India-EU Strategic Partnership and Trade and Technology Council (TTC)
The India-EU TTC is a crucial platform for strategic convergence on critical technologies, aiming to enhance cooperation in areas like AI, semiconductors, an...
EAM Jaishankar to embark on 6-nation tour from July 5
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to undertake a six-nation tour from July 5, 2026, visiting Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Belgium, and the U.S. The tour includes engagements with Gulf nations to enhance bilateral relations amidst evolving regional dynamics, launching India's campaign for a UN Security Council tenure (2028-29) in New York, and participating in the third India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting in Brussels, which focuses on critical technologies like AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, and cybersecurity.
Syllabus mapping
Mains syllabus topics
Indian Culture Art Architecture
Modern Indian History
Indian Society Diversity
Globalization Indian Society
Indian Constitution
Prelims takeaways
- EAM's multi-nation tour includes Gulf countries (Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman), Belgium, and the U.S.
- India's campaign for UN Security Council tenure for 2028-29.
- Third India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting.
- TTC's focus areas artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, and cybersecurity.
- Context of Gulf visits evolving political dynamics in West Asia following a hypothetical US-Iran peace agreement.
Elimination traps
- Misidentifying the specific countries visited during the tour.
- Confusing the UN body India is campaigning for (e.g., UNGA vs. UNSC).
- Incorrectly stating the year of India's UN Security Council tenure (2028-29).
- Assuming the US-Iran peace agreement mentioned is a current real-world event (given the article's future date).
Static concepts
- UN Security Council structure and functions
- India-EU strategic partnership
- Bilateral relations (India-Gulf nations, India-US, India-Belgium)
- Geopolitics of West Asia
- Role of External Affairs Minister
Probable question areas
Question areas
- Questions on India's foreign policy objectives and engagements with Gulf nations.
Question areas
- Details regarding India's aspirations and role in the UN Security Council.
Question areas
- The purpose, members, and key focus areas of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC).
Question areas
- India's strategic partnerships and cooperation in emerging technologies.
UPSC concepts in this story
Durable syllabus ideas for revision — not article memory.
India's Multilateral Diplomacy and UN Security Council
India's active pursuit of a non-permanent UNSC seat and its broader advocacy for UNSC reforms underscore its commitment to multilateralism and its ambition f...
Previous year Prelims questions on overlapping themes and topics.
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
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
Who of the following is the author of the books "The India Way" and "Why Bharat Matters"?
Explanation
Correct answer
D. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
* Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is an Indian diplomat and politician serving as the Minister of External Affairs of India since 2019. He has authored two prominent books: * 'The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World' (2020) which provides insights into India's foreign policy approach. * 'Why Bharat Matters' is a compilation of his articles and speeches that delve into India's global significance.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Art & Culture
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
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
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 countries
1. Armenia
2. Azerbaijan
3. Croatia
4. Romania
5. Uzbekistan
Which of the above are members of the Organization of Turkic States?
Explanation
Correct answer
C. 2 and 5
The Organization of Turkic States, formerly called the Turkic Council or the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, is an international organization comprising prominent independent Turkic countries - Azerbaijan
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan - Turkey
- Uzbekistan
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
Discuss the evolution of collegium system in India. Critically examine the advantages and disadvantages of the system of appointment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India and that of the USA.
Indian Constitution — evolution, features, amendments, basic structure
Comparison of Indian constitutional scheme with other countries
Executive, Judiciary and pressure groups
View Mains PYQ
Indian Constitution has conferred the amending power on the ordinary legislative institutions with a few procedural hurdles. In view of this statement, examine the procedural and substantive limitations on the amending power of the Parliament to change the Constitution.
Indian Constitution — evolution, features, amendments, basic structure
Parliament and State legislatures
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
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's six-nation tour from July 5, 2026, includes visits to several Gulf nations. Which of the following countries is NOT among the Gulf nations he is scheduled to visit on this tour?
Explanation
The article explicitly lists Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman as the Gulf nations EAM Jaishankar is scheduled to visit. Saudi Arabia is not mentioned in the list of countries for this specific tour.
A key objective of EAM Jaishankar's visit to New York during his six-nation tour is related to India's international aspirations. What is the primary purpose of his engagement in New York?
Explanation
The article states, 'Mr. Jaishankar will travel to New York to launch on July 13 India's official campaign for the UN Security Council tenure for 2028-29'.
The third India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting, which EAM Jaishankar will attend in Brussels, focuses on critical technologies. Which of the following is NOT explicitly mentioned as a domain of critical technology discussed by the TTC in the article?
Explanation
The article mentions 'artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors and cybersecurity' as domains of critical technologies for the TTC. Biotechnology is not explicitly listed among these.
"The External Affairs Minister's visit to Gulf nations aims to enhance bilateral relations amidst fast-evolving political dynamics in the region." In light of this statement, discuss the strategic significance of India's engagement with the Gulf countries and the factors shaping their evolving relationship.
Introduce India's historical ties with the Gulf, elaborate on economic, energy, and diaspora linkages, and analyze the impact of regional geopolitical shifts on India's foreign policy in the region.
"The India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) was unveiled to facilitate exchange of critical technologies related to an array of domains including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors and cybersecurity." Analyze the strategic importance of the India-EU TTC for India's technological self-reliance and its implications for global technology governance.
Define TTC's role, explain why critical technologies are strategic, discuss benefits for India (access, collaboration, standards), and touch upon the geopolitical implications of such partnerships in shaping global tech norms.