Overview
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a free trade agreement at the 16th India–EU Summit at Hyderabad House on January 27.
- Von der Leyen celebrated the accord on Instagram as “the mother of all deals,” describing a free trade zone of two billion people with shared benefits.
- For Republic Day, she wore a Rajesh Pratap Singh bandhgala in Banarasi brocade, followed by an electric-blue Anamika Khanna bandhgala for the summit and a visit to Rajghat.
- At Rashtrapati Bhavan, she chose a turmeric Bandhini bandhgala in Mashru with kantha stitching by Abraham & Thakore, with Costa accompanying for the engagement.
- The Fashion Design Council of India praised her choices as a tribute to artisans, and she and Modi were seen in Northeastern Eri silk stoles curated by NEHHDC, a fabric that received a GI tag in 2025.