UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Compounding gains

Question 1

The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, signed in April 2026, was described as India's fastest-negotiated FTA. Counting from the formal launch of negotiations to their conclusion, exactly how many months did it take?

Accepted Answer

9 months

Answer

6 months

Answer

12 months

Answer

18 months

Question 2

India's recent Free Trade Agreements, including the India–New Zealand FTA, are negotiated by which body?

Accepted Answer

Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Answer

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

Answer

Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance

Answer

Ministry of External Affairs

Question 3

The India–European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) entered into force in which year?

Accepted Answer

2025

Answer

2023

Answer

2024

Answer

2026

Question 4

In the chronological sequence of India's FTA wave — Mauritius, UAE, Australia, EFTA, UK, EU, Oman and New Zealand — the India–New Zealand FTA occupies which position?

Accepted Answer

Eighth

Answer

Sixth

Answer

Seventh

Answer

Ninth

Question 5

The India–Australia ECTA, India's first FTA with a developed economy in over a decade, came into force on which date?

Accepted Answer

29 December 2022

Answer

2 April 2022

Answer

30 September 2021

Answer

29 December 2023

Question 6

The India–EFTA TEPA was concluded with the member states of the European Free Trade Association. Which of the following are correctly identified as EFTA member states party to the agreement?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

1, 3 and 4

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 7

To facilitate investment and coordinate implementation of the India–EFTA TEPA, which dedicated institutional mechanism was inaugurated?

Accepted Answer

India–EFTA Desk

Answer

India–EFTA Investment Board

Answer

EFTA Trade Facilitation Council

Answer

India–EFTA Joint Venture Fund

Question 8

When India decided not to join the RCEP in 2019, its concerns over persistent trade imbalance and inadequate market access were directed primarily at which single member country?

Accepted Answer

China

Answer

Japan

Answer

Australia

Answer

South Korea

Question 9

India's Foreign Trade Policy 2023, the domestic framework underpinning its FTA-led export diversification and China+1 strategy, is notified and administered by which body?

Accepted Answer

Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)

Answer

Reserve Bank of India

Answer

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs

Answer

NITI Aayog

Question 10

Which of the following is India's largest trading-partner bloc, with which India concluded a landmark FTA described as its largest-ever trade deal?

Accepted Answer

European Union

Answer

ASEAN

Answer

European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

Answer

Gulf Cooperation Council

Question 11

India has titled its recent trade agreements differently — CECPA (Mauritius), CEPA (UAE), ECTA (Australia), TEPA (EFTA) and CETA (UK). Across these five agreements, how many distinct agreement nomenclatures (titles) are used?

Accepted Answer

Five

Answer

Two

Answer

Three

Answer

Four

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Compounding gains

Q1. The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, signed in April 2026, was described as India's fastest-negotiated FTA. Counting from the formal launch of negotiations to their conclusion, exactly how many months did it take?

Q2. India's recent Free Trade Agreements, including the India–New Zealand FTA, are negotiated by which body?

Q3. The India–European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) entered into force in which year?

Q4. In the chronological sequence of India's FTA wave — Mauritius, UAE, Australia, EFTA, UK, EU, Oman and New Zealand — the India–New Zealand FTA occupies which position?

Q5. The India–Australia ECTA, India's first FTA with a developed economy in over a decade, came into force on which date?

Q6. The India–EFTA TEPA was concluded with the member states of the European Free Trade Association. Which of the following are correctly identified as EFTA member states party to the agreement?

Q7. To facilitate investment and coordinate implementation of the India–EFTA TEPA, which dedicated institutional mechanism was inaugurated?

Q8. When India decided not to join the RCEP in 2019, its concerns over persistent trade imbalance and inadequate market access were directed primarily at which single member country?

Q9. India's Foreign Trade Policy 2023, the domestic framework underpinning its FTA-led export diversification and China+1 strategy, is notified and administered by which body?

Q10. Which of the following is India's largest trading-partner bloc, with which India concluded a landmark FTA described as its largest-ever trade deal?

Q11. India has titled its recent trade agreements differently — CECPA (Mauritius), CEPA (UAE), ECTA (Australia), TEPA (EFTA) and CETA (UK). Across these five agreements, how many distinct agreement nomenclatures (titles) are used?