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India PM | March 5, 2026: Your Essential Daily Briefing on India's Prime Minister
The India Pulse Newsletter for March 5, 2026 covers PM Modi and Finland President Alexander Stubb elevating India-Finland ties to Strategic Partnership, India and Finland signing three MoUs with eight announcements, PM Modi speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron, scheduled to address post-budget webinar on agriculture rural transformation, highlighting power of enthusiasm, and paying tributes to Biju Patnaik on his birth anniversary.
NEWS IN DETAIL
PM Modi and Alexander Stubb Elevate India–Finland Ties To Strategic Partnership
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finland President Alexander Stubb have reiterated their commitment to the rule-based international order and multilateral cooperation, with the UN at its core.
The India-Finland Joint Statement following the state visit of the President of Finland to India said that both the leaders affirmed the deep and enduring friendship between India and Finland, built on a foundation of mutual respect and the values of democracy and rule of law, as well as commitment to global peace, security, and international law.
The leaders agreed to elevate the India-Finland relations to a Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability, based on converging interests and mutual benefits. They underlined the importance of redoubling efforts to reach the Sustainable Development Goals, and the importance of global cooperation against the challenges of climate change and loss of biodiversity.
Welcoming the landmark Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union, concluded in the India-EU Summit on 27th January, both leaders acknowledged the immense and mutually beneficial opportunities for both parties of increased trade and investments, including for the India-Finland bilateral relationship.
The Joint Statement said that Prime Minister Modi and the President of Finland called upon the business community to make use of the vast opportunities unleashed by the landmark India-EU FTA. They agreed that the aim should be to double the value of current trade between India and Finland by 2030. The Leaders identified digital transformation, including new and emerging technologies such as 5G, 6G, high-performance and quantum computing and Artificial Intelligence, as priority areas where collaboration based on mutual trust and benefit can be strengthened.
On sustainability, both Leaders underlined the great potential in advancing clean energy solutions in areas such as low-carbon transition, energy efficiency, biofuels, smart grids, and green hydrogen. They highlighted the importance of cooperation in the circular economy, sustainable water management and meteorology.
The Finnish President extended his appreciation to India for hosting the next World Circular Economy Forum in the later part of 2026. It is a Finnish initiative providing a platform to enhance circular economy solutions and bring together leading expertise in the search for new collaborative initiatives.
The two Leaders recognized the need to reform the UN system. In this context, they emphasised the importance of a comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council to make it more efficient, representative, inclusive, and reflective of contemporary geopolitical realities. The President of Finland reiterated Finland’s support for the permanent membership of India in a reformed UNSC.
India, Finland Ink Three MoUs, Make Eight Announcements
India and Finland inked three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and made eight announcements during the Finland President’s India visit.
Memorandums of Understanding
MoU on Migration and Mobility Partnership
Finland has emerged as an important destination for Indian professionals, particularly in the field of technology and innovation sectors. The MoU on Migration and Mobility Partnership will facilitate mobility of talent.
Renewal of MoU on Environmental Cooperation
Renewal of existing MoU signed in November 2020. It encompasses key areas of collaboration that contribute to sustainability, including bioenergy and waste-to-energy solutions, power storage and flexible RE systems, green hydrogen, as well as wind, solar and small hydro power.
MOU on cooperation in the field of Statistics
To evolve mutual cooperation and exchange of experiences/best practices and collaboration in the field of official statistics.
Announcements
Elevation of India - Finland bilateral relations to “Strategic Partnership in Digitalization and Sustainability”
Joint Research Calls under Implementation Arrangement between Department of Science and Technology of India and Finnish Innovation Funding Agency Business Finland
Aim to double the present bilateral trade between India and Finland by 2030 (Capitalizing on recently concluded India-EU FTA)
Establish a cross-sectoral Joint Working Group on Digitalization (Advancing cooperation in new and emerging technologies such as 5G, 6G, quantum communications, high-performance and quantum computing, Artificial Intelligence etc.)
Creation of Joint Task Force on 6G (6G research by University of Oulu, Finland and the Bharat 6G Alliance)
Greater connectivity of startup ecosystems through Indo-Finland Startup Corridor (Active participation of Indian startups in Slush in Helsinki and Finnish startups in Startup Mahakumbh in New Delhi)
Co-hosting of World Circular Economy Forum in India in 2026 (By Ministry of Environment, forest and Climate Change and Finnish Innovation Fund SITRA)
Establish Consular Dialogue between the respective Foreign Ministries
PM Modi Speaks With French President Emmanuel Macron
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron.
In a social media post, PM Modi said that they discussed their shared concerns over the evolving situation in West Asia and the need for a return to dialogue and diplomacy.
He said that the two countries will continue to engage closely and coordinate efforts towards the early restoration of peace and stability in the region.
PM Modi to Address Post-Budget Webinar On Agriculture And Rural Transformation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a Post-Budget Webinar on the theme ‘Agriculture and Rural Transformation’ on March 6, 2026, through video conferencing.
Under this theme, eight different webinar sessions are being held covering four major sectors: Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Fisheries and Rural Livelihoods.
The Post-Budget Webinar will focus on promoting high-value agriculture by unlocking the potential of crops such as cashew, coconut, sandalwood, agarwood, almonds, walnuts and pine nuts. It will also deliberate on the opportunities offered by Bharat Vistaar, the AI-powered Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture.
The sessions will also deliberate upon private sector investment and entrepreneurship in the animal husbandry value chain, integrated development of reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars for fisheries, strengthening coastal fisheries value chains, and expanding market access for products made by rural women entrepreneurs through Self Help Entrepreneurs-Marketing Avenues for Rural Transformation SHE-Marts.
Prime Minister Highlights Power Of Enthusiasm
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a Sanskrit verse highlighting the importance of enthusiasm and determination in achieving success.
The Prime Minister shared the following verse-
“उत्साहो बलवानार्य नास्त्युत्साहात् परं बलम्। सोत्साहस्यास्ति लोकेऽस्मिन् न किञ्चिदपि दुर्लà¤à¤®्॥”
The verse conveys that enthusiasm is the greatest strength. For an enthusiastic person, indeed nothing is unattainable.
The Prime Minister wrote on X;
“उत्साहो बलवानार्य नास्त्युत्साहात् परं बलम्।
सोत्साहस्यास्ति लोकेऽस्मिन् न किञ्चिदपि दुर्लà¤à¤®्॥”
Prime Minister Pays Tributes To Biju Patnaik
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to former Chief Minister of Odisha Biju Patnaik on his birth anniversary and remembered him for his passion towards furthering the progress of Odisha.
The Prime Minister wrote on X:
“On his birth anniversary today, I pay tributes to Shri Biju Patnaik Ji and remember his passion towards furthering the progress of Odisha.”