With sales exceeding $280 billion and exports of $225 billion in FY 2024–2025, India’s digital trade is becoming an important engine of economic growth, bolstered by a strong IT ecosystem, according to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. 

With more than 60 lakh workers, the industry makes a substantial economic contribution. Through free trade agreements with nations like the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and the European Union—all of which have specific clauses pertaining to digital trade—the government is actively growing international relationships in digital trade. 

The India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement is currently being negotiated with the goal of enhancing cooperation and advancing an equitable and transparent digital ecosystem. 

Data governance and privacy have also been given top priority by the government. A thorough framework for data processing and cross-border transfers is established under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the DPDP Rules, 2025, while maintaining regulatory autonomy. 

Furthermore, sector-specific regulations, such the Reserve Bank of India’s rule that payment data be stored locally, highlight India’s emphasis on data security. 

These steps are intended to strike a balance between the growth of international digital trade and robust domestic data protection and regulatory oversight. 

Source – News18