India and the UK have signed a major trade agreement in London on Thursday, focusing on promoting traditional Indian products like Kolhapuri chappals, Banarasi saris, and Chanderi textiles. The deal allows Indian items, especially those made by hand or by women, to be sold in British markets at lower tax rates. This is seen as a big step toward making trade more gender-inclusive and helping women artisans earn more.

The agreement, officially called a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), was signed in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It aims to double trade between the two countries to $120 billion by 2030.

For the first time in any trade deal, India has included chapters on women’s rights, anti-corruption, labour rights, and development. The UK government said this will help women, especially entrepreneurs and workers, get better access to the benefits of global trade. It also supports women’s financial independence and economic growth.

As part of the deal, India will reduce import taxes on 90% of goods coming from the UK. This means the average tax on British products will drop from 15% to just 3%. In return, Indian products like textiles and leather goods will get almost full access to UK markets without extra charges.

This move will not only boost India's exports but also protect its cultural identity. India hopes to prevent global fashion brands from copying traditional Indian designs without giving credit or paying local artists. For example, fashion label Prada recently faced backlash for using Kolhapuri sandal designs in its collection without acknowledging their Indian origin.

Overall, the trade deal is expected to create more jobs, raise incomes, especially for women, and make India a major player in the global market for handmade, labour-intensive goods.