Overview
- Seema Malhotra launched a three-day first official visit to Bengaluru and Chennai on November 20 to accelerate implementation of the India–UK free trade agreement under the UK–India Vision 2035.
- Her itinerary includes meetings with UK firms operating in South India, including Tesco, Revolut and BT, to gauge how the deal supports expansion and investment plans.
- In Bengaluru, she is announcing the return of the British Council Women in STEM scholarships to South Asia for 2026–27, with 10 awards worth a total of £400,000.
- The British High Commission said she is expected to roll out a second visa fraud awareness campaign in Tamil Nadu to bolster joint protections against exploitation.
- Officials cite the FTA’s goals to lift bilateral trade toward $120 billion by 2030, with UK projections of a £4.8 billion annual GDP boost, as FY25 data show India–UK trade up 8% to $23.1 billion.