UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India Concludes Eighth Trade Policy Review at WTO in Geneva

Q1. The Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) of the WTO is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A transparency and monitoring instrument for periodic peer review of members' trade policies and practices
  • B. A binding adjudication process that penalises members for violating trade agreements
  • C. A forum for negotiating reciprocal tariff reductions and market-access concessions among members
  • D. An enforcement body empowered to authorise trade sanctions against non-compliant members

Q2. Under the WTO's current trade-policy review cycle, the members with the largest shares of world trade are reviewed once every how many years?

  • A. Two years
  • B. Three years
  • C. Five years
  • D. Seven years

Q3. With reference to India's Eighth Trade Policy Review at the WTO, consider the following statements: 1. India's delegation was led by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal. 2. The two review sessions were held on 21 and 23 July 2026 in Geneva. 3. The review examined India's trade policies for the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2025. 4. The review was conducted at the WTO under the Dispute Settlement Body. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. India's delegation was led by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal.
  2. The two review sessions were held on 21 and 23 July 2026 in Geneva.
  3. The review examined India's trade policies for the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2025.
  4. The review was conducted at the WTO under the Dispute Settlement Body.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. In India's statement at the Eighth Trade Policy Review, the record figure of USD 863.1 billion cited by the Commerce Secretary referred to India's which of the following?

  • A. Merchandise imports
  • B. Foreign exchange reserves
  • C. Total exports of goods and services
  • D. Gross domestic product

Q5. In a WTO Trade Policy Review, who is the 'discussant'?

  • A. The head of the reviewed member's own delegation who responds to questions raised
  • B. A WTO Secretariat official responsible for preparing the factual Secretariat report
  • C. A senior delegate, acting in a personal capacity, who offers an independent assessment to stimulate debate on the reviewed member's policies
  • D. The elected office-holder who presides over and chairs the review session

Q6. With reference to the officials associated with India's Eighth Trade Policy Review, consider the following statements: 1. The TPRB Chair for the review was Ambassador Nella Pepe Tavita-Levy of Samoa. 2. The discussant, Ambassador Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota of Brazil, participated in his official governmental capacity. 3. The discussant offers an independent assessment of the reviewed member's trade policies. 4. The TPRB Chair also heads the WTO Secretariat team that prepares the factual report. Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The TPRB Chair for the review was Ambassador Nella Pepe Tavita-Levy of Samoa.
  2. The discussant, Ambassador Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota of Brazil, participated in his official governmental capacity.
  3. The discussant offers an independent assessment of the reviewed member's trade policies.
  4. The TPRB Chair also heads the WTO Secretariat team that prepares the factual report.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q7. In the context of India's Eighth Trade Policy Review, the figure of 1,094 refers to which of the following?

  • A. The number of pages in the WTO Secretariat report
  • B. The total number of written questions submitted by WTO Members
  • C. The number of WTO Members that made oral interventions during the review
  • D. The number of WTO Members that submitted written questions

Q8. With reference to Member engagement during India's Eighth Trade Policy Review, consider the following statements: 1. Sixty-eight Members made interventions while forty-four Members submitted written questions. 2. Every WTO Member that submitted written questions also made an oral intervention during the review. 3. Written questions were the only form of Member engagement permitted during the review. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Sixty-eight Members made interventions while forty-four Members submitted written questions.
  2. Every WTO Member that submitted written questions also made an oral intervention during the review.
  3. Written questions were the only form of Member engagement permitted during the review.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. The report bearing document number WT/TPR/S/488, which formed one basis of India's Eighth Trade Policy Review, was prepared by which of the following?

  • A. The Government of India's Department of Commerce
  • B. The WTO Secretariat
  • C. The Trade Policy Review Body
  • D. The WTO Dispute Settlement Body

Q10. With reference to the institutional architecture of the WTO, consider the following statements: 1. The WTO was established in 1995 as the successor to the GATT. 2. The General Council convenes as the Trade Policy Review Body and as the Dispute Settlement Body. 3. The Ministerial Conference is the WTO's top decision-making body, normally meeting about every two years. 4. The Trade Policy Review Body functions as a subordinate committee reporting to the Council for Trade in Goods. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The WTO was established in 1995 as the successor to the GATT.
  2. The General Council convenes as the Trade Policy Review Body and as the Dispute Settlement Body.
  3. The Ministerial Conference is the WTO's top decision-making body, normally meeting about every two years.
  4. The Trade Policy Review Body functions as a subordinate committee reporting to the Council for Trade in Goods.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q11. The Amrit Kaal (2022–2047) sets as its central, overarching goal the achievement by 2047 of which of the following?

  • A. A five trillion US dollar economy
  • B. Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)
  • C. Viksit Bharat (Developed India)
  • D. Doubling of farmers' income

Q12. With reference to India's Trade Policy Reviews at the WTO, consider the following statements: 1. India's first Trade Policy Review was conducted in 1993 and its Eighth in 2026. 2. India's Seventh Trade Policy Review was held in January 2021. 3. The Seventh Trade Policy Review (2021) was the first of India's reviews to fall within the Amrit Kaal period. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. India's first Trade Policy Review was conducted in 1993 and its Eighth in 2026.
  2. India's Seventh Trade Policy Review was held in January 2021.
  3. The Seventh Trade Policy Review (2021) was the first of India's reviews to fall within the Amrit Kaal period.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3