Tuesday 13 / January / 2026
Bangalore: German Chancellor Friedrich merz has arrived in Bengaluru on the second and last day of his India tour.
Bengaluru, formerly Bangalore, is the country's most influential technology hub and startup capital. Many German companies, including Bosch Siemens and SAP, have a strong presence in the city.
'Positive momentum' in €8 billion submarine deal, India's foreign secretary says
As India and Germany agreed to deepen security ties, an €8 billion ($9.3 billion) submarine deal has yet to be sealed.
The potential deal would see Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems build six submarines for the Indian Navy, in partnership with Indian state-run Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders.
For New Delhi, this means getting its hands on superior German defense technology as it replaces its ailing Russian-built fleet of submarines.
The deal is crucial for Berlin too as it would wean India off its dependence on Russia in the defense sector, while also allowing Germany to tap into India's lucrative market.
"There are technical, financial, commercial discussions that are involved in a deal of this kind. These discussions are continuing," said Vikram Misri, Foreign Secretary of India.
"All I can say is that the discussions have maintained a positive momentum but at this point in time since these have not concluded, it's difficult for me to say where we are exactly," he said.
Modi raises Baby Ariha case with Chancellor Merz, Indian official says
During talks of forging lasting defense and trade ties, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought up a sensitive issue with Chancellor Friedrich Merz — that of Baby Ariha.
The five-year-old was separated from her Germany-based parents by authorities in Berlin in September 2021 on allegations of abuse. She was seven months old at the time.
While the abuse allegations against the parents were later dismissed, Ariha was not returned to her parents.
The baby girl, an Indian citizen, remains in the German social care system to this day, despite several diplomatic attempts to have her brought to India.
"Please be assured that we do not view this issue in isolation from our other issues or broader relationship with Germany. It carries the same priority as our other key matters," Vikram Misri, Foreign Secretary of India, told Indian media on Monday.
Speaking at a press briefing on the chancellor's visit to India, Misri said New Delhi was "fully engaged with the German government on this matter" and "committed to discussing it at every stage."
"We are also trying to ensure that Baby Ariha’s upbringing, as far as possible, takes place in an Indian environment—whether it is spending time with Indian people, participating in Indian festivals being celebrated in Germany, or making arrangements for her to learn Hindi," the foreign secretary said.
Shah's custody battle has become a diplomatic issue between New Delhi and Berlin and was raised during previous visit German officials' visits to India.
