Kamal Ghorui
France is stepping up its academic engagement with India, with President Emmanuel Macron announcing a sweeping push to make it easier for Indian students to study in the country. Speaking in New Delhi during his official visit from February 17 to 19, 2026, Macron said France will simplify visa and sourcing procedures while expanding English-taught programmes, as part of a plan to triple the number of Indian students by 2030. For more details, read this. The announcement came as Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi elevated bilateral relations to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership,” signalling a broader deepening of cooperation across education, technology, defence and innovation.
Using his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Macron highlighted an initiative to strengthen France’s relationship with India, acknowledging India’s importance as a crucial partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
30,000 Indian students by 2030
Currently, around 10,000 Indian students pursue higher education in France each year. The two leaders have now set a target of increasing that number to 30,000 annually by 2030. “We want to welcome more Indian students and have more French students coming here. We are currently speaking about 10,000 per year. We have decided with Prime Minister Modi to increase this number to 30,000 per year by 2030. From the French side, we will simplify the sourcing and the visa process,” Macron said during high-level academic and scientific engagements in Delhi. The French President emphasised that easing mobility will be central to achieving this goal. Simplified visa procedures, clearer admissions pathways and the expansion of English-medium courses are expected to make French universities more accessible to Indian applicants, many of whom previously viewed language barriers and bureaucratic processes as hurdles.
France targets 30,000 Indian students by 2030: What you need to know to join this opportunity. (AI Image)
Education and innovation at the core
Education was also a key area of focus during Macron’s interactions, such as those held at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Both parties reiterated their commitment to further enhancing educational exchanges and mobility. The leaders welcomed the International Classes initiative, which would be helpful in assisting Indian students in getting ready for admission to French universities. The preparatory courses include language courses and academic orientation, making it easier for students to adapt to the French higher education system. They also welcomed the launch of a new Mumbai campus that brings together ESSEC Business School and CentraleSupélec. The partnership is designed to enhance educational exchanges, joint degree programs, and research collaborations between the two countries. A revised agreement on the mutual recognition of academic credentials is also being worked out, which may further simplify educational mobility and improve job prospects for graduates in both countries.
Visa-free transit and mobility boost
According to the India–France joint statement, both sides welcomed an upcoming visa-free transit facility for Indian nationals transiting through French airports. The measure will initially be implemented as a six-month pilot and reviewed thereafter. While distinct from student visas, the facility underscores France’s broader push to ease travel and mobility for Indian nationals.
Macron’s visit, his fourth to India, comes a year after Modi’s trip to France in February 2025. During this visit, the two leaders jointly launched the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 in Mumbai on February 17.
AI, healthcare and research collaboration
Innovation and research cooperation form another key pillar of the strengthened partnership. The India-France Year of Innovation 2026 will see joint initiatives across artificial intelligence, healthcare, sustainable development, culture and education. A binational centre on digital sciences and technology is soon to be launched between INRIA, France, and the Department of Science and Technology, India, marking the beginning of intense collaboration in cutting-edge technology. The leaders also looked forward to the launch of a new research centre focused on AI in healthcare. The proposed joint initiative will see the collaboration of Sorbonne University, AIIMS New Delhi and the Paris Brain Institute, combining expertise in medicine, neuroscience and artificial intelligence. Macron is also scheduled to participate in the Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit 2026 during his visit, further highlighting technology and digital innovation as central themes of the evolving India-France partnership.
