THE HEADLINES:
- India and France establish Special Global Strategic Partnership after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai; Both countries exchange 21 agreements and documents in key areas of Defence, Energy, and Critical Minerals among others.
- Prime Minister Modi says his vision for AI in Aatmanirbhar Bharat rests on sovereignty, inclusivity, and innovation.
- Minister of Electronics and Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw says, India AI summit clearly reflects the global identity of India in AI, infrastructure, and technology.
- India’s first assembly line to build H125 Light Utility Helicopter inaugurated in Vemagal, Karnataka.
- BNP chief Tarique Rahman sworn in as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
- United States and Iran hold second round of nuclear talks; Tehran says, understanding on main principles reached.
- In Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, Australia knocked out; Zimbabwe qualifies for Super Eight after match with Ireland washed out.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced the establishment of a ‘Special Global Strategic Partnership’ with France. During the delegation level talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai, India and France exchanged 21 agreements and documents with the establishment of annual Foreign Ministers Dialogue for regularly reviewing implementation of the elevated partnership and Horizon 2047 Roadmap. Both the nations have also agreed for launch of India-France Year of Innovation and India-France Innovation Network. Delivering a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron at Mumbai’s Lok Bhavan, Prime Minister Modi asserted that this partnership is not only strategic, but also one for global stability and prosperity amidst today’s unstable global situation. Mr Modi stated that relations between India and France are very special, with France being one of India’s oldest strategic partners.
Both the leaders virtually inaugurated the H-125 helicopter final assembly line at Vemagal in Karnataka, set up by Tata Advanced Systems in partnership with Airbus. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and France’s Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, Catherine Vautrin, were present at the site.
Mr Modi expressed confidence that these helicopters will be the first aircraft to fly as high as Mt Everest and will be exported worldwide.
Prime Minister Modi remarked that the year 2026 is a turning point in Indo-European relations and expressed confidence that the recent Free Trade Agreement between the two entities will accelerate ties between India and France.
Speaking on the occasion, French President Emmanuel Macron asserted that bilateral relations between India and France are based on trust, openness and shared aspirations, and stated that France wants to be India’s trusted ally.
Minister of External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and members of the Indian and French delegations were present on the occasion.
Later, both the leaders also inaugurated the India-France Innovation Forum in Mumbai.
Earlier, French President, paid tribute to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack at the historic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, reaffirming solidarity with India in the fight against terrorism.
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India and France today agreed to upgrade the India-France relationship to Special Global Strategic Partnership. There were a total of 21 outcomes. Both sides agreed for establishment of annual Foreign Ministers Dialogue for regularly reviewing implementation of the elevated partnership and Horizon 2047 Roadmap. Both the nations agreed for launch of India-France Year of Innovation and India-France Innovation Network on Defence and Security, apart from the inauguration of H125 Helicopter Final Assembly Line at Vemagal, Karnataka, renewal of the Agreement between Government of India and French Republic on Defence Cooperation and Joint Venture between BEL and Safran to produce HAMMER missiles in India will be done. On Critical and Emerging Technologies including defence, there will be constitution of a Joint Advanced Technology Development Group. There will be Joint Declaration of Intent for Cooperation in Critical Minerals and Metals and Letter of Intent was exchanged to establish a Centre on Advanced Materials between DST and CNRS.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today emphasized that long standing strategic partnership with France has created limitless opportunities to collaborate in different sectors. Mr Singh was speaking at the inauguration of H125 Light Utility Helicopter assembly facility of Tata Electronics and Air Bus at Vemagal in Karnataka. The Defence Minister noted that the facility in Vemagal will receive an investment of one thousand crore rupees creating ample employment opportunities.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that technology exists to serve humanity, not replace it. He said, the end goal of technology should be ‘Welfare for All, Happiness of All’. In an interview to a News Agency, Mr Modi said, today, AI stands at a civilisational inflection point. He said, it can expand human capability in unprecedented ways, but it can also test existing social foundations if left unguided. The Prime Minister said, that is why India has deliberately framed the India AI Impact Summit around impact that ensures meaningful and equitable outcomes, not just innovation. Mr Modi said, his vision for AI in Aatmanirbhar Bharat rests on three pillars, sovereignty, inclusivity, and innovation. He said, his vision is that India should be among the top three AI superpowers globally, not just in the consumption of AI but in creation.
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Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that India is expecting over two hundred billion dollars AI investment in the country’s AI ecosystem in the next two years. Addressing a press conference on India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi today, Mr Vaishnaw said, the summit is receiving a huge response, with people arriving from every corner of the country.
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Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Secretary, Sanjay Jaju said, AI is transforming the entire art of storytelling. Talking to Akashvani News at India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Mr Jaju said that huge disruptions are coming in through artificial intelligence in the entire creator economy. He said, AI is going to provide a huge platform and opportunity for storytellers across the country.
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The second day of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 featured a key session titled AI inGovernance: Revolutionising Government Efficiency, where global researchers and senior policymakers discussed how AI can enhance public service delivery at scale.
More from our Correspondent:-
“Day two of the AI Impact Summit included panel discussions on themes like AI for Social Good and Global South collaboration, AI governance, ethics and regulatory frameworks, and Data Healthcare innovation with AI and Economic productivity and deployment in industry. During the summit, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda today launched Strategy for AI in Healthcare for India-SAHI and Benchmark Open Data Platform in Health AI-BODH. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Nadda said that India is taking a giant leap in Health Tech through AI. He said, SAHI is a national roadmap for AI in healthcare which ensures an ethical, responsible, and people-centric approach whereas BODH fills a crucial gap in testing and validating AI solutions deployed in the field.
Aman Yadav, Akashvani News, New Delhi”
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The Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairman Tarique Rahman today took oath as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh, marking a fresh political chapter after nearly 18 months of uncertainty under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus.
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A second round of talks between Iran and the United States, over Tehran’s nuclear programme, have concluded in Geneva, Switzerland. Talking to media after the talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has said that Iran and the United States reached an understanding on the main guiding principles in a second round of nuclear talks but work still needs to be done.
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In Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, 2021 edition’s champions, Australia have been knocked out of the tournament. The elimination came after the crucial Group B clash between Zimbabwe and Ireland was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to incessant rain at Pallekele in Sri Lanka today. With the game being washed out, the points were shared between Ireland and Zimbabwe.
The third fixture of the day, between Scotland and Nepal is underway at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:-
- India and France establish Special Global Strategic Partnership after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai; Both countries exchange 21 agreements and documents in key areas of Defence, Energy, and Critical Minerals among others.
- Prime Minister Modi says his vision for AI in Aatmanirbhar Bharat rests on sovereignty, inclusivity, and innovation.
- Minister of Electronics and Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw says, India AI summit clearly reflects the global identity of India in AI, infrastructure, and technology.
- India’s first assembly line to build H125 Light Utility Helicopter inaugurated in Vemagal, Karnataka.
- BNP chief Tarique Rahman sworn in as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
- United States and Iran hold second round of nuclear talks; Tehran says, understanding on main principles reached.
- In Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, Australia knocked out; Zimbabwe qualifies for Super Eight after match with Ireland washed out.
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