UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The India-EU trade deal is also a strategic turning point

Q1. How many European Union member states form the bloc that signed the India-EU Free Trade Agreement on 27 January 2026?

  • A. 25
  • B. 26
  • C. 27
  • D. 28

Q2. In which year was the India-EU Strategic Partnership, the precursor framework under which FTA negotiations were eventually launched, formally established?

  • A. 1994
  • B. 2000
  • C. 2004
  • D. 2007

Q3. Which one of the following leaders described the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, concluded on 27 January 2026, as 'the mother of all trade agreements'?

  • A. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
  • B. António Costa, President of the European Council
  • C. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
  • D. Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the India-EU Free Trade Agreement concluded on 27 January 2026: 1. It was concluded at the India-EU Summit held at Hyderabad House, New Delhi. 2. It provides India preferential access across 97% of EU tariff lines, covering 99.5% of trade value. 3. The FTA negotiations were originally launched in 2007 under the Broad-Based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) framework. 4. The India-EU Strategic Partnership underpinning the deal was established in 1994. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was concluded at the India-EU Summit held at Hyderabad House, New Delhi.
  2. It provides India preferential access across 97% of EU tariff lines, covering 99.5% of trade value.
  3. The FTA negotiations were originally launched in 2007 under the Broad-Based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) framework.
  4. The India-EU Strategic Partnership underpinning the deal was established in 1994.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. Consider the following statements about the India-EU engagement leading up to the Free Trade Agreement of 27 January 2026: 1. The India-EU Strategic Partnership was established in 2004. 2. FTA negotiations were originally launched in 2007 under the BTIA framework. 3. The India-EU FTA of January 2026 was signed at Brussels, Belgium. 4. The 2nd India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) ministerial was held in New Delhi in February 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The India-EU Strategic Partnership was established in 2004.
  2. FTA negotiations were originally launched in 2007 under the BTIA framework.
  3. The India-EU FTA of January 2026 was signed at Brussels, Belgium.
  4. The 2nd India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) ministerial was held in New Delhi in February 2025.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4