Why in news?

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock inked a mobility partnership pact to make it easier for people to study, do research and work in each other’s country.

Highlights

• Signing of mobility pact between India and Germany is a strong signal of basis for a more contemporary bilateral partnership
• The India-Germany MMPA (Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement) is part of overall efforts to create a network of agreements with prospective labour market destination countries with twin objectives of creating of favourable visa regime for Indians towards accessing the labour market of these countries

What are the other issues covered?

• Defending the government’s decision to increase the intake of Russian oil since the war in Ukraine(India’s consumption of Russian oil is just one-sixth of European consumption)

• Bilateral issues, including Germany’s assistance to India on renewable energy and energy transitions, as well as international issues such as their Indo-Pacific strategy.