‘Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of negotiations held between India and
- (a) European Union ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) Gulf Cooperation Council
- (c) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
- (d) Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Why the answer is (a)
• The Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement is the free-trade agreement negotiated between India and the European Union since 2007; talks stalled in 2013 over tariffs on cars, wines and spirits, data security and services, and were relaunched in 2022 — option (a).
• India has separate FTA talks with the GCC (b); the OECD (c) and SCO (d) do not negotiate trade agreements.
• Hence option (a).
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) Gulf Cooperation Council
- India–GCC talks are a separate FTA, not BTIA.
- (c) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
- The OECD does not negotiate trade agreements.
- (d) Shanghai Cooperation Organization
- The SCO is a security grouping, not a trade partner.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2017, held on 18 June 2017. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.