Modi, Starmer Chart New Era or India - UK collaboration on key sectors

New Delhi: India and the United Kingdom unveiled an extensive roadmap on Thursday to immerse collaboration on trade, technology, education and defense, confirming their dedication to a rule-based global order and a modern, forward-looking partnership. The announcement came at the end of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first official visit to India during October 8-9, when he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi set out a renewed strategic direction anchored in the recent signed economic and trade agreement in India-UK (CETA). According to a joint statement, the two leaders agreed to quickly locate the CETA ratification and reposition the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (Jetco) as the central mechanism to oversee its implementation. According to both parties, the agreement is expected to create new economic opportunities in priority sectors, including clean energy, advanced manufacturing, defense, education, science and digital innovation. The high-level British delegation, which includes Peter Kyle and more than 125 business and institutional leaders, underlined the UK’s renewed economic outreach to India. Both governments have described the visit as a decisive moment for bilateral relations, with India now seen as an important growth car for global trade and investment. Extension at the core of the partnership lies a major expansion of the cooperation of India – UK in science, innovation and border technologies. Both parties have announced the establishment of the Indian-IC connectivity and innovation center-a joint center to develop AI native networks for 6G and cyber-safe telecommunications infrastructure, with an initial joint funding of £ 24m, according to the joint statement issued by the Indian Premier’s office on Thursday. They also launched the India -UK joint center for AI to promote responsible and reliable AI applications in healthcare, climate technology, fintech and engineering biology. A new critical mineral industry guild has also been announced to secure resilient mineral supply chains, backed by Phase II of the British-India-Critical Mineral Supply Chain Observatory, which will open a new satellite campus on IIT-ISM Dhanbad. In climate cooperation, the two leaders have unveiled a starting fund for climate technology under a memorandum of understanding between the British government and the State Bank of India. The fund will support startups in clean technology, climate innovation and AI-driven solutions for sustainability. They also launched a joint foreign wind power from abroad and committed to investigating collaboration by the Global Clean Power Alliance (GCPA). In a big boost for the education and knowledge partnership, both Modi and Starmer welcomed the progress made by British universities in the establishment of branch camps in India. The University of Southampton started classes on the Gurugram campus, while new intention was handed over to Lancaster University for Bengaluru and the University of Surrey for Gift City. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has also cleaned approvals for Liverpool, York, Aberdeen and Bristol Universities to work in India, with the University of Queen’s University, and Coventry University University expanding in Gift City in Ahmedabad. This step is seen as part of India’s attempt to internationalize higher education and attract global talent and investment in research and innovation. The two parties also announced the annual ministerial strategic education dialogue to strengthen academic cooperation, mobility of students and skills partnerships. Deeper bilateral exchanges on defense and safety, India and the United Kingdom have agreed to deepen bilateral exchanges between their armed forces through training, joint exercises and technological partnerships. Prime Minister Modi welcomes the upcoming visit of the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group and the continuation of exercise concanned between the two navies. Both leaders have agreed to finalize an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on the development of maritime electrical drive systems for Indian naval platforms and confirmed the government-to-government route for providing lightweight multirole missile systems (LMM). This collaboration will not only strengthen India’s air defense capabilities, but also support long -term industrial partnerships under Atmanirbhar Bharat. They also announced plans to establish a local Maritime Security Center of Excellence under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), which aims to improve the maritime domain awareness and regional safety cooperation. The two leaders also issued a joint statement against terrorism, requesting a zero tolerance for extremism and reaffirming their dedication to confirming decisive action against prescribed terrorist groups and their sponsors. They condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam in April 2025 and agreed to promote the cooperation in financing against terrorism, intelligence part and capacity building. Both governments have confirmed their shared commitment to achieve net zero goals and promote green growth. They welcome the India – UK Climate Finance Initiative designed to set up climate investments, especially by mobilizing private capital. Against greater cooperation, the leaders also discussed the expansion of the collaboration in biotechnology, where institutions such as the Center for Process Innovation (UK), Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (India) and the Henry Royce Institute work together on breakthroughs in bioman production, 3D biverting and genomics. At the global level, India and the UK promised closer cooperation at the UN and other multilateral fora. The UK has confirmed its support for India’s bid for a permanent seat in a Reformed UN Safety Council. Both parties also expressed concern about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and repeated their support for peace in Gaza, with the support of efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian assistance. Modi described the visit as “the beginning of a new era of collaboration” between two live democracies, while starter India calls “an indispensable global partner” in the formation of future trade, innovation and climate action. Starmer’s visit, which came less than three months after the signing of the India – UK Ceta, is the transition from negotiation to execution. As the UK now seeks deeper ties to Asia for Brexit, and India consolidates its position as a pivot for manufacturing and innovation, both parties consider the partnership as an important role for their long-term strategic and economic interests.