Now to take Brit-Indi pop to the top
As Britain and India sign a landmark FTA, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in the evolving relationship between our two nations. Years in the making, this agreement symbolises more than just economic cooperation -- it marks the beginning of a deeper, more strategic partnership rooted in shared democratic values, mutual respect, and a common vision for the future.Our respective experiences in government, business, and civil society have shown us the immense potential that lies in Britain-India collaboration. The FTA is poised to unlock opportunities across a wide range of sectors, from advanced technology and education to life sciences and clean energy. It is a testament to what can be achieved when two dynamic democracies engage in sustained, constructive dialogue.But this moment is about more than economics. It sends a powerful message to the world. At a time when geopolitical instability, protectionism, and climate challenges dominate the global agenda, Britain and India have chosen to move forward together. This FTA signals that it is still possible for nations to unite with ambition and purpose, to build bridges -- not walls -- to foster prosperity, not division.The significance of this agreement will not be measured solely in trade figures, or GDP growth. Its true impact will be seen in the lives it touches. The young entrepreneur in Bengaluru who can now access British capital and clients. The British innovator finding a new market in India's growing cities. Investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators who together will create new companies and products for a global market. Students, researchers, and creatives who will all benefit from increased exchange and cooperation.Realising this potential, however, requires looking beyond the agreement itself. Implementation will be key. It demands ongoing commitment from both governments, transparent processes, and adaptability in a fast-changing global environment. Most importantly, it requires inclusive stakeholder engagement -- businesses large and small, civil society, academic institutions, and local and regional governments -- all working together to make the FTA work on the ground.This milestone is also the result of a decade of strategic groundwork. Prime minister Narendra Modi has been instrumental in strengthening the Britian-India relationship over the past ten years. This FTA is in many ways a culmination of his consistent vision.In addition, as we know from private conversations, the leadership and commitment shown by the two trade ministers, Jonathan Reynolds and Piyush Goyal, along with the immense efforts of S Jaishankar and Nirmala Sitharaman, have also been crucial in this deal.On the British side, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has shown decisive leadership and commitment to international engagement. His determination to conclude the FTA reflects a clear-eyed recognition of India's role as a central partner in Britain's global future, and an understanding that this partnership must now move to a new, elevated level. In this respect he is building on the groundbreaking work of his predecessor and Britain's first PM of Indian heritage, Rishi Sunak.Looking ahead, this agreement opens the door to much more. It's an opportunity to redefine the Britain-India relationship for the 21st c. not just as trading partners, but also as innovation allies, champions of democracy, and collaborators on global challenges. That means deepening our cultural connections, enabling joint R&D, and investing in skills and sustainability.As co-authors of this moment in history, we call upon leaders, businesses, and citizens in both countries to approach this new chapter with energy and intent. The FTA is a foundation, not a finish line. If we build upon it with vision and responsibility, we can shape a relationship that delivers meaningful impact today and lasting prosperity tomorrow.
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Scroll.in
25 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
Bihar voter roll revision: 91.6% electors submitted forms, 65 lakh names may be removed, says EC
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The Wire
25 minutes ago
- The Wire
Operation Sindoor: Narendra Modi's Image Versus National Interest
Prime minister Narendra Modi should know that seeking the cooperation of opposition parties to project India's case abroad after Operation Sindoor must necessarily be accompanied by showing some respect for the opposition in domestic politics. You cannot seek opposition cooperation to present a unified foreign policy position abroad and continue to treat opposition parties as "enemies" in domestic politics. After all, it was the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat who had advised the Bharatiya Janata Party not to treat the opposition as enemies and also constructive engagement after the BJP's disappointing performance at the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In this regard has Modi learnt any lessons from the 2024 Lok Sabha results? The basic attitude and approach doesn't seem to have changed. Modi still believes that he can cynically manipulate the opposition through coercive politics without showing any sincerity of purpose. It is common knowledge now that Operation Sindoor, though a limited success, was badly bungled at several levels and mistakes were made which could have been avoided. This is something the government is yet to admit buy responsible Indian military officers have dropped adequate hints in public fora. When an honest military officer cited " restraint from political leadership" as a reason for some Indian fighter planes going down, he was serving the interest of truth. The Modi government's initial silence on the other hand was meant to protect the prime minister's image. Modi was clearly on the backfoot after operation Sindoor and was unable to fully convince his own constituency (including the RSS) that it was an unqualified success. He therefore swallowed his ego for the first time and approached the opposition parties to take part in a joint delegation to present India's case abroad as no country had explicitly condemned Pakistan's role in the Pahalgam terror attack. The Congress party led by Rahul Gandhi has been been raising tough questions around Operation Sindoor and sought a special session of parliament to discuss everything threadbare. Other opposition parties wanted the same. But then the cynical, coercive and manipulative template of politics is embedded in the regime's DNA. The opening of the parliament session was marked by the unprecedented resignation of vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar. This was the distraction the BJP needed to create chaos and disrupt what might have been a relatively more orderly parliament session with the citizens eager to learn more about the critical issues of national interest such as Operation Sindoor and the stupendous claims by US president Donald Trump on India-Pakistan ceasefire linked to trade talks. The reality is that the president of the world's biggest military power has repeated 25 times that he stopped the India-Pakistan military exchange which was about to spillover to the nuclear domain with the threat of trade. Whether Modi likes it or not, this issue will have to be discussed in parliament. The people of this country cannot be kept in the dark simply because Modi's personal image is to be kept intact. This, in fact, is the nub of the issue. Operation Sindoor and the multiple issues it has thrown up demands an open discussion in parliament to further national interests. But the regime's ecosystem is bent upon creating distractions and confusion to protect Modi's image. So national interest and the ruling ecosystem's attempt to save Modi's image are totally at odds with each other today. This was apparent even during Operation Sindoor. The BJP's media ecosystem projected Modi as a warrior who will not spare Pakistan but the moment the ceasefire happened, Modi's picture was withdrawn and replaced with that of government spokesperson Vikram Misri who announced the ceasefire. This was undisguised manipulation. Similarly, people noticed how Modi used the opposition's cooperation to burnish his own image with his domestic constituency. Even before the opposition delegation had returned, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar was boasting at a public forum that Modi had achieved with the opposition parties what even Indira Gandhi couldn't have done in the 1970s. Thus everything is a personal image building exercise for Modi first, and then something else. One only hopes that Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tiwari have internalised this aspect of Modi's narcissism when they lend unqualified support to Operation Sindoor in "national interest." Don't they see how "national interest" seamlessly converts to Modi's interest in domestic politics? Don't they see how the hyphenation of India with Pakistan, which they speak against in global fora, is paradoxically a key component of Modi's image building politics in the cow belt? They might see more of it in the current parliament session as the ruling party cynically manages everything as it has done in the past. Indeed how Modi treats the opposition parties in domestic politics, as aptly articulated by Mohan Bhagwat himself, is fundamentally the bane of Indian politics and the primary cause of democratic backsliding today. If this is not fixed nothing is fixed.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Shux space return spurs curiosity in science: PM
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's recent return from space, calling it a moment of national pride that has ignited new enthusiasm for science among young Indians. In the 124th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Modi said Shukla's safe landing sparked 'a wave of happiness' across the country, especially among children now inspired to dream of careers in space science. 'Little children now say—we too will go to space, we too will land on the moon,' he said. Citing the growing momentum in India's space sector, the PM noted that the number of space-related start-ups in the country has surged from fewer than 50 to over 200 in just five years. Modi also highlighted the impact of India's recent space missions, particularly Chandrayaan-3, in fuelling scientific curiosity. He mentioned the INSPIRE-MANAK initiative, which promotes grassroots innovation among schoolchildren, reporting that participation has doubled post-Chandrayaan.
