UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — EU FTA puts India on a level-playing field: Darpan Jain

Q1. With reference to the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement concluded in January 2026, consider the following sectors of Indian exports: 1. Textiles and leather footwear 2. Sports goods and toys 3. Passenger automobiles 4. Gems and jewellery Which of the above are correctly identified as labour-intensive sectors granted immediate duty elimination by the EU under the agreement?

  1. Textiles and leather footwear
  2. Sports goods and toys
  3. Passenger automobiles
  4. Gems and jewellery
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. With reference to the labour-intensive Indian export sectors receiving immediate duty elimination on the EU side under the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (2026), consider the following: 1. Tea, coffee and spices 2. Marine products 3. Toys and sports goods 4. Passenger cars and heavy machinery Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as such a labour-intensive sector?

  1. Tea, coffee and spices
  2. Marine products
  3. Toys and sports goods
  4. Passenger cars and heavy machinery
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q3. On the Indian side, which one of the following is the nodal department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry whose Additional Secretary (Darpan Jain) led the negotiation team that finalised the India–EU Free Trade Agreement in January 2026?

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

Q4. With reference to the preferential access enjoyed by India's competitors in the EU market before the conclusion of the India–EU FTA, consider the following statements: 1. Bangladesh enjoyed duty-free access to the EU market under the Everything But Arms (EBA) arrangement available to Least Developed Countries. 2. The EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement entered into force in 2020. 3. Turkey enjoys preferential access to the EU market only through a Free Trade Agreement signed in 2007 and has no customs union with the EU. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Bangladesh enjoyed duty-free access to the EU market under the Everything But Arms (EBA) arrangement available to Least Developed Countries.
  2. The EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement entered into force in 2020.
  3. Turkey enjoys preferential access to the EU market only through a Free Trade Agreement signed in 2007 and has no customs union with the EU.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Under the India–EU Free Trade Agreement concluded on 27 January 2026, what proportion of India's own tariff lines (covering about 97.5% of EU exports to India) has India agreed to open up to the European Union?

  • A. 70.4%
  • B. 90.7%
  • C. 92.1%
  • D. 99.0%
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