Education, talent harvest will shape the future of India-U.K. relations

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The India–U.K. partnership has never been an abstract diplomatic relationship for me. It has been the story of my own life. I was born in India, educated across seven schools in different Indian cities, graduated from Osmania University and came to the U.K. as a 19-year-old international student.

In Britain, I qualified as a CA with E&Y, studied law at the University of Cambridge, built a global business, and in 2006 became the first Zoroastrian Parsi to enter the House of Lords. I have seen first-hand how the movement of people, ideas, and ambition between India and the U.K. creates real and lasting value.

As an independent Crossbench Peer, Patron of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union, Patron of the Small Business Charter, President of the U.K. Council for International Student Affairs, and former Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, I have engaged closely with students, business leaders, and policymakers across both countries. These experiences have given me a unique perspective on the evolving India–U.K. relationship, one that is shaped by lived experience on both sides of the corridor.

I believe the most important dimension of the India–U.K. relationship is the people. Students , entrepreneurs, researchers, professionals, and alumni form the living bridge between our two nations. And it must be strengthened by ensuring that education, skills, innovation, and opportunity move together.

The India–U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) may have certainly marked a significant milestone in expanding opportunities for India-U.K. bilateral trade, but ideas, innovation, and economic growth are ultimately driven by people. In an increasingly knowledge-driven global economy, talent has become one of the world’s most valuable resources, shaping productivity, and long-term prosperity.

To realise the full potential of deeper trade relations, India and the U.K. must continue investing in the development of a talent pool that will power future industries. Partnerships between universities and businesses, curriculum informed by industry, and collaborative research are critical to ensuring that graduates possess the skills employers need in rapidly evolving sectors.

Having worked closely with industry and academia in both countries, I believe economic growth is strongest when education and enterprise move in step. However, recognising the importance of talent is only the first step. The real question is how both countries can create pathways that enable people to translate educational opportunities into long-term professional success.

The future of the India–U.K. partnership will be shaped not only by how many students cross borders, but by how effectively both countries create pathways from education to meaningful global careers.

Student mobility remains important, but the opportunity today extends much further.