- Why in news
- On 26 February 2026, at the end of PM Modi's state visit to Israel (25-26 February), India and Israel issued a joint statement raising their Strategic Partnership to a 'Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation & Prosperity'.
- What it is
- India and Israel established full diplomatic relations in 1992. Ties have grown from defence supply to technology, agriculture and water cooperation. Modi's 2017 visit and Netanyahu's 2018 visit set the base for the strategic partnership that has now been upgraded.
- Upgrade
- The leaders agreed to raise the Strategic Partnership to a Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity.
- Joint research funding
- Each side's contribution to the India-Israel Joint Research Calls will rise from USD 1 million to USD 1.5 million.
- I4F
- The Industrial R&D and Innovation Fund is run jointly by India's DST and the Israel Innovation Authority.
- FTA talks
- Terms of Reference for Free Trade Area negotiations were signed and the first round held in New Delhi.
- UPI linkage
- NPCI International and Israel's MASAV signed an MoU to examine linking UPI with Israel's payment system.
- Workers
- Up to 50,000 more Indian workers may go to Israel over five years.
Don’t confuse with I2U2 vs Quad: I2U2 links India, Israel, UAE and the US. The Quad links India, Australia, Japan and the US.
Don’t confuse with MASHAV vs MASAV: MASHAV is Israel's agency for international development cooperation, working on agriculture. MASAV is Israel's payment system operator, linked with NPCI International.
International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.
Why it matters
- Gives India access to Israeli technology in AI, cyber, quantum, semiconductors and defence, supporting Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- Adds economic depth through a bilateral investment agreement, FTA talks and UPI linkage, beyond defence ties.
- Fits India's links with West Asia through IMEC and I2U2.
Problems
- Israel's regional conflicts and the Gaza situation can strain India's ties with Arab states and its stance on Palestine.
- Safety and rights of Indian workers in Israel remain a concern.
Way forward
- Conclude FTA talks early and put the investment agreement into effect.
- Turn MoUs and letters of intent into funded projects with tracked timelines.
- Balance Israel ties with outreach to Gulf and Arab partners through IMEC.
Put in your answer
Farm centres: 35 agriculture centres of excellence operate, 8 more are being set up, and over a million farmers have been trained.
Bilateral Investment Agreement: The India-Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement was signed in New Delhi in September 2025 by the Finance Ministers.
Defence MoU: A Defence Cooperation MoU was signed on 4 November 2025.
- 2018Mains GS2 · Q9Discuss whether India-Israel relations have acquired irreversible depth and diversity.
- 2022Mains GS2 · Q19How I2U2 grouping of India, Israel, UAE, USA transforms India's global position.
- 2004Prelims Q81Which statements about India-Israel diplomatic relations and Sharon's visit are correct?
- 2023Prelims Q94Israel's relations with Arab States and the Arab Peace Initiative assertion-reason.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements about the India-Israel joint statement issued after Prime Minister Modi's state visit to Israel on 25-26 February 2026: 1. The visit was Modi's first-ever visit to Israel. 2. Each side's contribution to the India-Israel Joint Research Calls is to rise from USD 1 million to USD 1.5 million. 3. The Industrial R&D and Innovation Fund (I4F) is implemented jointly by India's Department of Science and Technology and the Israel Innovation Authority. 4. The new initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies is led by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries. 5. The India-Israel Free Trade Agreement was signed during the visit.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
True or false?
1 of 6
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The Special Strategic Partnership was announced during Prime Minister Modi's first-ever visit to Israel.
False. Modi first visited Israel in 2017; the 2026 visit was a state visit that followed it.
2.Under the joint statement, each side's contribution to the India-Israel Joint Research Calls will increase from USD 1 million to USD 1.5 million.
True. Contribution rises from USD 1 million to USD 1.5 million each.
3.The India-Israel Industrial R&D and Innovation Fund (I4F) is implemented jointly by the Department of Science and Technology and the Israel Innovation Authority.
True. I4F is run by DST India and the Israel Innovation Authority.
4.The new Critical and Emerging Technologies initiative between the two countries is led by their Foreign Ministers.
False. It is led by the National Security Advisors of the two countries.
5.The two countries have signed the India-Israel Free Trade Agreement.
False. Only the Terms of Reference for FTA negotiations were signed; the first round of talks was held and an early signing is the goal.
6.The leaders agreed to explore linking UPI with Israel's fast payment system, and NPCI International signed an MoU with MASAV for this.
True. NPCI International and MASAV signed an MoU to examine linkage of payment systems.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Mains practice
15 marks · 250 words
India and Israel have raised their Strategic Partnership to a 'Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity' after Prime Minister Modi's state visit in February 2026. Examine the key areas of cooperation in this partnership and discuss its significance and the challenges India may face in taking it forward.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.