Archive · 29 Oct 2025
EU Leaders Invited as India Republic Day Chief Guests
India has invited the top leaders of the European Union to be special guests at its next Republic Day celebration.
This is a first and shows that India and the EU are becoming closer friends, especially as they talk about a trade deal.
Meanwhile, in Delhi, officials are trying a new method to clear the polluted air called cloud seeding.
They used an airplane to spray special materials into clouds, hoping rain would wash away the pollution.
This method has been used before in other countries, but experts are unsure if it will work well and are concerned about its environmental effects.
They suggest focusing on fixing the sources of pollution instead.
India has extended an invitation to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Antonio Costa as chief guests for the next Republic Day.
This invitation marks the first time the top leadership of the European Union will be honored as chief guests for India's Republic Day.
The invitation signals India's strengthening relationship with the EU, coinciding with progress in Free Trade Agreement talks.
Delhi's government is experimenting with cloud seeding to combat severe air pollution, using a Cessna aircraft to disperse silver iodide and sodium chloride.
Experts have raised concerns about the effectiveness and potential environmental impact of cloud seeding, suggesting a focus on source reduction for pollution.
- Who
- India has invited European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa to be chief guests for the next Republic Day.
- What
- Invitation for EU's top leaders to be chief guests at India's Republic Day celebrations, and cloud seeding experiments for air pollution control in Delhi.
- When
- Next year's Republic Day (January 26) and ongoing cloud seeding trials.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- Why
- To reflect India's deepening ties with the EU, potential for a Free Trade Agreement, and an attempt to reduce air pollution in Delhi.
- Event
- India Republic Day Celebration
- Potential Chief Guests
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa
- Significance
- First time EU's top leadership to be chief guests
- Related Discussions
- India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks
- Cloud Seeding Experiment
- Delhi government trials using silver iodide and sodium chloride
- Cloud Seeding Aircraft
- Cessna 206H
Sources
EU’s top leadership to be chief guests at next year’s Republic Day
'Intense but very productive': Piyush Goyal concludes Brussels visit for India-EU FTA talks
India-EU FTA: Piyush Goyal holds ‘intense but very productive’ talks with EU Commissioner in Brussels
In a first, EU's top leaders to be Republic Day chief guests next year: Report
