Mera Saansad
Search Search
English language

PM Modi participates in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025

Published By : Admin | January 12, 2025 | 14:00 IST
PM releases a compilation of best essays written by participants on the ten themes
India's Yuva Shakti is driving remarkable transformations, the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue serves as an inspiring platform, uniting the energy and innovative spirit of our youth to shape a developed India: PM
The strength of India's Yuva Shakti will make India a developed nation: PM
India is accomplishing its goals in numerous sectors well ahead of time: PM
Achieving ambitious goals requires the active participation and collective effort of every citizen of the nation: PM
The scope of ideas of the youth of India is immense: PM
A developed India will be one that is empowered economically, strategically, socially and culturally: PM
The youth power of India will definitely make the dream of Viksit Bharat come true: PM

On the occasion of National Youth Day, commemorating the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today participated in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. He engaged with 3,000 dynamic young leaders from across India. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he highlighted the vibrant energy of India's youth, which had brought life and energy to Bharat Mandapam. He remarked that the entire nation is remembering and paying tribute to Swami Vivekananda, who had immense faith in the country's youth. He added that Swami Vivekananda believed that his disciples would come from the younger generation, who would solve every problem like lions. He added that he had complete faith in Swamiji and his beliefs, like Swamiji trusted the youth. He further added that he trusted him completely especially about his vision of youth.The Prime Minister emphasized that if Swami Vivekananda were among us today, he would be filled with new confidence upon witnessing the awakened power and active efforts of the 21st-century youth.

Recalling the G-20 event hosted in Bharat Mandapam, Shri Modi said the world leaders were at the same venue to discuss the future of the world while today the youth of India were charting the roadmap for the next 25 years of India. Sharing an anecdote about meeting young athletes at his residence a few months ago, he highlighted that one athlete remarked, "For the world, you may be the Prime Minister, but for us, you are Param Mitra." The Prime Minister emphasized his bond of friendship with the youth of India, stating that the strongest link in friendship is trust. He expressed his immense trust in the youth, which inspired the formation of MY Bharat and the foundation of the Viksit Bharat Young Leader Dialogue. The Prime Minister remarked that the potential of India's youth will soon make India a developed nation. He acknowledged that while the goal is significant, it is not impossible, dispelling the views of naysayers. With the collective efforts of millions of young people driving the wheels of progress, he said the nation will undoubtedly reach its target.

“History teaches and inspires us”, said Shri Modi and highlighted numerous global examples where nations and groups, with big dreams and resolutions, achieved their goals. Citing the example of 1930s economic crisis in the USA, he said that the Americans chose the New Deal and not only overcame the crisis but also accelerated their development. He also mentioned Singapore, which faced basic life crises but transformed into a global financial and trade hub through discipline and collective effort. The Prime Minister remarked that India has similar examples, such as the freedom struggle and overcoming the food crisis post-independence. He stressed that setting big goals and achieving them within a timeframe is not impossible. He asserted that without a clear goal, nothing can be achieved, and today's India is working with this mindset.

Highlighting several examples of achieving goals through determination over the past decade, the Prime Minister remarked that India resolved to become open defecation-free, and within 60 months, 60 crore citizens achieved this goal. The Prime Minister emphasized that nearly every family in India now has access to banking services, and over 100 million gas connections have been provided to free women's kitchens from smoke. Noting that India is achieving its targets ahead of schedule in various sectors, Shri Modi said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the world struggled for vaccines, Indian scientists developed a vaccine ahead of time. He added that despite predictions that it would take 3-4 years to vaccinate everyone in India, the country conducted the world's largest vaccination campaign in record time. The Prime Minister highlighted India's commitment to green energy, noting that India was the first country to meet the Paris Agreement commitments, nine years ahead of schedule. He also mentioned the target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2030, which India is set to achieve well before the deadline. He added that each of these successes serves as an inspiration and brings India closer to the goal of becoming a developed nation.

“Achieving big goals is not solely the responsibility of government machinery but requires the collective effort of every citizen”, said Shri Modi and highlighted the importance of deliberation, direction, and ownership in achieving national objectives. The Prime Minister remarked that the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue exemplifies this process, led by the youth who participated in quizzes, essay competitions, and presentations. He lauded the youth for their ownership of the goal of a developed India, as reflected in the essay book launched and the ten presentations he reviewed. The Prime Minister noted that the youth's solutions are grounded in reality and experience, showcasing their broad understanding of the challenges facing the nation. He commended the youth for their expansive thinking and active participation in discussions with experts, ministers, and policymakers. The Prime Minister announced that the ideas and suggestions from the Young Leaders Dialogue will now become part of national policies, guiding the country's development. He congratulated the youth and reiterated his commitment to bringing one lakh new young people into politics, encouraging them to participate actively in implementing their suggestions.

Sharing his vision of a developed India and emphasizing its economic, strategic, social, and cultural strength, the Prime Minister remarked that in a developed India, both the economy and ecology would flourish, offering numerous opportunities for good education and income. He highlighted that India would have the world's largest skilled youth workforce, providing an open sky for their dreams. The Prime Minister stated that achieving this goal requires every decision, step, and policy to be aligned with the vision of a developed India. He stressed that this is India's moment for a quantum leap, as the country remains the youngest nation for decades to come. “Global agencies recognize the youth's potential to significantly boost India's GDP”, said Shri Modi. Citing great thinkers like Maharshi Aurobindo, Gurudev Tagore, and Homi J. Bhabha, who believed in the power of youth, Shri Modi noted that Indian youth are leading major global companies, showcasing their capability worldwide. The Prime Minister emphasized that the next 25 years, the 'Amrit Kaal,' was crucial, and he expressed confidence that the youth will realize the dream of a developed India. He highlighted the youth's achievements in bringing India to the top three in the startup world, advancing manufacturing, elevating Digital India globally, and excelling in sports. He concluded that when Indian youth make the impossible possible, a developed India is undoubtedly achievable.

Stressing on the government's commitment to empowering today's youth, Shri Modi highlighted that every week a new university was being established in India while every day a new ITI was being set up. Additionally, he added that every third day, an Atal Tinkering Lab was opened, and two new colleges were established daily. The Prime Minister noted that India now has 23 IITs, and in the past decade, the number of IIITs has increased from 9 to 25, and the number of IIMs from 13 to 21. He also mentioned the threefold increase in the number of AIIMS and the near doubling of medical colleges in the last ten years. The Prime Minister remarked that India's educational institutions are showing excellent results in both quantity and quality, with the number of higher education institutes in the QS rankings rising from nine in 2014 to forty-six today. He stressed that the growing strength of India's educational institutions is a significant foundation for a developed India.

“The goal of a developed India by 2047 requires daily targets and consistent efforts”, urged the Prime Minister. He expressed confidence that India will soon become the world's third-largest economy. Over the past decade, Shri Modi said that 250 million people have been lifted out of poverty, and believes that the entire country will be poverty-free soon. He highlighted India's target of generating 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by the end of this decade and achieving net-zero carbon emissions for the railway by 2030.

Highlighting the ambitious goal of hosting the Olympics in the next decade and emphasizing the nation's dedication to achieving this, the Prime Minister remarked that India is making rapid strides as a space power, with plans to establish a space station by 2035. He noted the success of Chandrayaan and the ongoing preparations for Gaganyaan, with the ultimate aim of landing an Indian on the moon. He emphasized that achieving such goals will pave the way for a developed India by 2047.

The Prime Minister addressed the impact of economic growth on daily life, stating that as the economy grows, it positively affects all aspects of life. He recalled that in the first decade of this century, India became a trillion-dollar economy, but with a smaller economic size, the agriculture budget was only a few thousand crores, and the infrastructure budget was less than one lakh crore. At that time, he added that most villages lacked proper roads, and the condition of national highways and railways was poor and basic amenities like electricity and water were unavailable to a large part of the country. Shri Modi remarked that after becoming a two trillion-dollar economy, India's infrastructure budget was less than two lakh crore rupees. However, the country saw significant improvements in roads, railways, airports, canals, housing for the poor, schools, and hospitals. He remarked that as India rapidly became a three trillion-dollar economy, the number of airports doubled, modern trains like Vande Bharat were introduced, and the dream of a bullet train began to materialize. He added that India also achieved the fastest rollout of 5G globally, extended broadband internet to thousands of gram panchayats, and built roads to over 300,000 villages. The Prime Minister noted that 23 lakh crore rupees in collateral-free Mudra loans were provided to young people, and the world's largest free healthcare scheme, Ayushman Bharat, was launched. Additionally, he noted that a scheme was initiated to directly deposit thousands of crores into farmers' bank accounts annually, and four crore pucca houses were built for the poor. The Prime Minister emphasized that as the economy grew, development activities accelerated, creating more opportunities and increasing the nation's capacity to spend on every sector and social class.

Highlighting that India is now nearly a four trillion-dollar economy, significantly increasing its capabilities, the Prime Minister said that the current infrastructure budget is over 11 lakh crore rupees, nearly six times higher than a decade ago, and more is being spent on railways alone than the entire infrastructure budget of 2014. He noted that this increased budget is evident in India's changing landscape, with Bharat Mandapam being a beautiful example.

“India is rapidly moving towards becoming a five trillion-dollar economy, which will greatly expand development and facilities”, exclaimed Shri Modi. He expressed confidence and projected that by the end of the next decade, India will surpass the ten trillion-dollar mark. He encouraged the youth about the numerous opportunities that will arise as the economy grows, asserting that their generation will not only drive the greatest transformation in the country's history but also be its biggest beneficiaries. The Prime Minister advised the youth to avoid the comfort zone, take risks, and step out of their comfort zones, as demonstrated by the participants of the Young Leaders Dialogue. He added that this mantra of life will propel them to new heights of success.

Underscoring the significant role of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue in shaping India's future roadmap, Shri Modi lauded the energy, enthusiasm, and dedication with which the youth have embraced this resolution. He remarked that the ideas for a developed India were invaluable, excellent, and the best. He urged the youth to take these ideas to every corner of the country, connecting other young people in every district, village, and neighborhood with the spirit of a developed India. Concluding his address, the Prime Minister reiterated the commitment to make India a developed nation by 2047 and encouraged everyone to live and dedicate themselves to this resolution. He once again extended his heartfelt congratulations to all the youth of India on National Youth Day.

The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Ministers of State, Shri Jayant Chaudhary and Smt Raksha Khadse were present among other dignitaries at the event.

Background

The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue aims to break the 25 year old tradition of holding the National Youth Festival in a conventional manner. It aligns with the Prime Minister's Independence Day call to engage 1 lakh youth in politics without political affiliations and provide them a national platform to make their ideas for Viksit Bharat, a reality. In line with this, on this National Youth Day, Prime Minister participated in multiple activities designed to inspire, motivate, and empower the nation's future leaders. Innovative young leaders will make ten powerpoint presentations representing the ten thematic areas pivotal to India’s development before the Prime Minister. These presentations reflect the innovative ideas and solutions proposed by young leaders to address some of India's most pressing challenges.

Prime Minister also released a compilation of best essays written by participants on the ten themes. These themes encompass diverse areas such as technology, sustainability, women empowerment, manufacturing, and agriculture.

In a unique setting, Prime Minister joined the young leaders for lunch, providing them an opportunity to share their ideas, experiences, and aspirations directly to him. This personal interaction will bridge the gap between governance and youth aspirations, fostering a deeper sense of ownership and responsibility among the participants.

During the Dialogue, which started from 11th January, the young leaders will be engaging in competitions, activities, and cultural and thematic presentations. It also includes deliberations on the themes led by mentors and domain experts. There will also be cultural performances showcasing India's artistic heritage while symbolizing its modern advancements.

The 3,000 dynamic and motivated youth have been selected to participate in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, through the Viksit Bharat Challenge, a meticulously crafted, merit-based multi level selection process to identify and showcase the most motivated and dynamic young voices from across the nation. It included three stages with participants ranging from 15 - 29 years. The first stage, Viksit Bharat Quiz, was conducted in 12 languages for youth from all states to take part, and saw participation of around 30 lakh young minds. Qualified quiz participants progressed to the 2nd stage, essay round, where they articulated their ideas on ten pivotal themes critical to realizing the vision of a "Viksit Bharat", which saw over 2 lakh essays being submitted. In the 3rd stage, State Rounds, 25 candidates per theme advanced to participate in rigorous in-person competitions. Each state identified its top three participants from each track, forming dynamic teams for the national event in Delhi.

1,500 participants from the Viksit Bharat Challenge Track, representing the top 500 teams from State Championships; 1,000 participants from the Traditional Track, chosen through state-level youth festivals, cultural programs, and exhibitions on innovation in science and technology; and 500 Pathbreakers, invited for their groundbreaking contributions in different areas will be participating in the Dialogue.

Click here to read full text speech

Login or Register to add your comment
Explore More
Today, the entire country and entire world is filled with the spirit of Bhagwan Shri Ram: PM Modi at Dhwajarohan Utsav in Ayodhya

Popular Speeches

Today, the entire country and entire world is filled with the spirit of Bhagwan Shri Ram: PM Modi at Dhwajarohan Utsav in Ayodhya
View All
‘Highly Focused’: Canada PM Mark Carney Calls PM Modi A ‘Unique Leader’ After India Visit

Media Coverage

‘Highly Focused’: Canada PM Mark Carney Calls PM Modi A ‘Unique Leader’ After India Visit
View All
NM on the go

Nm on the go

Always be the first to hear from the PM. Get the App Now!
Download App
...
India – Finland Joint Statement on the State Visit of President of the Republic of Finland
March 05, 2026

At the invitation of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, President of the Republic of Finland, H.E. Dr. Alexander Stubb, is on a State Visit to India from 4-7 March 2026. President Stubb, who is on his first visit to India in his present capacity, is visiting New Delhi and Mumbai and is accompanied by Ms. Sari Multala, Minister of Climate and the Environment of Finland, Mr. Matias Marttinen, Minister of Employment of Finland, and a high-level delegation comprising of officials and business leaders. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue on 5 March 2026 in New Delhi with President Stubb as the Chief Guest delivering the Inaugural Keynote Address. President Stubb’s visit follows the visit of H.E. Mr. Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland for the AI Impact Summit in February 2026.

On 5 March 2026, President Stubb was warmly welcomed by Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Prime Minister Modi and President Stubb held wide-ranging discussions during a bilateral meeting, and jointly addressed the media. Prime Minister Modi also hosted a luncheon in honour of the visiting dignitary.

The President of Finland congratulated India for successfully hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026. Both Leaders shared the view that working towards safe, trustworthy, and inclusive development of AI is of paramount importance.

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 Prime Minister of India and the President of Finland reiterated their commitment to the rules-based international order and multilateral cooperation, with the UN at its core.

The Leaders 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 27 January 2026, the Leaders acknowledged the immense and mutually beneficial opportunities for both parties of increased trade and investments, including for the India-Finland bilateral relationship.

Building on the momentum provided by the India-Finland Virtual Summit on 16 March 2021 and the meetings of the Prime Ministers of both countries in the margins of two editions of India-Nordic Summit in 2018 and 2022 in Stockholm and Copenhagen respectively, as well as during the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, the Leaders emphasized their shared commitment to continue expanding and deepening the cooperation between the two nations. In this spirit, the leaders agreed to elevate the India-Finland relations to a Strategic Partnership in Digitalization and Sustainability, based on converging interests and mutual benefits.

Trade and Investment

The Prime Minister of India and the President of Finland called upon the business community to make use of the vast opportunities unleashed by the landmark India-EU FTA. In this context, The Leaders agreed that the aim should be to double the value of current trade between India and Finland by 2030.

The Leaders took note of the lively interactions between the respective business communities, reflected by the large business delegation visiting India together with the Finnish President, as well as the companies that joined the Finnish Prime Minister in February in connection with the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. Both leaders expressed confidence that the India-Finland Business Summit and CEOs interaction scheduled to take place in Mumbai on 7 March would help pave the way for enhancing trade, technology collaboration and investments ties.

The Leaders welcomed the growing startup collaboration, manifested by the active participation of innovative Indian startups in Slush in Helsinki and Finnish startups in Startup Mahakumbh in New Delhi, as well as initiatives such as the Indo-Finland Startup Corridor.

Digitalization

Recognizing the transformative power of digitalization as a key driver of inclusive social and economic development, 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. The Leaders noted India’s experience in Digital Public Infrastructure, including digital payments such as the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and discussed possibilities for cooperation in this area.

Against this backdrop, the Leaders asked the relevant ministries to establish a cross-sectoral Joint Working Group on Digitalization to define priorities and foster work on concrete and substantial actions driving the digital transition.

The Finnish President emphasized the positive impact of the considerable number of Indian professionals in the Finnish R&D and tech innovation ecosystems, contributing to social and economic development by means of digital transition and sustainability for the benefit of all.

The Leaders noted with satisfaction the Joint Calls by the Indian Department of Science and Technology and Business Finland to provide RDI funding for joint initiatives of Indian and Finnish companies and research organizations with focus on semiconductors, 6G, and energy systems. They also took note of the cooperation framework between Bharat 6G Alliance and the University of Oulu, Finland, welcoming all efforts to further strengthen bilateral collaboration on 6G.

Furthermore, the Leaders welcomed the work between the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Business Finland to further explore avenues of RDI collaboration with special focus on AI, noting also the discussions between the Indian Centre for Development of Advanced Computing and the Finnish IT Centre for Science with respect to High-Performance Computing.

In the field of advanced technology, the Leaders also highlighted Space tech as an emerging area of collaboration with considerable future potential and active private sector engagement between Indian and Finnish players.

Sustainability

On sustainability, both Leaders underlined the great potential in advancing clean energy solutions, notably in areas such as low carbon transition, energy efficiency, biofuels, smart grids, and green hydrogen. In addition, they highlighted the importance of cooperation in circular economy, sustainable water management and meteorology.

To this end, the Leaders welcomed the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Sustainability, bringing together relevant actors from both countries to enhance collaboration on sustainability-related issues.

Moreover, the Leaders underscored the importance of implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy, encompassing many 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.

They acknowledged the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation, and collaboration under the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) and encouraged the parties to advance the deeper collaboration in circular economy, climate action, and sustainability.

Both sides acknowledged that the rapid deployment of Smart Energy solutions, including Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and other digital grid technologies, has enhanced efficiency while increasing cybersecurity risks to critical power infrastructure. They agreed to explore future areas of cooperation in promoting resilient, reliable and sustainable smart grid systems.

The Finnish President extended his appreciation to India for hosting the next World Circular Economy Forum in the later part of 2026, a Finnish initiative providing a platform to enhance circular economy solutions and bring together leading expertise in the search for new collaborative initiatives.

The Prime Minister of India acknowledged Finland’s active role in bringing together Indian, Finnish and other Nordic stakeholders in the framework of the Indo-Nordic Water Forum, promoting new collaborations and best practices in water resources management and wastewater management for circular economy solutions.

With respect to meteorological collaboration, the Leaders underscored the ongoing cooperation in aerosol monitoring and air quality forecasting between the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). They welcomed the work to establish a Virtual Research Center between FMI and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), also taking note of the already ongoing FMI-IITM research collaboration with multilateral projects exceeding a total value of Euros 11 million.

The Leaders also took note of the exchange of experiences between the Indian Ministry of Rural Development and the National Land Survey of Finland and the Finnish Environment Institute, cities, and companies about Land Stack, an integrated GIS based digital platform of land and property information.

The Leaders welcomed the signing of Memorandum of Understanding on fostering cooperation in the field of Official Statistics which provides a framework for exchange of best practices, methodologies, and technical expertise in the area of official statistics.

Mobility, education, and people-to-people contacts

The Prime Minister of India and the President of Finland recognized the importance of people-to-people contacts in all fields, including skilled workers, specialists and young professionals, researchers and students, businesspersons, and academics, thereby nurturing economic prosperity, contributing to a rich social fabric, and enhancing mutual understanding.

In this context, the Leaders hailed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Migration and Mobility Partnership, laying the frameworks for smooth, orderly, and mutually beneficial mobility for the years to come. Both sides agreed to take the steps required for the implementation of the MoU in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, that serves both India’s and Finland’s prosperity and economic growth. The Leaders also acknowledged the contacts between the respective Foreign Ministries, looking into possibilities of establishing bilateral dialogue on consular matters.

The Leaders took note of the Joint Statement endorsed by the High-Level Dialogue on Cooperation in Education (31 January 2024) and encouraged the relevant parties to accelerate their joint efforts to advance the common agenda, focusing on the agreed areas of secondary education, higher education, skill development, and student mobility.

In this context, they noted the growing interest in India towards the Finnish education system, the increasing cooperation in teacher training, as well as early childhood education institutions and schools that are being set up according to the Finnish model, as concrete expressions of the stakeholders’ shared will and commitment to continue developing the collaboration on education.

Furthermore, the Leaders highlighted the discussions on a bilateral audiovisual co-production agreement that will provide a solid frame to enhance cooperation in the film and gaming industries.

India-EU-relations

Both Leaders welcomed the new Joint India-EU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda, endorsed in the India-EU Summit on 27 January 2026, based on shared values and principles, mutual trust, converging interests, and shared political will. They agreed that India and the EU can be stable, predictable, and trusted partners, building a multifaceted and deepening long-term relationship with many positive outcomes for both sides.

The Leaders underlined that the conclusion of Free Trade Agreement takes the India-EU relations to a new level. In addition to clear economic benefits by enhancing market access and removing trade barriers, both Leaders noted that the FTA could support economic security and resilience through diversifying critical value chains and opening new markets.

As a platform to address key trade, technology, and economic security issues, the Leaders reaffirmed their support to further enhance the work of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council as the cornerstone of the India-EU technology partnership.

The Prime Minister of India and the President of Finland underscored that the signing of India-EU Security and Defense Partnership added another meaningful dimension to the India-EU Strategic Partnership that will deepen co-operation in areas of shared interests, including maritime security, defense industry, cyber and hybrid threats, space, as well as counter-terrorism.

The leaders lauded the signing of the MoU on Comprehensive Framework of Cooperation on Mobility and the launch of pilot European Union Legal Gateway Office in India.

Multilateral cooperation

The Leaders recognized the need to reform the UN system. In this context, they emphasized 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.

The leaders underscored the vital role of cooperation within the United Nations and other international bodies to safeguard multilateralism and uphold a rules-based international order, including supporting mutual candidacies and nominations.

Both sides agreed to continue their constructive cooperation in multilateral fora, including on peace and security, human rights, sustainable development as well as climate change and biodiversity.

The Leaders reiterated their shared commitment to promoting a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo‑Pacific, in accordance with international law, including the UNCLOS. In this context, India welcomed Finland to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation and dialogue on Arctic matters, including through joint research initiatives, academic exchanges, and capacity-building programmes. They took note of the first India–Finland Arctic Dialogue titled "The Himalayan and Arctic Ecosystems: India–Finland Partnership for a Sustainable Future” held in January 2026 in Rovaniemi, Finland, which brought together parliamentarians, government officials, academics and experts to deliberate on strategies and pathways for deepening collaboration on Arctic matters. Both leaders also underscored the importance of advancing cooperation in the structures of the Arctic Council, and within the broader framework of the India-Nordic Summit.

Both leaders unequivocally and strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism. They called for decisive and concerted international efforts to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner and in accordance with international law. They agreed to enhance cooperation to counter violent radicalization and extremism, combat financing of terrorism, promote internationally agreed anti‑money laundering standards, prevent exploitation of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, and tackle terrorist recruitment. The leaders reaffirmed strong commitment to continue taking active measures to disrupt the terror financing channels including at the UN and FATF. They condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025 and the terror incident near Red Fort, New Delhi on 10 November 2025.

Both Leaders agreed to continue to support efforts towards the achievement of a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy, based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law, including independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

Conclusion

To take forward the cooperation under the India-Finland Strategic Partnership in Digitalization and Sustainability, the Leaders asked the respective Working Groups on Digitalization and Sustainability to develop a future-oriented and concrete Action Plan, including definition of priority areas and related actions, and report back to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Finland and the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India on the progress achieved.

The President of Finland thanked the Prime Minister of India for the excellent arrangements during his state visit, and both Leaders expressed their appreciation of the open and constructive dialogue, and the forward-reaching and evolving cooperation. They agreed to continue their interaction with a solid foundation in a shared spirit of mutual respect and collaboration. President Stubb invited Prime Minister Modi to pay a visit to Finland, and Prime Minister Modi accepted the invitation.