Published: 1 March 2026PMO Canada / Business Standard / BusinessTodayInternational
India and Canada Launch CEPA Negotiations; Sign CAD 2.6 Billion Uranium Deal and 8 Pacts at Modi-Carney Summit
On March 2, 2026, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Mark Carney held delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, marking a significant diplomatic reset in India-Canada relations after years of strain. The two leaders formally launched negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Canada's Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu exchanging the Terms of Reference (ToR). Both nations set a bilateral trade target of CAD 70 billion (approximately INR 4.65 lakh crore) by 2030, compared to current trade of about USD 6.48 billion (April–January FY 2025-26). Talks are targeted to conclude by end-2026.
The summit's most significant economic outcome was a long-term uranium supply agreement between Canada's Cameco Corporation and India's Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), under which Cameco will supply approximately 22 million pounds (around 10,000 tonnes) of uranium ore concentrate (U3O8) between 2027 and 2035 at market-related prices — valued at CAD 2.6 billion (USD 1.9 billion). Eight pacts were signed including MoUs on Critical Minerals, Clean Energy, Cultural Cooperation, and a joint AICTE-MITACS Globalink Research Internship programme for 300 Indian students annually.
The summit adopted 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' as its guiding framework and announced a Pulse Protein Centre of Excellence at NIFTEM Kundli to strengthen India-Canada agri-cooperation. For Rajasthan, the uranium deal is historically significant as Canada had originally helped establish the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) at Rawatbhata in Chittorgarh in the 1960s, and the new supply will support India's expanding nuclear fleet including RAPS units.
Mains angle
Q: Discuss the strategic significance of the India-Canada CEPA launch and the Cameco-DAE uranium agreement for India's energy security, with reference to Rajasthan.
Answer (50 words):
On 2 March 2026 India and Canada launched CEPA negotiations targeting CAD 70 billion bilateral trade by 2030. Cameco will supply 22 million pounds of uranium concentrate worth CAD 2.6 billion during 2027-2035. Rajasthan's RAPS Rawatbhata, originally built with Canadian help, gains assured fuel for nuclear fleet expansion.
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Practice MCQ from this story
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Linked questionMedium
On which date did India and Canada sign the Terms of Reference to launch CEPA negotiations during Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to India?
Explanation · Correct answer AIndia and Canada issued the Joint Leaders' Statement on March 02, 2026. The Canadian factsheet for the visit lists the launch of CEPA negotiations, based on signed Terms of Reference, among the deliverables announced that day.
Frequently asked questions
What is CEPA and when did India and Canada launch CEPA negotiations?
CEPA stands for Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. India and Canada launched CEPA negotiations on March 2, 2026, at the Modi-Carney summit in New Delhi, targeting bilateral trade of CAD 70 billion by 2030.
What were the key details of the uranium deal signed between India and Canada at the Modi-Carney summit?
A CAD 2.6 billion uranium supply deal was signed between Cameco (Canada) and DAE (Department of Atomic Energy, India) for the supply of 22 million pounds of U3O8 from 2027 to 2035.
What other agreements were signed at the India-Canada Modi-Carney summit in 2026?
In addition to the uranium deal, 8 MoUs were signed covering critical minerals, education, and digital trade at the Modi-Carney summit in New Delhi on March 2, 2026.
Why is the India-Canada CEPA launch of 2026 considered a major diplomatic reset?
The CEPA launch marks a significant diplomatic reset after India-Canada relations deteriorated in 2023 following allegations related to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
What strategic commodities does Canada supply to India and why are they important?
Canada is a key supplier of uranium, pulses, and potash to India — commodities that are strategic for India's energy security (nuclear power) and food security (pulses and fertilizers).