Why Bill Gates visited Indian Parliament
What's the story
Microsoft co-founder and leading philanthropist Bill Gates is currently visiting India—his third visit in three years.
But what sets this visit apart from the others is the fact that he visited the Parliament. The all-important visit was with Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda.
Official reports state the talks revolved around India's achievement in reducing the costs of diagnostics and medicines, enabling affordable health services across the world.
Praise for healthcare
Bill Gates-JP Nadda meet
J P Nadda's office reports stated that Gates "acknowledged the accomplishments in the Indian healthcare sector with the partnership with the Gates Foundation, especially in areas of maternal health, immunization, and sanitation."
He was impressed by the "ambitious goals" set by the health sector in India and "committed to partnering with India for achieving these goals," according to Nadda's office.
The two sides seem willing to renew the Memorandum of Cooperation in the health sector.
Twitter Post
Gates's meeting with Health Minister Nadda
#WATCH | Delhi | Bill Gates, founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation & former CEO of Microsoft, met Union Minister JP Nadda today during his visit to India.
— ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2025
"The Minister acknowledged the accomplishments in the Indian healthcare sector with the partnership with the… pic.twitter.com/1YcG7MhMEy
Development goals
Gates discusses Viksit Bharat 2047 with PM Modi
Gates's Indian itinerary began with a meeting with PM Narendra Modi on March 18, where he talked about India's development roadmap and the ambitious vision for 'Viksit Bharat 2047'—to make India a developed nation by its 100th year of independence.
The two leaders discussed how AI could revolutionize healthcare, education, and agriculture. They also hinted at a collaboration between the India AI Mission and the Gates Foundation.
Agricultural innovation
Gates Foundation's collaboration with Indian agriculture sector
Gates also met Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to explore possible collaborations between the Gates Foundation and India's agriculture sector.
The talks revolved around climate-resilient crops, biofortification, and AI-driven farming techniques.
"The Gates Foundation is already working with us, and today we discussed where we can expand that collaboration," Chouhan confirmed after the meeting.
Global impact
Gates praises India's agricultural research and digital transformation
Gates praised India's agricultural research, saying it has global potential.
He also praised India's leadership in digital transformation, especially in the case of digital public infrastructure (DPI) like Aadhaar and UPI.
Meanwhile, hinting at upcoming agreements, Ashwini Vaishnaw wrote on X, "AI solutions for better crops, stronger healthcare, smarter education, and climate resilience—MoU soon between India AI Mission and the Gates Foundation."
Gates noted that the solutions being developed in India are shared with the world.
Milestone celebration
Gates Foundation's 25th anniversary coincides with India visit
This visit is especially important for Gates, as it marks the Gates Foundation's 25th anniversary. For the first time, its Board of Trustees is meeting in the Global South.
The foundation has been working in India for more than two decades," Gates wrote. "It's home to some of the most impactful programs we've contributed to, from disease eradication and sanitation to women's empowerment and digital financial services.