UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Chinese investment influx good for wider ties, says India’s envoy
Q1. The 2025-26 (FY26) merchandise trade figures showing China as India's largest trading partner were compiled and released by which one of the following?
- A. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- B. Reserve Bank of India
- C. Ministry of Finance
- D. NITI Aayog
Q2. With reference to India-China bilateral trade in 2025-26 (FY26), consider the following:
1. China overtook the United States to become India's largest trading partner.
2. Bilateral trade was valued at about $151.1 billion.
3. India's exports to China exceeded its imports from China.
4. India's trade deficit with China touched an all-time high.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- China overtook the United States to become India's largest trading partner.
- Bilateral trade was valued at about $151.1 billion.
- India's exports to China exceeded its imports from China.
- India's trade deficit with China touched an all-time high.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 1 and 4 only
Q3. Regarding the Modi-Xi meeting at Kazan in October 2024 and its outcomes on the India-China border, consider the following statements:
1. It was held on the margins of the 16th BRICS Summit.
2. The leaders welcomed the agreement for complete disengagement at the friction points that arose in 2020.
3. The Special Representatives were to meet to oversee peace and tranquility in the border areas.
4. A final, mutually delimited India-China boundary settlement was signed at Kazan.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It was held on the margins of the 16th BRICS Summit.
- The leaders welcomed the agreement for complete disengagement at the friction points that arose in 2020.
- The Special Representatives were to meet to oversee peace and tranquility in the border areas.
- A final, mutually delimited India-China boundary settlement was signed at Kazan.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 4 only
- D. 1 and 4
Q4. Consider the following statements about the India-China border normalisation process:
1. The 2020 standoff followed the Galwan Valley clash along the Line of Actual Control.
2. The Modi-Xi meeting at Kazan took place in October 2024.
3. The Special Representatives mechanism deals with the India-China boundary question.
4. The 'complete disengagement' welcomed at Kazan referred to friction points that had arisen in 2017.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The 2020 standoff followed the Galwan Valley clash along the Line of Actual Control.
- The Modi-Xi meeting at Kazan took place in October 2024.
- The Special Representatives mechanism deals with the India-China boundary question.
- The 'complete disengagement' welcomed at Kazan referred to friction points that had arisen in 2017.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q5. In the context of the Indian envoy's pitch for exporting 'generic medicines' to China, a generic medicine is best defined as:
- A. A pharmaceutical product that is bioequivalent to a branded originator drug and is marketed, usually after the originator's patent expires, without a proprietary brand name
- B. A newly discovered molecule still protected by an active product patent held by its innovator
- C. A drug that is undergoing Phase III clinical trials and awaiting marketing approval
- D. A herbal or traditional formulation exempt from standard drug-regulatory approval
Q6. India's Ambassador to China made his 2026 remarks favouring greater Chinese investment and market access for Indian pharmaceuticals at the World Peace Forum, which is organised by which one of the following?
- A. Tsinghua University
- B. Peking University
- C. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
- D. Shanghai Institutes for International Studies
Q7. Comparing recent BRICS summits, consider the following statements:
1. The 16th BRICS Summit (2024) was hosted by Russia, whereas the 15th Summit (2023) was hosted by South Africa.
2. The 16th Summit at Kazan was the first BRICS summit ever hosted by Russia.
3. The 13th BRICS Summit (2021) was held under India's chairship.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The 16th BRICS Summit (2024) was hosted by Russia, whereas the 15th Summit (2023) was hosted by South Africa.
- The 16th Summit at Kazan was the first BRICS summit ever hosted by Russia.
- The 13th BRICS Summit (2021) was held under India's chairship.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q8. The 16th BRICS Summit, which adopted the Kazan Declaration in 2024, was held under the chairship of which country?
- A. Russia
- B. South Africa
- C. Brazil
- D. India
Q9. With reference to India's pharmaceutical sector, consider the following statements:
1. India is the largest global supplier of generic medicines.
2. India is the world's third-largest producer of pharmaceuticals by volume.
3. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is India's national drug regulatory authority.
4. India ranks first in the world in pharmaceutical exports by value.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- India is the largest global supplier of generic medicines.
- India is the world's third-largest producer of pharmaceuticals by volume.
- The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is India's national drug regulatory authority.
- India ranks first in the world in pharmaceutical exports by value.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q10. Comparing the different measures of India's pharmaceutical strength, consider the following statements:
1. India ranks higher globally in pharmaceutical output measured by volume than measured by value.
2. India accounts for roughly one-fifth of the world's supply of generic medicines.
3. India's pharmaceutical exports reach fewer than 50 countries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- India ranks higher globally in pharmaceutical output measured by volume than measured by value.
- India accounts for roughly one-fifth of the world's supply of generic medicines.
- India's pharmaceutical exports reach fewer than 50 countries.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. Press Note 3 of 2020, which mandates prior government approval for FDI from countries sharing a land border with India (including China), was issued and is administered by which one of the following?
- A. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
- B. Reserve Bank of India
- C. Securities and Exchange Board of India
- D. Foreign Investment Promotion Board
Q12. In 2025-26 (FY26), which single country was simultaneously India's largest trading partner and the source of its largest bilateral merchandise trade deficit?
- A. China
- B. United States
- C. Russia
- D. United Arab Emirates