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
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, who signed for the Government of India. Option A is wrong, and it is the trap in this question: Piyush Goyal, the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, features in the same day's news, but his role was to announce jointly with Uruguay the launch of negotiations for expanding the Preferential Trade Agreement, not to sign the Protocol. Option C is wrong because Mario Lubetkin, the Foreign Minister of Uruguay, was present in the exercise of the Pro Tempore Presidency of MERCOSUR and witnessed the signing rather than signing himself. Option D is wrong in a different way: Alberto Guani, the Ambassador of Uruguay to India, did sign, but for the MERCOSUR side and not for India, along with Fleming Raul Duarte Ramos, the Ambassador of Paraguay. Representatives from the embassies of Argentina and Brazil were also present at the ceremony.
Read the full article: India-MERCOSUR PTA: Protocol Signed, Expansion Talks Begin
Practice Questions
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
Show answer
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.
Read the full explanation →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 →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
Show answer
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.
Read the full explanation →