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India PM | January 27, 2026: Your Essential Daily Briefing on India's Prime Minister
Harrdiip Bedii
The India PM Newsletter for January 27, 2026 covers India and European Union exchanging historic Free Trade Agreement, PM Modi hailing completion of landmark India-EU FTA as beginning of new era in relations, list of outcomes from visit of European Council President and European Commission President to India, PM Modi highlighting India's transition from energy security to energy independence, PM Modi scheduled to address Annual NCC PM Rally, and PM sharing Sanskrit verse highlighting peace and contentment.
India & European Union Exchange Historic Free Trade Agreement
India and the European Union on Tuesday exchanged the historic Free Trade Agreement following the India-EU Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi.
India and the European Union also exchanged several agreements following talks between the leaders, including in the fields of trade, security, defence partnership, mobility, disaster risk management, and green hydrogen.
In his Joint Statement following the exchange of agreements, Prime Minister Modi termed the Free Trade Agreement as historic, saying it will benefit farmers and MSMEs.
He highlighted that India today inked its biggest free trade deal with the European Union. He said, this will boost investment, form new innovation partnerships and strengthen supply chains at the global level.
Speaking on this occasion, the Prime Minister said that India and the European Union relations have strengthened, and ties have reached new heights. He said, this is not just a trade agreement, but a new blueprint for shared prosperity.
Prime Minister Modi added that the Security and Defence Partnership between India and the EU will deepen cooperation in counter terrorism, maritime and cyber security. He noted that the India-EU partnership is for the global good. He opined that there is churning in the global order today, and India -EU ties will bring stability in this. Prime Minister Modi stressed the reforms of global institutions, saying this historic Summit is a turning point.
In his statement, President of the European Council Antonio Costa said that today’s Summit sends a clear message to the world that India and the EU stand together as strategic and reliable partners at a time when the global world is being reshaped. He said that together, India and the EU must show leadership on global issues.
In her statement, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen termed the India-EU FTA as the mother of all deals. She said it will create jobs for millions of workers in India and Europe. She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the exceptional hospitality, adding that it was an honour to be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade.
She said, India has risen, and Europe is truly glad about it, and when India succeeds, the world is more stable, prosperous and secure.
PM Modi Hails Completion of Landmark India-EU FTA as Beginning of New Era in Relations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the India-EU Business Forum
at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on January 27, 2026. (PIB)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the India-European Union Business Forum at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on Tuesday, expressing happiness at the occasion and highlighting the EU Presidents’ Republic Day Chief Guest visit, largest FTA in India’s history, and large-scale business participation as symbols of unprecedented alignment between the world’s two largest democratic powers.
Highlights of PM Modi’s Speech:
The Prime Minister said the EU leaders’ visit marks the beginning of a new era in India-EU relations.
India and EU concluded the largest Free Trade Agreement in India’s history today.
In last decade, bilateral trade doubled to 180 billion euros; 6,000+ European companies operate in India; EU investments exceed 120 billion euros.
1,500 Indian companies present in EU with nearly 40 billion euros investment.
India-EU collaboration deepening in R&D, manufacturing, services; business leaders as drivers and beneficiaries.
Time to make partnership a ‘whole of society partnership’; comprehensive FTA provides easy market access for India’s labour-intensive products.
Textiles, gems & jewellery, auto parts, engineering goods to benefit; fruits, vegetables, processed food, marine products will create new opportunities for farmers, fishermen.
Services sector gains, especially IT, education, traditional medicine, business services.
Amid global business upheaval, FTA sends positive message to businesses, inviting capable, reliable, future-oriented partnerships.
Three shared priorities for business:
(i) De-risk dependencies in trade, technology, critical minerals; asked whether the business community can reduce external reliance in EVs, batteries, chips, APIs and build trusted supply chains.
(ii) Collaborate in defense industries, frontier technologies (defense, space, telecom, AI).
(iii) Jointly pursue clean future: green hydrogen, solar, smart grids, small modular reactors, sustainable mobility, water management, circular economy, sustainable agriculture.
Post-historic FTA decisions, responsibility now with business community — “The Ball Is In Your Court”.
Mutual cooperation will build trust, reach, scale for shared prosperity.
Urged combining strengths to become double engine of global growth.
President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Indian and European business leaders were present at the event.
List of Outcomes: Visit of European Council President and European Commission President to India
European Council President Mr. António LuÃs Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ms. Ursula von der Leyen pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi
at Rajghat in Delhi on January 27, 2026 during their India Visit. (PIB)
India and the European Union on Tuesday signed a series of landmark agreements following the India-EU Summit in New Delhi. Held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Council President Antonio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the discussions solidified cooperation on defense, trade, and technology, paving the way for the strategic outcomes listed below.
Overarching Document Covering All Aspects of India-EU Strategic Partnership
Towards 2030: A Joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda
Trade and Economy; and Finance
Joint Announcement on the conclusion of the negotiations of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement
MoU between RBI and European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA)
Administrative Arrangement on Advanced Electronic Signatures and Seals
Defence and Security
Security and Defence Partnership
Launch of negotiations for an India-EU Security of Information Agreement
Skilling and Mobility
MoU on Comprehensive Framework on Co-operation on Mobility
Announcement on setting up of European Union pilot Legal Gateway Office in India aimed to enhance skill mobility
Disaster Management
Administrative Arrangement between NDMA and the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG-ECHO) concerning Co-operation in Disaster Risk Management and Emergency Response
Clean Energy
Constitution of a Green Hydrogen Task Force
Science & Technology, and Research & Innovation
Renewal of India-EU Agreement on Scientific & Technological Cooperation for the period 2025- 2030
Launch of exploratory talks for India entering into an association agreement with Horizon Europe Programme
Connectivity
Agreement to jointly implement four (4) projects under the India-EU Trilateral Co-operation on Digital Innovation and Skills Hub for Women and Youth; Solar-Based Solutions for Empowering Women Farmers in Agriculture and Food Systems; Early Warning Systems; and Solar Based Sustainable Energy Transition in Africa, and Small Island Developing States in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean.
PM Modi Highlights India’s Transition from Energy Security to Energy Independence
Virtually Inaugurates India Energy Week 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday virtually inaugurated the fourth edition of India Energy Week 2026 in South Goa, highlighting India’s transition from energy security to energy independence through reforms and global investment.
Addressing the event, the Prime Minister said India is expanding global partnerships across the energy value chain, opening up exploration, and targeting up to USD 100 billion in investment in oil and gas.
“In India, we have a very large population and a continuously growing economy. Demand for petrochemical products is set to rise steadily, requiring large-scale energy infrastructure. Your investment will provide significant growth,” Prime Minister Modi said.
He added that India also offers numerous investment opportunities in downstream activities.
The Prime Minister emphasised that India is “riding the reform express,” implementing reforms across all sectors, including the domestic hydrocarbon sector, to create a transparent and investor-friendly environment for global collaboration.
“We are moving beyond energy security toward the mission of energy independence. India is developing an energy-sector ecosystem that can meet local demand while ensuring competitive exports through affordable refining and transportation solutions,” he said.
Highlighting global partnerships, Prime Minister Modi said the country is creating significant investment opportunities along the entire energy value chain.
“Take exploration, for example. India has opened up this sector extensively, including through our Samudra Manthan mission for deep-sea exploration. By the end of this decade, we aim to attract investments of up to USD 100 billion in the oil and gas sector and expand our exploration area to nearly one million square kilometers,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi also noted that more than 170 exploration blocks have already been awarded, and the Andaman and Nicobar Basin is emerging as India’s next major hydrocarbon frontier.
PM Modi to Address Annual NCC PM Rally
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Annual NCC PM Rally on January 28, 2026, at the Cariappa Parade Ground in New Delhi. The theme of this year’s rally is Rashtra Pratham – Kartavya Nishtha Yuva.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said that this rally reflects the spirit of duty, discipline and national commitment among India’s youth. The NCC PM Rally will mark the grand culmination of the month-long NCC Republic Day Camp 2026. It witnessed the participation of two thousand 406 NCC cadets from across the country, including 898 girl cadets.
The rally will also see the participation of 207 youth and officers from 21 foreign countries. On the occasion, a vibrant cultural programme will be presented by NCC cadets, members of Rashtriya Rangshala and National Service Scheme, showcasing their role in nation building, social service and character development.
PM Shares Sanskrit Verse Highlighting Peace and Contentment
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday shared a Sanskrit verse on X, emphasising on peace and contentment :
“शान्तितुल्यं तपो नास्ति न सन्तोषात् परं सुखम्।
न तृष्णायाः परो व्याधिर्न च धर्मो दयापरः।।”
The verse conveys that, there is no endeavour nobler than peace, no pleasure bigger than contentment, no disease worse than greed and no duty higher than compassion.