technology & Innovation:

• India-France Year of Innovation (2026): Formally launched to boost collaboration between startups, students, and researchers.
• Indo-French Centre for AI in Health: Launched at AIIMS, New Delhi, to leverage AI for medical advancements.
• Digital Science & Technology: Established a new joint center for Digital Sciences and a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics.

3. Strategic & Economic Pacts:

• Annual Foreign Ministers Dialogue: A new institutional mechanism to review the “Horizon 2047 Roadmap” every year.
• Critical Minerals: Signed a Joint Declaration of Intent for cooperation in the supply chains of critical minerals and metals.
• Taxation & Economy: Amended the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) to simplify cross-border investments.

Summary Table of Key Agreements:

Sector	Key Outcome	Partnering Entities
Defense	H125 Helicopter Manufacturing	Tata & Airbus
Missiles	HAMMER Missile Production	BEL & Safran
Health	AI in Health Centre	AIIMS (Delhi) & France
Innovation	2026 Year of Innovation	India-France Govt
Diplomacy	Special Global Strategic Partnership	Elevated Status

India-France Year of Innovation (2026):

This year-long initiative is designed as a “shared commitment” to unite the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem (India) with one of Europe’s leading innovation hubs (France).

• India Innovates 2026: A flagship event will be held in France in June 2026, where top Indian tech startups will showcase solutions for global challenges in health, climate, and security.
• Indo-French Innovation Network: A digital platform built by Capgemini and operated by the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) to provide a “single-entry” point for startups and researchers to collaborate.
• Strategic Focus: The initiative emphasizes “Technological Sovereignty,” ensuring both nations remain leaders in AI, semiconductors, clean energy, and quantum computing rather than just consumers.

Indo-French Centre for AI in Health

Launched at AIIMS, New Delhi, this center represents a shift toward “Human-Centric AI.” It combines France’s advanced neuro-imaging expertise with India’s massive healthcare scale.

• Brain Health Focus: The primary goal is the early detection of neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease using machine learning-enabled MRI analysis.
• Key Partners: The collaboration involves:

• • AIIMS New Delhi & IIT Delhi (for algorithm development).
  • Sorbonne University & the Paris Brain Institute (for neuro-imaging expertise).

• Diagnostic Impact: By using AI to support imaging, the center aims to improve diagnostic accuracy and bridge the gap for patients in areas where access to specialists is limited.

Comparison of Key Features:

Feature	Year of Innovation 2026	Indo-French Centre for AI in Health
Primary Hub	Mumbai / Paris	AIIMS, New Delhi
Main Objective	Startup & R&D Scaling	Early Disease Detection & AI Diagnostics
Target Audience	Startups, MSMEs, Researchers	Clinicians, Data Scientists, Patients
Strategic Goal	Global Tech Leadership	Accessible Healthcare Innovation