Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to France was a major success. The two countries signed a number of agreements, including the adoption of UPI in France and India’s election to the UNSC. The visit further strengthened the India-France strategic partnership and will help to promote cooperation between the two countries in a number of areas.

Highlights of the Visit

PM Modi Receives France’s Highest Civilian Award

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday received France’s highest civilian award, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, from President Emmanuel Macron. The award was given in recognition of Modi’s “outstanding” contribution to the development of the India-France strategic partnership.

UPI Adoption in France

In a major boost for India’s digital payments ecosystem, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will be adopted in France. UPI is a real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It allows users to make instant payments to merchants and individuals using their smartphones. UPI is the most popular digital payments platform in India, with over 250 million users.

The adoption of UPI in France will make it easier for Indian tourists and businesses to make payments in the country. It will also help to promote the use of digital payments in France.

PM’s Comments on permanent membership of the UN Security Council

Prime Minister Modi’s comments on permanent membership of the UN Security Council were made in an interview with French newspaper Les Echos ahead of his two-day visit to France. The interview was published on July 13, 2023:

• “The UN Security Council is not in tune with a changed world order. Its skewed membership leads to opaque decision-making processes, which adds to its helplessness in addressing the challenges of today.”
• “How can the UN Security Council claim to speak for the world when its most populous country and the largest democracy is not a permanent member?”
• “I must appreciate the clear and consistent position that France has taken in this matter.”
• “India has a strong case for permanent membership of the UN Security Council. We are a major power in the world, with a large population, a growing economy, and a strong military. We are also a responsible stakeholder in the international system, and we have a long history of contributing to UN peacekeeping missions.”
• “We believe that the UN Security Council needs to be reformed to reflect the realities of the 21st century. The current system is outdated and undemocratic. India is committed to working with other countries to reform the UN Security Council and to make it more representative of the world’s population.”

Prime Minister Modi’s comments were widely reported in the Indian media and were seen as a sign of India’s renewed push for permanent membership of the UN Security Council. India has been a vocal advocate for permanent membership of the UNSC for many years, and Prime Minister Modi’s comments were seen as a reaffirmation of India’s commitment to this goal.

The comments were also seen as a sign of the close relationship between India and France. France has been a strong supporter of India’s bid for permanent membership of the UNSC, and Prime Minister Modi’s comments were seen as a way of thanking France for its support.

Impact of the Visit

The visit is expected to have a number of positive impacts on both countries. The adoption of UPI in France will make it easier for Indian tourists and businesses to make payments in the country. It will also help to promote the use of digital payments in France.

The visit has also further strengthened the India-France strategic partnership. The two countries are already close allies, and the visit has helped to solidify their ties. This will be beneficial for both countries in the years to come.

Conclusion

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France was a major success. The two countries signed a number of agreements, including the adoption of UPI in France and India’s election to the UNSC. The visit further strengthened the India-France strategic partnership and will help to promote cooperation between the two countries in a number of areas.