New Delhi, Jan 12: India and Germany reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening a wide-ranging strategic partnership on Monday during the first official visit to India by German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who was accompanied by a high-level delegation that included 23 leading German CEOs and industry leaders.

The visit, which takes place from January 12-13, is Chancellor Merz’s first trip to India and his maiden visit to Asia as Federal Chancellor, highlighting Germany’s growing focus on India as a key strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific.

The visit comes amid celebrations marking 25 years of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership and 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2026.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Chancellor Merz in Ahmedabad, where the two leaders paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram, participated in the International Kite Festival, and jointly addressed the India-Germany CEO Forum.

Chancellor Merz would also visit Bengaluru, with a focus on business and technology collaboration.

During restricted and delegation-level talks, the leaders reaffirmed shared democratic values and support for a rules-based international order.

They reviewed progress in defence and security cooperation and welcomed outcomes of the High Defence Committee meeting held in November 2025.

Both sides agreed to deepen military-to-military cooperation through joint exercises, training, staff talks, and reciprocal naval port calls.

India welcomed Germany’s participation in Exercise MILAN, the IONS Conclave of Chiefs in February 2026, Exercise TARANG SHAKTI in September 2026, and Germany’s decision to deploy a Liaison Officer to the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).

The leaders welcomed cooperation between DRDO and OCCAR under the Eurodrone MALE UAV programme and the signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent on Defence Industrial Cooperation, aimed at promoting co-development, co-production, and technology partnerships.

India and Germany strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism, and denounced the Pahalgam terror attack of April 2025 and the Delhi attack of November 2025.

They committed to enhancing counter-terrorism cooperation, including through the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee, and welcomed progress under the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.

The leaders welcomed the rise in bilateral trade, which crossed USD 50 billion in 2024, accounting for over 25 percent of India’s total trade with the EU.

Both sides encouraged stronger collaboration in SMEs, startups, digitalisation, Artificial Intelligence, and innovation-driven enterprises.

PM Modi invited German companies to expand investments in India, while Chancellor Merz highlighted Germany as an attractive destination for Indian investors.

Both leaders reiterated support for the early conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, expected to be a key outcome of the upcoming EU-India Summit.

India and Germany agreed to strengthen collaboration in semiconductors, critical minerals, digital technologies, telecommunications, health, and bioeconomy.

The leaders welcomed a new Joint Declaration of Intent on Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership and progress on critical minerals cooperation, covering exploration, processing, recycling, and third-country projects.

They also welcomed the extension of the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC) and progress in establishing Indo-German Centres of Excellence in areas such as digital convergence, battery technology, green transport, and affordable healthcare.

Space cooperation between ISRO and the German Space Agency (DLR) was also reviewed, with both sides agreeing to expand industry-level engagement.

The leaders reviewed progress under the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP), noting that Germany has already earmarked nearly 5 billion Euros of its 10 billion Euros commitment by 2030 for climate mitigation, renewable energy, green mobility, biodiversity, and sustainable urban development projects in India.

They welcomed advances in green hydrogen cooperation, including a major green ammonia off take agreement between Indian producers and German firms, and new working groups on solar manufacturing, wind energy, and battery storage.

India and Germany reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, respect for UNCLOS, and announced a new bilateral Indo-Pacific consultation mechanism.

Germany reiterated support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

Both countries called for comprehensive UN Security Council reforms, expressed concern over the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and supported diplomatic efforts for lasting peace, humanitarian access, and a two-state solution in the Middle East.

The leaders highlighted the growing presence of Indian students and professionals in Germany and welcomed progress under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Chancellor Merz for Germany’s decision to allow visa-free transit for Indian passport holders.

They welcomed new initiatives on global skills partnerships, renewable energy skilling, higher education collaboration, joint degree programmes, and the expansion of German language education in India.

Germany also invited Indian participation to meet its skilled labour needs, particularly in healthcare.

Chancellor Merz thanked PM Modi for the warm hospitality.

Both leaders agreed to hold the next India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations in Germany later in 2026 and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening the strategic partnership across defence, economy, technology, climate action, and people-to-people ties.

Agreements and Announcements

India and Germany signed and announced a series of agreements and initiatives spanning defence, economy, technology, climate action, and people-to-people ties.

Defence and Security

Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) to strengthen bilateral defence industrial cooperation.

Trade and Economy

JDI to enhance economic cooperation through the establishment of a CEO Forum under the Joint India-Germany Economic and Investment Committee.

Critical and Emerging Technologies

JDI on India-Germany Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership

JDI on cooperation in Critical Minerals

JDI on cooperation in Telecommunications

MoU between NIELIT and Infineon Technologies AG

Traditional Medicine

MoU between All India Institute of Ayurveda and Charité University, Germany

Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen

MoU between PNGRB and DVGW

Green Ammonia offtake agreement between AM Green and Uniper Global Commodities

Science and Research

JDI on joint R&D cooperation in Bioeconomy

JDI on extending the tenure of the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC)

Education and Skilling

Indo-German Roadmap on Higher Education

JDI on Global Skill Partnerships for ethical recruitment of healthcare professionals

JDI to establish a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Renewable Energy at NSTI Hyderabad

Culture and People-to-People Ties

MoU for the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex, Lothal, with the German Maritime Museum

JDI on Postal Services Cooperation

Letter of Intent between the Department of Posts and Deutsche Post AG

JDI on Sports Cooperation

MoU on Youth Hockey Development between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation

Key Announcements

Visa-free transit facility for Indian passport holders transiting through Germany

Establishment of a Track 1.5 Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue

Creation of a bilateral Indo-Pacific dialogue mechanism

Adoption of the India–Germany Digital Dialogue Work Plan (2025-27)

1.24 billion Euros in new funding commitments under the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP)

Launch of a Battery Storage Working Group under the India-Germany renewable energy investment platform

Scaling up Triangular Development Cooperation projects in Ghana, Cameroon and Malawi

Opening of an Honorary Consulate of Germany in Ahmedabad

New Delhi, Jan 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday shared a Sanskrit Subhashitam highlighting Swami Vivekananda’s faith in the transformative power of youth, saying India’s young citizens have the zeal and passion to realise every national ambition.

The Prime Minister quoted the verse, “For a resolute and courageous person, the earth is like the courtyard of his home; the oceans are no more than small ponds; the depths of the underworld seem like level ground; and even Mount Sumeru appears as a mere anthill.”

Prime Minister’s post on X said, which translated in English nearly means “Swami Vivekananda believed that the strength of youth is the most powerful foundation of nation-building. With their energy and passion, India’s youth can turn every resolve into reality.”

Earlier in the day, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan paid floral tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary, observed as National Youth Day, at the Vice President’s Enclave in New Delhi.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah also paid homage to the iconic spiritual leader and extended greetings to citizens on the occasion. He said Swami Vivekananda’s message of perseverance until the goal is achieved continues to inspire a sense of duty and patriotism among the youth, contributing to the building of a developed India.

In a post on X, Shah said, “I bow in reverence to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary and extend my heartfelt greetings to all citizens on ‘National Youth Day’. Swami Vivekananda connected the youth of the country with India’s knowledge tradition, philosophy, and spirituality, and carried its reach to global platforms. Through the Ramakrishna Mission, he also established ideals of social service. Swamiji’s thoughts, which give the message of not stopping before achieving the goal, are awakening a sense of duty and patriotism among the youth and are accelerating the building of a developed India.” Swami Vivekananda, a leading figure of India’s spiritual and intellectual renaissance, is widely remembered for inspiring generations of young Indians to combine national service with spiritual and moral strength.

Srinagar, Jan 12: All Indian students in Iran, including those studying in Mazandaran, Kish, Ahvaz, Esfahan, Shiraz, Golestan, Tehran, Urumiyeh, Arak and Kerman, are safe, an office bearer of the doctors’ association said on Monday.

Vice President of AIMSA and FAIMA Doctors Association, Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, said he is personally in touch with around 1,500 parents through WhatsApp groups and remains in regular contact regarding the safety of students. He said several students contacted him during the day and informed that internet services are expected to be restored soon.

Dr Khan said all Indian medical students in Iran are safe and there is no cause for panic. He also referred to assurances given by the Vikram Misri, who has confirmed that Indian students in Iran are safe.

Appealing for calm, Dr Khan urged people to rely only on official updates and avoid spreading unverified or misleading information, stating that unnecessary rumours could cause distress among families. [KNT]