The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Agreement on Social Security came into force on July 15, 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called their commencement a significant moment in the India-United Kingdom partnership and said the two agreements would deepen economic linkages between the countries. He described them as a way to turn their shared ambition into tangible opportunities for their people.
CETA operationalises a free trade agreement under which a range of domestic goods will enter the British market at zero duty. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said it provides zero-duty market access for nearly 99 per cent of India’s exports and covers almost 100 per cent of the total trade value.
Modi said the trade agreement would benefit farmers, entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium enterprises. He also linked the agreement with deeper cooperation in technology, professional services and innovation. According to him, the development reflects trust between the two democracies and their resolve to build a forward-looking partnership driven by trade, technology, investment and innovation. India and the UK, he added, would continue working together for shared prosperity.
The two agreements therefore mark a wider phase in India-UK economic engagement. The trade pact focuses on market access and zero-duty entry, while the simultaneous commencement of the social security agreement forms part of the broader economic relationship highlighted by the Prime Minister.