Nasscom launches UK Technology Advisory Council to deepen India-UK tech ties
Synopsis
Nasscom has given India's IT sector a formal advisory role in shaping UK digital policy — at exactly the moment India and the UK are finalising an FTA. With Indian tech firms already supporting 35,000 jobs across the UK, including 62% outside London, the TAC is less a symbolic gesture and more a structural play for influence in a post-Brexit Britain racing to lead on AI.
Key Takeaways
Nasscom announced the UK Technology Advisory Council (TAC) on 11 June 2025 as a formal advisory body to the High Commission of India in the UK .
The TAC will focus on AI , cross-border trade, investment, talent development, and ease of doing business.
Leading Indian IT firms support more than 35,000 jobs in the UK, with 62% of that workforce based outside London.
The UK is the second-largest market for Indian technology; India is the second-largest source of FDI into the UK.
The initiative is aligned with the bilateral goal of doubling trade under the proposed India-UK FTA and Vision 2035 .
Nasscom, India's apex IT industry body, on Thursday, 11 June announced the formation of the UK Technology Advisory Council (TAC) — a structured advisory body to the High Commission of India in the United Kingdom — aimed at accelerating the India-UK technology partnership. The council will provide strategic industry inputs on artificial intelligence, cross-border trade, investment, and talent development.
What the TAC Is Designed to Do
The TAC will focus on strengthening the India–UK Technology Corridor and positioning Indian technology firms as trusted partners in advancing the UK's digital ambitions. Its mandate spans government-led tech security initiatives on AI, streamlining ease of doing business, and supporting the bilateral goal of doubling trade under the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) framework aligned with Vision 2035.
The Scale of India's Tech Footprint in the UK
The TAC launch coincided with the release of a report finding that leading large Indian technology companies support more than 35,000 jobs across the United Kingdom. Notably, nearly 62 per cent of their local workforce is based outside London, contributing to the UK's regional growth agenda across Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire, Birmingham, Reading, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The UK remains the second-largest market for India's technology industry, while India is the second-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the UK — a bilateral dynamic that underscores the strategic weight of the new council.
What Officials Said
Periasamy Kumaran, High Commissioner of India to the UK, underlined that 'technological collaboration plays a critical role in shaping bilateral relationships.' He added: 'The Indian IT industry remains deeply committed to the UK market, creating high-value jobs, building local talent, fostering innovation and contributing meaningfully to the economic growth of the UK. In a world racing to lead in AI, building trust and collaborative innovation will be critical.'
Rajesh Nambiar, President of Nasscom, described the partnership as having 'evolved beyond business relationships to become a strategic pillar of economic growth, innovation, and digital transformation for both nations,' saying the TAC 'creates a structured platform for industry and government to work together on the opportunities and challenges shaping the future digital economy.'
Why This Matters Now
The announcement comes as India and the UK push toward finalising a long-negotiated Free Trade Agreement, with technology services emerging as a central pillar of the deal. This is also set against a global backdrop of intensifying AI governance debates, where bilateral trust frameworks between democracies are increasingly seen as a prerequisite for deep tech collaboration. The TAC gives the Indian IT sector a formal seat at that table.
Point of View
Nasscom secures a channel to shape UK digital policy at a moment when post-Brexit Britain is actively courting technology partnerships. The 35,000-jobs figure is the real leverage — it reframes Indian IT not as an outsourcing vendor but as a domestic employment engine, which matters enormously in UK political optics. The timing, ahead of an FTA close, is deliberate: structured industry voice now translates into favourable services-trade language later. What remains to be seen is whether the TAC produces binding recommendations or stays consultative — the difference between influence and theatre.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Nasscom UK Technology Advisory Council (TAC)?
The UK Technology Advisory Council is a strategic industry advisory body constituted by Nasscom to advise the High Commission of India in the United Kingdom. It aims to provide structured inputs on accelerating India-UK technology collaboration, covering AI, cross-border trade, investment, and talent development.
Why was the TAC launched now?
The TAC was launched on 11 June 2025 as India and the UK push toward finalising a Free Trade Agreement, with technology services as a central pillar. It is also aligned with the bilateral Vision 2035 goal of doubling trade and comes amid intensifying global competition on AI governance.
How significant is India's technology presence in the UK?
According to a report released alongside the TAC launch, leading Indian technology firms support more than 35,000 jobs across the UK, with nearly 62% of that workforce based outside London. The UK is the second-largest market for India's IT industry, and India is the second-largest source of FDI into the UK.
Who will the TAC work with?
The TAC will function as an advisory body to the High Commission of India in the UK, working with both industry and government stakeholders to address opportunities and challenges in the India-UK digital economy.
What is Vision 2035 in the context of India-UK relations?
Vision 2035 is the bilateral framework under which India and the UK have set a target of doubling trade. The TAC's mandate is directly linked to achieving this goal, particularly through accelerating technology-sector collaboration and streamlining the business environment.
