UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India Reaffirms Commitment to Rules-Based Multilateral Trading System at WTO Trade Policy Review in Geneva
Q1. The WTO's Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) is best described as which one of the following?
- A. A collective surveillance exercise that enhances transparency of members' trade policies without adjudicating disputes or enforcing compliance
- B. A judicial process that adjudicates trade complaints between members and authorises retaliatory tariffs against defaulters
- C. A negotiating forum that fixes binding tariff-reduction schedules that members are legally obliged to implement
- D. A certification procedure that clears members' sanitary and phytosanitary measures before they may restrict imports
Q2. India's engagement at its WTO Trade Policy Review, including preparation of the government's policy statement, is spearheaded by which one of the following?
- A. Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- B. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- C. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
- D. Economic Diplomacy and States Division, Ministry of External Affairs
Q3. India's delegation to the 8th Trade Policy Review at the WTO (July 2026) was led by which one of the following?
- A. The Commerce Secretary
- B. The Minister of Commerce and Industry
- C. India's Permanent Representative to the WTO in Geneva
- D. The Foreign Secretary
Q4. Consider the following statements about India's 8th Trade Policy Review at the WTO:
1. The review covered the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2025.
2. A total of 65 WTO Members participated in the review.
3. The review was based solely on a policy statement prepared by the Government of India, with no input from the WTO Secretariat.
4. India highlighted record total exports of USD 863.1 billion during the review.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- The review covered the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2025.
- A total of 65 WTO Members participated in the review.
- The review was based solely on a policy statement prepared by the Government of India, with no input from the WTO Secretariat.
- India highlighted record total exports of USD 863.1 billion during the review.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 3 only
- D. 3 and 4 only
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the export figures India presented at its 8th Trade Policy Review:
1. India's total exports reached an all-time high of USD 863.1 billion in 2025-26.
2. This figure was an increase over the USD 676.5 billion recorded in 2021-22.
3. The USD 863.1 billion figure represents India's merchandise exports alone, excluding services exports.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- India's total exports reached an all-time high of USD 863.1 billion in 2025-26.
- This figure was an increase over the USD 676.5 billion recorded in 2021-22.
- The USD 863.1 billion figure represents India's merchandise exports alone, excluding services exports.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. At its 8th Trade Policy Review, India highlighted several structural reforms undertaken during the review period. Which of the following were among the reforms cited?
1. Goods and Services Tax (GST)
2. Digital Public Infrastructure
3. Aatmanirbhar Bharat
4. Nationalisation of commercial banks
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Goods and Services Tax (GST)
- Digital Public Infrastructure
- Aatmanirbhar Bharat
- Nationalisation of commercial banks
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q7. India's trade policies were first subjected to a Trade Policy Review under the multilateral system in which year?
- A. 1993
- B. 1995
- C. 1998
- D. 1991
Q8. India's Trade Policy Reviews are conducted approximately once every five years. This periodicity is determined primarily by which one of the following?
- A. India's share in world trade, which places it in the tier of members reviewed on a five-yearly cycle
- B. A single uniform schedule that applies identically to every WTO member irrespective of trade share
- C. India's classification as a developing country entitled to special and differential treatment
- D. The number of disputes to which India is a party before the Dispute Settlement Body
Q9. At the WTO, Trade Policy Reviews of members are actually carried out by which one of the following?
- A. The Trade Policy Review Body, i.e. the General Council convening under special rules and procedures
- B. The Dispute Settlement Body, i.e. the General Council convening to adjudicate trade disputes
- C. The Ministerial Conference, the WTO's topmost decision-making organ meeting every two years
- D. The Council for Trade in Goods, functioning directly under the General Council
Q10. Consider the following statements about India's posture at its 8th WTO Trade Policy Review:
1. India reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent, rules-based multilateral trading system.
2. India positioned itself as a defender of the WTO system amid global protectionist trends.
3. India is simultaneously negotiating Free Trade Agreements with partners including the EU and the UK.
4. India announced its intention to withdraw from the WTO and pursue trade exclusively through bilateral deals.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- India reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent, rules-based multilateral trading system.
- India positioned itself as a defender of the WTO system amid global protectionist trends.
- India is simultaneously negotiating Free Trade Agreements with partners including the EU and the UK.
- India announced its intention to withdraw from the WTO and pursue trade exclusively through bilateral deals.
- A. 3 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 3 and 4 only
- D. 2 and 4 only
Q11. How many WTO Members participated in India's 8th Trade Policy Review?