UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The real barriers to trade are no longer tariffs

Q1. Which one of the following is the nodal authority on the Indian side leading the negotiations of the India–United States Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), 2026?

  • A. Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
  • B. Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • C. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
  • D. Ministry of External Affairs (Economic Diplomacy Division)

Q2. With reference to the framework of the India–US interim Bilateral Trade Agreement announced in February 2026, consider the following sectors in which India committed to address non-tariff barriers (NTBs): 1. Medical devices 2. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment 3. Food and agricultural products 4. Audio-visual and broadcasting services Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as an NTB-removal commitment under the framework?

  1. Medical devices
  2. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment
  3. Food and agricultural products
  4. Audio-visual and broadcasting services
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4

Q3. Which one of the following is the principal WTO agreement that specifically disciplines non-tariff measures imposed by members to protect human, animal or plant life from food-safety, pest or disease risks?

  • A. Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)
  • B. General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994
  • C. Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)
  • D. Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)

Q4. Under which one of the following multilateral trade negotiating rounds were the WTO Agreements on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) concluded?

  • A. Kennedy Round
  • B. Tokyo Round
  • C. Uruguay Round
  • D. Doha Development Round

Q5. With reference to the India–US interim Bilateral Trade Agreement framework announced in February 2026, compared with the tariff regime that prevailed for Indian exports to the US in the preceding months of 2025, consider the following statements: 1. The US reciprocal tariff on Indian exports was brought down from 50% to 18% under the interim framework. 2. The 25% additional duty that the US had levied on Indian exports in connection with India's import of Russian crude oil was removed under the framework. 3. India committed to imposing fresh reciprocal duties on a broad range of US industrial and agricultural goods to balance the tariff cut by the US. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The US reciprocal tariff on Indian exports was brought down from 50% to 18% under the interim framework.
  2. The 25% additional duty that the US had levied on Indian exports in connection with India's import of Russian crude oil was removed under the framework.
  3. India committed to imposing fresh reciprocal duties on a broad range of US industrial and agricultural goods to balance the tariff cut by the US.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3