UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India corn, soybean prices fall as door opens to U.S. import

Q1. Which one of the following is the largest Indian end-use sector expected to benefit from cheaper imports of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) permitted under the India-US Interim Trade Framework of February 2026?

  • A. Dairy cattle feeding
  • B. Poultry feed
  • C. Aquaculture feed
  • D. Piggery feed

Q2. The India-US Interim Trade Framework announced in February 2026, which opened India's market to U.S. soybean oil and DDGS, was negotiated and announced on the Indian side under the authority of which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of External Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
  • C. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • D. Ministry of Finance

Q3. With reference to the India-US Interim Trade Framework announced in February 2026, consider the following U.S. agricultural items: 1. Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) 2. Soybean oil 3. Basmati rice 4. Red sorghum for animal feed Which of the above is/are correctly identified as items on which India agreed to eliminate or reduce import tariffs under the framework?

  1. Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS)
  2. Soybean oil
  3. Basmati rice
  4. Red sorghum for animal feed
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. With reference to India's edible-oil and feed-grain tariff policy, consider the following statements: 1. In September 2024, India raised the Basic Customs Duty on crude soybean, palm and sunflower oils from 0% to 20%, and on refined varieties from 12.5% to 32.5%. 2. The India-US Interim Trade Framework of February 2026 reversed this protection by agreeing to eliminate or reduce tariffs on U.S. soybean oil and DDGS. 3. Under the same February 2026 framework, the United States reduced its reciprocal tariff on Indian exports from 50% to about 18%. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. In September 2024, India raised the Basic Customs Duty on crude soybean, palm and sunflower oils from 0% to 20%, and on refined varieties from 12.5% to 32.5%.
  2. The India-US Interim Trade Framework of February 2026 reversed this protection by agreeing to eliminate or reduce tariffs on U.S. soybean oil and DDGS.
  3. Under the same February 2026 framework, the United States reduced its reciprocal tariff on Indian exports from 50% to about 18%.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. In the context of the India-US Interim Trade Framework (February 2026), the term 'Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS)' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A genetically modified soybean variety approved for cultivation in the United States
  • B. A protein-rich animal feed coproduct obtained from grain-based ethanol fermentation
  • C. A category of crude vegetable oil derived from distillation of soybean and maize
  • D. A US Department of Agriculture grading standard for export-quality maize