UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India-Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) comes into force today

Q1. The India-Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement is stated to have 'entered into force' on 4 July 2026. In treaty practice, this phrase most precisely means the date on which the agreement:

  • A. became legally binding and operational between the two states, creating enforceable rights and obligations
  • B. was signed by the authorised representatives of the two governments
  • C. was initialled at the conclusion of negotiations, before signature
  • D. was ratified internally by one of the two parties alone

Q2. Approximately how many months elapsed between the signing of the India-Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement and its entry into force?

  • A. About 4 months
  • B. About 7 months
  • C. About 10 months
  • D. About 14 months

Q3. On behalf of the Government of India, the India-Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement was signed by the Union Minister holding which portfolio?

  • A. Commerce and Industry
  • B. External Affairs
  • C. Finance and Corporate Affairs
  • D. Law and Justice

Q4. By 2015, when India revised its Model Bilateral Investment Treaty, it had signed Bilateral Investment Treaties (earlier called BIPAs) with approximately how many countries?

  • A. 47
  • B. 63
  • C. 83
  • D. 97

Q5. The first round of negotiations for the India-Israel Free Trade Agreement, held in February 2026, took place in which city?

  • A. New Delhi
  • B. Jerusalem
  • C. Tel Aviv
  • D. Mumbai

Q6. On the Indian side, the India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F) is anchored in which of the following?

  • A. Department of Science and Technology
  • B. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
  • C. Ministry of Finance
  • D. Ministry of External Affairs

Q7. India's recent Bilateral Investment Agreements, including the one with Israel, are negotiated on the basis of which of the following framework texts?

  • A. India's Model Bilateral Investment Treaty (revised 2015/2016)
  • B. The WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
  • C. The OECD Multilateral Agreement on Investment
  • D. The UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration

Q8. India established full diplomatic relations with Israel in which year, and during whose tenure as Prime Minister?

  • A. 1950, under Jawaharlal Nehru
  • B. 1992, under P.V. Narasimha Rao
  • C. 1997, under I.K. Gujral
  • D. 2017, under Narendra Modi