Relations at a Glance

India and the United Kingdom – Relations at a Glance

Establishment of Relations

1947

Brief History 

India and the United Kingdom share a vibrant contemporary partnership bound by strong historical ties. The bilateral relationship that was upgraded to a strategic partnership in 2004, was further strengthened during the tenure of British Prime Minister David Cameron who visited India thrice in his first term (July 2010, February 2013 and November 2013). The successful visit of Prime Minister Modi to the UK in November 2015 gave fresh impetus to the bilateral relationship. UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s visit to India in November 2016, which was her first overseas bilateral visit (outside the EU) after assuming office in July 2016 showcased the continuity of interactions at the highest political level. Prime Minister Modi held wide-ranging bilateral talks with the British PM on 18 April 2018 in London to further intensify the future partnership between both countries even in the wake of Britain’s impending departure from the EU.

Key Visits to United Kingdom (President, VP, PM)

Prime Minister’s Visits:

18- 20 April 2018

12-14 November 2015

Key Visits to India

Prime Minister’s Visits:

6th to 8th November 2016

Main Treaties and Agreements and Dialogues

Total Number since 2014 – 4

MOUs

Total Number since 2014 – 9

Bilateral Trade – Last Three years

 Total Trade:

1. 2017-18: 14,497.82 USD Million

India Trade Surplus: 4,884.32 USD Million

2. 2016-17: 12,195.03 USD Million

India Trade Surplus: 4,865.11 USD Million

3. 2015-16: 14,021.02 USD Million

India Trade Surplus: 3,635.95 USD Million

Major Exports (2017-18):

1.   Articles of Clothing

2.   Power Generating Machinery

3.   Petroleum and related Products

4.   Misc. Manufactured Articles

5.   Textile Yarn

Major Imports (2017-18):

1.    Power Generating Machinery

2.    Non-Ferrous Metals

3.    Ferrous ores and Metals

4.   General Industrial Machinery

5.   Transport Equipment

Key Officials

Minister of External Affairs India –Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar

Minister of State for External Affairs India –Shri V. Muraleedharan

Foreign Secretary India – Vijay Keshav Gokhale

Foreign Secretary UK – Jeremy Hunt

High Commissioner – India to UK – Y. K. Sinha

High Commissioner – UK to India – Sir Dominic Asquith

[RUNNING UPDATE – LAST UPDATED ON 20 NOVEMBER TO INCLUDE YEARS 2018-2014 ONLY]

SOURCES:

  1. Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
  2. Ministry of Commerce, Government of India.