Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart, Keir Starmer, shared some candid moments after the signing of the Free Trade Agreement and were seen relishing a cup of tea at Chequers, the British PM’s country residence, on Thursday. “Chai Pe Charcha with PM Keir Starmer at Chequers... brewing stronger India-UK ties,” Modi wrote, sharing two pictures on X. In the images, a young man dressed in a traditional Indian kurta is seen pouring tea from a kettle into a paper cup. “From one chaiwala to another,” joked the tea vendor, drawing laughter from Modi, whose father sold tea at a railway station.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">‘Chai Pe Charcha’ with PM Keir Starmer at Chequers...brewing stronger India-UK ties! <a href="https://twitter.com/Keir_Starmer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Keir_Starmer</a> <a href="https://t.co/sY1OZFa6gL">pic.twitter.com/sY1OZFa6gL</a>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1948402010266722304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Modi and Starmer later interacted with players from Buckinghamshire Street Cricket Hubs and the PM gifted the players a bat signed by Indian cricket team that won the T20 World Cup.Sharing glimpses of his interaction with the players, PM Modi said on X, “India and the UK are connected by a shared passion for cricket. At Chequers, PM Keir Starmer and I interacted with players from Buckinghamshire Street Cricket Hubs. Great to see sport fostering people-to-people ties between our nations. Also gave my young friends a bat signed by the Indian cricket team which won the T20 World Cup.”&nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/modi-starmer-seal-free-trade-deal-in-uk-focusing-on-boosting-job-creation-pm-modi-wion-1753352961876/embed&nbsp;The two leaders also posed with the Premier League trophy. PM also shared this picture on X and wrote, “Football is widely admired among India’s youth and several football clubs based in the UK are very popular in India.”Both PMs also interacted with business leaders at the venue, noting that the signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has opened up new avenues for trade and investment.“Interacted with business leaders at Chequers. The signing of the India-UK CETA has opened up new avenues for trade and investment. It marks a pivotal step in strengthening our economic partnership,” PM Modi posted on X.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Concluding a very important UK visit. The outcomes of this visit will benefit our future generations and contribute to shared growth and prosperity. Gratitude to the PM Keir Starmer, the UK Government and people for their warmth. Here are highlights from the visit…… <a href="https://t.co/nUaiGh9DNc">pic.twitter.com/nUaiGh9DNc</a>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1948442826934521953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The two leaders also witnessed an exhibition that featured flagship products and innovations from India and the UK. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “At Chequers, PM Keir Starmer and I saw an exhibition which gave a glimpse of the strong economic linkages between India and the UK. With the signing of CETA, these linkages will rise manifold.”Modi expressed gratitude to PM Starmer for the warm welcome at Chequers.&nbsp;“Thankful to PM Keir Starmer for the warm welcome at Chequers. Our discussions reflect a shared commitment to deepen India-UK ties across sectors,” Modi posted on X.&nbsp;<h2>India, UK ink Free Trade Agreement</h2>&nbsp;The FTA, signed by India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Trade Minister Jonathan Reynolds, is expected to boost bilateral trade by around $34 billion annually.Calling it a “historic day” for India-UK relations, Modi said the agreement would increase Indian exports in sectors like textiles, footwear, gems, jewellery and seafood, and enable Indian consumers to access British products like medical devices and aerospace components more affordably.He added that the deal would “create new job opportunities" and benefit “India’s youth, farmers, fishermen, and MSMEs."&nbsp;Starmer called the FTA “the most significant deal the UK has signed since leaving the EU” and said it would “boost wages, raise living standards and put more money in the pockets of working people.” He said the agreement sends a clear message that “the UK is open for business”.

PM Modi also met King Charles III and discussed India-UK relations, including the trade and investment in the wake of CETA and Vision 2035, education, health and wellness, particularly Yoga and Ayurveda. We also talked about environmental protection and sustainability, Modi said in a post.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart, Keir Starmer, shared some candid moments after the signing of the Free Trade Agreement and were seen relishing a cup of tea at Chequers, the British PM’s country residence, on Thursday. “Chai Pe Charcha with PM Keir Starmer at Chequers... brewing stronger India-UK ties,” Modi wrote, sharing two pictures on X. In the images, a young man dressed in a traditional Indian kurta is seen pouring tea from a kettle into a paper cup. “From one chaiwala to another,” joked the tea vendor, drawing laughter from Modi, whose father sold tea at a railway station.

PM Modi also met King Charles III and discussed India-UK relations, including the trade and investment in the wake of CETA and Vision 2035, education, health and wellness, particularly Yoga and Ayurveda. We also talked about environmental protection and sustainability, Modi said in a post.

‘Brewing stronger ties’: Modi and Starmer bond over ‘Chai Pe Charcha’, cricket and football at Chequers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday embarked on a two-nation visit to the United Kingdom and Maldives, hoping to solidify bilateral relations and expressing confidence that the visit will yield tangible outcomes. PM Modi's visit to the UK, scheduled for July 23-24, comes at the invitation of British counterpart Keir Starmer and will be his fourth trip to the country.&nbsp;In his departure statement, PM Modi said, "India and UK share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that has witnessed significant progress in recent years. Our collaboration spans a wide range of sectors, including trade, investment, technology, innovation, defence, education, research, sustainability, health and people-to-people ties."&nbsp;He said that he will hold bilateral meetings with PM Starmer and will discuss further enhancing the economic partnership, aimed at fostering prosperity, growth and job creation in both countries.&nbsp;"I also look forward to calling on His Majesty King Charles III during the visit," he said. In the second leg of the tour, PM Modi will undertake a State Visit to Maldives from July 25-26 at the invitation of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu. This marks PM Modi's third visit to the island nation and the first by any head of state or government during President Muizzu's tenure.&nbsp;Significantly, PM Modi will be the Guest of Honour at the 60th Independence Day celebrations of Maldives on July 26. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries.&nbsp;His visit underlines India's commitment to strengthening ties with its maritime neighbours under the 'Neighbourhood First' policy and Vision MAHASAGAR. PM Modi said that he is looking forward to meetings with President Muizzu and other political leadership of the Indian Ocean archipelago, to advance the joint vision of a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, and to strengthen the cooperation for peace, prosperity and stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).&nbsp;"I am confident that the visit will yield tangible outcomes, benefiting our people and advancing our Neighbourhood First Policy," PM Modi said.

Eyeing tangible outcomes PM Modi embarks on two nation visit to UK and Maldives

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday embarked on a two-nation visit to the United Kingdom and Maldives, hoping to solidify bilateral relations and expressing confidence that the visit will yield tangible outcomes. PM Modi's visit to the UK, scheduled for July 23-24, comes at the invitation of British counterpart Keir Starmer and will be his fourth trip to the country. In his departure statement, PM Modi said, "India and UK share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that has witnessed significant progress in recent years. Our collaboration spans a wide range of sectors, including trade, investment, technology, innovation, defence, education, research, sustainability, health and people-to-people ties." He said that he will hold bilateral meetings with PM Starmer and will discuss further enhancing the economic partnership, aimed at fostering prosperity, growth and job creation in both countries. "I also look forward to calling on His Majesty King Charles III during the visit," he said. In the second leg of the tour, PM Modi will undertake a State Visit to Maldives from July 25-26 at the invitation of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu. This marks PM Modi's third visit to the island nation and the first by any head of state or government during President Muizzu's tenure. Significantly, PM Modi will be the Guest of Honour at the 60th Independence Day celebrations of Maldives on July 26. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. His visit underlines India's commitment to strengthening ties with its maritime neighbours under the 'Neighbourhood First' policy and Vision MAHASAGAR. PM Modi said that he is looking forward to meetings with President Muizzu and other political leadership of the Indian Ocean archipelago, to advance the joint vision of a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, and to strengthen the cooperation for peace, prosperity and stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). "I am confident that the visit will yield tangible outcomes, benefiting our people and advancing our Neighbourhood First Policy," PM Modi said.

PM Modi will be the Guest of Honour at the 60th Independence Day celebrations of Maldives on July 26

Eyeing 'tangible outcomes', PM Modi embarks on two-nation visit to UK and Maldives

The British government said on Thursday it plans to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in general elections, a landmark change giving the UK one of the lowest voting ages worldwide. It follows a pledge from the ruling Labour Party to make the shift ahead of winning power last year, and is among several planned changes to the democratic system, which some argue is "in crisis" due to low turnout among other issues.&nbsp;The voting age change is likely to prove contentious, with critics previously arguing it is self-serving as newly-enfranchised teenagers are seen as more likely to support the centre-left Labour party. "I think it's really important that 16- and 17-year-olds have the vote, because they are old enough to go out to work, they are old enough to pay taxes, so (they) pay in," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.&nbsp;"And I think if you pay in, you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on, which way the government should go," Starmer added. The government will have to bring legislation before parliament, where it has a comfortable majority, to make the changes. Only a small number of countries allow 16-year-olds to vote in national elections, according to online databases.&nbsp;They include Austria -- the first EU country to lower the voting age to 16 when it made the shift in 2007 -- as well as Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Cuba. Labour ministers in the United Kingdom insist the change is intended to "modernise our democracy" and boost turnout, while aligning general elections with the existing voting age for elections for the devolved regional parliaments in Scotland and Wales.&nbsp;Other planned changes include introducing automated voter registration -- which is already used in Australia and Canada -- and making UK-issued bank cards an accepted form of ID at polling stations.It follows changes to the electoral law introduced by the previous Conservative government which required voters to show a photo ID, which the Electoral Commission found led to around 750,000 people not voting in last year's election.&nbsp;Harry Quilter-Pinner, executive director of the Institute For Public Policy Research think tank, said the changes were "the biggest reform to our electoral system since 1969", when the voting age was lowered to 18. He noted lowering the voting age and introducing automated voter registration could add 9.5 million more people to the voter rolls. "Our democracy is in crisis, and we risk reaching a tipping point where politics loses its legitimacy," he added, backing the changes.

UK to lower voting age to 16 ahead of 2029 general elections

The British government said on Thursday it plans to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in general elections, a landmark change giving the UK one of the lowest voting ages worldwide. It follows a pledge from the ruling Labour Party to make the shift ahead of winning power last year, and is among several planned changes to the democratic system, which some argue is "in crisis" due to low turnout among other issues. The voting age change is likely to prove contentious, with critics previously arguing it is self-serving as newly-enfranchised teenagers are seen as more likely to support the centre-left Labour party. "I think it's really important that 16- and 17-year-olds have the vote, because they are old enough to go out to work, they are old enough to pay taxes, so (they) pay in," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. "And I think if you pay in, you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on, which way the government should go," Starmer added. The government will have to bring legislation before parliament, where it has a comfortable majority, to make the changes. Only a small number of countries allow 16-year-olds to vote in national elections, according to online databases. They include Austria -- the first EU country to lower the voting age to 16 when it made the shift in 2007 -- as well as Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Cuba. Labour ministers in the United Kingdom insist the change is intended to "modernise our democracy" and boost turnout, while aligning general elections with the existing voting age for elections for the devolved regional parliaments in Scotland and Wales. Other planned changes include introducing automated voter registration -- which is already used in Australia and Canada -- and making UK-issued bank cards an accepted form of ID at polling stations. It follows changes to the electoral law introduced by the previous Conservative government which required voters to show a photo ID, which the Electoral Commission found led to around 750,000 people not voting in last year's election. Harry Quilter-Pinner, executive director of the Institute For Public Policy Research think tank, said the changes were "the biggest reform to our electoral system since 1969", when the voting age was lowered to 18. He noted lowering the voting age and introducing automated voter registration could add 9.5 million more people to the voter rolls. "Our democracy is in crisis, and we risk reaching a tipping point where politics loses its legitimacy," he added, backing the changes.

It follows a pledge from the ruling Labour Party to make the shift ahead of winning power last year, and is among several planned changes to the democratic system, which some argue is "in crisis" due to low turnout among other issues

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‘Brewing stronger ties’: Modi and Starmer bond over ‘Chai Pe Charcha’, cricket and football at Chequers

Eyeing 'tangible outcomes', PM Modi embarks on two-nation visit to UK & Maldives

UK to lower voting age to 16 ahead of 2029 general elections