Directions (Q.1-10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them.
The European Union’s Ambassador to New Delhi, Joao Cravinho, last week expressed keenness to pursue the India-EU Free Trade Agreement talks. The desire is mutual. Despite the vigorous pace that the Narendra Modi government has marked in the matter of foreign relations in general, this process has remained in suspended animation for two years now. Minister for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman had assured the Ambassador in March of India’s willingness to resume talks. As Mr. Cravinho mentioned, the meeting of the OECD countries scheduled for June offers an opportunity for both sides to draw up a road map. The EU identified India as a ‘strategic partner’ in 2004. A Joint Action Plan was signed in 2005 and negotiations on the proposed Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) were launched in June 2007. Eight years down the line, some contentious issues still remain. In the backdrop of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France and Germany in April came the cancellation of the India-EU summit, apparently for “logistical” reasons. Issues such as the EU ban on import of mangoes from India announced in May 2014, and the legal proceedings in India involving the Italian Marines, are also factors that have left the relationship strained.
The EU is one of India’s largest trading partners and a major source of FDI. The value of EU-India trade grew from €28.6 billion in 2003 to €72.5 billion in 2014, while trade in commercial services rose from €5.2 billion in 2002 to €23.7 billion in 2013. India has concluded agreements with ASEAN, Japan, Singapore and Korea. With the EU the scale of the deal is more ambitious, and consequently the disagreements. For instance, the EU is unhappy with India’s protectionism in the automobile sector, and wants steep cuts in duties, and tariff cuts in things such as wine, spirits and dairy products. But tariff cuts in the agricultural sector would mean Europe’s heavily subsidised agro industry will dump its surplus here, hitting Indian farmers. India’s generic drug market also raises intellectual property concerns for European pharmaceutical corporations. India, on the other hand, is unhappy with the EU not recognising it as a “data secure nation”, and with what the EU has to offer in the area of IT/BPO/KPO services (Mode 1) and the movement of skilled professionals (Mode 4). But the EU is no doubt keen on partnering with India in programmes such as Make in India, Swachh Bharat and Smart City projects. Another criticism levelled against the FTA talks has been over lack of transparency and inadequate consultations with civil society participants. These concerns will also have to be remedied in future rounds of dialogue. It is to be hoped that the whole process would now gainmomentum and lead to a negotiated deal.
-Source The Hindu, Delhi Edition, 20th May
Q.1.Which of the following can be an appropriate title for the passage?
1) The Road Not Taken
2) Go Forward on India-EU Talks
3) India and Union
4) The Milestone of Stagnant Water
5) Issues: Never Resolved
Q.2.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A) These bilateral talks will help both the countries to excel their capabilities.
B) For eight years, some issues still remain the same.
C) FTA was criticized over lack of transparency and inadequate consultations.
1) Only A
2) Only B
3) Only A and C
4) All A, B and C
5) Only A and B
Q.3.Which of the following was the reason for the cancellation of India-EU Summit?
1) None
2) Issues such as the EU ban on import of mangoes from India announced in May 2014.
3) The issue related to legal proceedings in India involving the Italian Marines.
4) Due to the Nepal Earthquake, the whole attention was drawn to the rescue operation.
5) PM visit was planned for France and Germany in the month of April.
Q.4.Which of the following is not true according to the passage?
A) There were some concerns from EU side over Intellectual Property claimed by generic drugs market.
B) India has concluded agreements with ASEAN, Japan, Singapore and Korea
C) With the EU the scale of the deal is more ambitious, and consequently the disagreements
1) Only A
2) Only B
3) Only C
4) Only A and C
5) Only A and B
Q.5.What does the author mean by the phrase “India’s protectionism in the automobile sector”?
1) India’s attitude towards automobile sector is like a savior.
2) India is trying to save its automobile sector from foreign intruders.
3) India is the market of the oldest traditions and it is protecting its property.
4) India is standing in the way of innovation.
5) None
Q.6.What is the synonym of the word “inadequate”?
1) Deficient
2) Belie
3) Castigation
4) Dirge
5) None
Q.7.What is the synonym of the word “momentum”?
1) Disingenuous
2) Facetious
3) Propensity
4) Impetus
5) Reverent
Q.8.Which of the following is not the synonym of the word “surplus”?
1) Reticent
2) Dearth
3) Whimsical
4) Torpor
5) All of the above
Q.9.What is the synonym of the word “vigorous”?
1) Wary
2) Stolid
3) Strenuous
4) Rarefied
5) None
Q.10. Which of the following is the synonym of the word “willingness”?
1) Latent
2) Obviate
3) Pervasive
4) Disposition
5) All of the above
1. (2)
1. (2)
2. (4)
3. (5)
4. (1)
5. (2)
6. (1)
7. (4)
8. (2)
9. (3)
10.(4)
3. (5)
4. (1)
5. (2)
6. (1)
7. (4)
8. (2)
9. (3)
10.(4)
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