India and Israel signed multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements spanning artificial intelligence, agriculture, cybersecurity, and fintech during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day state visit, with a key pact enabling linkage of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Israel.
The agreements were inked in the presence of Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of their joint press conference on Thursday, February 26, 2026. They reflect the elevation of bilateral ties to a "special strategic partnership," building on longstanding cooperation in defence, technology, and innovation. Among the highlights was an MoU between India's National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Israel's Masav system to facilitate seamless UPI-based cross-border payments, marking a significant step in digital fintech integration.
In agriculture, a notable MoU established the India-Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture, signed by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. This initiative aims to expand Centres of Excellence in India from 43 to 100, promote joint research with increased funding, fellowships at Israel's Volcani Agricultural Research Organisation, and knowledge transfer in areas like irrigation, pest control, greenhouse cultivation, satellite data use, and advanced farming techniques. Additional pacts covered fisheries, aquaculture, and geophysical exploration to enhance sustainable practices.
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Cybersecurity featured prominently with a Letter of Intent for establishing a Cyber Centre of Excellence, focusing on collaboration in threat prevention, horizon scanning, and emerging technologies. Agreements also advanced cooperation in artificial intelligence and education through AI, including an MoU on promoting education via AI tools signed by Israel's Education Minister and Jaishankar. Other areas included cultural exchanges, maritime heritage, commerce, and innovation bridges for critical and emerging technologies.
These pacts, part of a broader set of around 16 bilateral instruments, underscore the deepening economic and technological ties amid discussions on finalising a mutually beneficial free trade agreement. Modi highlighted the shared commitment to innovation-driven growth and security cooperation, with both leaders expressing optimism for future collaborations in high-tech sectors. The visit concluded with announcements reinforcing people-to-people and strategic linkages, amid regional stability efforts including support for peaceful resolutions in West Asia.
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