← 6 October 2026's Current Affairs · Economy GA Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★☆☆
India and Switzerland expand market access as the EFTA trade pact turns one
వార్తల్లో ఎందుకు?
Four countries, one trade pact: the EFTA list every Prelims International Relations answer on TEPA must get right
TEPA completes a year with five new India-Switzerland agreements.
Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 నిమి
India and Switzerland agreed to widen market access and address concerns as the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with the European Free Trade Association completed one year.
The Swiss President and the Prime Minister discussed trade, defence and nuclear cooperation, and five agreements were signed.
EFTA comprises Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
మూలాలు: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ముఖ్య వాస్తవాలు
Remember these
- TEPA is the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, which has completed one year
- EFTA comprises Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
- India and Switzerland agreed to widen market access and address concerns
- Five agreements were signed during the talks between the Swiss President and the Prime Minister
- The talks covered trade, defence and nuclear cooperation
ప్రిలిమ్స్ · మెయిన్స్
How the exam will ask it
ప్రిలిమ్స్
- The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a trade bloc of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and it is separate from the European Union.
- The India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) is a free trade agreement between India and the four EFTA states.
- Austria, Sweden, Finland and Denmark are former EFTA members that left to join the European Union or its predecessor.
మెయిన్స్
GS2 International Relations and GS3 Economy (trade): India is using free trade agreements such as TEPA to diversify export markets and draw in investment and technology from developed partners. Issues such as market access, non-tariff barriers and sector-specific concerns need regular review, so the way forward lies in timely implementation, joint monitoring and widening cooperation into areas like defence and nuclear energy.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
The India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which completed a year of operation, covers which group of European countries?
- Austria, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland
- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland
- Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland
- Finland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland
సమాధానం చూడండి
సమాధానం: B — Correct: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland — EFTA today comprises Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, the four partners in the India agreement. • Austria, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland — wrong: Austria and Sweden left EFTA to join the European Union, so this group is not the present EFTA. • Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland — wrong: Denmark left EFTA to join the European Community, and Liechtenstein, a current member, is missing here. • Finland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland — wrong: Finland left EFTA to join the European Union, so it is not among the present members.
Convert this topic into marks
Today's 10-MCQ test · instant analysis · Powered by AdaptIQ