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Overview
India has one of the world’s most dynamic and expanding markets for professional and business services. Rapid economic growth, a young workforce, increasing foreign investment and major government modernisation programmes are driving strong demand for international expertise in areas where UK firms excel.
The UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), also known as the UK‑India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), is now in force and supports UK professional services firms by reducing administrative burdens, providing clearer rules for business travel, and strengthening access to India’s services markets. This allows UK companies to deliver high‑value advisory, technical and knowledge‑based services with greater confidence.
As of 2026:
- India’s business services market continues to grow at pace, supported by investment in financial services, management consulting, accounting and auditing, education, training, engineering and digital transformation.
- India’s corporate sector and public‑sector bodies increasingly seek international expertise to support large‑scale infrastructure, regulatory reform, capital markets growth and corporate governance.
- The UK is recognised in India as a trusted partner in professional services, with strong demand for regulatory, engineering, financial, sustainability, risk, and advisory services.
For UK exporters, this means a fast growing customer base and strong appetite for international best practice and specialist knowledge.
Trade agreement with India
The FTA entered into force on 15 July 2026. It strengthens the trading relationship between the two countries and provides a clearer, more predictable framework for UK companies exporting to India.
Under the agreement:
- tariffs are reduced or removed
- digital trade becomes simpler and more secure
- electronic transactions are recognised in law
- temporary movement of businesspersons is easier and more transparent
- intellectual property protections are strengthened
For the professional and business services sector, this means better market access, clearer rules for service providers, and improved confidence when delivering advisory and technical services in India.
Sector and market opportunities
There are significant opportunities for UK exporters across consulting, financial, engineering, education, sustainability and corporate advisory services, as India deepens its economic reform agenda and expands its public and private investment programmes.
Examples of key opportunities
Management consulting and corporate advisory
- strategy and operations consulting
- business transformation and productivity improvement
- risk, governance and compliance advisory
- sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) services
Financial and professional services
- fintech and financial services advisory
- insurance, risk and actuarial services
- capital markets, investment and regulatory consulting
- corporate finance and transaction support
Regulatory and accounting services
- assurance and tax advisory services
- regulatory impact analysis and compliance services
Education, skills and training services
- professional training and certification programmes
- leadership development and workforce training
- vocational education and sector‑specific skills support
- partnerships with corporate learning and public sector initiatives
Tariff‑free products that support professional and business services
Many goods that enable the delivery of professional services – such as IT equipment, specialised software‑enabled devices, and technical instruments – now enter India at reduced or zero tariffs under the FTA, depending on their harmonised system (HS) code classification and rules of origin:
- a significant number of information and communications technology (ICT) products, office equipment and professional‑use electronics benefit from tariff elimination once origin requirements are met.
- where goods are on a tariff‑reduction schedule, rates decrease over a defined phase‑out period.
- exporters must ensure their goods meet rules of origin criteria to claim preferential rates.
- businesses should confirm the correct HS code for their product to identify the specific preferential tariff that applies.
Find out more in our guide: Tariffs and customs for imports from and exports to India.
Opportunities for digital trading
Electronic contracts
The agreement ensures that electronic contracts are legally valid and cannot be considered invalid just because they are in electronic form.
However, India might impose specific criteria regarding electronic contracts, including some circumstances where they are not accepted. You should check local regulations for more information.
Electronic authentication and trust services
Electronic signatures and electronic authentication increase trust in e-commerce by helping to verify that transactions (and the people behind them) are genuine. The agreement ensures that electronic authentication and trust services, such as electronic signatures and time stamps are considered legally valid. Strengthening the legal validity of electronic trust services provides greater confidence that transactions can be concluded through electronic means.
However, India might impose specific criteria regarding electronic trust services and authentication, including some circumstances where they are not accepted. You should check local regulations for more information.
You have the freedom to determine the best way of authenticating your transaction. However, for some transaction categories, there can be specific requirements. The agreement also encourages mutual recognition of trust services, which supports smoother cross-border digital interactions in the future.
Paperless trading
Paperless trading refers to the conduct of trade activities using electronic rather than paper documents. This reduces administrative costs and improves efficiency of processes, benefiting UK businesses across all sectors.
The UK and India have committed to accept trade documents in electronic form, where possible, and to treat them as legally equivalent to paper versions. There may be some exceptions, and you should check local regulations for more information.
The UK and India have also committed, where possible, to making trade administration documents available in electronic form.
Safer trading online for your business
Online consumer protection
The agreement recognises the importance of strong and transparent consumer protection measures to guard against misleading, deceptive, fraudulent or unfair practices in digital trade.
Under the agreement, the UK and India have committed to maintaining effective consumer protection laws for online transactions, including rules that prohibit harmful commercial practices.
Protected source code
The UK and India have agreed that businesses are not required to give access to – or transfer – source code (including algorithms embedded in it), except in specific legal and regulatory circumstances.
Easier business travel
For UK exporters and service providers, the benefits of the agreement go beyond tariff reductions. The agreement creates a predictable and transparent framework for business mobility, which is critical for sectors where face-to-face engagement matters. For example:
- Technology manufacturers and exporters can attend trade fairs, meet distributors, and negotiate contracts without worrying about visa delays.
- Professional service providers such as product managers, data engineers and IT specialists can deliver projects onsite, ensuring quality and compliance.
- Technology consultancies can provide advisory services under clear rules, strengthening trust with Indian clients.
By reducing administrative barriers and clarifying eligibility, the agreement helps UK businesses compete effectively in India’s dynamic market.
Under the FTA, both governments have committed to facilitating the temporary movement of business persons. This means UK professionals can expect:
- faster and more predictable visa processing
- clear definitions of permitted activities
- longer stays for certain categories of business travellers
- legal certainty and transparency
These changes give UK companies confidence to plan visits, deploy staff, and deliver projects without unnecessary disruption.
Find out more in our guide: Travelling to India for work.
Department for Business and Trade support
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) helps businesses export, drives inward and outward investment, negotiates market access and trade agreements, and champions free trade. Helpful links, tools and services available from DBT and wider government include:
Export Support Service (ESS) team
Get support on how to do business abroad. Businesses in Wales can also access support from Business Wales.
Export Support Service – International Markets (ESS-IM)
DBT's overseas in-market export support service for SMEs with high-export potential. Our International Market Advisers provide tailored support and market introduction information to new and current UK exporters looking to enter or expand into new markets. The service may be accessed globally with International Markets teams in South Asia, China, the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, North America and Latin America.
Sign up to access webinars on how to grow your international sales.
Information on finance and insurance for UK exports.
Trade and investment factsheets
The latest statistics on trade and investment between the UK and individual overseas partners.
Overseas business risk profiles
Information for UK businesses on political, economic and security risks when trading overseas.
Advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences.
Check or report a trade barrier
If you encounter an issue when exporting to any country – report the issue and UK government officials will be able to assess the issue and consider the options we have open to addressing it as appropriate.
Search for your specific product to find applicable tariffs for each market, explore rules of origin and step-by-step help on customs procedures.
Check import duties and allows you to check the status of available tariff rate quotas.
Useful resources
Prior to export, you must be aware of local regulations and import conditions in India that apply to your goods or services. This can include tax considerations, labour laws, intellectual property rules, labelling and packaging regulations, among others.
To seek further information related to local regulations, business culture, or to find a local lawyer, translator, importer, or distributor, you can use the following contacts:
To see a range of official Indian government portals on procurement opportunities, policy insights and market access, see our guide: Government procurement opportunities in India.
Legal disclaimer
This document is provided as an information guide only and should not be relied on as a substitute for your own research or independent advice.
No investment and/or business decision should be made solely on the basis of information presented in this document. It is recommended that an independent due diligence investigation is conducted before entering into engagement with any individual, business or other organisation mentioned.
The Department for Business and Trade accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage caused to any person as result of any error, omission, inaccurate or misleading statement in this document.
The accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the content of any website mentioned in this document is not guaranteed in any way, implied or explicit.
