India's trade deal with Britain is a sign of New Delhi's new gradual shift to opening up its markets while shielding crucial sectors from competition and could be its template for future agreements, government officials and analysts said on Friday.

King Charles has held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Sandringham, after a free trade deal was signed between the UK and India. UK cars and whisky will be cheaper to export to India and Indian textiles and jewellery cheaper to export to the UK under the multi-billion pound export boost.

The prime ministers of Britain and India sealed a hard-wrought trade agreement on Thursday that will slash tariffs on products including Scotch whisky and English gin shipped to India and Indian food and spices sent to the U.