The First Additional Protocol signed between India and MERCOSUR relates mainly to which of the following?
- A.Acceptance of electronic Certificates of Origin
- B.Removal of all tariffs on farm produce
- C.A common currency for bilateral trade
- D.Mutual recognition of academic degrees
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is the acceptance of electronic Certificates of Origin. The Protocol provides that a Certificate of Origin issued in electronic form will carry the same legal validity and value as one issued on paper, provided it is issued and signed electronically by duly authorised entities and officials under each side's own domestic law. It does this by amending Article 16 of Annex III of the Preferential Trade Agreement, the annex that holds the Rules of Origin, and it is expected to cut transaction costs and the time spent on issuing and verifying such certificates. Option B is wrong because the Protocol does not touch tariff rates at all; the concessions under the agreement remain at 450 tariff lines on the Indian side and 452 on the MERCOSUR side. Option C is wrong because no currency arrangement was announced. Option D is wrong because education was not part of this trade instrument, which is concerned with paperless trade and modern customs procedures.
Read the full article: India-MERCOSUR PTA: Protocol Signed, Expansion Talks Begin
Practice Questions
When did the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement enter into force?
- A.25 January 2004
- B.1 June 2009
- C.27 November 2025
- D.9 April 2026
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Candidates must keep two dates apart here, because both appear in the same sentence of the release.
Read the full explanation →Who signed the First Additional Protocol on behalf of the Government of India?
- A.Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal
- B.Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal
- C.Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin
- D.Ambassador Alberto Guani
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The correct answer is Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, who signed for the Government of India.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following is NOT one of the Pillar II thematic clusters of Horizon Europe named as matching India's research priorities?
- A.Health
- B.Climate, energy and mobility
- C.Defence procurement and arms exports
- D.Food and the bioeconomy
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The clusters listed under Pillar II of Horizon Europe in the announcement are health; digital technologies, industry and space; climate, energy and mobility; and food and the bioeconomy.
Read the full explanation →The exploration of India's association with Horizon Europe was launched after a summit held on which date?
- A.27 January 2026
- B.15 July 2026
- C.7 November 2026
- D.15 August 2025
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According to the announcement, an exploration of the possible association was launched after the India-EU Summit held on that date, which the Ministry of Science and Technology calls historic.
Read the full explanation →India concluded association negotiations with the European Union for which programme?
- A.Erasmus Plus
- B.Horizon Europe
- C.Copernicus
- D.Galileo
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The Ministry of Science and Technology announced that India and the European Union had successfully completed negotiations for India's association with Horizon Europe, which the release describes as the EU's flagship research and innovation programme.
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