India-Germany Forge Stronger Ties: Visa-Free Transit, 19 Pacts Signed

• India and Germany signed 19 MoUs and made key announcements, including visa-free transit for Indian passport holders through Germany, during talks between PM Modi and Chancellor Merz in Gandhinagar.
• Germany will allow visa-free airport transit for Indian citizens for onward international connections, provided specific conditions are met; this does not permit entry into Germany or the Schengen area.
• Discussions covered defence, trade, skills, green energy, and people-to-people ties, with a focus on strengthening bilateral defence industrial cooperation and establishing a CEO's Forum.
• A new framework under the Global Skills Partnership was announced to facilitate the movement of healthcare professionals, and a roadmap for higher education cooperation was established.
• Germany committed 1.24 billion euros for green and sustainable development, supporting renewable energy, green hydrogen, and climate-resilient urban infrastructure, and an India-Germany Centre of Excellence for green technologies.

Why It Matters: India and Germany significantly enhanced their strategic partnership with new pacts, green funding, and visa-free transit.