UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — China says ‘divergent opinions’ led to lack of consensus at G20

Q1. With reference to the institutional working of the G20, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A country holds the G20 presidency for a fixed multi-year term so that it can see its agenda through to implementation.
  2. Since the G20 has neither a charter nor a permanent secretariat, continuity between years comes from the presidency acting together with the immediately preceding and succeeding presidencies.
  3. Commitments in a G20 Leaders' Declaration bind member governments in the same way as obligations under a ratified treaty.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 2 only

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. In 2026, the G20 could not adopt agreed language on industrial overcapacity, even though the country holding the presidency had pushed the issue.
  2. The G20 presidency, assisted by the Troika, is responsible for setting the agenda of that year's meetings.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. With reference to the evolution of the G20, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The G20 was first convened at the level of Heads of State/Government in response to the Asian Financial Crisis of the late 1990s.
  2. The first G20 Leaders' Summit was held in 2008, against the backdrop of the global financial crisis.
  3. The African Union became a permanent member of the G20 at the New Delhi Summit.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q4. With reference to trade remedies permitted under WTO rules, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. An anti-dumping duty responds to exports priced below the exporter's normal value, while a countervailing duty offsets injury caused by a subsidy granted by a foreign government.
  2. A safeguard measure may be imposed even without any allegation that the exporter is engaged in an unfair trade practice.
  3. The WTO Anti-Dumping Agreement directly prohibits companies from dumping and allows the WTO to penalise the exporting firm.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 only

Q5. Suppose state subsidies in Country X create excess capacity in steel. The surplus is exported to India at prices below those charged in X's home market, and Indian producers are injured. Consider the following responses by India: Which of the responses given above would be consistent with WTO trade-remedy rules?

  1. Imposing an anti-dumping duty on steel from X after an investigation establishes dumping and injury to the domestic industry
  2. Imposing a safeguard duty that applies only to steel from X, on the ground that X alone is the source of the excess capacity
  3. Imposing a countervailing duty on steel from X after an investigation establishes the subsidy and the resulting injury
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 only

Q6. With reference to the resolution of trade disputes between major economies, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The G20 has no mechanism to adjudicate a tariff dispute between two of its members.
  2. The WTO Appellate Body cannot currently decide appeals because it lacks the minimum number of members required to hear one.
  3. Appellate Body members are appointed by the Dispute Settlement Body, and the vacancies persist because WTO members have not agreed to start the selection process.
  4. The Appellate Body stopped functioning because China withdrew from the WTO's Dispute Settlement Understanding in 2019.
  • A. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Q7. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Since December 2019, a WTO panel report that has been appealed becomes binding on the parties once the time limit for deciding the appeal has passed, even without an appellate ruling.
  2. Since December 2019, the WTO Appellate Body has lacked the minimum number of members needed to hear an appeal.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q8. Consider the following assertion: The G20 is better described as a forum for coordination than as an international organisation. Which of the statements given below support/supports the above assertion?

  1. The G20 has no founding charter that sets out legal obligations for its members.
  2. The G20 has no permanent secretariat; each year's agenda is set by the presidency with the help of the Troika.
  3. With the inclusion of the African Union, G20 membership covers about 80 per cent of the world's population.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3