UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India joins WTO’s agreement on fisheries subsidies

Q1. With respect to the World Trade Organization, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is most notable as which one of the following?

  • A. The first WTO agreement to place environmental sustainability at its core
  • B. The first WTO agreement concluded through the dispute settlement mechanism
  • C. The first plurilateral trade agreement adopted under WTO auspices
  • D. The first WTO agreement jointly administered with the Food and Agriculture Organization

Q2. Under the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, a fish stock is treated as 'overfished' when it is recognised as such by which one of the following?

  • A. The coastal Member concerned or the relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organization/Arrangement
  • B. The WTO Committee on Fisheries Subsidies acting on a member complaint
  • C. The Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization
  • D. A dedicated Fish Stock Assessment Panel of the United Nations Environment Programme

Q3. Once in force, implementation of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is monitored by which one of the following WTO bodies?

  • A. The Committee on Fisheries Subsidies
  • B. The Council for Trade in Goods
  • C. The Trade Policy Review Body
  • D. The Committee on Trade and Environment

Q4. Consider the following statements about the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: 1. It was adopted by consensus at the 12th Ministerial Conference held in Geneva in June 2022. 2. It entered into force on 15 September 2025 after two-thirds of WTO members deposited their instruments of acceptance. 3. It is only the second multilateral agreement concluded at the WTO since the organization's establishment. 4. A member becomes a party to it by ratifying the text before a Regional Fisheries Management Organization. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It was adopted by consensus at the 12th Ministerial Conference held in Geneva in June 2022.
  2. It entered into force on 15 September 2025 after two-thirds of WTO members deposited their instruments of acceptance.
  3. It is only the second multilateral agreement concluded at the WTO since the organization's establishment.
  4. A member becomes a party to it by ratifying the text before a Regional Fisheries Management Organization.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 3 only

Q5. The two-year transition period available to developing countries and least-developed countries before certain subsidy prohibitions bind them is provided under which provision of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies?

  • A. Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT)
  • B. Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) treatment
  • C. National Treatment
  • D. The Enabling Clause

Q6. Throughout the negotiations, India argued that members whose large-scale industrial fleets are historically responsible for depleting global stocks should bear greater subsidy-reduction obligations. This argument primarily invokes which principle?

  • A. Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities
  • B. The Most-Favoured-Nation principle
  • C. The precautionary principle
  • D. The principle of non-discrimination

Q7. Consider the following statements about the WTO Ministerial Conferences and fisheries subsidies: 1. The 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) was held in Geneva in June 2022. 2. The 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) was held in Abu Dhabi in early 2024. 3. A 'second wave' of negotiations aims to discipline subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing. 4. The second-wave disciplines on overcapacity and overfishing were concluded at MC13. Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) was held in Geneva in June 2022.
  2. The 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) was held in Abu Dhabi in early 2024.
  3. A 'second wave' of negotiations aims to discipline subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing.
  4. The second-wave disciplines on overcapacity and overfishing were concluded at MC13.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. At the WTO, agreements such as the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies are adopted by which one of the following?

  • A. The Ministerial Conference, the WTO's highest decision-making body
  • B. The Director-General, who alone has authority to conclude WTO agreements
  • C. The Secretariat, whose decisions automatically bind all members
  • D. The Dispute Settlement Body, whose rulings by themselves create new agreements

Q9. Consider the following statements about the World Trade Organization (WTO): 1. It was established on 1 January 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement. 2. Its Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body and meets at least once every two years. 3. Its Secretariat is located in Geneva. 4. Every WTO decision must be taken by the unanimous vote of all its members. Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It was established on 1 January 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement.
  2. Its Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body and meets at least once every two years.
  3. Its Secretariat is located in Geneva.
  4. Every WTO decision must be taken by the unanimous vote of all its members.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. Global government support to fisheries is estimated at about USD 35 billion a year. Roughly two-thirds of this—the single largest share—is made up of which one of the following?

  • A. Capacity-enhancing subsidies that increase the ability to fish unsustainably
  • B. Beneficial subsidies for fisheries management, monitoring and research
  • C. Fuel-tax rebates confined to recreational and sport fishing
  • D. Disaster-relief payments to coastal fishing communities

Q11. In the Government of India, the flagship fisheries scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is implemented by which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
  • B. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
  • C. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • D. Marine Products Export Development Authority, Ministry of Commerce and Industry