CAPF AC 2022 Q75: Current Affairs – International Relations & Treaties
- (a) Egypt
- (b) Israel
- (c) South Africa
- (d) United Arab Emirates
Answer: (d) United Arab Emirates
Explanation
India-UAE CEPA
How to think: in February 2022 India signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates.
It was India's first full trade agreement in about a decade.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Signed | 18 February 2022 |
| In force | 1 May 2022 |
| Partner | United Arab Emirates |
| Target | Goods trade of 100 billion dollars in five years |
| Speed | Negotiated in only 88 days |
Other trade agreements of 2022: the India-Australia ECTA was signed in April 2022.
Types of agreement: a CEPA covers goods, services and investment.
A plain free trade agreement mainly cuts tariffs on goods.
Answer: (d) United Arab Emirates.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. India has no CEPA with Egypt.
- (b) Incorrect. A trade agreement with Israel is still under negotiation.
- (c) Incorrect. India has no CEPA with South Africa.
- (d) CORRECT. India signed the CEPA with the United Arab Emirates in February 2022.
Key point
India-UAE CEPA: signed 18 February 2022, in force 1 May 2022. India-Australia ECTA: April 2022. Earlier CEPAs: South Korea (2010), Japan (2011). UAE is among India's top trading partners and export markets.
Remember
India-UAE CEPA: February 2022.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up the UAE CEPA with the Australia ECTA of the same year.
- Guessing Israel because of the I2U2 grouping formed in 2022.
- Thinking CEPA and FTA are completely different kinds of treaty.
Exam tip
Educated guess: the UAE is India's biggest trading partner in West Asia and home to millions of Indians. A major trade pact with it was the headline of early 2022.
Sources
- Ministry of Commerce and Industry — India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (signed 18 February 2022)
- Press Information Bureau — India-UAE CEPA comes into force (1 May 2022)