India and Gulf Cooperation Council Sign Joint Statement on the India–GCC Free Trade Agreement

• Joint Statement signed on 24 February 2026 in New Delhi between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) formally launching negotiations for a comprehensive FTA.
• Follows the Terms of Reference (ToR) inked on 5 February 2026, sequencing the legal architecture for substantive talks.
• GCC is India's largest trading-partner bloc (USD 178.56 bn in FY 2024-25, ~15.42% of India's global trade) — UPSC-relevant for GS-II (bilateral/regional groupings) and GS-III (external sector).