New Delhi, July 14 -- The India-UK free trade agreement will feature a dedicated chapter on innovation, commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal said on Monday, marking a shift in India's trade strategy towards deeper technological and research partnerships.

The pact is in its final stages, with both sides subjecting the chapters to legal scrutiny.

"This is for the first time that a chapter on innovation is being added in an FTA. A working group will be set up to advance cooperation in this area," Barthwal said, highlighting that the India-UK FTA could become a template for next-generation trade agreements.

The innovation chapter aims to go beyond the traditional focus on goods, tariff concessions, services and investment, and instead promote...