International Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreements
Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are bilateral/multilateral pacts to reduce trade barriers, boosting economic ties. India has signed FTAs with the UK (July 2025,...
PM Modi holds bilateral talks with leaders of U.K., UAE on the sidelines of G7 Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and UAE ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. Discussions with the UK focused on strengthening ties and operationalizing a Free Trade Agreement. Talks with the UAE involved enhancing partnership, security, and defence cooperation, and the UAE's participation in India's strategic oil reserves. Both meetings also touched upon regional geopolitical developments, including a US-Iran peace deal and the importance of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Syllabus mapping
Mains syllabus topics
Indian Culture Art Architecture
Modern Indian History
Freedom Struggle
Indian Society Diversity
Globalization Indian Society
Prelims takeaways
- India's bilateral relations with the UK and UAE, including key areas of cooperation (trade, security, energy).
- The significance of Free Trade Agreements in India's foreign policy.
- The strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and its role in global trade and energy security.
- India's engagement with multilateral forums like the G7 Summit.
- Recent geopolitical developments in West Asia and their implications.
Elimination traps
- Specific dates of meetings or deal signings (e.g., June 16, 2026, July 2025).
- Details of UK domestic politics (e.g., Keir Starmer's political future, byelection, Andy Burnham).
- Exact quotes or statements made by leaders unless they convey a significant policy shift.
Static concepts
- G7 Summit (purpose, members)
- Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
- Strait of Hormuz (strategic importance, geography)
- Indian expatriate community/diaspora
- Strategic oil reserves
Probable question areas
Question areas
- Key pillars of India-UK and India-UAE strategic partnerships.
Question areas
- Geographical location and strategic significance of the Strait of Hormuz.
Question areas
- Role of G7 in global governance and India's participation/engagement.
Question areas
- Impact of West Asia conflicts on global energy security and India's interests.
Question areas
- Benefits and challenges of Free Trade Agreements for India.
UPSC concepts in this story
Durable syllabus ideas for revision — not article memory.
Geopolitics of West Asia & Energy Security
West Asia is critical for global energy and trade. The article highlights a US-Iran peace deal, the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and regional conflicts a...
Previous year Prelims questions on overlapping themes and topics.
India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect
Explanation
Correct answer
A. India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a multimodal transport network aimed at boosting trade between India, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe, using a combination of sea, rail, and road routes via Iran. The corridor connects Mumbai → Bandar Abbas (Iran) → Azerbaijan → Russia → Europe, with access to Central Asia.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India?
Explanation
Correct answer
C. India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
India signed a deal to develop the Chabahar port with Iran. Apart from the bilateral agreement between India and Iran, a trilateral transit and trade corridor deal was also signed by India, Iran and Afghanistan which would ensure easy movement of goods between the three countries, bypassing Pakistan. The Chabahar port is situated in South Eastern part of Iran and on the northern coast of Gulf of Oman It is surrounded by Afghanistan in the North, Pakistan in the North-East and India in the East. The location of the Chabahar port is of strategic importance to India in linking trade routes from the Indian Ocean to Afghanistan, Central Asia and also to Europe; thereby avoiding a land route through Pakistan.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Consider the following statements regarding the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS):
1. The summit held in 2015 marked the third edition of the IAFS.
2. The IAFS mechanism was instituted under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Correct answer
A. 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: The Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) was hosted in New Delhi in October 2015. The first and second summits were held in 2008 (New Delhi) and 2011 (Addis Ababa), respectively, making the 2015 event the third edition. Statement 2 is incorrect: The India-Africa Forum Summit was institutionalized in 2008 to serve as the official platform for African-Indian relations. While Jawaharlal Nehru was a pioneer of Afro-Asian solidarity (e.g., the Asian Relations Conference of 1947), the IAFS is a distinct 21st-century initiative and was not established in 1951.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries?
Explanation
Correct answer
B. Russia
* India signed the ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with Russia. * India and Russia have a long-standing strategic partnership in the field of civil nuclear cooperation. * The agreement aims to enhance collaboration in areas such as nuclear fuel cycle management, nuclear power projects, and research in nuclear science and technology. * Russia has been a key partner in India's nuclear energy sector, particularly through Rosatom, which has been involved in building Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu. * Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States have also engaged in nuclear cooperation with India but were not part of this specific agreement.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants?
1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
Correct answer
C. 1 and 3 only
All 6 participants of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation are member countries bordering the basins of the Mekong and Ganga rivers, aiming to collaborate on various initiatives. These countries are: - India - Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Thailand - Vietnam Hence, China & Bangladesh are not part of the Mekong-Ganga Corporation.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
India is a member of which of the following?
1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation.
2. Association of South-East Asian Nations.
3. East Asia Summit
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
Correct answer
B. 3 only
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC): India is not a member of APEC. Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN): India is not a member of ASEAN, but it is a part of ASEAN6. East Asia Summit: India is a member of the East Asia Summit. Therefore, out of the given options, India is only a member of the East Asia Summit.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Technology Council'
Statement-II: The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to begin technological progress and physical productivity under their control.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statement?
Explanation
Correct answer
C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
* Statement 1 is correct: Trade and Technology Council was launched by the the United States of America and the European Union during the EU-US Summit on 15 June 2021 in Brussels. * Statement 2 is incorrect: Trade and Technology council, the USA and EU does not aim to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control. Rather the initiative intends to promote pooling of digital resources such as AI models and computing power, and make them available to partner countries to address challenges in areas such as climate change and extreme weather, healthcare or smart agriculture.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Emerging Information Technologies
Consider the following:
1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
2. Missile Technology Control Regime
3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
India is a member of which of the above?
Explanation
Correct answer
D. 1, 2 and 3
India is a member of all the Organizations mentioned. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: SCO has 10 full members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan (founding members), India, Pakistan (joined 2017), Iran (joined 2023), and Belarus (joined 2024). Missile Technology Control Regime: India became a full member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) on June 27, 2016, becoming the 35th partner country and strengthening international efforts to prevent the spread of missile technology. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: India joined the AIIB as a founding member in 2015, signing the Articles of Agreement on June 29, 2015, in Beijing, becoming one of the 50 initial signatories to establish the multilateral development bank. India is the second-largest shareholder in the AIIB after China.
International Relations
Current Affairs
International Financial Institutions
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:
1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2. Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3. Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
Explanation
Correct answer
D. 1, 2 and 3
Statement 1 is correct. The United Nations General Assembly may grant non-member states, international organizations, and other entities Permanent Observer Status. Statement 2 is correct. The General Assembly decided that observer status would be confined to States and intergovernmental organizations whose activities cover matters of interest to the Assembly. Statement 3 is correct. Permanent Observers may participate in the sessions and workings of the General Assembly and maintain missions at the UN Headquarters.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?
Explanation
Correct answer
A. Iran
The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, originally (and still colloquially) known as the Gulf Cooperation Council, is a regional intergovernmental political and economic union consisting of all Arab states of the Persian Gulf except Iran. Its member states are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The Charter of the Gulf Cooperation Council was signed on 25 May 1981, formally establishing the institution. Hence, option A is the correct answer.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Previous year Mains questions mapped to overlapping GS syllabus topics.
Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
View Mains PYQ
Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
View Mains PYQ
How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
Effects of globalization on Indian society
View Mains PYQ
Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss.
Modern Indian history (mid-18th century to present)
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism and secularism
View Mains PYQ
Do you think that globalization results in only an aggressive consumer culture? Justify your answer.
Effects of globalization on Indian society
View Mains PYQ
The ethos of civil service in India stand for the combination of professionalism with nationalistic consciousness – Elucidate.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
View Mains PYQ
With reference to India-U.K. relations as discussed in the article, consider the following statements: 1. A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the U.K. was signed in July 2025. 2. The FTA has been fully operationalized, opening many avenues of economic cooperation. 3. The Labour Party under Keir Starmer has actively sought to renew its ties with the Indian government. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct as the article mentions, "The Starmer government also finalised and signed a Free Trade Agreement with India in July 2025". Statement 2 is incorrect as the article states, "The deal, while signed, has not yet been operationalised." Statement 3 is correct as the article notes, "Under Mr. Starmer, the Labour Party underwent a reset and renewal of its ties with the Indian government".
Which of the following areas of cooperation between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are explicitly mentioned in the article? 1. Enhancing security and defence cooperation. 2. UAE's participation in building India’s strategic reserves of oil, LNG and LPG. 3. A trade deal signed in 2022. 4. Addressing the welfare of the Indian expatriate community. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
All four points are explicitly mentioned in the article. The article states: "India and the UAE announced a significant expansion in security and defence cooperation." (1), "The UAE had also agreed to participate in building India’s strategic reserves of oil, LNG and LPG." (2), "The ties have grown in recent years, with a trade deal signed in 2022" (3), and "The Prime Minister said he thanked the UAE for taking care of the Indian expatriate community." (4).
The recent discussions between India and its partners on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, as per the article, highlighted the importance of freedom of navigation in which of the following strategic waterways?
Explanation
The article explicitly states: "The two leaders agreed that the Strait of Hormuz should now be opened without tolls and with full freedom of navigation".
"India's deepening engagement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reflects its evolving strategic interests in West Asia amidst regional geopolitical shifts." Analyze this statement in the context of recent developments, including energy security and defence cooperation.
Introduce the growing India-UAE partnership, discuss the drivers such as energy security, trade, diaspora, and defence cooperation, and link these to the broader geopolitical context of West Asia, including the US-Iran peace deal and the importance of the Strait of Hormuz.
Examine how India's bilateral engagements with key partners like the UK and UAE, as discussed on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, contribute to its economic interests and regional stability.
Discuss the economic benefits (e.g., FTA with UK, strategic oil reserves with UAE) and contributions to regional stability (e.g., freedom of navigation in Strait of Hormuz, security cooperation with UAE) arising from these strategic partnerships.