Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Netherlands on May 16, 2026, launching the European leg of a multi-country tour that follows a stop in the United Arab Emirates. The two-day visit to the Netherlands is aimed at deepening ties on trade, investment, defense and technology, with a particular emphasis on semiconductors, clean energy, water and strengthening supply chains. Modi is scheduled to meet Dutch leadership, members of the royal family and business representatives. India is also pressing to finalize a broader EU-India free trade agreement, which New Delhi says is a priority.
Modi addressed the large Indian diaspora in The Hague, praising their contribution to Dutch society and the economy and noting the “new challenges” the world faces — from the pandemic to war and energy shocks. Roughly 90,000 Indian nationals live in the Netherlands, and many Indian students attend Dutch universities.
Semiconductors and supply chains
Modi has promoted expanding India’s role in critical technology manufacturing as part of the “Make in India” push. Since launching domestic chipmaking programs in 2021, New Delhi has approved projects intended to move the country up the global semiconductor value chain and to diversify supply lines away from China. Strengthening ties with Dutch firms and policymakers is a strategic part of that effort.
Diplomacy under strain: Iran war and multi-alignment
Analysts say the ongoing war in the Middle East is straining India’s long-standing “multi-alignment” diplomacy — a balancing act that includes energy ties with Iran, defense links with Israel, and expanding relations with the United States and Gulf states. The conflict is testing how New Delhi manages competing regional pressures while protecting energy and trade interests.
Domestic headlines
– NEET-UG exam leak and fallout: India’s all-India pre-medical entrance test, NEET-UG, was cancelled after allegations of a leaked question paper. The exam, originally held on May 3 for more than 2.2 million candidates in a single shift, will be re-conducted in June for those affected. Student protests erupted in New Delhi and elsewhere. Opposition groups and student unions have demanded strict action and called for the education minister’s resignation; authorities say the Central Bureau of Investigation has traced the leak to a chemistry lecturer who allegedly dictated questions and answers to coaching students. Officials have proposed moving next year’s NEET online to reduce vulnerability to leaks.
– Andhra Pradesh cash incentive for larger families: The southern state of Andhra Pradesh announced one-time payments to encourage higher birth rates amid concerns about falling fertility. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said families would receive Rs 30,000 for the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth child (roughly €270 and €360, respectively). The move replaces an earlier proposal that would have rewarded second children. While India’s total population continues to grow (about 1.4 billion), the national fertility rate has fallen below replacement levels; demographic experts project a peak later this century before decline.
– Weight-loss drugs boom tied to wedding culture: Medicines developed for Type 2 diabetes, notably Mounjaro and Ozempic, are increasingly being used off-label as rapid weight-loss aids in India. Analysts attribute demand to social pressures tied to the country’s large wedding industry, where appearance can carry high social value. Industry estimates suggest India’s obesity drug market could reach around 80 billion rupees (about $837 million) by 2030.
– Farmers’ protests and clashes in Punjab: Hundreds of farmers in Punjab clashed with police while attempting to march to the governor’s residence to press demands over crop prices. Authorities used water cannon and tear gas to disperse crowds after protesters tried to break barricades; some demonstrators were briefly detained. The protest followed the government’s release of the annual minimum support price (MSP) list, which farmers say does not provide the legal guarantees or price security they need. Farmers in northern states have a history of large-scale mobilization and remain a potent political force.
– Political tensions in West Bengal: Kolkata police opened criminal proceedings against Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee over comments widely circulated on social media targeting Home Minister Amit Shah after the party’s defeat in recent state elections. The loss ended a 15-year run for the Trinamool in West Bengal, and tensions and allegations of violence and vote irregularities have followed the result.
Other notes
– India’s meteorological agency has forecast an earlier-than-usual monsoon for parts of the south, with Kerala expected to see rains from about May 26, a development with implications for agriculture and water management.
What to watch
Modi’s meetings in the Netherlands will be watched for concrete agreements on semiconductor cooperation, trade and investment pledges, and any progress on the EU-India trade deal. Back home, the government’s responses to the NEET leak, farmers’ demands over MSP, and demographic policy shifts in states like Andhra Pradesh will continue to shape domestic political debates.