India, Uzbekistan Elevate Ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

What Happened?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a State Visit to Uzbekistan from 29 to 30 August 2026. During talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, India and Uzbekistan agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Key Highlights

• The two sides set a target of raising bilateral trade to over USD 5 billion by 2030.
• A long-term framework was agreed for the supply of Uzbek uranium to India's civil nuclear energy sector.
• President Mirziyoyev conferred the 'Oliy Darajali Do'stlik' Order, Uzbekistan's highest honour for foreign leaders, on PM Modi.
• MoUs were signed in mining, Ayurveda, tourism, higher education, and environmental protection; defence cooperation includes the Dustlik joint military exercise.
• India and Uzbekistan established diplomatic relations in 1992, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

TNPSC Relevance

Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia with capital Tashkent; it is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). India's three-stage nuclear programme, formulated by Dr Homi J. Bhabha, depends on uranium imports since domestic reserves are low-grade.

3 TNPSC MCQs

1. India's bilateral ties with Uzbekistan were elevated to which framework during PM Modi's August 2026 visit?
   (a) Strategic Partnership (b) Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (c) Special Partnership (d) Global Partnership
   Answer: (b) Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
   Explanation: The Joint Statement issued during the visit confirmed the elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
2. What is the capital of Uzbekistan?
   (a) Samarkand (b) Bukhara (c) Tashkent (d) Andijan
   Answer: (c) Tashkent
   Explanation: Tashkent is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan, where PM Modi held talks.
3. The long-term cooperation framework agreed during the visit primarily concerns supply of which resource to India?
   (a) Natural gas (b) Uranium (c) Coal (d) Lithium
   Answer: (b) Uranium
   Explanation: India and Uzbekistan agreed on a long-term framework for uranium supply to support India's civil nuclear energy sector.