India–EU FTA Promotes Paperless Trade, e-Invoicing, e-Contracts, e-Authentication to Ease Cross-Border Trade
India–EU FTA Promotes Paperless Trade, e-Invoicing, e-Contracts, e-Authentication to Ease Cross-Border Trade
The digital trade chapter of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) establishes a facilitative framework to ensure a secure and trustworthy digital environment for electronic transactions, aimed at strengthening the growth of goods and services trade between India and the EU. It promotes paperless trade, e-invoicing, e-contracts, e-authentication etc., to ease cross-border trade. The chapter also contains provisions to enhance consumer confidence and business trust.
The digital trade chapter also recognizes the importance of regulatory and technical cooperation in integrating Indian startups, including MSMEs, into the growth of digital trade. Provisions on online consumer protection, cyber security, unsolicited electronic messages, and source code build trust among consumers and businesses in electronic transactions.
Further, during 16th India-EU Summit, India and European Commission have signed and exchanged an Administrative Arrangement on Advanced Electronic Signatures and Seals on January 27, 2026.It provides a framework for cooperation on interoperability of electronic signatures, electronic seals, and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) systems, consistent with the laws of India and European Union by promoting the use of secure and trusted electronic signatures and seals in cross-border digital transactions and trade. This also enables the service providers to utilise the market access opportunities created under India-EU FTA.
Government has taken several steps to improve digital infrastructure, compliance platforms and cybersecurity standards. The key initiatives are:
UPI serves 6.5 crore merchants, and connects 685 banks on one platform, making it the world’s largest digital payment system. UPI powers 81% of India’s digital payments and nearly 49% of global real-time digital payments. UPI is the world’s largest payments platform.
Government has taken several steps for providing digital skills to the youth and runs programs for skilling/upskilling in the latest technologies. The key initiatives are:
290 fellowships have been awarded till date.
This information was submitted by Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Shri Jitin Prasada in Rajya Sabha on 13.02.2026.