UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India-EU trade pact to be signed by December: Goyal

Q1. The India–EU Free Trade Agreement, whose conclusion was announced in January 2026, traces its origin to negotiations launched in 2007. Under which one of the following banners were those negotiations originally pursued?

  • A. Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
  • B. Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)
  • C. Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)
  • D. Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)

Q2. Consider the following components negotiated between India and the European Union alongside or within the Free Trade Agreement: 1. A separate Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) 2. A separate Geographical Indications (GI) Agreement 3. Coverage of emerging areas such as SMEs and digital trade within the FTA 4. A bilateral Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement concluded as part of the package Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. A separate Investment Protection Agreement (IPA)
  2. A separate Geographical Indications (GI) Agreement
  3. Coverage of emerging areas such as SMEs and digital trade within the FTA
  4. A bilateral Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement concluded as part of the package
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4

Q3. On the Indian side, which one of the following is the nodal ministry that has negotiated and operationalises the India–EU Free Trade Agreement?

  • A. Ministry of External Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Finance
  • C. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • D. Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

Q4. Consider the following statements comparing the India–EU FTA with related Indian trade engagements: 1. The India–EU FTA negotiations were originally launched in 2007 under the BTIA, whereas the deal's conclusion was announced only at the 16th India–EU Summit in January 2026. 2. Unlike the India–EFTA TEPA, which came into effect on 1 October 2025, the India–EU FTA is targeted by Minister Goyal to be signed by December 2026 and implemented around February–March 2027. 3. The India–EU bloc and EFTA refer to the same group of European states, so the two agreements cover an identical set of partner countries. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The India–EU FTA negotiations were originally launched in 2007 under the BTIA, whereas the deal's conclusion was announced only at the 16th India–EU Summit in January 2026.
  2. Unlike the India–EFTA TEPA, which came into effect on 1 October 2025, the India–EU FTA is targeted by Minister Goyal to be signed by December 2026 and implemented around February–March 2027.
  3. The India–EU bloc and EFTA refer to the same group of European states, so the two agreements cover an identical set of partner countries.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3