India’s achievements in Free Trade Agreements for the year 2025-26

In the last decade, India has emerged as a decisive and confident player in global trade, actively redrawing the map of international commerce through a series of modern, future-ready Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). The country has steadily expanded its trade partnership network, signing nine major FTAs covering 38 countries, reflecting its strategic push for deeper economic integration with key global markets.

The momentum began in 2021 with the India–Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement, which strengthened trade and investment ties with the island nation.

This was followed by the landmark India–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, implemented in May 2022, aimed at boosting bilateral trade and enhancing cooperation across sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and services.

Later the same year, the India–Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement came into effect in December 2022, opening new avenues for market access, particularly in minerals, education, and agriculture.

Continuing the push, India signed the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement on March 10, 2024, with the agreement entering into force on October 1, 2025. The pact connects India with the European Free Trade Association, comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

India further expanded its trade diplomacy in 2025 by signing the India–United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement in July 2025, followed by the India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in December 2025.

The momentum continued toward the end of the year with the announcement of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement on December 22, 2025.

Most recently, on January 27, 2026, India concluded the long-negotiated India–European Union Free Trade Agreement, marking a significant milestone in its engagement with the European Union.

Experts believe these agreements signal India’s shift toward “next-generation FTAs”, which go beyond tariff reductions to include digital trade, supply chains, sustainability, services, and investment facilitation.

Source: PIB