India–UK must bridge the visa divide

BRITISH Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first official visit to India marks a reset in New Delhi–London relations. His meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai yielded both symbolism and substance — a $468-million missile deal, renewed commitment to an early Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and plans to open nine British university campuses in India. As Modi remarked, “there is a new energy” in the relationship, one that seeks to blend trade, technology and talent. The FTA, must, however, be assessed for its real economic impact rather than its symbolic value. For India, access to the UK market could boost exports in textiles, pharmaceuticals and services, particularly IT and fintech. Yet apprehensions persist among small and medium enterprises about being undercut by cheaper British imports or facing regulatory asymmetries. For post-Brexit Britain, India offers a growth opportunity and a stabilising partner in an uncertain global economy. Still, mutual investment in research, digital innovation and clean energy will be the real test of intent.

However, Starmer’s categorical refusal to relax visa norms for Indian professionals or students casts a shadow on the much-touted partnership. While Britain seeks market access and technology collaboration, it remains cautious about labour mobility — an issue central to India’s economic and educational engagement with the UK. A partnership premised on mutual benefit cannot thrive if talent exchange remains one-sided.

However, the road to the FTA remains bumpy. Differences on tariffs, intellectual property and mobility persist. Starmer’s emphasis on values-based diplomacy may jar with India’s preference for non-interference. Both sides must also move beyond nostalgia-driven diplomacy. The “special relationship” cannot rest on colonial hangovers or diaspora sentiment. The partnership’s promise lies in building a sustained collaboration that benefits ordinary citizens in both countries.

Editorials