UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India-EU Free Trade Pact Covers One-Third of World Population, Impacts 25% of Global GDP: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal

Q1. The India–EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations, from the 2007 launch to the 2026 conclusion, were led on the Indian side exclusively by which of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Department of Commerce)
  • B. Ministry of External Affairs
  • C. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q2. In the context of the India–EU trade talks launched in 2007, the acronym 'BTIA' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement
  • B. Bilateral Tariff and Investment Arrangement
  • C. Balanced Trade and Industrial Accord
  • D. Bilateral Trade in Agriculture Agreement

Q3. The conclusion of the India–EU FTA negotiations was jointly announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and which one of the following, at the 16th India–EU Summit?

  • A. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
  • B. António Costa, President of the European Council
  • C. Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade
  • D. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament

Q4. On the European Union side, the negotiation of the India–EU FTA concluded in January 2026 was conducted by which one of the following?

  • A. Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade) of the European Commission
  • B. The European Council Secretariat
  • C. The European Parliament's Committee on International Trade
  • D. The European External Action Service

Q5. Minister Goyal characterised the India–EU FTA as covering 'about one-third'. This one-third figure refers precisely to a share of which one of the following?

  • A. World population
  • B. Global merchandise trade
  • C. The world's sovereign states
  • D. Global foreign direct investment

Q6. With reference to India–EU trade figures cited around the 2026 FTA, consider the following statements: 1. India–EU bilateral goods trade in 2024–25 was about USD 136.54 billion. 2. India's goods exports to the EU in 2024–25 stood at about USD 75.85 billion. 3. India's goods imports from the EU in 2024–25 stood at about USD 60.68 billion. 4. India–EU services trade in 2024 was about USD 136 billion. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. India–EU bilateral goods trade in 2024–25 was about USD 136.54 billion.
  2. India's goods exports to the EU in 2024–25 stood at about USD 75.85 billion.
  3. India's goods imports from the EU in 2024–25 stood at about USD 60.68 billion.
  4. India–EU services trade in 2024 was about USD 136 billion.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 1 only

Q7. According to Minister Piyush Goyal's statement, with the EU becoming India's 22nd FTA partner, how many free trade agreements has India signed in the preceding four years?

  • A. 8
  • B. 5
  • C. 12
  • D. 22

Q8. Consider the following India–partner trade agreements and their acronyms: 1. India–UAE — CEPA 2. India–Australia — ECTA 3. India–UK — CETA 4. India–EFTA — TEPA Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. India–UAE — CEPA
  2. India–Australia — ECTA
  3. India–UK — CETA
  4. India–EFTA — TEPA
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. With reference to the roles of the European Commission and the European Council, consider the following statements: 1. The European Commission is the EU's executive body responsible for negotiating trade agreements on behalf of the Union. 2. Ursula von der Leyen heads the European Council. 3. Maroš Šefčovič serves as the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The European Commission is the EU's executive body responsible for negotiating trade agreements on behalf of the Union.
  2. Ursula von der Leyen heads the European Council.
  3. Maroš Šefčovič serves as the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Consider the following statements about the European Union and its trade machinery as relevant to the India–EU FTA: 1. The European Union is a bloc of 27 member states. 2. Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade) is a department of the European Commission. 3. The European College of Commissioners visited New Delhi in February 2025. 4. The President of the European Council chairs the European Commission. Which of the above is/are correctly stated?

  1. The European Union is a bloc of 27 member states.
  2. Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade) is a department of the European Commission.
  3. The European College of Commissioners visited New Delhi in February 2025.
  4. The President of the European Council chairs the European Commission.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q11. Under the India–EU FTA, on entry into force the EU grants immediate duty elimination on approximately what share of its tariff lines?

  • A. About 70.4% of tariff lines, covering about 90.7% of India's export value
  • B. About 90.7% of tariff lines, covering about 70.4% of India's export value
  • C. About 50% of tariff lines, covering about 99% of India's export value
  • D. About 33% of tariff lines, covering about 25% of India's export value

Q12. Within the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, headed by Shri Piyush Goyal, the India–EU FTA is negotiated and implemented by which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Commerce
  • B. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
  • C. Department of Revenue
  • D. Department of Economic Affairs