Home / Topic / Free trade agreement
Topic Free trade agreement
Asked 3 times across 2 UPSC exams over 4 years (2022–2026), peaking in 2024.
Key insights
- Most tested in CDS — 2 of 3 PYQs
- Most asked in 2024
- Recurs across 3 years (2022–2026)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
GEO 2022 → CDS 2024
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (3 of 3) are since 2016.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CDS2026
India and New Zealand have signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in December 2025. In which of the following areas has cooperation under the FTA has been agreed upon between the two countries ?
- AYUSH
- Audio-Visual tourism
- Traditional knowledge system
- Horticulture Select the answer
using the codes given below :
- A 1, 2, 3 and 4
- B 2 and 4 only
- C 1 and 3 only
- D 1, 3 and 4 only ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
International Relations › Treaties/Conventions/Agreements
CDS2024
Consider the following statements about the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
- It is a comprehensive free trade agreement between the ASEAN member States and ASEAN's free trade agreement partners
- India opted out of RCEP
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A 1 only
- B 2 only
- C Both 1 and 2 ✓
- D Neither 1 nor 2
✓ Correct answer: (C)
International Relations › Treaties/Conventions/Agreements
GEO2022
Consider the following statements
- The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is the world's biggest free trade deal
- India is a member of the RCEP
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A 1 only ✓
- B 2 only
- C Both 1 and 2
- D Neither 1 nor 2
✓ Correct answer: (A)
International Relations › International Organizations & Groupings
Study how UPSC repeats — not just the papers
₹199 / 1 year · Founding Member
Full access unlocks the three things no PYQ PDF gives you:
① Cross-exam learning — see the same idea recur across CSE, CAPF, CDS and NDA.
② Topic evolution — how each idea is framed, year by year.
③ Question intelligence — every PYQ + answer, linked to related concepts and similar questions.
e.g. Round Table Conference: CDS 2017 → CSE 2017 → … → CAPF 2024
15 days free, no card required — then ₹199 for 1 year.
Start your 15-day free trial →