Free Trade Agreement Current Affairs for UPSC
A complete UPSC revision trail for Free Trade Agreement: 2 published analyses, their syllabus connections and closely related themes.
Where this topic fits in the UPSC syllabus
Complete coverage and analysis
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India-UK CETA in Force: What the FTA Changes for Consumers, Industry and Professionals
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the companion Double Contribution Convention (DCC) entered into force on 15 July 2026, operationalising India's first comprehensive free trade agreement with a major developed economy. The UK has eliminated tariffs on 99% of Indian tariff lines, while India has cut duties on around 90% of products, including first-ever FTA concessions on cars and Scotch whisky. This article explains what CETA is, its negotiation journey, sector-wise gains and concessions, the DCC for professionals, the new self-declaration rules of origin, the steel quota arrangement, the CBAM concern, and CETA's place in India's FTA strategy.
India-UK CETA Explained: July 15 Rollout, Steel Deal & Double Contribution Convention
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will come into force on 15 July 2026, after both sides resolved a dispute over the UK's new steel safeguard measures that had delayed the rollout. Signed in July 2025, the deal grants duty-free access to 99% of India's exports and takes effect alongside the Double Contribution Convention (DCC) on social security. This article explains what CETA is, the gains for India's exporters and professionals, the steel compromise, the concessions to the UK, how the pact fits India's wider FTA strategy, and the concerns it raises.
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- Read older coverage to track how the issue, policy and arguments evolved.
- Open the syllabus links above and turn recurring evidence into Mains notes.