INDIA-CANADA RELATIONS

NEWS: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s arrival in India will mark a significant moment for the bilateral relationship

Historical Context

• Share over 75 years of diplomatic relations and deep people-to-people ties.
• Bilateral relationsà formally designated as a “Strategic Partnership” in 2018, structured around Ministerial Dialogues on foreign policy, trade & investment, finance & energy.
• Working Groups (Officials Level) –> Focus on counter-terrorism, security, agriculture, education, science and technology.

Economic ties

• 2024à India was Canada’s 7th largest goods and services trading partner, with two-way trade at $30.8 billion.
• Major exports to Canadaà Pharmaceutical products, machinery parts and mechanical appliances, iron and steel products, electronic goods, organic chemicals, jewelry, gems, textile and seafood.
• India’s major imports – Pulses, fertilizers (potash) and minerals.
• According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Tradeà Canada is the 17th largest foreign investor in India.

challenges in India-Canada relations

• The Khalistan Issueà remains a point of sensitivity, particularly within Canada’s domestic political landscape.
• Immigration Tensionsà Friction persists in the education sector
  • Reports from late 2025 indicated high rejection rates (up to 80%) for Indian student visa applications.
• Foreign Interference Allegations à A 2025 Canadian inquiry into foreign interference cited India as an active participant, a claim New Delhi has consistently rejected.

WAY AHEAD

• Canada-India tiesà Faced several challenges and missed opportunities for deeper co-operation.
• Underpinned by numerous factors that make them natural partnersàalignment of interests and values in fostering innovation, prosperity, and a free and open Indo-Pacific, particularly amid geopolitical volatilities.
• A clear roadmap is needed to foster resilience in the relationship despite these challenges.