Republic Day 2024: Macron arrives today; roadshow in Jaipur, Amber Fort on his itinerary

French President Emmanuel Macron is the Republic Day parade chief guest.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, arrives for a two-day India visit on January 25 in Jaipur where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet him and hold a roadshow in the evening.

France is India’s second biggest arms supplier and has sold Rafale jets to New Delhi, even as multi-billion dollar fighter aircraft and submarine deals  are being talked about.

The French leader, visiting India for the second time in six months, will reach Jaipur at 2.30 pm and leave for Delhi at around 9 pm, the ministry of external affairs has said.

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Here's what Macron's schedule looks like

In his nearly six-hour stay in Jaipur, Macron will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a roadshow before the two leaders hold wide-ranging talks at the Taj Rambagh Palace hotel on bilateral ties as well as various geopolitical issues.

Macron, who will be accompanied by a delegation, will visit Amber Fort, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal.

During their talks, the two leaders are expected to discuss ways to boost bilateral cooperation in digital domain, defence, trade, clean energy, youth exchanges and easing of visa norms for Indian students.

India's plan to buy 26 Rafale-M (marine version) fighter jets and three Scorpene submarines would also figure in the talks, reports said.

On January 26, Macron will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in which a 95-member marching contingent and 33-member band contingent from France will also take part. Along with Indian Air Force jets, one Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft and two Rafales of the French Air Force will participate in the fly-past that is part of the parade.

Macron will also attend the traditional 'At Home' reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

He will meet Murmu at 7:10 pm on January 26. At around 10 that night, he will leave India.

This will be the fifth meeting between Macron and Modi since May, Reuters reported. The French president agreed to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade after the earlier plan to host Quad leaders as guests fell through after US President Joe Biden expressed his inability to travel.

On July 14, Modi was the guest of honour at the prestigious Bastille Day Parade in Paris. Macron visited India for the G-20 Summit in September .

(With agency reports)