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India's apparel and home textiles trade with the United Kingdom is poised for significant growth, with volumes expected to double over the next five to six years, driven by the recently concluded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries, as per a report by credit rating agency ICRA.The FTA is expected to be operational in calendar year (CY) 2026, subject to legal review."India's apparel and home textiles trade with the UK is expected to double from its current levels in the next 5-6 years, owing to the recently concluded FTA between India and the UK," the report added.The UK and India entered into an FTA on May 6, following approximately three years of negotiations.Under the agreement, India will reduce tariffs on 90 per cent of British goods, with 85 per cent becoming completely duty-free over a period of ten years. In return, Britain has agreed to lower its tariffs on certain products, resulting in 99 per cent of India's exports to the UK facing zero duties.Currently, India-UK trade accounts for approximately 2 per cent of India's total trade, underscoring an underutilised partnership given the size and potential of both economies.India is currently the 12th largest trading partner of the UK and stands in fifth position as far as apparel and home textiles imports are concerned. Apparel and home textiles imported by the UK from India stood at USD 1.4 billion in CY2024, representing a 6.6 per cent share of textiles imported by the UK.Furthermore, the US and the European Union (EU) continue to be the major export markets for Indian apparel and home textiles exporters, accounting for a 61 per cent share in CY2024. While the UK's share had remained stable at 7-8 per cent over the past five years amidst flattish growth, the same is expected to reach 11-12 per cent by CY2027, reflecting an 11 per cent CAGR between CY2024 and CY2027.Currently, an 8-12 per cent duty is levied by the UK on apparel and home textiles imported from India. With tariffs being eliminated on 99 per cent of Indian goods, including textiles, incremental capacities are likely to be added in the next 4-5 years to execute orders.In calendar year 2024, China was the biggest apparel and home textiles exporter to the UK with a 25 per cent share, followed by Bangladesh (22 per cent share), Turkey (8 cent share) and Pakistan (6.8 per cent share). Post-implementation of the FTA, with zero-duty access on apparel and home textiles exported, India would have a level playing field compared to the existing duty-free access nation status like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Pakistan.

1. 17 Killed In Massive Fire At Building Near Hyderabad's Iconic Charminar  NDTV
2. 8 killed in fire in building near Hyderabad's Charminar  Moneycontrol
3. Several unconscious after fire breaks out near Charminar in Hyderabad  Times of India
4. Hyderabad: Ten killed as fire ranges in Gulzar Houz jewellery shop  Telangana Today
5. Fire in Hyderabad building near Charminar kills at least 8  The Indian Express

1. Watch: Chaos as Mexican Navy ship collides with Brooklyn Bridge, sailors seen dangling  Times of India
2. Mexican Navy ship crashes into New York’s Brooklyn Bridge, 19 injured  Al Jazeera
3. Mexican ship lost power before ramming Brooklyn Bridge, 2 dead  Hindustan Times
4. Mexican Navy Warship Rams Into New York’s Iconic Brooklyn Bridge; At-Least 22 People Injured  EurAsian Times
5. Mexican navy tall ship smashes into Brooklyn Bridge, shears off masts after losing power, 2 dead, 17 hurt  New York Post

Foreign investors continue to show confidence in the country's equity market, infusing Rs 18,620 crore so far this month, driven by a combination of global tailwinds and improving domestic fundamentals. This positive momentum follows a net investment of Rs 4,223 crore in April, marking the first inflow in three months, data with the depositories showed. Prior to this, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) had pulled out Rs 3,973 crore in March, Rs 34,574 crore in February, and a substantial Rs 78,027 crore in January. FPIs are likely to continue their buying interest in India, and therefore, large caps will be resilient, VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments, said. According to the data from the depositories, foreign portfolio investors made a net investment of Rs 18,620 crore in equities this month (till May 16). The total outflow stood at Rs 93,731 crore in 2025 so far. India's equity markets witnessed a sharp resurgence in FPI activity in April. The sustained buying spree that began in mid-April continued in the current month, reflecting renewed investor confidence. "A key catalyst was the announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which eased regional tensions and lifted investor sentiment," Himanshu Srivastava, Associate Director - Manager Research, Morningstar Investment, said. The global risk appetite also improved after a 90-day tariff truce between the US and China, prompting foreign investors to reallocate capital toward emerging markets, with India being a key beneficiary, he added. "With the global trade scenario improving after the pause in trade war between the US and China and the end of the India-Pakistan conflict, the investment scenario has improved," VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Ltd, said. On the domestic front, India's strong growth outlook, accommodative monetary policy, and robust corporate earnings expectations supported the FPIs' interest. On the other hand, FPIs withdrew Rs 6,748 crore from the debt general limit and invested Rs 1,193 crore in debt voluntary retention during the period under review. Last week, Sebi released the consultation paper proposing to grant certain waivers/relaxations to FPIs investing in the Indian government bonds through the Voluntary Retention Route (VRR) and Fully Accessible Route (FAR) to provide momentum to the drying bond market. This move comes at a critical time, as foreign investors continue to adopt a cautious outlook towards Indian bond markets, especially after the inclusion of Indian government bonds in the global bond indices, Manoj Purohit, Partner & Leader, Financial Services Tax, Tax & Regulatory Services, BDO India, said.

What makes NASA’s spacesuit crucial for surviving in space and how it protects astronauts  Times of India

1. Ashoka University professor arrested on BJP leader's complaint for remarks on Operation Sindoor  Scroll.in
2. Ashoka University professor arrested for remarks on Operation Sindoor press briefings  Hindustan Times
3. ‘New form of censorship and harassment,’ says Ashoka University’s Associate Professor in response to Women Commission summons  The Hindu
4. Freedom of speech fear on professor ‘harrying’: 1,100 sign petition to Haryana panel  Telegraph India
5. Over 1200 call on Haryana women’s panel to retract summons against political scientist Ali Khan Mahmudabad  Maktoob Media

1. Dengue crisis brewing in India: Are we prepared for what’s coming?  Healthcare Radius
2. Dengue dangerous but preventable disease: DC  Times of India
3. PMC conducts awareness campaign on occasion of National Dengue Day  Hindustan Times
4. Health Minister launches drive against mosquito breeding on National Dengue Day  The Hindu
5. National Dengue Day 2025: Follow These Tips To Stay Safe This Monsoon  NDTV

1. Garena Free Fire MAX redeem codes for May 18: Win exciting rewards daily  Times of India
2. Garena Free Fire MAX redeem codes for May 17: Win free rewards and gifts  Times of India
3. Garena Free Fire Max: May 15 redeem codes to win rewards, diamonds and more  Business Standard
4. Garena Free Fire MAX redeem codes for May 17: Win free gifts, rewards, and know how to redeem codes  Moneycontrol
5. Garena Free Fire MAX redeem codes for May 18: Win new prizes for free with daily rewards  The Economic Times

1. IPL 2025 qualification scenarios: What Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings must do to qualify  Times of India
2. IPL 2025 playoff scenarios - RCB need one point, KKR eliminated  ESPNcricinfo
3. Playoffs Qualification Scenarios  IPL T20
4. IPL 2025 Qualification Scenarios: Mumbai Indians' path fraught with challenges  Cricbuzz.com
5. IPL 2025 Points Table, Orange Cap, Purple Cap: RCB Take Top Spot, GT Slip To...  NDTV Sports

1. Week ahead: Q4 results, India-US trade deal, FIIs, IPOs among key market triggers for Indian stock market  Mint
2. Rs 26 lakh crore richer in a week! What should stock market investors do now?  The Economic Times
3. Markets surge 4% in best week since Oct '24 | Tap to know more | Inshorts  Inshorts
4. Angel One, CDSL, other capital market stocks gain up to 9% as Nifty sustains above 25,000-mark  Moneycontrol
5. Stock Market Outlook: Q4 Earnings, FII Activity, Global Trends  Rediff MoneyWiz

1. Pause in India-Pak hostilities to continue: Army official  Greater Kashmir
2. India, Pakistan Ceasefire To Continue, Army Says "No Expiry Date"  NDTV
3. 'No expiry date': Indian Army on 'continuation of break in hostilities' with Pakistan  Hindustan Times
4. Operation Sindoor: Cold light of reason through fog of diplomacy  The New Indian Express
5. India-Pakistan ceasefire updates: J&K to seek Central assistance for residents hit by Pakistan shelling  The Hindu

What is microwalking, the health revolution you never noticed  Times of India

1. India was ready for round II, Pakistan begged US for intervention on May 10  Hindustan Times
2. Armenian-style behaviour of Indian military  Caliber.Az
3. India’s Military Failure: 4-Day War with Pakistan Exposes Global Hypocrisy and Diplomatic Collapse  Khyber News