UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Prime Minister hails India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement as a historic milestone for bilateral relations

Q1. With reference to the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed in 2025, consider the following categories of persons. Which of the following are correctly identified as categories granted liberalised mobility commitments by the United Kingdom under the agreement?

  1. Contractual Service Suppliers
  2. Intra-Corporate Transferees, including their partners and dependent children with right to work
  3. Permanent migrants seeking long-term settlement and citizenship
  4. Independent Professionals such as yoga instructors, chefs and musicians
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q2. The Double Contribution Convention (DCC), signed as a companion pact to the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, exempts Indian professionals deputed to the United Kingdom on short-term assignments and their employers from UK social security (National Insurance) contributions for a maximum continuous period of:

  • A. One year
  • B. Two years
  • C. Three years
  • D. Five years

Q3. The formal negotiations for the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), launched in January 2022 and concluded in May 2025, spanned the tenures of how many successive UK Prime Ministers?

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

Q4. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) — the only European bloc with which India has concluded a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) so far — comprises exactly how many member states?

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

Q5. In which year did the India–European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) formally enter into force?

  • A. 2022
  • B. 2023
  • C. 2024
  • D. 2025

Q6. Under the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), what is the annual dedicated quota for Indian chefs, yoga instructors and classical musicians to temporarily provide services in the United Kingdom?

  • A. 900
  • B. 1,800
  • C. 2,400
  • D. 3,600

Q7. With reference to the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), consider the following categories of natural persons claimed to enjoy liberalised entry under its mobility chapter: 1. Contractual Service Suppliers 2. Investors 3. Independent Professionals 4. Intra-Corporate Transferees Which of the above is/are NOT correctly listed as a category covered under CETA's mobility commitments?

  1. Contractual Service Suppliers
  2. Investors
  3. Independent Professionals
  4. Intra-Corporate Transferees
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q8. The 52nd G7 Summit (June 2026) at Évian-les-Bains, on the sidelines of which PM Modi and UK PM Keir Starmer welcomed the entry-into-force of the India-UK CETA, was held under the G7 Presidency chaired by which one of the following leaders?

  • A. Giorgia Meloni
  • B. Emmanuel Macron
  • C. Friedrich Merz
  • D. Mark Carney

Q9. At the 52nd G7 Summit held at Évian-les-Bains (15-17 June 2026), which India attended as an invitee, how many countries (apart from the G7 members and the European Union) were invited as 'partner countries' in the Sherpa track of the French Presidency?

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

Q10. With reference to the 'India-UK Vision 2035' document endorsed by the Prime Ministers of the two countries in 2025, how many pillars constitute the framework for bilateral cooperation under this Vision?

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

Q11. Consider the following statements regarding the 'India-UK Vision 2035' and its predecessor framework: 1. Vision 2035 replaces the earlier 'India-UK Roadmap 2030' as the long-term strategic framework for bilateral relations. 2. Vision 2035 envisages a 'BRISK' partnership, where BRISK stands for Business, Research, Innovation, Science & technology, and Knowledge. 3. Vision 2035 sets a target of tripling bilateral merchandise trade from the existing baseline by 2030. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Vision 2035 replaces the earlier 'India-UK Roadmap 2030' as the long-term strategic framework for bilateral relations.
  2. Vision 2035 envisages a 'BRISK' partnership, where BRISK stands for Business, Research, Innovation, Science & technology, and Knowledge.
  3. Vision 2035 sets a target of tripling bilateral merchandise trade from the existing baseline by 2030.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. Which of the following is the nodal Indian ministry/department that negotiated and is responsible for operationalising the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)?

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

Q13. As of 2026, with how many G7 member countries has India signed a Free Trade Agreement?

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