International Trade & WTO — UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions
39 questions from UPSC CSE Prelims GS Paper 1 on International Trade & WTO (Indian Economy). Spanning from 1995 to 2024. Practice with show/hide answers and detailed explanations.
UPSC Prelims repeatedly checks conceptual clarity and contemporary awareness in the International Trade & WTO segment. Between 1995-2024 the exam has framed 39 questions ranging from classical theories like comparative advantage to India-specific issues such as Special and Differential Treatment, tariff peaks and Balance of Payments trends. Candidates must know WTO agreements (AoA, TRIPS, TBT, SPS), dispute-settlement cases involving India, regional trade agreements like RCEP, and export-promotion schemes (RoDTEP, PLI). Equally important are recent trade statistics—major export partners, service-trade surplus, and FDI flows—because the paper often blends static concepts with current data from RBI, UNCTAD or Economic Survey. Keeping an eye on trade facilitation measures, logistics performance and carbon border taxes will future-proof your preparation for upcoming Prelims cycles.
Q: Consider the following statements:
1. India is a member of the International Grains Council.
2. A country needs to be a member of the International Grains Council for exporting or importing rice and wheat.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए:
कथन-I: वस्तुओं के वैश्विक निर्यात में भारत का निर्यात 3·2% है।
कथन-II: भारत में कार्यरत अनेक स्थानीय कंपनियाँ और भारत से कार्यरत कुछ विदेशी कंपनियाँ ने 'उत्पादन-लिंक्ड प्रोत्साहन (पीएलआई) योजना' का लाभ उठाया है।
उपर्युक्त कथनों के बारे में, निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा एक सही है?
(a)कथन-I और कथन-II दोनों सही हैं तथा कथन-II, कथन-I की सही व्याख्या है
(b)कथन-I और कथन-II दोनों सही हैं तथा कथन-II, कथन-I की सही व्याख्या नहीं है
Q: With reference to Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMS), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Quantitative restrictions on imports by foreign investors are prohibited.
2. They apply to investment measures related to trade in both goods and services.
3. They are not concerned with the regulation of foreign investment.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Q: Consider the following statements:
1. The value of Indo-Sri Lanka trade has consistently increased in the last decade.
2. “Textile and textile articles” constitute an important item of trade between India and Bangladesh.
3. In the last five years, Nepal has been the largest trading partner of India in South Asia.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: भारत में माल के भौगोलिक संकेत (रजिस्ट्रीकरण और संरक्षण) अधिनियम, 1999 को निम्नलिखित में से किससे संबंधित दायित्वों के अनुपालन के लिए लागू किया गया ?
Q: निम्नलिखित देशों पर विचार कीजिए:
1. ऑस्ट्रेलिया
2. कनाडा
3. चीन
4. भारत
5. जापान
6. यू.एस.ए.
उपर्युक्त में से कौन-कौन आसियान (ASEAN) के मुक्त व्यापार भागीदारों में से हैं?
Q: ‘राष्ट्रीय बौद्धिक सम्पदा अधिकार नीति (National Intellectual Property Rights Policy)’ के सन्दर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :
1. यह नीति विश्व व्यापार संगठन की TRIPS समझौते के प्रति भारत की प्रतिबद्धता को दर्शाती है।
2. औद्योगिक नीति और संवर्धन विभाग भारत में बौद्धिक सम्पदा अधिकारों के विभिन्न प्रावधानों के लिए, नोडल विभाग है।
उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही है/हैं?
Q: निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :
1. भारत ने WTO के व्यापार सुगमता करार (TFA) का अनुसमर्थन किया है।
2. TFA, WTO के बाली मंत्रिस्तरीय पैकेज 2013 का एक भाग है।
3. TFA, जनवरी 2016 में प्रभावी हुआ।
उपयुक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही है/हैं ?
Q: The terms ‘Agreement on Agriculture’, ‘Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures’ and ‘Peace Clause’ appear in the news frequently in the context of the affairs of the
(a)Food and Agriculture Organization
(b)United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change
Q: With reference to the period of colonial rule in India, "Home Charges" formed an important part of drain of wealth from India. Which of the following funds constituted "Home Charges"?
1. Funds used to support the India Office in London.
2. Funds used to pay salaries and pensions of British personnel engaged in India.
3. Funds used for waging wars outside India by the British.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Q: In order to comply with TRIPS Agreement, India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999. The difference/differences between a “Trade Mark” and a Geographical Indication is/are
1. A Trade Mark is an individual or a company’s right whereas a Geographical Indication is a community’s right.
2. A Trade Mark can be licensed whereas a Geographical Indication cannot be licensed.
3. A Trade Mark is assigned to the manufactured goods whereas the Geographical Indication is assigned to the agricultural goods/products and handicrafts only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Q: The SEZ Act, 2005 which came into effect in February 2006 has certain objectives. In this context, consider the following :
1. Development of infrastructure facilities.
2. Promotion of investment from foreign sources.
3. Promotion of exports of services only.
Which of the above are the objectives of this Act ?
Q: As regards the use of international food safety standards as reference point for the dispute settlements, which one of the following does WTO collaborate with?
Q: Consider the following statements:
1. The agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) came into effect from 1st December 2005.
2. As per SAFTA agreement terms, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have to decrease their custom duties to the level of 0 % to 5 % by the year 2013.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: Consider the following statements
1. India’s import of crude and petroleum product during the year 2001-02 accounted for about 27% of India’s total imports.
2. During the year 2001-02, India’s exports had increased by 10% as compared to the previous year
Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Assertion (A): The new EXIM Policy is liberal, market-oriented and favours global trade.
Reason (R): GATT has played a significant role in the liberalisation of economy.
(a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are individually true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
Q: Consider the following statements:
1. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is a specialised agency of United Nations System of Organisations
2. WIPO has its headquarters at Rome
3. The Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement is binding on all WTO members
4. Least-developed country members of WTO are not required to apply the provisions of TRIPS Agreements for a period of 20 years from the general date of application of the Agreement
Which of these statements are correct?
Q: Consider the following statements: The Ministerial Meeting of the WTO held in December 1999 was unsuccessful because it attempted to link trade with
1. labour related issues.
2. environment related issues.
3. terrorism related issues.
4. debt related issues.
Which of these statements are correct?
Q: Assertion (A): The emergence of economic globalism does not imply the decline of socialist ideology.
Reason (R): The ideology of Socialism believes in universalism and globalism.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
(a)Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
Q: Assertion (A): An important policy instrument of economic liberalization is reduction in import duties on capital goods.
Reason (R): Reduction in import duties would help the local entrepreneurs to improve technology to face the global markets.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
(a)Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are true and R is not a correct explanation of A
Q: Which of the following were the aims behind the setting up of the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
I. Promotion of free trade and resource flows across countries.
II. Protection of intellectual property rights.
III. Managing balanced trade between different countries.
IV. Promotion of trade between the former East Bloc countries and the western world.
Select the correct answer by using the codes given below:
Q: Consider the following items imported by India:
I. Capital goods
II. Petroleum
III. Pearls and precious stones
IV. Chemicals
V. Iron and Steel
The correct sequence of these items (as per 1994-95 figures) in decreasing order of value is —
Q: Which of the following benefits are likely to accrue to India from the World Trade Organisation?
I. India’s share in the world trade is to go up from the present 600 million US dollars to 5 billion US dollars by 2000 A.D.
II. It will help boost exports of agricultural commodities from India.
III. India’s share in the world trade is likely to triple by the year 2000 A.D.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Q: 96. The new Exim Policy announced in 1992 is for a period of
(a)3 years
(b)4 years
(c)7 years
(d)5 years
Frequently Asked Questions
How many WTO agreements should I memorise for Prelims?▼
Focus on the core multilateral agreements frequently cited in questions: AoA, TRIPS, TRIMS, GATS, TBT, SPS, SCM, and the Trade Facilitation Agreement. Know their objectives, India’s concerns and key timelines.
Are bilateral FTAs equally important for Prelims?▼
Yes. UPSC has asked about ASEAN-India FTA, India-Japan CEPA, and India-UAE CEPA. Learn salient tariff commitments, rules of origin and the strategic sectors they cover.