UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India, New Zealand set trade goal, elevate ties
Q1. On which of the following occasions were India–New Zealand relations formally elevated to a 'Strategic Partnership' in 2026?
- A. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Auckland, New Zealand (July 2026)
- B. During Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's official visit to India (March 2025)
- C. During President Droupadi Murmu's State Visit to New Zealand (August 2024)
- D. At the signing of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (April 2026)
Q2. PM Modi's July 2026 visit to New Zealand — the first by an Indian Prime Minister in about four decades — formed the final leg of a three-nation tour. This tour was undertaken principally to advance which one of the following?
- A. India's Act East Policy, with Indo-Pacific ocean diplomacy at its centre
- B. India's Neighbourhood First Policy
- C. India's Connect Central Asia Policy
- D. India's Look West / West Asia outreach
Q3. With reference to the India–New Zealand Strategic Partnership 'Roadmap to 2030' adopted in July 2026, consider the following:
1. It targets doubling annual bilateral trade to NZ$7 billion.
2. This trade target is approximately equivalent to ₹35,000 crore.
3. New Zealand committed to invest USD 20 billion in India over 15 years.
4. The trade-doubling target year is set at 2047, to coincide with 'Viksit Bharat'.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- It targets doubling annual bilateral trade to NZ$7 billion.
- This trade target is approximately equivalent to ₹35,000 crore.
- New Zealand committed to invest USD 20 billion in India over 15 years.
- The trade-doubling target year is set at 2047, to coincide with 'Viksit Bharat'.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q4. Under the 'Roadmap to 2030' adopted in July 2026, India and New Zealand aim to double annual bilateral trade to approximately which figure by 2030?
- A. NZ$7 billion (about ₹35,000 crore)
- B. NZ$3.5 billion (about ₹17,500 crore)
- C. NZ$14 billion (about ₹70,000 crore)
- D. NZ$20 billion (about ₹1,00,000 crore)
Q5. In the context of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (2026), the statement that it 'eliminates duty on 100% of India's exports' most precisely means which of the following?
- A. New Zealand will provide duty-free access covering all its tariff lines to goods exported from India
- B. India will remove customs duty on 100% of goods imported from New Zealand
- C. Both countries eliminate all customs duties on all products with immediate effect
- D. 100% of total bilateral trade in goods becomes duty-free from the date of signing
Q6. With reference to the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (2026), consider the following statements:
1. It was concluded in a record period of about nine months.
2. It was signed on 27 April 2026.
3. It includes, for the first time, market access commitments for AYUSH services.
4. It grants India permanent residency for 50,000 skilled workers every year.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It was concluded in a record period of about nine months.
- It was signed on 27 April 2026.
- It includes, for the first time, market access commitments for AYUSH services.
- It grants India permanent residency for 50,000 skilled workers every year.
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 2
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 2 only
Q7. Which one of the following was the earliest (first) high-level engagement in the 2024–2026 India–New Zealand outreach that culminated in the July 2026 Strategic Partnership?
- A. President Droupadi Murmu's State Visit to New Zealand (August 2024)
- B. PM Christopher Luxon's official visit to India (March 2025)
- C. Signing of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (April 2026)
- D. PM Narendra Modi's visit to Auckland (July 2026)
Q8. Consider the following India–New Zealand milestones and their timing:
1. President Droupadi Murmu's State Visit to New Zealand — August 2024.
2. PM Christopher Luxon's official visit to India — March 2025.
3. Signing of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement — April 2026.
4. Adoption of the 'Strategic Partnership: Roadmap to 2030' — March 2025.
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly matched?
- President Droupadi Murmu's State Visit to New Zealand — August 2024.
- PM Christopher Luxon's official visit to India — March 2025.
- Signing of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement — April 2026.
- Adoption of the 'Strategic Partnership: Roadmap to 2030' — March 2025.
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 3
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q9. With reference to the maritime and Indo-Pacific security cooperation between India and New Zealand as advanced in July 2026, consider the following statements:
1. A reciprocal logistics support arrangement was agreed between the Indian Navy and the New Zealand Defence Force.
2. New Zealand agreed to join the Quad as its fifth member.
3. The two sides anchored their maritime cooperation in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A reciprocal logistics support arrangement was agreed between the Indian Navy and the New Zealand Defence Force.
- New Zealand agreed to join the Quad as its fifth member.
- The two sides anchored their maritime cooperation in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q10. In the India–New Zealand engagement, New Zealand expressed interest in joining which single India-led initiative aimed at managing, conserving and sustaining the maritime domain of the Indo-Pacific?
- A. Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)
- B. Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
- C. Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)
- D. Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)
Q11. With reference to the geography of New Zealand, consider the following statements:
1. Wellington is the capital of New Zealand.
2. Auckland is the most populous city of New Zealand.
3. The Tasman Sea lies between New Zealand and Australia.
4. New Zealand is located in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Wellington is the capital of New Zealand.
- Auckland is the most populous city of New Zealand.
- The Tasman Sea lies between New Zealand and Australia.
- New Zealand is located in the North Atlantic Ocean.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 3 and 4 only
Q12. The July 2026 Modi–Luxon summit yielded 18 outcomes, including 10 agreements/MoUs, and elevated ties to a 'Strategic Partnership'. In this context, elevation to a 'Strategic Partnership' most accurately refers to which of the following?
- A. A formal upgrade of the overall bilateral relationship to a higher, institutionalised level of long-term cooperation
- B. A mutual-defence military alliance obliging each country to defend the other if attacked
- C. A customs union that eliminates all tariffs on all goods between the two countries
- D. New Zealand's accession to a security bloc led by India