India and Israel on Thursday inked 16 memoranda of understanding (MoUs), formally elevating bilateral relations to a Special Strategic Partnership during the two-day state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel.
The pacts, exchanged in the presence of PM Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, covered a wide range of sectors including artificial intelligence, agriculture, cybersecurity, fintech, labour mobility, education, fisheries, and cultural exchanges.
Among the key agreements was an MoU between NPCI International (NIPL) and Israel’s MASAV to enable cross-border remittances using India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Another significant pact established the India-Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture (IINCA) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Israel’s MASHAV. The centre will focus on next-generation technologies such as precision farming, satellite-based irrigation, advanced machinery, integrated pest management, germplasm exchange, post-harvest solutions, and capacity building.
Cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture was strengthened through an MoU promoting sustainable, technology-driven systems, including advanced aquaculture, disease management, mariculture, seaweed cultivation, R&D, trade, training, and centres of excellence.
Other notable MoUs included cooperation in geophysical exploration using advanced geophysical and AI technologies for mineral resources; development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat; a Cultural Exchange Programme for 2026-2029 covering music, theatre, dance, visual arts and festivals; AI in education for innovative pedagogy, teacher development and equitable access; and horizon scanning for strategic foresight and risk assessment.
Three implementation protocols on labour mobility were signed, enabling regulated recruitment of Indian workers in Israel’s commerce and services sector (retail, cleaning, logistics, warehousing, food processing, hospitality, recycling), manufacturing sector (textiles, metals, electronics, chemicals, food processing, wood and paper, plastics, rubber and other industries), and restaurant sector (restaurants, cafés and food preparation businesses).
A letter of intent was issued for the establishment of an Indo-Israel Cyber Centre of Excellence in India to showcase cybersecurity best practices, emerging technologies and digital resilience.
Additional agreements covered cooperation between the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and Israel Securities Authority (ISA) on fintech, regtech and financial services; commercial arbitration between the Israeli Institute of Commercial Arbitration (IICA) and the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA); and academic exchanges between Nalanda University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in disciplines including Buddhist studies, archaeology, mathematics and international relations.
The two sides also announced a quota of up to 50,000 Indian workers over the next five years, elevation of the Joint Committee on Science and Technology to ministerial level, an initiative on critical and emerging technologies led by National Security Advisors, a Financial Dialogue, the Tech-Gateway Initiative, 20 joint fellowships in agricultural research, increased contributions to joint research calls, establishment of an India-Israel Academic Cooperation Forum, and an India-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group.
The fourth India-Israel CEO Forum report, presented after its meeting in Israel in November 2025, provided recommendations to align policies with industry trends and enhance public-private collaboration.
The visit, which included PM Modi’s address to the Knesset on February 25 and a visit to Yad Vashem, was described by leaders as highly productive and aimed at deepening strategic, technological and economic cooperation between the two countries.
