India-EU Relations: Trade, Digital, and Climate Cooperation
TOPIC CLASSIFICATION
Subject: International Relations Sub-area: Bilateral/Regional - India & European Union Prelim PYQ Trend: Moderate (FTA, EU institutions) Mains Relevance: GS-2 (Bilateral Relations, International Trade)
EXAMINER REASONING
India-EU relations gained momentum post-2020 with the resumption of FTA negotiations. The examiner tests: (a) trade - FTA (India-EU Trade Agreement), investment protection, GI tags; (b) digital - EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), Digital Services Act (DSA), India's data localisation vs EU's GDPR adequacy; (c) climate - Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Green Deal, renewable energy targets; (d) strategic - no formal defence alliance but convergence on Indo-Pacific, connectivity. Expect questions on the EU as a 'normative power' vs India's pragmatic approach.
Core Concept
Frameworks of Engagement:
- Strategic Partnership: 2004 (first India-EU Summit); upgraded 2020 at Portugal summit
- India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025 (adopted 2020)
- Trade & Technology Council (TTC): Established 2022 (like US-India TTC)
- Connectivity Partnership: 2021 (India-EU Connectivity Partnership for sustainable connectivity)
Trade Relations:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Bilateral Trade (goods) | ~€120 bn (2024); EU is India's 2nd largest trading partner |
| India-EU FTA | Negotiations resumed 2022 (after 2013 breakdown); 10th round ongoing |
| ... |
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