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Asaduddin Owaisi, who opposed population control bill, targets RSS chief for advocating 3 children per family: Here is how he exposed his hypocrisy while playing ‘feminist card’

Dibakar Dutta
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Asaduddin Owaisi, who opposed population control bill, targets RSS chief for advocating 3 children per family: Here is how he exposed his hypocrisy while playing ‘feminist card’

On Friday (29th August), AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi attempted to portray RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in a negative light for asking Indian families to have 3 children.

Owaisi pulled out the ‘feminist card’ and claimed that the RSS chief’s statement somehow put an extra burden on Indian women and hampered their free will to make decisions.

The newly christened champion of ‘women empowerment’, Asaduddin Owaisi, brazened out, “Who are you to enter into people’s family lives? Why are you trying to put a burden on Indian woman who might have their own different priorities according to their life?“

Interestingly, the AIMIM leader and his party MP Imtiyaz Jaleel were the only people who voted against the landmark women reservation bill in 2023.

Asaduddin Owaisi was somehow aghast that Mohan Bhagwat recommended Indian families to have 3 children.

“BJP and RSS both have failed in providing employment to the youth of this country. You are not talking about that. And now you are saying, okay, give birth to three children,” he alleged.

However, in October 2022, the same Asaduddin Owaisi was encouraging people to have more children. He had rubbished the idea of ‘population control’, claiming that we have achiveved replacement rate.

“There’s no need for population control as we’ve already achieved replacement rate. The worry is an ageing population & unemployed youth who cannot support elderly,” he had claimed.

Given that only biological women can produce kids, ‘feminist’ Owaisi, through his tweet, implied that women should produce more children as there is no need for population control.

He has gone on record to oppose the population control bill tooth and nail. In June 2022, the AIMIM leader had announced, “I will not support any law that mandates two children only policy as it would not benefit the country.“

Other prominent Muslim leaders, such as AIDUF chief Badaruddin Ajmal, had even declared in 2019, “Muslims will continue to have children and not listen to anyone.”

Coincidentally, Asaduddin Owaisi and his party did not object to this statement as ‘anti-women’. His cherry-picking and selective outrage are now directed towards a Hindu leader who recommended ‘all’ to have 3 kids.

On Thursday (28th August), RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat discussed the issue of population control. He had said that the government recommends 2.1 kids per family (while accounting for the national average).

“In mathematics, 2.1 can be rounded to 2. However, human life cannot be 2.1. We cannot have a 0.1 kid. So, 2.1 means 3 kids. Every citizen of this country should see to it that they have 3 children in their family,” the RSS chief stated.

Mohan Bhagwat emphasised, “I am saying this from the perspective of the nation. Population can be an asset as well as a concern because we need to feed these children as well. This is why there is a population policy in place. The idea is to keep population under control as well as adequate.”

“We should not go beyond 3 kids. Because it can then become difficult to raise them properly. This is something everyone should accept. Yes it is true that fertility rate is declining for all. Hindus had low fertlity rate which had further reduced now. Other groups had a high fertility rate, and hence their decline looks drastic,” he added.

But Asaduddin Owaisi harped on the ‘feminist rhetoric’ that Mohan Bhagwat somehow stripped women of their choice to make decisions about having children.

The AIMIM leader, who voted against giving 33% reservation to women in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies, had himself claimed that there was no need for population control. He had in fact encouraged Muslims to have more children by claiming that their fertility rate is declining and thus ‘burdened’ Muslim women in the process.

The new champion of ‘women empowerment’ also attempted to present data to suggest that the Muslim population increase in India is a myth.

It is a known fact that the Hindu population has declined from 84.1% in 1951 to 79.8% in 2011. During the same period, the Muslim population increased from 9.8% to 14.2%.

This happened due to a higher fertility rate (Muslims producing more children than Hindus on average) among adherents of Islam.

Asaduddin Owaisi misled about the Muslim population increase in India and thereafter attempted to villainise Mohan Bhagwat as ‘anti-women.’ The AIMIM leader conveniently resorted to doublespeak on population by first opposing the proposed population control bill and then objecting to Mohan Bhagwat’s statement on Indian families having 3 kids.

While it is not uncommon for politicians to display hypocrisy on social issues, it was indeed surprising to see Asaduddin Owaisi (of all people) play the ‘feminist card’ with a dismal track record.

Vladimir Putin visiting India in December: Read how in the face of Trump’s bullying, India is strengthening its ties with Russia despite the tariffs

Shriti Sagar
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Vladimir Putin visiting India in December: Read how in the face of Trump’s bullying, India is strengthening its ties with Russia despite the tariffs

Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to India in December, the Kremlin said on Friday, 29th August. His visit comes at a time when ties between Moscow and New Delhi are becoming stronger after the United States imposed tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil.

President Putin will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO summit in China’s Tianjin on 1st September, indicating the strength of the partnership between the two nations. PM Modi will also meet Chinese president Xi Jinping during his China visit.

This is going to be one of Putin’s few overseas trips after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant against him regarding the Ukraine crisis. India is not a signatory to the ICC, so it is not bound to implement the warrant. Vladimir Putin visited Alaska in US earlier this month for a meeting with president Donald Trump. U.S. is also not a member of the ICC.

Putin’s India trip also highlights the fact that in spite of sanctions and political pressure, Russia has been able to hold on to important strategic partners like India.

Trump’s tariffs: bullying tactics against India

The Kremlin’s announcement comes against the backdrop of fresh U.S. tariffs on Indian goods. President Donald Trump has accused India of funding Russia’s war in Ukraine by buying discounted crude oil from Moscow. To pressure India, Trump’s administration has imposed a 50% duty on a wide variety of Indian goods, up from the earlier 25%.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security formally notified the hike, saying the additional taxes were a reaction to “threats to the United States by the Government of the Russian Federation.” Any Indian product arriving after 27th August at 12:01 am (Eastern Daylight Time/EST) would face the extra duty, effectively doubling costs for Indian exporters.

Trump signed Executive Order 14329 authorising the move and has even threatened “very big consequences” for any country that continues to trade with Russia. While India has been directly targeted, curiously, Washington has avoided imposing similar penalties on other major buyers of Russian oil, including China and several European nations.

Trump first announced a 25% duty on Indian goods but he subsequently declared that he would increase it to 50% by adding 25% more as a penalty for purchasing Russian oil which he insisted “funded war in Ukraine.” 

He had set the implementation date for 27th August. Interestingly, his government has been accusing India and the “wealthiest Indian families” of profiting from Russian oil while continually defending Beijing.

This uneven strategy has generated universal criticism that the U.S. is selectively employing tariffs as an instrument of bullying instead of an equitable global policy. For India, the tariffs remind it that economic coercion is being employed as leverage in geopolitics far beyond its own concerns.

India’s response: energy security first

India, however, has not taken this lying down. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was adamant in his response: “The pressure on us may increase, but we will bear it all.” He emphasized that national interests of farmers, small and medium-scale industries, and common citizens are given priority. 

External affairs minister S Jaishankar also strongly endorsed India’s energy decisions, asserting that New Delhi would keep making choices that serve its strategic autonomy and national interest.

Dr Jaishankar pointed out that the US tariff issue is being misrepresented as “oil dispute”. He pointed out that bigger importers like China and European countries have not received the same criticism as India for buying Russian oil.

India has been purchasing more than a million barrels of Russian crude daily, most of it at discounted prices. These imports help India manage fuel costs for its 140 crore citizens, keeping inflation under check in a volatile global market. Indian officials have pointed out that after the war began, Europe diverted much of its oil supply, leaving India with limited options but to look toward Russia.

Jaishankar has also repeatedly reminded Western leaders of their double standards: Europe continues to purchase Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in massive quantities, and the United States still imports Russian uranium for its nuclear plants. Yet, India alone is being singled out and punished with tariffs.

Defence ties with Moscow

India’s ties with Russia are not limited to energy. Nearly 60-70% of India’s defence equipment originates from Russia, ranging from fighter jets to missile systems. New Delhi has consistently argued that abruptly cutting off these supplies would harm its national security.

Here too, Western criticism appears selective. NATO member Turkey purchased Russian S-400 missile systems in 2019. While it faced some sanctions, Turkey continues to remain a NATO member and engages in trade with Russia. India, on the other hand, is being targeted with harsher rhetoric despite not being bound by any alliance obligations to the West.

U.S. threatens even harsher sanctions

The Trump administration is not stopping with tariffs. A bill in the U.S. Congress proposes a 500% tariff on any nation continuing to purchase Russian oil. Though India is not named directly, it is clear who the intended target is. Some legislators have even threatened 100% “secondary tariffs” on goods from countries that help Moscow.

NATO leaders have also tried to pressure India, with Secretary General Mark Rutte warning that India and China risk new penalties if they do not cut their oil trade with Russia.

India’s response has been equally strong. During his recent visit to Washington, Jaishankar made it clear that “India’s energy security cannot be sacrificed.” Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri also emphasised that India has diversified its oil sources, now buying from nearly 40 countries instead of 27 earlier, which gives it flexibility in case of disruptions.

Not about war, but about survival

Critics in the West argue that India’s oil purchases are helping Russia fund its war. But India has countered that it is not financing a war, it is simply ensuring affordable energy for its people. India has a population of 140 crore and growing demand, and it cannot pay more simply because America or Europe wants it to.

India has also made the world remember that it has always been pro-peace initiatives, ranging from donating humanitarian assistance to Ukraine to continuing to speak with both President Zelensky and President Putin. New Delhi has reiterated that India is not a belligerent in the war and should not be punished for focusing on its internal needs. 

Double standards of the West

Numbers tell the story clearly. In 2022, the European Union paid over $120 billion to Russia for fossil fuels. In the same period, India’s payments were less than half that, around $50 billion. Despite this, Western governments have focused their criticism on New Delhi, ignoring their own continued dependence on Russian energy.

The irony is even deeper when we consider refined oil. Indian refineries process Russian crude and export the refined fuels to Europe. So, while European nations buy the final product from India, they simultaneously attack India for purchasing the crude in the first place.

This double game raises serious questions. Are sanctions about punishing Russia for what it has done in Ukraine, or are they about Western preservation of control over global trade flows and energy politics?

The bigger picture: global fairness

When we look at the bigger picture, the issue is not just oil. It is about fairness in the global order. The West cannot set rules that others must follow while quietly exempting themselves from the same. If Europe can keep buying LNG from Russia, and the U.S. can still import uranium, then India’s crude purchases should not be singled out.

India’s position is rooted in its right to act independently, balancing ties with all major powers while ensuring its economy remains stable. It has made clear that it will not allow its people to be held hostage to someone else’s war.

India’s strengthening ties with Russia despite pressure

And this is why Putin’s visit in December is so significant. At a time when Trump is trying to bully India into submission with tariffs, New Delhi is instead doubling down on its partnership with Moscow. Far from reducing purchases, Indian refiners have increased their intake of Russian crude. Defence cooperation continues, and now diplomatic engagement at the highest level will further cement ties.

For India, this is about strategic independence. It refuses to be a pawn in a larger power struggle between the U.S. and Russia. For Moscow, India remains one of its most dependable partners, both in energy and defence.

Putin’s visit will not just be a ceremonial event; it will be a message to the world that India is charting its own course. It is not bowing down to U.S. pressure, and certainly not compromising the needs of its people for geopolitical posturing.

Big setback to Donald Trump as US Court of Appeals declares most of his tariffs illegal, a defiant US President says it will be a disaster if they are removed

OpIndia Staff
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Big setback to Donald Trump as US Court of Appeals declares most of his tariffs illegal, a defiant US President says it will be a disaster if they are removed

After the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, in a major setback to the Trump administration, declared most of Donald Trump’s tariffs illegal on Friday (29th August). In response, the US President claimed that the removal of the tariffs would be a disaster.

Even though the court did not revoke the tariffs and gave the Trump administration time to appeal to the Supreme Court, it came down heavily on the Trump administration without mincing words. The court observed that Trump exceeded his powers in declaring national emergencies under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), to justify his sweeping tariffs on almost every country on earth.

“It seems unlikely that Congress intended to grant the President unlimited authority to impose tariffs,” said the court in a 7-4 ruling. The court observed that the US President possesses broad powers during a declared national emergency, but those powers do not expressly include imposing tariffs or similar taxes.

“The statute bestows significant authority on the President to undertake a number of actions in response to a declared national emergency, but none of these actions explicitly include the power to impose tariffs, duties, or the like, or the power to tax,” the judges said.

The IEEPA empowers the US President to regulate international commerce by imposing sanctions and freezing assets during a declared national emergency relating to foreign relations. The power has been delegated by Congress to the President to allow him to respond to external threats by regulating commercial transactions involving the US and other parties.

Removal of tariffs will destroy America: Trump

The court ruling prompted a lengthy response from the US President, who claimed that the decision, if allowed, would destroy the US. Accusing the court of being “partisan”, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT! Today, a Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed, but they know the United States of America will win in the end. If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country. It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong.”

He justified the tariffs, saying that the US would not tolerate trade deficits and unfair tariffs that undermine the US farmers and manufacturers.

“The U.S.A. will no longer tolerate enormous Trade Deficits and unfair Tariffs and non-tariff trade Barriers imposed by other Countries, friend or foe, that undermine our Manufacturers, Farmers, and everyone else. If allowed to stand, this Decision would literally destroy the United States of America,” he added.

Trump claimed that in the past, “unwise politicians” allowed tariffs to be used against the US and that his administration would use the tariffs to “Make America Rich, Strong, and Powerful Again!”. Accusing the judges of interfering with the President’s power regarding foreign policy, Attorney General Pam Bondi said that the administration will appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision.

Soon after assuming office at the beginning of the year, Trump announced that he would impose reciprocal tariffs on all countries. From April onwards, he imposed baseline tariffs of 10% on almost every country and up to 50% tariffs on countries with which the US runs trade deficits. He later revised the tariffs and his bizarre reciprocal tariffs on several countries, and in some cases, like India, the tariffs were imposed for reasons other than trade deficit. Recently, he doubled tariffs on India from 25% to 50% for buying oil from Russia.

Impact of the US Court’s decision on tariffs levied on India

As per reports, the punitive tariffs levied by the US on India are likely to remain unaffected even if the IEEPA-based tariffs are rolled back after court’s decision. This is because the after the initial phase of tariffs, Trump, anticipating judicial scrutiny, used a blend of legal framework, and not just emergency powers, to impose subsequent tariffs on India. Thus, Trump made sure that his tariffs on India remain unaffected even after a possible judicial intervention.

Italian adult website forced to shut down after massive outrage over doctored pornographic images of women including PM Giorgia Meloni

OpIndia Staff
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Italian adult website forced to shut down after massive outrage over doctored pornographic images of women including PM Giorgia Meloni

An Italian image sharing website has been forced to shut down after users posted thousands of doctored pornographic images of women, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and other celebrities. The website announced its closure after a backlash from several female politicians including Meloni.

The website named Phica, a play on the Italian slang for vagina, now displays a message saying it has shut down. The scandal broke down after several politicians targeted in the website reported the matter to the police. The Italian police have launched investigations into the site’s administrators and participants.

“I am disgusted by what has happened, and I want to address my solidarity and closeness to all the women who have been offended, insulted, violated in their intimacy by the managers of this forum and its users,” Giorgia Meloni told the media. She said that that those who disseminate intimate content without consent commit a serious crime.

Doctored photos of women posted on the site were accompanied by sexist and explicit comments. Alessandra Moretti, Member of the European Parliament, said, “They have been stealing photos and clips from TV shows I’ve appeared on for years, then altering them and feeding them to thousands of users.”

Phica reportedly had around 7,00,000 users, and was active for two decades. While there were complaints earlier, no action was taken. The site had a so-called VIP section, where doctored photos of female Italian politicians and other prominent figures were posted. The photographs were taken from publicly available sources including their own social media profiles.

Phica said that all the images from the platform will be deleted.

Partnership for Security and Prosperity of Next Generation: India and Japan issue Joint Statement after 15th India-Japan Annual Summit – Full Text

OpIndia Staff
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Partnership for Security and Prosperity of Next Generation: India and Japan issue Joint Statement after 15th India-Japan Annual Summit – Full Text

The following is the joint statement issued by Japan after the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit held during PM Narendra Modi’s ongoing Japan visit, as published by the Prime Minister’s Office through the Press Information Bureau.

At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi paid an Official Working Visit to Japan on 29-30 August 2025 for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. Prime Minister Modi was received by Prime Minister Ishiba at the Prime Minister’s Office (Kantei) on the evening of 29 August 2025 where he received a ceremonial guard of honour. The two Prime Ministers held the delegation-level talks during which they recalled the longstanding friendship between India and Japan that is rooted in civilizational ties, shared values and interests, common strategic outlook and mutual respect for each other. The two Prime Ministers appreciated the significant strides made by the India-Japan partnership over the last decade and held constructive discussion on ways to strengthen the strategic and forward-looking partnership for achieving mutual security and prosperity in the coming decades.

The two Prime Ministers welcomed the sustained high-level exchanges, and ministerial and parliamentary engagements between both sides which reflect mutual trust and depth of relationship. The partnership has significantly expanded over the past decade into wide-ranging areas such as security, defence, trade, investment, commerce, science and technology, skills and mobility, and cultural and people-to-people links. The two Prime Ministers appreciated that India and Japan have more than seventy dialogue mechanisms and working groups across sectors which lead to intense engagement and collaboration between myriad ministries, agencies and departments.

The two Prime Ministers came to a common understanding that the India-Japan partnership stands at an important juncture and that it is imperative to develop a mutually complementary relationship by building upon our accomplishments and to leverage our respective strengths as well as excellent ties to pursue security and prosperity for the next generations. They resolved to continue working closely with each other to realize shared objectives and further advance the Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Towards this end, the two Prime Ministers made a series of announcements focusing on three priority areas: bolstering our defence and security cooperation, reinforcing our economic partnership and deepening our people-to-people exchanges. They welcomed the signing of important documents in key sectors, including clean energy, critical minerals, digital partnership, space, science and technology, cultural exchanges and diplomatic training. The leaders adopted:

(i) A Joint Vision for the Next Decade, which lays out whole-of-nation lines of efforts to steer the partnership in eight pillars such as economy, economic security, mobility, environment, technology and innovation, health, people-to-people ties and state-prefecture engagement;

(ii) A Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation, which elevates our defense and security ties to the next level, taking into account the contemporary geopolitical realities and security configurations in the region; and

(iii) An Action Plan for India-Japan Human Resource Exchange and Cooperation, which lays out a roadmap for talent mobility and deepening people-to-people ties through exchanges of more than 500,000 personnel in five years, including 50,000 skilled personnel and potential talents from India to Japan.

The two Prime Ministers also announced India-Japan Economic Security Initiative to provide momentum for bilateral cooperation in the field of economic security including securing and strengthening supply chains in critical goods and sectors and accelerating cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, with heightened priority on telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, semiconductors and clean energy. They appreciated the launch of the Dialogue on Economic Security, including Strategic Trade and Technology in November 2024.

The two Prime Ministers tasked their Foreign Ministries to accelerate policy level exchanges on economic security with a view to identifying concrete outcomes and projects in strategic sectors, in tandem with industry and academia. In this context, both sides consent to work towards further protecting high technology trade while mutually easing export control challenges. Both sides issued an Economic Security Factsheet outlining certain ongoing collaboration in strategic sectors. The two Prime Ministers welcomed initiatives to promote business-to-business cooperation in the field of economic security to encourage Indian and Japanese companies towards supply chain diversification and resilience. They welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Mineral Resources between the two sides to promote cooperation in the area of critical minerals with the intention of expansion of business opportunities.

The two Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction at the progress made under the India-Japan Digital Partnership, which promotes joint collaboration in emerging technologies through digital talent exchange, research and development, startups, and corporate partnerships. They welcomed the India-Japan Digital Partnership 2.0, which will elevate cooperation to the next stage of the digital revolution. The two Prime Ministers also announced the launch of a Japan-India AI Cooperation Initiative, which is aimed at deepening bilateral and multilateral cooperation on artificial intelligence including Large Language Models (LLMs), establishing platforms for exchange between industry and academia, supporting joint research projects, and facilitating the development and operations of data centers in India. Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to Prime Minister Ishiba to attend the AI Impact Summit, which will be hosted by India on 19-20 February 2026. Furthermore, the two Prime Ministers emphasized the importance of support for startups and concurred in promoting activities of startups of both countries in India including through the Japan-India Startup Support Initiative (JISSI).

The two Prime Ministers expressed deep satisfaction that defense and maritime security cooperation between India and Japan is on an upward trajectory. They welcomed the holding of the third 2+2 meeting of their Foreign and Defence Ministers in August 2024 in New Delhi and instructed their Ministers to hold the fourth round in Tokyo at an early date. They expressed their satisfaction at the exchanges between the services since the last Summit in March 2022. They welcomed Japan Maritime Self Defense Force’s (JMSDF) participation in MILAN exercise, a multi-lateral exercise hosted by India, as well as the participation of the Japanese team in exercise Tarang Shakti, the first multilateral exercise hosted by the Indian Air Force. They also welcomed the conduct of the inaugural edition of the bilateral fighter exercise ‘Veer Guardian 2023’ between the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) and conduct of the bilateral exercises of all the three services in one calendar year for the first time in 2023. They acknowledged ongoing collaboration in the area of Defence Equipment and Technology Cooperation and directed the relevant authorities of the two sides to expedite efforts to materialize the concrete outcomes through the ongoing collaboration at the earliest while also identifying specific areas for the future to effectively support both sides’ operational approaches.

Acknowledging the significance of economic cooperation as a key pillar of the Special Strategic and Global Partnership, the two Prime Ministers welcomed the progress made towards the target of 5 trillion Yen in public and private investment and financing in five years from Japan to India since 2022. Noting the steps taken by India to improve the business environment for Japanese investors in India, as well as other measures to boost economic growth and improve ease of doing business, the two Prime Ministers set a new target of 10 trillion Yen in private investment in India from Japan. Prime Minister Ishiba recognized the immense potential for Japanese companies to deepen their supply chains in India, and requested the Indian side to continue with its regulatory and other reforms to meet this objective. Prime Minister Modi recognized the contribution of Japanese companies and institutions in creating employment opportunities and fostering growth and innovation in India. He recalled his intent to carry out additional regulatory and other reforms to facilitate investment into India and invited more Japanese businesses to avail of these. They endorsed bilateral efforts to support Japan Industrial Townships (JITs) and strengthen cooperation in logistics, textiles, food processing, agriculture, automotives, industrial capital goods and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under the India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership (IJICP). The two Prime Ministers recognised the need to enhance and diversify bilateral trade including by accelerating further review of the implementation of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to make it more forward-looking.

The two Prime Ministers noted with satisfaction Japan’s development cooperation support to India over the past decades, which has significantly contributed to India’s economic and social development as well as peace and stability in the region. They reaffirmed their continued commitment to the development of India’s North Eastern Region, which has led and will lead to economic prosperity of the region at large. They renewed their intention to further strengthen their endeavours to enhance hard, soft and people-to-people connectivity and thus, unleash the great potential of this region through the Act East Forum (AEF) in close cooperation with regional partners.

The Prime Ministers noted the importance of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail as a flagship project between India and Japan. They concurred to work towards the commencement of operations at the earliest and cooperate on the introduction of the latest Japanese Shinkansen technology in India. The Indian side appreciates Japan’s offer to introduce, in the early 2030s, the E10 series of the Shinkansen that runs on the Japanese signalling system. To this end, it was concurred to immediately commence work necessary for early installation of the signalling, including the Japanese system, as well as for the introduction of the General Inspection Train (GIT) and one set of E5 series Shinkansen rolling stock.

Acknowledging the importance of simultaneously ensuring energy security, promoting sustainable economic growth, and addressing climate change, the two Prime Ministers, based on the Clean Energy Partnership launched in 2022 and with the aim of further strengthening bilateral energy cooperation, reaffirmed their shared recognition that there is no single pathway to achieving a net-zero economy, but rather various pathways that reflect each country’s national circumstances. In this regard, they welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) and the Joint Declaration of Intent on Clean Hydrogen and Ammonia.

In the field of people-to-people connections, the two Prime Ministers reaffirmed their resolve to tap into economically beneficial complementarities in their endowment of human resource towards a new wave of people-to-people exchanges. They welcomed the opening of the Indian Consulate in Fukuoka that will deepen the links between the Kyushu region of Japan with India. They appreciated the progress made in Japanese language education in India through the Nihongo Partners programme and the 360-hour Teachers’ Training Course. The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed their shared resolve to build upon the achievements of the Japan-India Institutes for Manufacturing and Japanese Endowed Courses, that, since their inception in 2016, have created a talent pipeline of 30,000 people adept at Japanese manufacturing and managerial skills. The two Prime Ministers noted with satisfaction the growing interest among the people of India and Japan to discover each others’ country and culture, as reflected through the increasing tourist flows between the two countries. They appreciated the successful celebrations of the India-Japan Tourism Exchange Year (April 2023-March 2025) under the theme of “Connecting Himalayas with Mount Fuji”. Drawing on centuries-old civilizational linkages between the two countries, the leaders concurred to promote tourism exchanges in this field.

The two Prime Ministers noted with pleasure that the year 2025 is being celebrated as the India-Japan Year of Science, Technology and Innovation Exchange, marking the 40th anniversary of the first MoU on science and technology signed between the two countries. They welcomed the joint research collaborations between academic institutions, exchange visits of scientists and researchers of the two countries, and the newly launched industry-academia collaborations through the provision of internship opportunities in Japanese companies, in collaboration with the LOTUS Programme, and Sakura Science Exchange Program. The two Prime Ministers noted with satisfaction the progress made in the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) Mission between the Indian Space Research Organization and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. They welcomed the recent extension of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Indian Beamline at KEK, Tsukuba for another six years. The two Prime Ministers appreciated the progress in the 11th Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation held on 5 June 2025- particularly in the fields of new and emerging areas such as quantum technology, clean technology, disaster management, biotechnology and geospatial technologies.

Recognising that regional linkages play an important role in deepening economic and people-to-people connections between the two countries, the Prime Ministers welcomed the State-Prefecture partnerships established recently between Andhra Pradesh and Toyama, Tamil Nadu and Ehime, Uttar Pradesh and Yamanashi, Gujarat and Shizuoka, as well as the Kansai Coordination Meeting for Promotion of Business Exchange with India, the regional partnership in Kansai area. Prime Minister Modi congratulated Prime Minister Ishiba on the ongoing Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan and appreciated Japan’s support for India’s active participation in the Expo, which has also given tremendous momentum to state-prefecture partnerships in recent months. Prime Minister Ishiba welcomed India’s participation in the GREEN x EXPO 2027 to be held in Yokohama.

The two Prime Ministers, taking into account the prevailing global situation, resolved to uphold the international order based on the rule of law and reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, prosperous and resilient. They reiterated their strong support for the region’s economic development and prosperity by delivering tangible benefits through practical projects. They also reiterated their commitment to advancing cooperation among like-minded countries through multilateral frameworks such as Quad between Australia, India, Japan and the United States, to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. In this regard, they welcomed the evolution of the Quad into a vital and enduring regional grouping, and looked forward to the next Quad Leaders’ Summit hosted by India later this year.

The two Prime Ministers expressed serious concern over the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. They reiterated their strong opposition to any unilateral actions that endanger the safety as well as freedom of navigation and overflight, and attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion. They shared their serious concern over the militarization of disputed features. They reaffirmed that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, in particular the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The two Prime Ministers condemned North Korea’s destabilizing launches using ballistic missile technology and its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). They reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with relevant UNSCRs, and urged North Korea to abide by all its obligations under the United Nations Charter and the UNSCRs. They called on North Korea to return to dialogue to promote peace and stability in the Korean peninsula. They stressed the importance of addressing continued concern regarding proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies to and from North Korea in the region and beyond. They urged all UN Member States to abide by their international obligations under the UNSCRs to implement sanctions, including the prohibition on the transfer to North Korea or procurement from North Korea of all arms and related materiel. They reconfirmed the necessity of immediate resolution of the abductions issue.

The two Prime Ministers unequivocally and strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism. They condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, and took note of the United Nations Security Council Monitoring Team Report of 29 July mentioning The Resistance Front (TRF). Prime Minister Modi further explained that the TRF had claimed responsibility for the attack. Prime Minister Ishiba noted this with concern. They called for the perpetrators, organizers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without any delay. They also called for concerted actions against all UN-listed terrorist groups and entities including Al Qaeda, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and their proxies, and to take resolute actions to root out terrorists’ safe havens, eliminate terrorist financing channels and its nexus with transnational crime, and halt cross-border movement of terrorists.

The two Prime Ministers welcomed the close cooperation between a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) and Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI). They reiterated their strong support for ASEAN’s unity and centrality and their unwavering support for the “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)”.

The two Prime Ministers remain deeply concerned by the worsening crisis in Myanmar and its impact on the regional security, displacement of people and the increase in transnational crimes. They called on all parties to immediately cease all acts of violence. The two Prime Ministers noted the recent announcement of ending the state of emergency and plans for holding an election. The two Prime Ministers strongly urged a return to the path of democracy that allows for inclusive dialogue among all stakeholders and free and fair elections, and urged the release of those who are detained. They reaffirmed their strong support for ASEAN’s efforts, including calling for the full and effective implementation of the Five Point Consensus in seeking an inclusive, durable, and peaceful resolution to the crisis.

The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed the importance of collaborative projects between India and Japan in the Indo-Pacific region including Africa. They welcomed the launch of the Japan-India Cooperation Initiative for Sustainable Economic Development in Africa aimed at promoting industrial concentration in India to establish an industrial hub for trade and investment with Africa. They also welcomed the successful convening of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) and shared views on the significant potential for strengthening connectivity and value chains in the Indian Ocean Region and Africa. In this context, Prime Minister Modi appreciated the Economic Region Initiative of Indian Ocean-Africa which was announced by Prime Minister Ishiba at TICAD 9. They concurred that collaboration among Japan, India and other countries in the region could bring prosperity to all stakeholders.

The two Prime Ministers expressed support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter. They also welcomed the ongoing diplomatic efforts by various countries to achieve a just and lasting peace.

The two Prime Ministers reiterated their commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East, calling on all parties concerned to show restraint, protect civilians, comply with international law, and refrain from taking actions that could further escalate the situation and compromise regional stability. They welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Iran and stressed the importance of maintaining the ceasefire as well as resolving Iran’s nuclear issue through dialogue. The two Prime Ministers expressed grave concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. They strongly stressed the importance of reaching an agreement among the parties concerned regarding the release of all hostages and the immediate and sustainable ceasefire, as well as addressing the deteriorating humanitarian situation. In this regard, they welcomed ongoing efforts being made by various countries desirous of bringing peace to the region.

The two Prime Ministers resolved to continue to work closely together for an urgent reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC) including through the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories to better reflect the current geopolitical realities. They expressed their determination to accelerate UNSC reforms, particularly through the commencement of text-based negotiations under the Inter-Governmental Negotiations framework with an overall objective to achieve concrete outcomes in a fixed time-frame. They expressed their mutual support for each other’s candidature for a permanent seat in a reformed UNSC. They also underscored the need for UN reform to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the UN that contributes to global governance in a changing world.

The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the Annual Summit mechanism to progress India-Japan cooperation across a range of sectors. The 15th Annual Summit helped take stock of the progress made in India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership since 2014 and create a framework for continued cooperation benefiting our next generation and beyond. The two Prime Ministers noted that the two nations are advancing together towards the 75th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relationship in 2027 which would be celebrated in a befitting manner. In this context, both leaders welcome a vibrant exchange of views, substantive inputs of ideas and policy recommendations, as well as active mutual collaborations among all the stakeholders of both nations in various fields of business, intellectual, science and culture. Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Ishiba for the warmth and hospitality extended to him and members of his delegation during the visit to Japan and extended an invitation to Prime Minister Ishiba to visit India on the occasion of the Quad Leaders’ Summit, to be hosted later this year. Prime Minister Ishiba accepted the invitation with pleasure. The visit reaffirmed the deep-rooted civilizational ties, vibrant people-to-people linkages, and shared democratic values that form the bedrock of the longstanding friendship between India and Japan.

Groundbreaking talent bridge: India and Japan commit to massive human resource exchanges in skills, education, language, wellness and workforce development

OpIndia Staff
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Groundbreaking talent bridge: India and Japan commit to massive human resource exchanges in skills, education, language, wellness and workforce development

In a bid to deepen bilateral ties and build stronger people-to-people links, India and Japan have unveiled an ambitious action plan targeting the exchange of over 500,000 individuals in both directions over the next five years, including a focused movement of 50,000 skilled professionals and talents from India to Japan. The agreement was reached at the 2025 India–Japan Annual Summit attended by PM Narendra Modi during his ongoing Japan visit. It signals a renewed commitment by both nations to foster meaningful cooperation across public, private, and academic spheres.

Bridging Talent and Cultural Gaps

The exchange initiative is designed to promote mutual understanding and harness complementary strengths across sectors. Its core objectives encompass attracting Indian talent to Japan, fostering joint research and innovation, facilitating cultural and educational linkages, and addressing Japan’s manpower shortages while boosting India’s skill development and manufacturing capacities.

High-Skilled Professionals: Engineering and Academia

To encourage Indian engineering experts and academics to move to Japan, the plan includes dispatching delegations from Japanese corporations to Indian universities, surveying employment trends to highlight success stories, and increasing awareness of professional opportunities. It also encourages participation of Indian educators in the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme.

Fostering Student & Research Collaboration

A wide array of initiatives targets student and research exchanges. These include strengthening India–Japan educational dialogues, expanding MEXT’s inter-university exchange projects, and facilitating visits through programs like the Sakura Science Exchange (promoting female researcher participation), scholarships for Indian students, and newly launched platforms such as MIRAI-Setu, the LOTUS programme, and youth science exchanges.

Skilled Workers: SSW System and Technical Intern Training

The plan seeks to broaden opportunities for Indian skilled workers under Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) and Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) frameworks. Measures include expanding testing centres across India for skill and language exams, offering pre-departure language training via the Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana, and creating a dedicated India–Japan corridor on the National Career Service platform for streamlined recruitment.

Boosting Skills with Japanese Expertise

India aims to leverage Japan’s managerial and industrial prowess to upskill its workforce through joint training schemes like INPACT (India-Nippon Programme for Applied Competency Training), the India–Japan Talent Bridge initiative, and state-led programmes via the NSDC. Additionally, Centres of Excellence in Yoga and Ayurveda will be established in Japan to promote traditional wellness practices, especially in geriatric care.

Expanding Japanese Language Capabilities

To support these exchanges, both countries will promote practical Japanese language education in India, subsidize language training, train more language teachers, scale the Teachers’ Training Course by the Japan Foundation, deploy Japanese language partners via the NIHONGO Partners initiative, and increase the availability of JLPT and JFT-Basic testing centres across India.

Ongoing Awareness and Coordination

Sustained efforts will ensure the plan evolves organically beyond its five-year horizon. Activities include job fairs, social media outreach, targeted advertising, employer-employee matchmaking in Japanese prefectures, orientation support upon arrival, grievance mechanisms, an information portal, symposiums, and talent exchange aligned with state–prefecture partnerships.

Institutional Oversight and Next Steps

The Ministry of External Affairs (India) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan) will jointly oversee the plan’s implementation and hold annual high-level consultations. Existing dialogues in education, skills, science & technology, and digital economy will reinforce coordination and support further collaboration.

India and Japan adopt Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation to boost defence, maritime, cyber, and space cooperation across Indo-Pacific

OpIndia Staff
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India and Japan adopt Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation to boost defence, maritime, cyber, and space cooperation across Indo-Pacific

India and Japan have elevated their strategic partnership by adopting a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation, reinforcing a shared vision for a free, open, peaceful, and economically vibrant Indo-Pacific region grounded in the rule of law. The Joint Declaration was issued during PM Modi’s ongoing visit of Japan to attend the 15th Annual India-Japan summit.

Recalling the foundations of their Special Strategic and Global Partnership, both governments acknowledged the vital role their enhanced collaboration plays in safeguarding a rules-based international order.

Against a backdrop of evolving regional dynamics and growing global challenges, the two sides emphasized the alignment of their strategic outlooks and pledged to strengthen practical cooperation in defence and security, drawing on their complementary resources and technological strengths.

Strengthening Defence Preparedness and Interoperability

India and Japan expressed commitment to fostering deeper synergy and interoperability between their armed forces. This includes conducting increasingly complex bilateral exercises, reciprocal participation in multilateral drills, and exploring a formal comprehensive dialogue framework between their Joint Staffs. Plans were also laid out for tri-service exercises geared toward humanitarian and disaster relief operations, cooperation between special operations units, and enhanced logistical support through existing agreements.

Further commitments include collaboration in niche areas such as counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, cyber defence, chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) threat mitigation, and shared maintenance facilities to boost readiness and resilience.

Advancing Maritime Security Across the Indo-Pacific

Recognizing the importance of maritime stability, both nations plan to increase port visits by naval and coast guard vessels and enhance maritime domain awareness through shared platforms such as the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) and the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA). They also intend to coordinate to counter piracy and transnational crime, working through regional mechanisms like ReCAAP, and expand collaborations on disaster risk reduction in the maritime domain.

Fostering Industrial and Technological Collaboration

The declaration encourages robust industrial engagement in defence and security sectors through the Defence Equipment and Technology Cooperation framework. Initiatives include co-development and co-production of defence systems, industry exposure visits focused on start-ups and MSMEs, and mutual understanding of export controls to enable high-end technology exchange. Cooperation will also extend to military medicine, health security, defence R&D (notably between DRDO and Japan’s ATLA), and collaboration on critical minerals—including exploration, processing, and refining.

Responding to Emerging Security Threats

India and Japan pledged to preempt and address both traditional and non-traditional threats, including terrorism, digital securities, unmanned systems, and transnational crime. This includes bolstering intelligence sharing and launching joint R&D in cutting-edge fields such as AI, robotics, quantum technologies, semiconductors, future networks, biotechnology, and cybersecurity. Expanding space cooperation—ranging from navigation and earth observation to space situational awareness and debris tracking—also features prominently in the declaration.

Coordinating Regional and Global Security Postures

The two countries reaffirmed commitments to multilateralism and regional stability. They pledged to support ASEAN centrality and frameworks like the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, promote sustainable infrastructure in the region, oppose coercive actions, and uphold maritime freedoms under international law. Strengthening cooperation within the Quad, reforming the United Nations Security Council with mutual support, combating terrorism, and pursuing non-proliferation efforts—including India’s entry into the NSG—are also key priorities.

Institutionalizing Strategic Dialogue and Consultation

To ensure robust follow-through, the declaration calls for reinforcing existing dialogue mechanisms. These include annual National Security Adviser consultations, Economic Security dialogues, high-level cross-services meetings between armed forces, coast guard commandant meetings, a rejuvenated India-Japan Defence Industry Forum, and track 1.5 think-tank exchanges.

The Joint Declaration marks a defining moment in India-Japan relations, reflecting a maturing strategic partnership extended from diplomatic goodwill to concrete, future-ready security collaboration. By addressing multifaceted threats, from maritime vulnerabilities to technological risks, and institutionalising high-level coordination, both nations have charted a robust course for enduring regional stability.

India’s economy, called ‘dead’ by Donald Trump, grows faster, GDP growth rate for first quarter of the financial year 2025-26 surges to 7.8%

Shraddha Pandey
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India’s economy, called ‘dead’ by Donald Trump, grows faster, GDP growth rate for first quarter of the financial year 2025-26 surges to 7.8%

A few weeks back, US President Donald Trump disgruntled over India’s Russian crude oil purchases had called Indian economy a “dead economy”. Trump slapped 50 percent tariff on India as ‘punishment’, only for India to casually drop a 7.8 percent GDP growth rate for Q1. India’s ‘dead economy’ outpaced every major economy including the US.

Apparently, Trump ‘dead economy’ jab is as rooted in reality as his claims of ending Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours of becoming President.

On Friday (29th August), the Central government revealed that India’s real GDP has been estimated to grow by 7.8 per cent in the April-June quarter of the financial year 2025-26, over the growth rate of 6.5 per cent in the same quarter of the previous fiscal.

The National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), has released the Quarterly Estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the April-June Quarter of financial year 2025-26. India’s nominal GDP grew at an 8.8 per cent rate during the April-June quarter.

The Agriculture and Allied Sector has observed the Real GVA (gross value addition) growth rate of 3.7 per cent, as compared to the growth rate of 1.5 per cent registered in Q1 of the last financial year. Secondary Sectors, prominently Manufacturing (7.7 per cent) and Construction (7.6 per cent) sector have registered above 7.5 per cent growth rate at Constant Prices in this quarter.

Mining and Quarrying (-3.1 per cent) and Electricity, Gas, Water Supply and Other Utility Services Sector (0.5 per cent) have seen a moderated real growth rate during Q1 of 2025-26. In 2024-25, the Indian economy grew by 6.5 per cent in real terms. The Reserve Bank of India had projected 6.5 per cent GDP growth for the fiscal year 2024-25. In 2023-24, India’s GDP grew by an impressive 9.2 per cent, continuing to be the fastest-growing major economy. According to official data, the economy grew 8.7 per cent and 7.2 percent, respectively, in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Earlier this year, the World Bank said India will need to grow by 7.8 per cent on average over the next 22 years to achieve its aspirations of becoming a developed country by 2047. However, the World Bank asserted that getting there would require reforms and their implementation to be as ambitious as the target itself.

Notably, India is contributing about 18 percent to world’s economic growth while the US’s contribution is estimated to be around 11 percent.  

According to the latest report by Morgan Stanley’s Global Investment Committee, India is expected to remain the fastest-growing economy in its global coverage. The report forecasts India’s real GDP growth at 5.9% in 2025 and 6.4% in 2026, far ahead of the US (1.0%) and China (4.0%).

“India remains the fastest growing economy in our coverage,” the committee noted, highlighting the country’s robust domestic demand, structural reforms, and investment momentum. In fact, while the global economy is projected to slow down, from 3.5% in 2024 to just 2.5% in 2025, India is expected to outperform significantly.

India’s economy is so ‘dead’ that the United Kingdom recently signed a massive Free Trade Agreement with India and the European Union is eager to propose an FTA matching the same scale. India’s economy is so dead that Japan is set to invest 10 trillion Yen in the next 10 years. Major US companies, including Apple, despite Trump’s threats, have invested billions in India and are keen on expanding presence here. The EFTA countries too are pursuing lucrative trade deals with India given its growing economic clout. While India is a priority for such global trade engagement, Trump believes India’s economy is dead.

Frustration over India’s refusal to surrender its sovereignty before the US, or outright delusion, but Donald Trump’s removed-from-reality ‘dead economy’ jibe against India has not aged well. The so-called dead economy has surpassed Japan to become a $4 trillion and world’s fourth largest economy in 2025 and is set to become third-largest economy by 2028, overtaking Germany.

Going by the unhinged rants Trump administration officials have unleashed against India, it won’t be surprising if Peter Navarro, Trump’s trade adviser, will somehow attribute India’s 7.8 per cent growth rate to New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases.

India and Japan unveil decade-long vision during PM Modi’s visit, wide-ranging pacts on defence, digital, clean energy, and space cooperation signed: Read full list of outcomes

OpIndia Staff
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India and Japan unveil decade-long vision during PM Modi’s visit, wide-ranging pacts on defence, digital, clean energy, and space cooperation signed: Read full list of outcomes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Japan on Friday for a 2-day visit on the invitation of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba for the 15th Annual India-Japan summit. As part of his tour, the two nations unveiled a comprehensive slate of agreements and declarations aimed at charting a roadmap across economic, security, technological, cultural, and environmental spheres.

The Prime Minister’s Office has issued a press release detailing the list of outcomes achieved during the talks between the two nations. Here is the list of key Outcomes:

1. India–Japan Joint Vision for the Next Decade

A shared 10-year strategic vision was adopted, encompassing eight core pillars: economic partnership, economic security, mobility, ecological sustainability, technology and innovation, health, people-to-people ties, and state–prefecture engagement

2. Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation

This broad-ranging declaration establishes a framework to enhance defense and security collaboration, aligning with the two countries’ Special Strategic and Global Partnership status

3. Action Plan for Human Resource Exchange

A pioneering plan was unveiled to facilitate the exchange of 500,000 people over the next five years—specifically targeting the movement of 50,000 skilled and semi-skilled Indian workers to Japan

4. Memorandum of Cooperation: Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)

The JCM aims to support India’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals by promoting the adoption of decarbonizing technologies and facilitating Japanese investment in sustainable infrastructure

5. MoU on India–Japan Digital Partnership 2.0

This memorandum focuses on enhancing collaboration in digital public infrastructure, nurturing digital talent, and joint R&D in burgeoning tech domains such as AI, IoT, and semiconductors

6. Memorandum of Cooperation in Mineral Resources

To boost supply chain resilience, this agreement covers cooperation in processing technologies, joint investments in exploration and mining, and strategic stockpiling of critical minerals

7. ISRO–JAXA Implementing Arrangement for Joint Lunar Polar Mission

This arrangement between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) lays the groundwork for the collaborative Chandrayaan 5 mission, marking a landmark space cooperation

8. Joint Declaration of Intent on Clean Hydrogen and Ammonia

The two nations committed to advancing research, investment, and deployment of hydrogen and ammonia technologies, promoting innovation in clean energy

9. Memorandum of Cooperation on Cultural Exchange

This initiative seeks to deepen institutional cooperation, facilitate researcher and scientist exchanges, and involve start-ups and industries in cultural and scientific collaboration

Additional Strategic Launches and Targets

Private Investment Target

Japan has committed to mobilizing private investment amounting to JPY 10 trillion in India over the coming decade

Economic Security Initiative

A new initiative targeting supply chain resilience across strategic sectors—semiconductors, clean energy, telecom, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and emerging technologies—was launched, accompanied by an illustrative Economic Security Fact Sheet

India–Japan AI Initiative

Both nations introduced an ambitious AI Initiative, oriented toward collaboration on large language models, training, capacity-building, and support for businesses and start-ups to bolster a trustworthy AI ecosystem

Next-Generation Mobility Partnership

A collaborative venture aimed at fostering government-to-government (G2G) and business-to-business (B2B) partnerships in infrastructure and mobility—covering railways, aviation, roads, shipping, and ports—with particular emphasis on Make-in-India development of mobility solutions

India–Japan SMEs Forum

A forum was inaugurated to promote collaboration between India’s and Japan’s small and medium enterprises—key drivers of both economies

Sustainable Fuel Initiative

An initiative dedicated to advancing energy security, supporting farmer livelihoods, and facilitating R&D in sustainable fuels like biogas and biofuels was launched

Subnational and Business Exchanges

High-level exchanges between states and prefectures are scheduled—three reciprocating visits each—as part of enhanced subnational diplomacy

Additionally, business forums aimed at strengthening commercial, cultural, and people-to-people ties were established between India and Japan’s Kansai and Kyushu regions

Outlook

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Japan marks a significant deepening of the bilateral relationship, moving beyond traditional diplomacy into strategic, technological, and grassroots cooperation. Through landmark agreements and ambitious initiatives, both nations are setting the stage for a decade of shared growth, innovation, and resilience.

PM Modi invites Japanese companies to invest heavily in India: Read how he has maintained good relations with Japan since his days as Gujarat CM

OpIndia Staff
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PM Modi invites Japanese companies to invest heavily in India: Read how he has maintained good relations with Japan since his days as Gujarat CM

Prime Minister Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Japan, invited the Japanese companies to invest in India. Speaking at the India-Japan Joint Economic Forum in Tokyo on Friday (29th August), PM Modi encouraged Japanese companies to “Come make in India, make for the world.” 

PM Modi’s visit to the country comes after Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba invited him to attend the economic forum. Underscoring the historical economic ties between India and Japan, PM Modi said that Japan’s excellence and India’s scale have the potential to create a perfect partnership.

“Together, we can make a significant contribution to the development of the Global South, especially Africa. I urge you – come, make in India, make for the world. The success stories of ‘Suzuki’ and ‘Daikin’ can become your success stories too,” said PM Modi. 

He highlighted how India and Japan have partnered across sectors ranging from “Metro (rail) to manufacturing and semiconductors to start-ups”, which underlines the mutual trust between the two countries.

PM Modi proposed a five-point roadmap to strengthen and elevate the bilateral relations between India and Japan.

1) Manufacturing and New Industry: 

PM Modi said that the two countries can replicate their successful partnership in manufacturing and automotive sectors in batteries, robotics, semiconductors, shipbuilding, and nuclear energy. He stressed the significance of this partnership for the development of the Global South, including Africa.

2) Technology and Innovation:  

He added that Japan’s “technology powerhouse” and India’s “talent powerhouse” together can establish the two countries as leaders of the tech revolution of the century. He pointed out that India has already started moving in this direction by stepping into AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, biotechnology, and space.  

3) Green Energy Transition:  

The Prime Minister urged Japan to join India in laying the foundation of a clean and green future through a joint credit mechanism. “India is progressing rapidly toward achieving 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047. There are immense opportunities in solar, green hydrogen, and clean energy,” the PM said.

4) Next-Generation Infrastructure:  

PM Modi encouraged the two countries to partner in creating next-generation infrastructure. He appreciated how India constructed over 1000 km of metro lines in the last decade and enhanced road and rail connectivity with Japan’s cooperation.

5) Skill Development and People-to-People Ties: 

Lastly, PM Modi asserted Japan could benefit from India’s demography. He said that Japan could train India’s talented youth in the local language and make use of their potential to enhance Japanese manpower.

Close cultural and political ties between India and Japan

The ties between India and Japan date back to the 6th century, when Buddhism, which originated in India, made its way into Japan.

When Japan was recovering from WWII, in 1949, India’s then Prime Minister gifted an elephant to the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, setting the tone for warm and cordial relations between the two countries.

This was followed by a peace treaty signed on 28th April, 1952, between India and Japan to establish diplomatic relations. After WWII, this was one of the first peace treaties signed by Japan.

Fast forward to 2000, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori’s visit to India and his meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee set the stage for “Global Partnership between Japan and India”.

Thereafter, following Japanese PM Junichiro Koizumi’s visit to India in 2005, the two countries have been holding regular Annual Summits. With Indian PM Manmohan Singh’s visit to Japan in 2006, the India-Japan relationship was elevated to the “Global and Strategic Partnership”.

In 2014, during his first term as the Prime Minister, PM Modi visited Japan for the Annual Summit meeting with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. After their meeting, the India-Japan partnership was upgraded to “Special Strategic and Global Partnership.”

Subsequently, PM Shinzo Abe met PM Modi in India, and the two leaders resolved to further deepen, strengthen and expand the bilateral ties between the two countries.

With this aim, they announced “Japan and India Vision 2025 Special Strategic and Global Partnership Working Together for Peace and Prosperity of the Indo-Pacific Region and the World” and laid the groundwork for the new-age India-Japan relations.

PM Modi’s old ties with Japan

Prime Minister Modi’s connection with Japan dates back to 2007, when he made his first official visit to Japan as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Modi, accompanied by a 40-member delegation, visited the cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima and Kobe during a six-day trip.

He met with major Japanese companies, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Marubeni, Suzuki, Toshiba, Nippon Steel, Nissan Steel, Unido and Tsuneshi Shipbuilding.

MoUs were signed between the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and Gujarat’s Industries Department, encompassing areas like ports, logistics, infrastructure and human resource development.

During the visit, Modi also had a meeting with PM Abe, with whom PM Modi went on to share close personal ties.

The depth of their relationship could be inferred from the fact that PM Modi was the first foreign politician to be invited by PM Shinzo Abe to his holiday home in Narsawa village in October 2018.

Welcoming Modi to his holiday home, Abe said that Modi was “one of my most dependable and valuable friends”.

The India-Japan relations have stood the test of time and have been on a path to progress.

Recently, the previous Prime Minister of Japan, PM Kishida, launched the Clean Energy Partnership, extended the Industrial Competitiveness Partnership with India and pledged $42 billion investment in India in 2022.

India-Japan economic ties

India and Japan have developed robust economic ties over the years, which have expanded and flourished with time. In 2021, Japan was the 13th largest trading partner of India.

In the same year, the number of private companies having branches in India stood at 1439. In 2023-24, bilateral trade between India and Japan reached $22.8 billion.

India’s exports to Japan include chemicals, vehicles, aluminium, and seafood; imports include machinery, steel, copper, and reactors. With $43.2 billion cumulative investment till December 2024, Japan became India’s 5th largest investor.

Japan has ranked India as its most promising long-term investment destination. Around 5000 Japanese establishments operate in India, and over 100 Indian companies have a presence in Japan.

The two Asian powers are looking to expand their cooperation in the digital sector, clean energy, supply chain resilience, industrial competitiveness, and skill development.

The two countries are expected to launch a security initiative centred on semiconductors, critical minerals, AI, telecommunications and clean energy.

Japanese public and private investments in India, which have achieved the set target of 5 trillion yen, are likely to be upscaled to 7-10 trillion yen.

Since 1958, Japan has been the largest Official Development Assistance (ODA) donor to India. Through ODA, the country has been supporting critical infrastructure and human development projects in India.

In 2023-24, Japan’s ODA to India amounted to $4.5 billion. Delhi Metro is an example of the successful utilisation of the Japanese ODA.

Japan is also partnering with India in building a High-Speed Railway in India by introducing Japan’s Shinkansen System, a flagship project of Japan-India relations.

India-Japan defence cooperation

In 2008, during PM Manmohan Singh’s visit to Japan, the two countries issued “the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation between Japan and India”.

The defence cooperation between the two countries encompasses several frameworks of security and defence dialogue, including the Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting (“2+2” meeting), Annual Defence Ministerial Dialogue and Coast Guard-to-Coast Guard dialogue.

In 2020, the Indian and Japanese governments signed an agreement called the Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services Agreement (also called Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement), concerning the reciprocal provision of supplies and services between the Japanese Self-Defence Forces and the Indian Armed Forces.

The agreement came into force on July 11, 2021. Some other key defence agreements between the two countries are the Defence Cooperation and Exchanges MoU (2014), and the Information Protection Agreement (2015).

India and Japan take part in various regular joint military exercises, including Malabar (with the US and Australia), Milan (multilateral naval), JIMEX (bilateral maritime), Dharma Guardian (Army), and Coast Guard cooperation.

Regional cooperation between both countries

At the global level, India and Japan have been cooperating through multilateral platforms like the Quad, the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI).

Through Quad, India and Japan have been working towards their commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific and to counter the Chinese influence in the region.

India-Japan ties in the context of recent US tariffs

PM Modi’s visit to Japan comes two days after the US doubled its punitive tariffs on India, undermining the trade relations between the two countries. The Trump administration doubled tariffs on India, from 25% to 50% for buying Russian oil.
Japan is also facing punitive tariffs from the US.

Notably, Japan’s trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa cancelled a visit to the US a day before PM Modi’s visit to Japan. The visit was intended to formalise a $550 billion investment package offered by Japan to the US to ease punitive US tariffs.

Amid the trade uncertainties faced by the two countries because of the US tariffs, India and Japan are working towards strengthening and enhancing their economic cooperation. A stronger India-Japan cooperation will significantly contribute to regional as well as individual stability.

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