Labelled as the biggest scam in democratic India, prompting discussions around crony capitalism, corruption, and quid pro quo arrangements, electoral bonds were introduced for a juxtaposing purpose. Introduced in the Union Budget of 2017-2018 for "cleansing the system of political funding in the country," these bonds were declared "unconstitutional" by the Supreme Court of India in February 2024, finding them "violative of RTI (Right to Information)" and voters' right to know about political funding. The irony is stark. Arun Jaitley, Former Finance Minister, while introducing the scheme in 2017, promised transparency. However, seven years later, the scheme was challenged in the Supreme Court over concerns about the transparency they promised.

In 2024, India, the world's largest democracy, conducted its general elections, showcasing a democratic exercise of unprecedented scale and economic significance. This event involved nearly a billion voters who not only determined the political future of the nation but also had far-reaching economic implications that extended well beyond the voting process.

A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a partnership between two or more countries wherein they agree to reduce or remove custom duties on the maximum number of goods traded and negotiate on non-trade barriers. This increases trade between the two countries, further strengthening international relations. Over the years India has signed as many as 14 FTAs however it is not the signing of the FTAs that is important but rather the negotiations that the FTA constitutes and how effectively the FTA has been utilized. There are various underlying issues such as lack of industry consultation, inefficient marketing, adherence to negotiated laws etc. which needs to be addressed while signing an FTA.

Moreover, the India-UK FTA which has been in talks since 2022 and is currently in its 14th round of negotiations holds huge opportunities and challenges. Proper address of the problems faced would make the FTA a success.