India and Gulf Cooperation Council Sign Terms of Reference for India–GCC Free Trade Agreement

• Terms of Reference (ToR) for the India–GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed on 5 February 2026 at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, formally re-launching FTA negotiations that had been suspended since 2011.
• Signed by Ajay Bhadoo (Additional Secretary & Chief Negotiator, Department of Commerce, India) and Dr. Raja Al Marzouqi (Chief Negotiator, GCC Secretariat General).
• GCC is India's largest trading-partner bloc, accounting for 15.42% of India's global trade in FY 2024-25.
• Examinable for UPSC under GS-II (bilateral/regional groupings) and GS-III (external sector, trade agreements).