Swiss President Guy Parmelin begins a state visit to India

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Swiss President Guy Parmelin begins a state visit to India

5 October 2026

President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin is on a state visit to India from 5 to 7 October 2026 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He holds bilateral talks with the Prime Minister on 5 October covering trade, investment, science, technology, innovation, mobility and culture. He also calls on President Droupadi Murmu, who hosts an official banquet, and meets External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. On 7 October he takes part in the second India-EFTA Prosperity Summit, held on the first anniversary of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement. India and Switzerland established diplomatic relations on 14 August 1948 through a Treaty of Friendship.

Visitor: Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation Dates: 5 to 7 October 2026 Summit: Second India-EFTA Prosperity Summit, 7 October Diplomatic relations since: 14 August 1948

Why it matters for exams: State visits, the office of the Swiss President and the India-EFTA agreement are regular objective questions in both PSC and UPSC papers.

Kerala PSCUPSC

5 October 2026 Source: The Tribune

In plain words

EFTA European Free Trade Association — A four-country European bloc of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, separate from the European Union.