UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The cumulative exports (merchandise & services) during April-December 2025 is estimated at US$ 634.26 Billion, as compared to US$ 607.93 Billion in April-December 2024, an estimated growth of 4.33%.

Q1. By approximately how many US$ Billion did India's cumulative exports (merchandise & services) increase in April-December 2025 over April-December 2024?

  • A. About US$18 Billion
  • B. About US$26 Billion
  • C. About US$35 Billion
  • D. About US$48 Billion

Q2. The merchandise export figures reported in India's monthly cumulative foreign trade releases (such as the April-December 2025 data) are compiled by which one of the following?

  • A. Reserve Bank of India
  • B. Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S), Kolkata
  • C. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q3. In the context of India's April-December 2025 trade data, the 'merchandise trade deficit' of US$248.32 Billion is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. The excess of merchandise imports over merchandise exports
  • B. The excess of total (goods plus services) imports over total exports, which is always negative
  • C. The excess of merchandise exports over merchandise imports
  • D. The difference between services imports and services exports

Q4. Among the following, which single sector recorded the highest year-on-year export growth in December 2025, reflecting the dividend of the mobile-phone PLI scheme?

  • A. Engineering Goods
  • B. Electronic Goods
  • C. Drugs and Pharmaceuticals
  • D. Petroleum products

Q5. The Department of Commerce's stated target of achieving US$2 trillion in total exports is envisaged for which target year?

  • A. 2027
  • B. 2030-31
  • C. 2035
  • D. 2047

Q6. The cumulative foreign trade estimates that show India's exports rising to US$825.26 Billion in FY 2024-25 and along the monthly Apr-Oct/Apr-Nov 2025 trajectory are officially released by which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry
  • B. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
  • C. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, which alone publishes all trade data
  • D. Ministry of External Affairs