India-Slovakia Comprehensive Partnership

Source: Indian Express
GS II: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. Key Highlights
3. India and Slovakia Relation

Why in the News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico in Bratislava, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister since the country’s independence  in 1993.

News in Brief

• India and Slovakia elevated their bilateral ties to “Comprehensive Partnership”.
• Aims to strengthen existing cooperation mechanisms and explore new avenues for deepening cooperation, both bilaterally and multilaterally.
• Both sides signed pacts on labour migration, defence, digital technologies. higher education and research, quantum communication and student exchange programme.

Key Highlights

• Elevation of Bilateral Ties
  • India and Slovakia upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership.
  • Both countries agreed to deepen cooperation across strategic, economic, technological and cultural sectors.
• Defence and Security cooperation
  • A letter of intent was signed to enhance defence cooperation.
  • Discussions focused on joint production, defence manufacturing, and security cooperation.
• Technology, Education and Research
  • Agreements were signed in digital technologies, higher education, research, and quantum communication.
  • Collaboration between academic institutions will promote student exchanges, scholarships, and joint research.
• Labour Mobility and Economic Cooperation
  • An MoU on labour migration aims to facilitate safe and legal mobility of skilled professionals.
  • Both sides agreed to enhance trade, investment, innovation, and industrial cooperation.
• Science, Health and Tourism cooperation
  • Agreements on tourism cooperation, scientific cooperation and AYUSH collaboration.
  • Establishment of first ever ICCR chair in AI at Technical University of Kosice.
• Energy Cooperation
  • Promoting energy security, sustainability and resilience through diversification of energy sources including nuclear energy and geothermal power.

India and Slovakia Relation

Political Ties

• India established  diplomatic relations with Slovakia in 1993 after Slovakia gained independence.
• Slovakia supported India’s bid to become a permanent member of United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Economic Ties

• India primarily exports mobile phones, garments and motor vehicle parts, while importing heavy machinery, measuring instruments and complete motor vehicle from Slovakia.
• Jaguar Land Rover (Tata motors), TCS, and Kinex Bearings (CK Birla Groups) companies operates in Slovakia.

Cultural Ties

• Both countries signed an active Cultural Exchange Programme spanning 2023-2026 to promote festivals, art, yoga, and Ayurveda in Slovakia.
• The first-ever translation of the Upanishads from Sanskrit to Slovak language highlights the cultural engagement between both countries.

Through the upgraded Comprehensive Partnership between India and Slovakia, reflects a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation in trade, technology, and innovation, while deepening India’s engagement with Central Europe.

Slovakia Map

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Consider the following statements regarding India-Slovakia relations

1. 1. India and Slovakia established diplomatic relations in 1993 after Slovakia’s independence.
   2. India and Slovakia upgraded their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership in 2026.
   3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2026 visit was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since its independence.
   4. The first-ever ICCR Chair in Artificial Intelligence has been established at the Technical University of Kosice.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2,3 and 4 only

c) 1,3 and 4 only

d) 1,2,3 and 4

Answer: d) 1,2, 3 and 4

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