UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India and Germany sign a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Telecommunications Cooperation
Q1. The India–Germany Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Telecommunications Cooperation (2026) identifies a defined set of broad areas for cooperation between the DoT and the BMDS. How many such cooperation areas does the JDI enumerate?
- A. Three
- B. Four
- C. Five
- D. Seven
Q2. During German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's official visit to India on 12–13 January 2026, he was accompanied by a business delegation. How many German CEOs/industry leaders formed part of this delegation?
Q3. Which one of the following best characterises the Joint Declaration of Intent on Telecommunications signed in the context of Chancellor Merz's January 2026 visit?
- A. It is the first standalone India–Germany telecom-specific instrument concluded at ministerial/departmental level
- B. It is India's first-ever bilateral telecom Joint Declaration of Intent with any country
- C. It is the first India–Germany digital-sector instrument of any kind
- D. It is a legally binding treaty requiring parliamentary ratification in both countries
Q4. Among the following India–Germany bilateral frameworks/mechanisms, which one was established the earliest?
- A. Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC)
- B. Strategic Partnership
- C. Green and Sustainable Development Partnership
- D. Joint Declaration of Intent on Telecommunications
Q5. The India–Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC), held at the level of Heads of Government, have taken place periodically since their launch. As of 2024, how many rounds of the IGC had been held?
- A. Five
- B. Six
- C. Seven
- D. Eight
Q6. The German nodal body for the 2026 telecom JDI is the BMDS. Which one of the following most accurately describes the BMDS?
- A. Germany's Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation, a newly created ministry that consolidates digital competencies from several federal ministries
- B. The only German ministry that has always handled all telecommunications matters since German reunification
- C. An EU-level regulatory agency headquartered in Berlin overseeing digital policy for all member states
- D. A private-sector industry consortium of German telecom equipment manufacturers
Q7. Germany's Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation (BMDS), the German counterpart for the telecom JDI, was created in 2025. Who serves as its Federal Minister?
- A. Karsten Wildberger
- B. Philipp Ackermann
- C. Friedrich Merz
- D. Olaf Scholz
Q8. With reference to the India–Germany Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development (GSDP), consider the following statements:
1. It was launched at the 6th India–Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations in May 2022.
2. Germany committed to support it with at least 10 billion euros of additional funding until 2030.
3. It was jointly launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
4. It is a legally binding treaty that replaced the India–Germany Strategic Partnership.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?
- It was launched at the 6th India–Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations in May 2022.
- Germany committed to support it with at least 10 billion euros of additional funding until 2030.
- It was jointly launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
- It is a legally binding treaty that replaced the India–Germany Strategic Partnership.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q9. The following statements compare the India–Germany GSDP (2022) with the India–Germany telecom JDI (2026):
1. Unlike the non-binding telecom JDI, the GSDP came with a specific financial commitment of at least 10 billion euros.
2. Both the GSDP and the telecom JDI were launched at an Inter-Governmental Consultations summit.
3. The GSDP is centred on green and sustainable development, whereas the telecom JDI is centred on the telecom/ICT sector.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Unlike the non-binding telecom JDI, the GSDP came with a specific financial commitment of at least 10 billion euros.
- Both the GSDP and the telecom JDI were launched at an Inter-Governmental Consultations summit.
- The GSDP is centred on green and sustainable development, whereas the telecom JDI is centred on the telecom/ICT sector.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q10. The Indian nodal body for the 2026 telecom JDI is the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Which one of the following correctly describes the DoT?
- A. A department under the Ministry of Communications responsible for telecom policy, licensing and spectrum management
- B. A department under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
- C. An autonomous statutory regulator equivalent in status to TRAI
- D. A public sector undertaking (PSU) providing telecom services under the Ministry of Communications
Q11. With reference to India's bilateral cooperation in telecommunications, ICT and semiconductors, consider the following statements:
1. India and the United States maintain an ICT Working Group, which met in New Delhi in October 2024.
2. India and Japan have a MeitY–METI cooperation pact in the field of semiconductors.
3. India's Bharat 6G Alliance has signed cooperation MoUs with counterparts in Europe (6G-IA) and Finland (6G Flagship, Oulu).
4. India signed its first semiconductor supply-chain MoU with Germany's BMDS in 2024.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?
- India and the United States maintain an ICT Working Group, which met in New Delhi in October 2024.
- India and Japan have a MeitY–METI cooperation pact in the field of semiconductors.
- India's Bharat 6G Alliance has signed cooperation MoUs with counterparts in Europe (6G-IA) and Finland (6G Flagship, Oulu).
- India signed its first semiconductor supply-chain MoU with Germany's BMDS in 2024.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1, 3 and 4
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4