International Relations Current Affairs Quiz — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
To what level did India and Sweden elevate their relationship during PM Modi's visit to Sweden in May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Strategic Partnership
PM Modi and PM Ulf Kristersson agreed in Gothenburg to elevate India–Sweden ties to the level of Strategic Partnership.
Which document did India and Sweden adopt in May 2026 to operationalise their new partnership?
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Correct answer: C — India-Sweden Joint Action Plan 2026-2030
The two leaders adopted the India-Sweden Joint Action Plan 2026-2030 as the roadmap for the Strategic Partnership.
Consider the following statements about the India–Sweden talks of May 2026: 1. The relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 2. The partnership will be guided by three pillars. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Both are wrong: the ties were elevated to a Strategic Partnership (not Comprehensive), and it rests on four pillars.
According to PIB, the Afsluitdijk visited by PM Modi in May 2026 is a dam and causeway of about what length?
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Correct answer: B — 32 km
PIB describes the Afsluitdijk as a 32-kilometre-long dam and causeway.
The Kalpasar project, on which India and the Netherlands agreed technical cooperation in May 2026, aims to create a freshwater reservoir across which water body?
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Correct answer: D — Gulf of Khambhat
The Kalpasar project in Gujarat aims to create a freshwater reservoir across the Gulf of Khambhat.
Who conferred the Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross, on PM Narendra Modi on 17 May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Crown Princess Victoria
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden conferred the award at a special ceremony in Gothenburg.
Which distinction did PM Modi achieve with the Royal Order of the Polar Star in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — First Asian leader to be conferred the award
PIB states that PM Modi is the first Asian leader to be conferred the award.
According to PIB, in which century was Sweden's Royal Order of the Polar Star instituted?
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Correct answer: B — 18th century
PIB describes it as one of Sweden's oldest honours, instituted in the 18th century.
The original Tagore epigrams whose replicas Sweden gifted to PM Modi in May 2026 were written during Tagore's visits to Sweden in which years?
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Correct answer: A — 1921 and 1926
The originals, recently found in the Swedish National Archives, were created during Tagore's visits to Sweden in 1921 and 1926.
The India–Sweden gift exchange of May 2026 coincided with the centenary of Rabindranath Tagore's:
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Correct answer: C — historic visit to Sweden in 1926
PIB says the exchange coincides with the centenary of Tagore's historic visit to Sweden in 1926.
To what level did India and the Netherlands elevate their relations on 16 May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Strategic Partnership
PM Modi and PM Rob Jetten decided in The Hague to elevate India–Netherlands relations to a Strategic Partnership.
At which royal palace did King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima host PM Modi on 16 May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Huis ten Bosch, The Hague
The Joint Statement says the King and Queen hosted PM Modi at the Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague.
Consider the following statements about PM Modi's visit to the Netherlands in May 2026: 1. It was PM Modi's first visit to the Netherlands. 2. Under the Strategic Partnership Roadmap, a Foreign Minister-level mechanism will hold annual meetings to review progress. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: it was PM Modi's second visit to the Netherlands. Statement 2 is correct as per the Roadmap.
Which institution restituted the 11th-century Chola Copper Plates to India on 16 May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Leiden University Library
Leiden University Library returned the Chola Copper Plates in the presence of PM Modi and PM Rob Jetten.
The Chola Copper Plates returned in May 2026 record the gift of Anaimangalam village to a Buddha vihara located in:
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Correct answer: B — Nagapattinam
The charters formalise the gift of Anaimangalam village to the Chulamanivarma-vihara in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu.
Consider the following statements about the Chola Copper Plates restituted to India in May 2026: 1. The set consists of 21 large plates and 3 small plates. 2. The texts on the plates are written only in Tamil. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the plates contain texts in both Tamil and Sanskrit.
Where will the Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence for Flowers be established, as per the outcomes of PM Modi's visit to the Netherlands (May 2026)?
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Correct answer: A — West Tripura
The list of outcomes includes the establishment of an Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence for Flowers in West Tripura.
The Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence on Training in Dairy, agreed in May 2026, will be set up at which institution?
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Correct answer: C — Centre of Excellence for Animal Husbandry (CEAH), Bengaluru
The outcomes list the Indo-Dutch CoE on Training in Dairy at the Centre of Excellence for Animal Husbandry (CEAH), Bengaluru.
Which statement correctly describes India's BRICS Chairship as stated in May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Fourth time; earlier in 2012, 2016 and 2021
India has assumed the BRICS Chairship for the fourth time, after 2012, 2016 and 2021.
According to the Commerce Secretary (May 2026), intra-BRICS merchandise trade reached what value in 2024?
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Correct answer: C — US$1.17 trillion
Intra-BRICS merchandise trade rose thirteen-fold from US$84 billion in 2003 to US$1.17 trillion in 2024.
The 2nd meeting of the BRICS Contact Group on Trade and Economic Issues (CGETI) in May 2026 was held in which city?
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Correct answer: B — Gandhinagar
The 2nd CGETI meeting was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat; the first was held virtually in March 2026.
ASML, which signed an agreement with Tata Electronics in May 2026, is a leading supplier of which equipment for chip-making?
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Correct answer: C — High-precision lithography equipment
PIB describes ASML as a Dutch multinational and one of the leading suppliers of high-precision lithography equipment.
The Tata Electronics–ASML agreement of May 2026 supports India's first front-end semiconductor fab at:
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Correct answer: D — Dholera, Gujarat
The agreement supports the semiconductor fab at Dholera, Gujarat – India's first front-end fab.
PM Narendra Modi congratulated Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi in May 2026 on assuming office as the Prime Minister of which country?
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Correct answer: C — Iraq
PM Modi congratulated Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi on assuming office as Prime Minister of Iraq.
INS Sagardhwani concluded a port call at Port Klang in May 2026. Port Klang is in which country?
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Correct answer: B — Malaysia
INS Sagardhwani departed Port Klang, Malaysia, on 15 May 2026 after engaging with the Royal Malaysian Navy.
What type of vessel is the Indian Navy's INS Sagardhwani?
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Correct answer: C — Oceanographic research vessel
The Ministry of Defence describes INS Sagardhwani as the Indian Navy's oceanographic research vessel.
Under the ISPRL–ADNOC MoU signed during PM Modi's UAE visit in May 2026, ADNOC may store up to how much crude oil in India's Strategic Petroleum Reserves?
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Correct answer: C — 30 million barrels
The MoU covers potential ADNOC crude storage in India's SPR of up to 30 million barrels.
During PM Modi's UAE visit in May 2026, Emirates NBD announced a US$3 billion investment in which Indian entity?
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Correct answer: B — RBL Bank
Emirates NBD is to invest US$3 billion in RBL Bank; IHC is to invest US$1 billion in Sammaan Capital and ADIA up to US$1 billion with NIIF.
Consider the following statements about India–UAE relations, as per PIB (May 2026): 1. PM Modi's visit to the UAE in 2015 was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 34 years. 2. India–UAE bilateral merchandise trade crossed US$100 billion for the first time in FY 2025-26. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: the 2015 visit was the first by an Indian PM in 34 years, and trade reached US$101.25 billion in FY 2025-26.
Which Indian organisation signed a term sheet with UAE's G-42 in May 2026 to set up an 8-exaflop supercomputing cluster?
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Correct answer: D — CDAC
The term sheet for an 8-exaflop super computing cluster is between CDAC, India and G-42, UAE, as part of AI Mission India.
In which city did the Kimberley Process Intersessional Meeting 2026 conclude under India's Chairship?
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Correct answer: D — Mumbai
The KP Intersessional 2026 concluded in Mumbai; the KP Plenary is to be held in New Delhi later in 2026.
What do the '3Cs' in the theme of India's Kimberley Process Chairship (2026) stand for?
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Correct answer: A — Credibility, Compliance and Consumer Confidence
India's KP Chairship theme is the 3Cs – Credibility, Compliance and Consumer Confidence.
Consider the following statements about the Kimberley Process: 1. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was established under UN General Assembly Resolution 55/56 of 2000 to prevent conflict diamonds from entering legitimate trade. 2. The KP Chair for 2026 is Suchindra Misra of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per PIB: the KPCS was established under UNGA Resolution 55/56 of 2000, and Suchindra Misra is KP Chair 2026.
Which institution's campus at Jinja, Uganda, is described by PIB (May 2026) as India's first overseas public academic campus?
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Correct answer: A — National Forensic Sciences University
PIB describes the NFSU Uganda Campus in Jinja, which enrolled its first batch in October 2025, as India's first overseas public academic campus.
As per the Environment Ministry (May 2026), the estimated lion population in the Greater Gir Landscape in 2025 was:
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Correct answer: D — 891
The lion population in the Greater Gir Landscape rose to an estimated 891 in 2025, a 32% increase over 2020.
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) works for the conservation of how many big cat species?
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Correct answer: C — Seven
IBCA covers seven big cats: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma.
Consider the following statements about the Asiatic lion: 1. Project Lion was launched by the Government of India in 2020. 2. The Asiatic lion is listed in Appendix II of CITES. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The Asiatic lion is in Appendix I of CITES (and Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972), not Appendix II.
When Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on PM Modi in May 2026, he briefed him on progress since which India–Russia Annual Summit held in December 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 23rd
Lavrov briefed the PM on progress since the leaders' meeting in December 2025 for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit.
Consider the following statements about Sergei Lavrov's call on PM Modi on 14 May 2026: 1. PM Modi reiterated India's stand in favour of dialogue and diplomacy. 2. The talks were limited to bilateral trade and did not cover Ukraine. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The two discussed regional and global issues including Ukraine and West Asia, so statement 2 is wrong.
At the ITU Council 2026 in Geneva, India's proposal to host which ITU event was accepted?
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Correct answer: D — ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2030
The ITU Council accepted India's proposal to host the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-2030); it is likely to be approved at PP-2026 in Doha.
Consider the following statements about the ITU Council: 1. It is the governing body of the ITU and comprises 48 elected Member States. 2. India became a member of the ITU Council only in 1992. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. DoT states that India has been a member of the ITU Council since 1952.
According to the Commerce Ministry (May 2026), India–Africa bilateral trade in 2025-26 stood at about:
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Correct answer: A — US$93.69 billion
Bilateral trade reached US$93.69 billion in 2025-26 (exports US$45.42 bn, imports US$48.27 bn); US$3.4 trillion is the value of AfCFTA.
Consider the following statements about India–Africa trade, as stated at the IAFS-IV business curtain raiser (May 2026): 1. In 2025-26, India's imports from Africa were higher than its exports to Africa. 2. India and Africa share the ambition of tripling bilateral trade by 2030. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct: imports were US$48.27 bn against exports of US$45.42 bn. The stated ambition is doubling, not tripling, trade by 2030.
India's chairship of the Common Criteria Development Board (CCDB) for 2026–2028 was confirmed at a CCRA meeting held in April 2026 in which city?
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Correct answer: B — Tokyo
It was confirmed at the 1st Quarter Meeting of the CCRA held from 14 to 16 April 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
Consider the following statements about India and the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA): 1. India has been a member of the CCRA since September 2013 as a Certificate Authorizing Nation. 2. CERT-In acts as India's official certification body for IT security evaluations under the Common Criteria. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. India joined on 16 September 2013; the official certification body is MeitY's STQC Directorate, not CERT-In.
India's first mega greenfield shipyard at Thoothukudi is being developed with which Korean company?
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Correct answer: C — HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering
The tripartite MoU is between HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), NSHIP-TN and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Ltd.
Consider the following statements: 1. Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 aims to place India among the top five shipbuilding nations with output of 4.5 million GT per annum by 2047. 2. The proposed Thoothukudi greenfield shipyard alone has an envisaged annual capacity of 4.5 million GT. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The Thoothukudi shipyard's envisaged annual capacity is 2.5 million GT; 4.5 million GT is the national MAKV 2047 target.
Which country's Foreign Minister, Francisco Pérez Mackenna, visited India in May 2026 for talks on an early conclusion of a CEPA?
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Correct answer: D — Chile
Francisco Pérez Mackenna is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile; the talks focused on the India–Chile CEPA.
The Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) launched in May 2026 is a strategy between India and which organisation?
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Correct answer: A — International Fund for Agricultural Development
The eight-year COSOP for 2026–2033 was launched by the Government of India with IFAD.
Consider the following statements about the India–IFAD partnership: 1. India's partnership with IFAD spans nearly five decades, with 35 rural development projects implemented in India. 2. The COSOP 2026–2033 has three strategic priorities. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The COSOP 2026–2033 has two strategic priorities: rural resilience and knowledge systems for scaling.
Under the February 2026 MoU between NCGG and Seychelles' Public Service Bureau, how many Seychellois civil servants are to be trained over three years?
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Correct answer: A — 250
The three-year agreement sets out a roadmap to train 250 Seychellois civil servants.
How many senior Seychelles officials are in the first NCGG capacity-building cohort that began on 11 May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — 29
The first cohort brings together 29 high-ranking officials, including directors general and senior officers.
Which Vietnamese port did the Indian Navy's oceanographic research vessel INS Sagardhwani visit from 4 to 8 May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Cam Ranh
INS Sagardhwani visited Cam Ranh, Vietnam from 4 to 8 May 2026.
During INS Sagardhwani's May 2026 visit to Vietnam, scientists from which DRDO laboratory engaged with the Institute of Oceanography, Nha Trang?
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Correct answer: D — Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL)
Scientists from NPOL (Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory), DRDO, engaged with researchers of the Institute of Oceanography, Nha Trang.
The Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA 2026), to which India was invited in May 2026, is being held in which city?
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Correct answer: D — Kigali
NEISA 2026 is scheduled at the Kigali Convention Centre, Rwanda, from 18 to 21 May 2026.
Where was the second round of India–Canada CEPA negotiations held from 4 to 8 May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi
The second round was held at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, hosted by the Department of Commerce.
When and where is the next (third) round of India–Canada CEPA negotiations scheduled, as per the joint statement of May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — July 2026, Ottawa
The next round is scheduled for July 2026 in Ottawa, with intersessional engagements in the interim.
Which edition of the India–Australia Defence Policy Talks was held in New Delhi on 8 May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 10th
The 10th edition of the India–Australia Defence Policy Talks was held in New Delhi on 8 May 2026.
Consider the following statements about the India–Australia Defence Policy Talks of May 2026: 1. The Indian delegation was led by the Defence Secretary. 2. The first India–Australia Joint Staff Talks were held alongside the Defence Policy Talks in New Delhi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Neither is correct. The Indian side was led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, and both sides only looked forward to holding the first Joint Staff Talks later in the year.
Under which BRICS framework is India advancing MSME cooperation during its 2026 Chairship?
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Correct answer: B — BRICS Partnership on the New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR)
India is advancing MSME cooperation under the BRICS Partnership on the New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR).
What was the focus of the first BRICS SME Working Group meeting held as a webinar on 24 April 2026 under India's Chairship?
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Correct answer: C — Access to Finance for MSMEs
The first SME Working Group meeting focused on 'Access to Finance for MSMEs'.
India's Pavilion opened in May 2026 at which edition of the International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia?
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Correct answer: C — 61st
The Pavilion of India opened at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.
What is the title of the exhibition at the Pavilion of India at the Venice Biennale 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Geographies of Distance: remembering home
The India Pavilion presents 'Geographies of Distance: remembering home', curated by Dr Amin Jaffer; 'In Minor Keys' is the exhibition it responds to.
The India Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale marks India's return to the Biennale Arte after which year?
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Correct answer: A — 2019
The exhibition marks India's return to the Biennale Arte since 2019.
The Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), reviewed by the Commerce Secretary in Switzerland in May 2026, is India's trade agreement with which grouping?
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Correct answer: C — European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
TEPA is India's first trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) economies.
Under the India–EFTA TEPA, EFTA has offered improved market access on what share of its tariff lines, and what share of India's exports does this cover?
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Correct answer: A — 92.2% of tariff lines, covering 99.6% of India's exports
EFTA offered improved market access on 92.2% of its tariff lines, covering 99.6% of India's exports.
India's merchandise exports to Switzerland in FY 2025–26 exceeded which figure, as stated during the Commerce Secretary's visit in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — USD 1.2 billion
India's exports to Switzerland exceeded USD 1.2 billion in FY 2025–26; USD 6.884 billion was services exports in 2024.