UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India and Oman energize a new Trade Gateway through a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

Q1. Consider the following countries. With which of the following has India NOT signed a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that is in force as of June 2026?

  1. United Arab Emirates
  2. Oman
  3. Saudi Arabia
  4. Qatar
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q2. Which one of the following was the first member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with which India signed a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)?

  • A. Oman
  • B. United Arab Emirates
  • C. Saudi Arabia
  • D. Bahrain

Q3. Which one of the following cities hosts the General Secretariat (headquarters) of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)?

  • A. Abu Dhabi
  • B. Doha
  • C. Muscat
  • D. Riyadh

Q4. As of 2024, how many editions of the India-Oman joint military Exercise 'Al Najah' have been conducted since its inception?

  • A. Three
  • B. Four
  • C. Five
  • D. Seven

Q5. With reference to bilateral military exercises between India and Oman, consider the following statements:

  1. Exercise 'Al Najah' is a biennial joint exercise conducted between the Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman.
  2. Exercise 'Naseem Al Bahr' is a joint exercise conducted between the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force of Oman.
  3. Exercise 'Eastern Bridge' is a joint exercise conducted between the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force of Oman.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. With reference to the different categories of trade agreements signed by India, consider the following statements:

  1. A Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) typically involves tariff concessions on a limited number of tariff lines through a 'Margin of Preference', whereas a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) extends to goods, services, investment and regulatory cooperation.
  2. Unlike a conventional Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which is largely confined to liberalisation of trade in goods, a CEPA additionally includes binding commitments on trade in services and movement of natural persons.
  3. India has so far concluded Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) exclusively with member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. As per the Department of Commerce, how many limited-coverage Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) has India signed (as distinct from its Free Trade / Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements)?

  • A. Four
  • B. Six
  • C. Nine
  • D. Thirteen

Q8. With reference to the composition of India-Oman bilateral trade in the recent period preceding the entry into force of the India-Oman CEPA, consider the following commodities: 1. Crude petroleum oil 2. Urea (including fertilizer grade) 3. Basmati rice 4. Anhydrous ammonia Which of the above are among India's principal import items from Oman?

  1. Crude petroleum oil
  2. Urea (including fertilizer grade)
  3. Basmati rice
  4. Anhydrous ammonia
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4