PM Modi, ‘younger sister’ Takaichi unveil roadmap on energy, tech, defence ties
The 16th India-Japan Annual Summit was held in New Delhi, during which both prime ministers adopted a Joint Declaration on Economic Security and signed multiple agreements spanning AI, critical minerals, clean energy, and defence.
Both countries signed a Memorandum of Implementation for the co-development of the UNICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) naval mast — marking the first-ever joint defence co-development project between India and Japan.
A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) for geological survey and critical mineral exploration.
Under the India-Japan Bio-Gas Initiative, both sides agreed to establish 1,000 bio-gas and organic fertilizer plants across India to improve rural energy access.
Both countries issued a Joint Statement on Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence and a Joint Statement on Energy Resilience, underpinning strategic convergence in technology-driven sectors.
India-Japan Annual Summit Mechanism and Special Strategic Partnership
The India-Japan Annual Summit is a bilateral diplomatic mechanism established in 2006, under which the two prime ministers meet every year, alternating as host. The relationship was elevated from a 'Global Partnership' (2000) to a 'Strategic and Global Partnership' (2006) and finally to a 'Special Strategic and Global Partnership' (2014) — the highest designation India has granted to any country.
Key Details
- The 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers' Meetings form a core institutional dialogue mechanism.
- Over 70 bilateral dialogue mechanisms exist across foreign, defence, trade, and technology domains.
- 2027 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.
- The partnership is anchored in shared values: democracy, rule of law, open and free Indo-Pacific.
The 16th Annual Summit continued this institutionalized summit tradition, with this edition focused on economic security and technology — reflecting the partnership's evolution from a geopolitical to a technology-economic axis.
Economic Security and Critical Minerals
Economic security in international relations refers to a state's capacity to ensure secure access to strategic resources — including minerals, semiconductors, energy, and critical technologies — necessary for economic stability and national security. Critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earths, gallium, germanium) are essential inputs for EVs, solar panels, semiconductors, and advanced defence systems.
Key Details
- China dominates global supply of many critical minerals, raising supply chain vulnerability concerns for importing nations.
- Both India and Japan are net importers of most critical minerals, making supply chain diversification a shared strategic priority.
- The Joint Declaration on Economic Security covered five sectors: semiconductors, critical minerals, ICT/AI, clean energy, and pharmaceuticals.
- The GSI (Geological Survey of India) is India's premier agency for mineral exploration, under the Ministry of Mines.
- JOGMEC (Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security) is Japan's national entity responsible for securing stable mineral and energy resources.
The MoC between GSI and JOGMEC operationalizes critical mineral exploration cooperation, enabling joint geological surveys and upstream partnerships to reduce dependence on concentrated suppliers.
UNICORN and India's Defence Co-Development Policy
The UNICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) is an advanced integrated naval mast that consolidates multiple communication antennas into a single enclosed structure, reducing radar cross-section and enhancing stealth for warships. It was developed for Japan's Mogami-class frigates by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Key Details
- India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Implementation (MoI) for UNICORN co-development in Tokyo in November 2024; the 2026 summit advanced it to a co-development agreement.
- Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is expected to be India's partner for integration and manufacture.
- The project supports the Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence manufacturing initiative and iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) ecosystem.
- India's Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 prioritizes co-development and co-production with friendly nations.
- Japan lifted its ban on arms exports in 2014, enabling defence technology transfers — a prerequisite for this type of cooperation.
The UNICORN agreement is India and Japan's first joint defence co-development project, a milestone that signals a qualitative shift from buyer-seller relations to technology partnership in defence.
Bio-Energy and India's Rural Energy Transition
Bio-gas, produced through anaerobic digestion of organic waste, is a renewable energy source relevant to India's rural energy access and waste management goals. India's GOBARdhan (Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) scheme promotes bio-gas generation from agro-waste, cattle dung, and municipal solid waste.
Key Details
- India's Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) target: 5,000 CBG plants by 2025 under the SATAT scheme (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation).
- Bio-gas supports India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement by reducing methane emissions from livestock and agriculture.
- The 1,000 bio-gas plant target under the India-Japan Bio-Gas Initiative is in addition to existing domestic schemes.
- Bio-gas plants generate organic fertilizer as a byproduct, supporting soil health and reducing chemical fertilizer imports.
The India-Japan Bio-Gas Initiative builds on India's existing clean energy infrastructure policy, bringing Japanese technology partnerships to accelerate rural energy access and reduce import dependence on fossil fuels.
- 16th India-Japan Annual Summit held in New Delhi (2026)
- Partnership elevated to "Special Strategic and Global Partnership" in 2014
- Annual Summit mechanism established in 2006
- UNICORN: first-ever India-Japan joint defence co-development project
- GSI (Geological Survey of India) — under Ministry of Mines; JOGMEC — Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security
- Five sectors covered under Joint Declaration on Economic Security: semiconductors, critical minerals, ICT/AI, clean energy, pharmaceuticals
- 1,000 bio-gas and organic fertilizer plants planned under India-Japan Bio-Gas Initiative
- Japan lifted arms export ban in 2014, enabling defence technology cooperation
- BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited) is the expected Indian partner for UNICORN manufacturing