UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India cautions WTO members against weaponising ‘transparency’

Q1. The 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the WTO, held in March 2026 where India cautioned against the weaponisation of 'transparency', was chaired by which one of the following?

  • A. Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, Minister of Trade of Cameroon
  • B. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO
  • C. Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India
  • D. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the UAE

Q2. India's caution to WTO members against weaponising 'transparency' obligations at MC14 was articulated by which Union ministry, the nodal ministry for India's WTO engagement?

  • A. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • B. Ministry of External Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Finance
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q3. With reference to the outcomes of the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14, 2026), consider the following: 1. A decision on improving the integration of small economies into the multilateral trading system. 2. A decision enhancing implementation of special and differential treatment provisions in the SPS and TBT Agreements. 3. Adoption of a comprehensive overall ministerial declaration. 4. A commitment to continue negotiations on fisheries subsidies, aiming for recommendations to MC15. Which of the above are correctly identified as MC14 outcomes?

  1. A decision on improving the integration of small economies into the multilateral trading system.
  2. A decision enhancing implementation of special and differential treatment provisions in the SPS and TBT Agreements.
  3. Adoption of a comprehensive overall ministerial declaration.
  4. A commitment to continue negotiations on fisheries subsidies, aiming for recommendations to MC15.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. MC14, held in Yaoundé in 2026, marked which milestone for the hosting of WTO Ministerial Conferences on the African continent?

  • A. It was the second WTO Ministerial Conference hosted in Africa
  • B. It was the first WTO Ministerial Conference hosted in Africa
  • C. It was the third WTO Ministerial Conference hosted in Africa
  • D. It was the fourth WTO Ministerial Conference hosted in Africa