India and Switzerland sign five pacts, including a Migration and Mobility Partnership with five-year multiple-entry visas

National Agreement Polity & Governance Science & Technology

India and Switzerland sign five pacts, including a Migration and Mobility Partnership with five-year multiple-entry visas

5 October 2026

India and Switzerland exchanged five agreements during the state visit of Swiss President Guy Parmelin, in talks with PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
The Migration and Mobility Partnership provides multiple-entry visas valid for up to 5 years, with stays of up to 6 months per visit, and renewable 1-year student permits.
The Young Professionals Scheme covers 300 people per country each year, expandable to 500, with 30/90-day timelines for verifying nationality and residence.
A transport MoU covers electric vehicles, ropeways, the circular economy and tunnels.
The Department of Science and Technology signed a Letter of Intent with the Swiss National Science Foundation and an implementation agreement with the Zurich University of Applied Sciences.
The talks also looked back at the India-EFTA TEPA, which the leaders say targets $100 billion of investment and one million direct jobs in India over 15 years.

Visa validity: Up to 5 years (multiple-entry) Stay per visit: Up to 6 months Young Professionals Scheme: 300 per country a year, expandable to 500 Investment target (TEPA): $100 billion in 15 years

Why it matters for exams: Bilateral agreements, visa and mobility frameworks and the EFTA trade pact are staple topics in International Relations.

Kerala PSCUPSC

5 October 2026 Source: Press Information Bureau

In plain words

TEPA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement — India's trade pact with the four EFTA states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

DST Department of Science and Technology — The Union department that signed the research and startup-training pacts with Swiss partners.