Team siliconindia

• India and Germany agree on free short term visas for student exchanges to strengthen education ties.
• Both countries plan a new bilateral consultation mechanism focused on the Indo-Pacific region.
• The partnership celebrates 25 years, with cooperation in trade, technology, green development, and education.

India and Germany have agreed to offer free short term visas for school and college students to encourage more student exchanges and deepen educational ties between the two countries. This decision was announced following talks between India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul during his visit to India.

The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the leaders reviewed the strong Strategic Partnership between the two nations, expressing satisfaction with progress in areas such as trade, investment, defense, technology, science, innovation, green development, and education. They emphasized the importance of people to people connections and highlighted the new visa agreement as a step to further promote educational exchange.

Along with education cooperation, India and Germany agreed to establish a new bilateral consultation mechanism focused on the Indo-Pacific region, aiming to strengthen ties and cooperation on regional and global issues.

During his visit, Wadephul met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. The German delegation also visited Bengaluru, where they engaged with German companies and visited innovation centers including ISRO and the Indian Institute of Science. This visit highlighted opportunities for collaboration in green technology, AI, space research, and sustainable urban development.

Also Read: Piyush Goyal Pushes for Easier UK Visa Rules to Strengthen Trade and Investment Ties

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which is built on shared democratic values and a commitment to global stability and sustainable development. Both countries are looking to expand cooperation further in education, technology, and innovation, strengthening bonds between their peoples.

The free visa scheme for students is expected to boost academic exchanges and cultural understanding, helping young people from both countries to gain new experiences and build long term connections.