UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The 14th Ministerial Conference of the WTO concluded on March 30, 2026 in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Q1. With reference to the outcomes of successive WTO Ministerial Conferences (MCs), consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Trade Facilitation Agreement — the first multilateral agreement concluded since the WTO's establishment — was finalised at the Bali Conference (MC9, 2013), whereas the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies was concluded at the Geneva Conference (MC12, 2022).
  2. The Doha Conference (MC4, 2001) launched the Doha Development Agenda, while the Nairobi Conference (MC10, 2015) was the first WTO Ministerial Conference to be hosted on the African continent.
  3. Every WTO Ministerial Conference held since 2001 has concluded with the adoption of a binding ministerial declaration.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Consider the following pairings of WTO Ministerial Conference (by number) with its host city. Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

  1. MC4 — Doha (2001)
  2. MC9 — Bali (2013)
  3. MC10 — Nairobi (2015)
  4. MC12 — Abu Dhabi (2022)
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. Comparing the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) with its predecessors, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. MC14 was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, making it the second WTO Ministerial Conference hosted in Africa, the first having been MC10 in Nairobi.
  2. Unlike MC13 at Abu Dhabi (2024), which adopted a ministerial declaration, MC14 closed without an overall ministerial declaration.
  3. At MC14, as at MC13, the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions was extended up to the next Ministerial Conference.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. At the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, how many decisions were formally adopted by WTO members?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Five
  • D. Six

Q5. With reference to India's stance at MC14 on the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. India, along with South Africa, led the opposition to incorporating the IFD Agreement at MC14.
  2. India objected to bringing the IFD into the WTO as an Annex-4 (plurilateral) agreement.
  3. India argued that investment facilitation lies outside the WTO's trade-focused mandate.
  4. India agreed to the IFD's incorporation on condition that a transition period was granted to developing countries.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. In the context of the IFD debate at MC14 and the WTO's plurilateral framework, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The IFD initiative was championed largely by China and a group of developing countries seeking WTO cover for investment facilitation.
  2. Annex-4 of the Marrakesh Agreement covers plurilateral agreements that bind only those members that accept them.
  3. India invoked the WTO's consensus-based decision-making to resist the plurilateral 'Joint Statement Initiative' route.
  4. At MC14 the IFD Agreement was adopted as a new multilateral agreement binding on all WTO members.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q7. With reference to the WTO moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The moratorium was first adopted at the Second WTO Ministerial Conference (1998) and has generally been renewed every two years thereafter.
  2. At MC13 (Abu Dhabi, 2024) the moratorium was extended until MC14 or 31 March 2026, whichever was earlier, but at MC14 members failed to reach consensus and it lapsed.
  3. India has consistently pressed for making the moratorium permanent in order to maximise its customs revenue from digital imports.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. In WTO parlance, the 'moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions' most accurately refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A commitment by members not to impose customs duties on cross-border electronic (digital) transmissions, periodically renewed at Ministerial Conferences
  • B. A permanent prohibition on levying any internal taxes on digital services traded across borders
  • C. A waiver permitting developing countries to levy higher import tariffs on electronic hardware
  • D. A temporary standstill on anti-dumping duties imposed on imported electronics

Q9. Which one of the following is the nodal ministry that formulates and operationalises India's negotiating position at the WTO, including on the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies?

  • A. Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
  • B. Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Department of Commerce)
  • C. Ministry of External Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs)

Q10. Consider the following pairs of WTO Annexes (under the Marrakesh Agreement) and their content. Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

  1. Annex 1A — multilateral agreements on trade in goods, including GATT 1994
  2. Annex 1B — General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
  3. Annex 1C — Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
  4. Annex 2 — plurilateral agreements binding only on members that accept them
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Q11. Which one of the following is the lead body that reviews the list of Least Developed Countries every three years and recommends countries for graduation?

  • A. Committee for Development Policy (CDP)
  • B. UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
  • C. WTO Sub-Committee on Least Developed Countries
  • D. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Bureau

Q12. Including MC14 at Yaoundé (2026), how many WTO Ministerial Conferences have been hosted on the African continent?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Four