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India -UK Relation

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Why in the news?

India and the United Kingdom held their inaugural ‘2+2’ foreign and defense dialogue to ramp up defence, security, and trade ties.

The India-United Kingdom relationship, deeply rooted in history, is witnessing a reinvigoration. The relationship between India and the United Kingdom is a dynamic tapestry of history, cooperation, and evolving challenges. As these two nations navigate the 21st century, their bilateral ties encompass a wide spectrum of strategic, economic, cultural, and global issues.

Historical Context

India and the United Kingdom share a complex history that extends from the colonial era to the post-independence period. The relationship has transformed significantly since the end of British colonial rule in 1947.

Political and Diplomatic Relations 

Political cooperation forms the cornerstone of the bilateral relationship.

• In 1950 India’s decision to remain part of the Commonwealth of Nations underlines its commitment to shared values and objectives with the UK, including democracy, human rights, and development.
• In 2004- India-UK relations elevated to Strategic Partnership.
• Adoption of Joint declaration titled India-UK towards a new and dynamic partnership.
• In 2010, India – UK relations elevated to “Enhanced partnership for the Future’’.
• In 2023 : India-UK held their first 2+2 Dialogue to further enhance cooperation.

International Cooperation

• Both nations are members of international organizations like the United Nations, G20, and the Commonwealth, where they collaborate on various global issues.
• The UK being a permanent member of UNSC supports permanent seat for India in UNSC.

Economic Ties

• The economic dimensions of the India-UK relationship is robust and expanding, with significant potential for further growth.
• Trade : The UK is one of India’s major trading partners in Europe.
• In 2005 Joint Economic And Trade Committee( JETCO) was established to bypass trade barriers.
• India-UK bilateral trade stands at $20.36 Billion in 2022-23 increasing from $17.5 billion in 2021-22.
• (2021) UK is India’s 18th largest trading partner and India is UK’s 15th largest trading partner.

Investment

• UK is India’s 6th largest Investor.
• India is the 2nd largest FDI contributor in the UK.

Financial Services

• Initiatives like the UK-India Financial Markets Dialogue enhance cooperation in the financial domain.

Security and Defense Cooperation

• Security collaboration is gaining prominence, considering common concerns like terrorism and regional stability. 
• The UK-India Defence and International Security Partnership framework was signed in 2015 to enhance defence cooperation.

Defence Exercise

• Ajeya Warrior – biennial military exercise.
• Konkan Exercise.
• Indradhanush Exercise.

Terrorism

• Both India and UK have been major critics of state sponsored terrorism and terrorism in any form.
• Both countries shares the idea for adoption of UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT),

Cyber-Security

• CERT-In signed a MoU with CERT-UK to promote cooperation in tackling cyber threats.

Education

• Education cooperation is an important pillar of India-UK Bilateral relationship.
• India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) is an agreement to support educational ties between India-UK established during India-UK summit 2010.

Under India-UK Roadmap 2030 Education is Envisaged as a key pillar.

• Since 2015-16, the number of first year enrolment of Indian students in the UK Universities have been continuously increasing.

Data: According to the latest UK Immigration Statistics-nearly 118,000 Indian students received a student visa in the year ending June 2022 – an 89% increase from the previous year.

• India and UK signed mutual recognition of academic qualifications Memorandum of Understanding on 21 July 2022, giving a fillip to cooperation in the education sector between the two countries.

Health

• India, UK signed framework agreement on healthcare workforce.
• The Agreement includes cooperation on Nursing & Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), training of healthcare professionals.
• The Joint Working Group on Health and Life Sciences was set up to enhance cooperation in the health sector.
• Ayuryoga programme was launched by the UK government to raise awareness regarding Ayurveda and Yoga in 2020.
• India-UK bilateral cooperation in the joint research and development of the COVID-19 vaccine, under a licensing agreement between UK-based AstraZeneca and Serum Institute of India.

Science and Technology

• India-UK signed the Science and Technology Agreement in 1996.
• The Science and Innovation Council was set up in 2006.
• Both sides are jointly working in the areas of nanotechnology, biotechnology, telecom, solar energy use and weather forecasting.

Nuclear Cooperation

• 2010: India-UK signed the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Declaration to further enhance cooperation In nuclear field.
• 2015: India-UK signed Nuclear Collaboration Agreement.

People-to-People Ties

• Cultural exchanges and a vibrant Indian diaspora in the UK contribute to the rich tapestry of India-UK relations.
• India and UK signed the Migration and Mobility Partnership (MMP) Agreement in 2021 with the intention to address swifter movement of working professionals between the two countries.
• In 2022, India-UK announced the Young Professional Scheme . Under the scheme, 3000 visas will be provided every year to graduates between the age of 18-30 to get 2-year visas to live and work in each other’s country.

Diaspora

• The Indian diaspora in the UK plays a vital role in fostering closer ties.
• The UK’s “Living Bridge” initiative reinforces people-to-people connections.
• The Indian Diaspora in the UK is the largest ethnic minority community in the country.

Challenges in the India-UK Relationship

Despite the extensive collaboration, there are challenges in the India-UK relationship:

• Trade Barriers: Trade barriers and non-tariff barriers are irritants in enhancing economic ties. Both Countries have yet failed to Finalise the terms of Free Trade Agreement.
• Migration: The UK’s immigration policies can affect the Indian diaspora and students, leading to concerns over visa issues.
• Post-Brexit Impact: The UK’s departure from the European Union has necessitated new trade agreements and frameworks, which can create complexities.
• The extradition matter pertains to Indian economic offenders taking refuge in the UK and exploiting legal avenues(Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi).

Road Ahead

To strengthen and expand their relationship, India and the UK have several opportunities:

• Bilateral Trade Agreement: Negotiating a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement(Free Trade Agreement) to reduce trade barriers and enhance economic collaboration.
• Cybersecurity Collaboration: Increasing cooperation in the field of cybersecurity to safeguard critical infrastructure.
• Climate Change: Addressing climate change by aligning their climate goals and supporting sustainable development initiatives.
• Collaborative Health Initiatives : Learning from each other’s healthcare systems, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Enhancing Educational Ties: Promoting student exchanges and research collaborations to strengthen educational bonds.
• Counter-terrorism Efforts: Strengthening intelligence sharing and cooperation in countering extremism and terrorism.

The India-United Kingdom relationship is multifaceted, encompassing political, economic, security, scientific, and cultural domains. Both nations have made substantial progress in recent years, reflecting a commitment to deepen their engagement. While challenges exist, the vast potential for collaboration indicates that the India-UK partnership will continue to evolve, benefiting not only both countries but also contributing to global stability and development.

Source: TOI, The Hindu, IE 

Mains Question

Discuss the historical evolution of the India-United Kingdom relationship and its key milestones. How have these ties transformed, and what is their significance in the contemporary world order?