π Chapter 11 Β· Previous Year Questions
International Trade & Organisations β Previous Year Questions
10 actual questions from UPSC, APPSC, and TGPSC previous year papers on International Trade and Organisations.
π‘ Tip: Previous year questions reveal the exact pattern. Study these carefully β similar questions repeat every year.
π 10 Previous Year Questions
With reference to the Balance of Payments (BoP), consider the following statements:
1. BoP includes both current account and capital account.
2. Remittances from Indians abroad are recorded in the current account.
3. FDI inflows are recorded in the current account.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. BoP includes both current account and capital account.
2. Remittances from Indians abroad are recorded in the current account.
3. FDI inflows are recorded in the current account.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
β
Answer: A) 1 and 2 onlyStatements 1 and 2 are correct. BoP includes current account (goods, services, income, transfers) and capital account (FDI, FPI, loans). Remittances are recorded in the current account (secondary income). Statement 3 is incorrect β FDI is recorded in the capital account, not current account.
Which of the following is the correct full form of GATS in the context of WTO?
A) General Agreement on Trade and Subsidies
B) General Agreement on Trade in Services
C) Global Agreement on Tariffs and Standards
D) General Agreement on Trade and Sanctions
β
Answer: B) General Agreement on Trade in ServicesGATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services) is a WTO agreement covering trade in services β banking, IT, education, healthcare, tourism. India benefits greatly from GATS as India is a major exporter of IT services (~$200 billion/year) and wants further liberalisation of Mode 4 (movement of professionals).
The first Director General of the New Development Bank (NDB) of BRICS was:
A) Arundhati Bhattacharya
B) K.V. Kamath
C) Raghuram Rajan
D) Urjit Patel
β
Answer: B) K.V. KamathK.V. Kamath (former ICICI Bank Chairman) was the first President of the New Development Bank (NDB) of BRICS (2015-2020). NDB is headquartered in Shanghai, China. It was established with initial capital of $50 billion to fund infrastructure and sustainable development in BRICS countries.
India’s largest export destination (merchandise + services) is:
A) USA
B) China
C) UAE
D) UK
β
Answer: A) USAUSA is India’s largest export destination. India exports IT services, pharmaceuticals, gems & jewellery, and engineering goods to USA. China is India’s largest import source (electronics, machinery, chemicals). India-USA bilateral trade is ~$190 billion/year.
Which of the following best describes “dumping” in international trade?
A) Exporting goods at very high prices
B) Exporting goods at prices below cost of production or domestic price
C) Importing goods in large quantities
D) Refusing to trade with certain countries
β
Answer: B)Dumping is exporting goods at prices below the cost of production or below the domestic price β to capture foreign markets and destroy local competition. WTO’s Anti-Dumping Agreement allows countries to impose anti-dumping duties to counter this practice. India frequently imposes anti-dumping duties on Chinese goods.
India became a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in:
A) 2005
B) 2010
C) 2017
D) 2020
β
Answer: C) 2017India became a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2017 at the Astana Summit. SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security organisation. India joined along with Pakistan. SCO members include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Central Asian states.
The “Most Favoured Nation (MFN)” principle in WTO means:
A) Give special treatment to the most important trading partner
B) Treat all WTO member countries equally in trade
C) Give preference to developing countries
D) Favour countries with trade surplus
β
Answer: B)MFN (Most Favoured Nation) principle means treating all WTO member countries equally β if you give a trade benefit to one country, you must give the same benefit to all WTO members. It is a cornerstone of WTO’s non-discrimination principle. India revoked Pakistan’s MFN status in 2019 after Pulwama attack.
India’s exchange rate system is best described as:
A) Fixed exchange rate
B) Freely floating exchange rate
C) Managed float (dirty float)
D) Currency board arrangement
β
Answer: C) Managed float (dirty float)India follows a managed float (dirty float) exchange rate system β the rupee’s value is primarily determined by market forces, but RBI intervenes to prevent excessive volatility. India moved from a fixed exchange rate to managed float after the 1991 reforms. RBI buys/sells dollars to manage the rupee.
India’s first Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in a decade was signed with:
A) USA
B) UAE
C) Australia
D) UK
β
Answer: B) UAEIndia signed a CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) with UAE in February 2022 β India’s first FTA in a decade. The agreement covers goods, services, and investment. India-UAE bilateral trade is ~$85 billion/year. India also signed an Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) with Australia in 2022.
India is the world’s largest recipient of remittances. India received approximately how much in remittances in 2022?
A) $50 billion
B) $75 billion
C) $100 billion
D) $150 billion
β
Answer: C) ~$100 billionIndia received ~$100 billion in remittances in 2022 β the world’s largest, surpassing China and Mexico. Remittances are sent by the Indian diaspora (especially from USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, UK). Remittances help finance India’s current account deficit and are a major source of foreign exchange.