India-UK Trade Pact and Social Security Agreement to Take Effect from July 15

New Delhi, June 2026 : India and the United Kingdom on Wednesday announced that their landmark Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will come into force on July 15, 2026, ushering in a new era of economic cooperation and strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.

Alongside CETA, the Double Contribution Convention (DCC) — an agreement on social security — will also take effect on the same date, providing major relief to Indian professionals working temporarily in the UK.

The implementation of these agreements marks a significant milestone in India’s economic diplomacy and is expected to boost trade, investment, and workforce mobility between the two countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the development as a historic achievement in India-UK relations.

“A historic milestone for India-UK relations. Delighted to note that the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement will enter into force on July 15, 2026. This agreement will significantly boost our bilateral trade and investment,” PM Modi posted on X.

He added that the agreement would create new opportunities for farmers, workers, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), startups, and innovators, while contributing to the realization of the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision.

PM Modi also noted that both he and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who are attending the G7 Summit in Evian, welcomed the fresh momentum being added to economic ties between the two countries.

One of the key highlights of the DCC is the extension of the exemption period for social security contributions from three years to five years. This change is expected to significantly benefit Indian professionals on temporary assignments in the UK by reducing dual social security payments and enhancing their global competitiveness.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal described the simultaneous implementation of CETA and DCC as a transformative step for India’s export sector.

“The simultaneous enforcement of the CETA and the Double Contribution Convention on July 15, 2026, will open up significant new opportunities for India’s exports. By securing immediate duty-free access on 99 per cent of our tariff lines, we have systematically dismantled long-standing tariff barriers,” Goyal said.

According to the minister, sectors such as textiles, leather, marine products, engineering goods, and processed foods stand to gain substantially as Indian exporters will now be able to compete on equal terms in the UK market.

The foundation for this agreement was laid in May 2021 through the Enhanced Trade Partnership and the India-UK Roadmap 2030, which envisioned elevating bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and doubling trade to $100 billion by 2030.

Comprising 30 chapters, CETA goes beyond conventional trade agreements by covering advanced areas such as digital trade, telecommunications, financial services, intellectual property rights, and government procurement. Officials describe it as a next-generation trade pact aligned with India’s long-term economic ambitions.

At the same time, India has safeguarded sensitive sectors including dairy products, cereals, millets, edible oils, oilseeds, apples, and various vegetable products, ensuring that domestic interests remain protected.

The government believes that the operationalisation of CETA and DCC will bring about a structural transformation in India’s global trade architecture, further integrating the country into international value chains while accelerating its journey towards becoming a developed economy by 2047.