Growth, Unity, Progress

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Indian Independence Day in 2026 has special significance for many reasons.  The IMF forecasts real GDP growth for India in 2026 at 6.4 to 6.5 percent, thereby retaining its status as the fastest growing major economy, while global growth outlook is projected at 3.1 percent.  Between April 2000 and March 2026, cumulative gross FDI inflows into India reached USD 1.16 trillion.  By end of 2025, the total installed renewable energy capacity in the country reached 253.69 GW – the fourth largest in the world.  India’s digital economy is expected to grow almost twice as fast as the overall economy, contributing to nearly one-fifth of national economy by 2029-30.  For FY 2025 to 2026, India’s total global trade was USD 1.84 trillion with engineering goods, electronics, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals and textiles leading the charge.   On this important day, India will honour 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram.  In a first, ‘Vande Mataram’ will be sung from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort in Delhi.  The celebrations will also commemorate Yuva Shakti, acknowledging the contribution of young India in building a developed country by 2047.  These themes resonate with the Indian Diaspora including here in the Kingdom of Bahrain.  

As the developments since 28 February 2026 have only reiterated, the Indian community in Bahrain is central to  the robust development of India-Bahrain bilateral relations.  They stayed calm and resilient and followed the local alerts.  In short, both the Government of India and Indian friends of the Kingdom were in lock-step, extending solemn solidarity with His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the entire Government and society of friendly Bahrain.  Such sentiments are in keeping with the 7000 year old civilizational ties between the two countries.  In March 2026, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held two telephone calls with His Majesty the King and the convergence of positions regarding Hormuz, regional stability and maritime security were reinforced.  During his visit to Bahrain in July 2026, External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar had an audience with the His Majesty and His Royal Highness.  A roadmap for the relationship was also finalized.  The two sides have agreed to deepen cooperation in various fields.

In the past year, the Embassy of India inaugurated an Indian Consular Application Centre at Bahrain Mall.  The electronic visa system for Bahraini nationals was inaugurated  in July 2025 and till date around 4700 electronic visas have been issued.  We organized the ‘India in Bahrain’ cultural festival at Lulu Hypermarket in February 2026 and also organized a painting exhibition on the theme of India-Bahrain bilateral relations.  This October marks the start of 55 years of establishment of diplomatic ties.  Let me therefore take this opportunity to wish all Indian nationals in the Kingdom and all friends of India living in Bahrain a very happy India Independence Day2026.