New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will embark to France from Monday. During his two-day visit to the country, he will hold the Annual Defence dialogue with French Minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly, a Defence Ministry statement said.

Besides, Singh would meet France President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday before participating in the Rafale fighter aircraft handing over ceremony at Merignac along with Parly. The Defence Minister will also perform the Shastra Puja on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami and fly a sortie in the Rafale fighter aircraft.

Singh has been performing 'Shastra Puja' for last several years including in his tenure as the Union Home Minister in the previous NDA government. "During his days as Home Minister, Rajnath Singh would perform Shastra pooja every Dushehra. Now as a defence Minister also, he would continue the tradition," Defence officials close to Rajnath Singh said.

After receiving the aircraft, the defence minister will take a sortie in the aircraft from a French airbase in Paris to gain first-hand experience.

Though Singh will receive the first of 36 Rafale jets on Tuesday, the first batch of four aircraft will come to India only by May next year.

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On October 9, Singh will address the CEOs of the French Defence industry during which he is likely to urge them to participate in "Make in India" and the DefExpo to be held in Lucknow from February 5-8, 2020.

(with inputs from agencies)