English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

India, UK sign landmark free trade deal after 3 years of negotiations

Published

on

Image shows Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer with Piyush Goyal and Jonathan Reynolds.

On Thursday, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United Kingdom, India and the UK finalised a significant free trade agreement, marking a historic moment in their bilateral relations. The agreement, which took nearly three years of negotiations, is expected to enhance trade between the two nations by approximately $34 billion annually.

The deal was officially signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and his UK counterpart Jonathan Reynolds in the presence of Modi and UK PM Keir Starmer. This landmark agreement will lead to reduced tariffs on numerous products imported from the UK, greatly benefiting India’s export sector.

Prime Minister Modi said exquisite Indian textile products, footwear, gems and jewellery and engineering goods will gain market access to the UK. The opportunities for agricultural products and processed foods will also get an impetus. All of this will benefit our people, especially farmers and women, Modi said.

The FTA will boost the Ease of Doing Business, reduce the cost of doing business and enhance the confidence of doing business. Investment linkages are all set to get more vigour, he said.

It’s equally gladdening that we’ve released Vision 2035 to deepen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This will focus on sectors like defence, education, people-to-people ties, semiconductors and sustainable development, he said.

Goyal emphasized that the agreement allows for duty-free access for around 99% of Indian exports, potentially unlocking “nearly $23 billion in opportunities for labor-intensive sectors, heralding a new era of inclusive and gender-equitable growth.”

Here are some things which will become more affordable due to this trade deal:

Aerospace Parts and Medical Devices: Indian consumers and industries will gain access to a range of UK-made products, including medical devices and aerospace components, at more competitive prices.

Soft Drinks and Cars: Indian customers will also enjoy better availability of British goods such as soft drinks, cosmetics, and cars, as average tariffs on UK products are set to decrease from 15% to 3% once the FTA is implemented.

Reduced Tariff on Scotch: The agreement simplifies the process for British exporters by halving tariffs on whisky, reducing them from 150% to 75% initially and subsequently lowering them to 40% over 10 years.

Indian businesses and freelancers will have access to 36 service sectors in the UK without having to pass an ‘Economic Needs Test’. Furthermore, Indian professionals can work in 35 UK sectors for two years, even without an office, and they will be exempt from UK social security contributions for three years under this agreement.

India News

PM Modi thanks voters of West Bengal, hails Syama Prasad Mookerjee dream

PM Narendra Modi welcomes BJP crossing majority in West Bengal, calling it a historic mandate by the people.

Published

on

PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi credited the BJP’s victory in the elections to the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 to the people of the state and each and every party worker who has suffered in promoting the party and disseminating its message over the last 30-odd years. He thanked the people of Assam for re-electing the party.

Addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters, Modi invoked Jana Sangh found Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who worked for the purpose of a united Bengal, and Sri Aurobindo and said their spirits will be at peace at last. Paying paeans to the vision of Tagore, he recounted that the Nobel laureate had wished for a country where one can hold one’s head high without fear.
The PM said the people of Bengal have chosen the governance model of the party. He promised jobs for the youth, increased safety for women. He said the first cabinet meeting will implement Ayushman Bharat in the state. In the same breath, he promised to act against infiltrators decisively.
Pointing to the violence-less election this time, he said not one citizen has been hurt or killed while it many have died in previous polls.
He appealed to the workers of other parties to end the cycle of violence that had plagued the state for all this time and instead serve Bengal and its people.
The problems posed by the war in Iran found place in the PM’s speech. He noted that the whole country is at a disadvantage but people are soldiering on to achieve Viksit Bharat.
Referring to the importance of nari shakti in the development of India, he took potshots at the Congress and other opposition parties for opposing the women’s reservation bill. Modi reminded the audience that he had warned the Congress, Trinamool Congress and DMK for opposing it and they have been taught a lesson. Referring to Kerala, he said the BJP will see gains in the future. He mocked the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for not having any government left in the country after the loss of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front in Kerala.
Attacking the Congress, he said it has become the hub of urban naxals and said the people have thrown out communist thought in the country. The Congress has no understanding of the aspirations of the people. The BJP will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Tamil Nadu and Kerala as well, he said.

Continue Reading

India News

BJP crosses majority in West Bengal, PM Narendra Modi says lotus blooms in first reaction

PM Modi hails BJP’s majority in West Bengal, calling it a historic mandate and thanking voters across the state.

Published

on

pm modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday welcomed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strong performance in the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026, saying the “lotus has bloomed” in the state as the party crossed the majority mark in early results.

In a post on X, Modi thanked the people of West Bengal and described the outcome as a reflection of public trust. He said he bows to every voter for their support, adding that the mandate reflects faith in governance and development-focused politics.

The BJP’s surge in the 294-seat assembly marks a significant political shift in the state, where the party has not previously formed a government. The results indicate a major challenge to the long-standing dominance of the Trinamool Congress.

The election is part of a broader round of state polls across India, where the BJP has shown strong momentum. The party’s performance in West Bengal is being seen as one of the most significant developments in this election cycle.

With counting trends favouring the BJP, focus now turns to final results and the formation of the new government in the state.

Continue Reading

India News

Stalin loses Kolathur seat in Tamil Nadu results 2026 as TVK’s VS Babu scores upset

Media reports suggest MK Stalin has lost his Kolathur stronghold to TVK’s VS Babu in Tamil Nadu election results 2026.

Published

on

MK Stalin

In a significant political development in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election results 2026, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin is reported to have lost the Kolathur constituency, according to media reports based on counting data.

As per these reports, Stalin was defeated by V. S. Babu of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), marking a notable upset in a seat long regarded as a stronghold of the DMK leader.

Kolathur, located in Chennai, has been closely associated with Stalin for years, making the reported outcome particularly significant in the current election cycle. Earlier counting trends had indicated a tight contest, with Stalin trailing before the result was reported.

The development comes amid a strong showing by actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which has performed competitively across several constituencies in the state, according to media reports.

While the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has been leading in multiple seats, the reported loss in Kolathur is being viewed as a key moment in the party’s overall performance.

Final results across Tamil Nadu are still being compiled as counting continues.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com