India Concludes Eighth Trade Policy Review at WTO

By Vikas Sir, Founder & Senior Faculty – Cosmo Classes | 24 July 2026

India concluded its Eighth Trade Policy Review (TPR) at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva on 24 July 2026. The review sessions were held on 21 July and 23 July 2026, and the exercise examined India\u2019s trade and related policies from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2025.

The Trade Policy Review Mechanism is one of the WTO\u2019s three core functions, alongside trade negotiations and dispute settlement. It periodically examines the trade and related policies of member countries to enhance transparency and mutual understanding. India is a founding member of the WTO, which came into force on 1 January 1995.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal led the Indian delegation during the review. India received 1,094 written questions from 44 WTO members, and 68 members made interventions across the two sessions, reflecting the significant global interest in India\u2019s rapidly growing economy and trade regime.

Members also noted India\u2019s acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, adopted at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in June 2022. Discussions further covered India\u2019s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), production-linked incentive schemes, and reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business and deeper global integration.

The review holds strategic and economic importance as it situates India\u2019s trade policy within its Viksit Bharat vision for 2047. A transparent TPR strengthens India\u2019s credibility as a rule-based trading partner, provides a platform to defend its policy space on agriculture, MSMEs and digital trade, and shapes negotiating leverage in ongoing bilateral and plurilateral trade talks.

Important Facts for Exams

  • ◆ India concluded its Eighth Trade Policy Review at the WTO in Geneva on 24 July 2026.
  • ◆ Review sessions were held on 21 and 23 July 2026, covering policies from 2021 to 2025.
  • ◆ The Trade Policy Review Mechanism is one of the WTO\u2019s three core functions.
  • ◆ India is a founding member of the WTO, which came into force on 1 January 1995.
  • ◆ Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal led the Indian delegation.
  • ◆ India received 1,094 written questions from 44 members; 68 members intervened.
  • ◆ The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies was adopted at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (June 2022).

Practice Questions (MCQs)

A total of 10 questions — 7 moderate level and 3 UPSC/RPSC level.

Moderate

Q1. India concluded which numbered Trade Policy Review at the WTO in July 2026?

(A) Sixth
(B) Seventh
(C) Eighth
(D) Ninth
View Answer

Answer: C – Eighth

Explanation: India concluded its Eighth Trade Policy Review at the WTO in Geneva on 24 July 2026.

Moderate

Q2. Where is the World Trade Organization headquartered?

(A) New York
(B) Geneva
(C) Paris
(D) Vienna
View Answer

Answer: B – Geneva

Explanation: The WTO is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, where India\u2019s Eighth Trade Policy Review was held.

Moderate

Q3. The Trade Policy Review Mechanism is one of the WTO\u2019s how-many core functions?

(A) Two
(B) Three
(C) Four
(D) Five
View Answer

Answer: B – Three

Explanation: The Trade Policy Review Mechanism is one of the WTO\u2019s three core functions, along with trade negotiations and dispute settlement.

Moderate

Q4. When did the WTO come into force?

(A) 1 January 1948
(B) 1 January 1995
(C) 1 January 2001
(D) 1 January 2005
View Answer

Answer: B – 1 January 1995

Explanation: The WTO came into force on 1 January 1995, and India is a founding member.

Moderate

Q5. Who led the Indian delegation during the Eighth Trade Policy Review?

(A) S. Jaishankar
(B) Rajesh Agrawal
(C) Piyush Goyal
(D) Nirmala Sitharaman
View Answer

Answer: B – Rajesh Agrawal

Explanation: Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal led the Indian delegation during the WTO review.

Moderate

Q6. How many written questions did India receive during the review?

(A) 500
(B) 768
(C) 1,094
(D) 2,000
View Answer

Answer: C – 1,094

Explanation: India received 1,094 written questions from 44 WTO members during the Eighth Trade Policy Review.

Moderate

Q7. The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies was adopted at which Ministerial Conference?

(A) 10th
(B) 11th
(C) 12th
(D) 13th
View Answer

Answer: C – 12th

Explanation: The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies was adopted at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in June 2022.

UPSC/RPSC

Q8. Which of the following are the three core functions of the WTO? (1) Trade negotiations (2) Dispute settlement (3) Trade Policy Review

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
View Answer

Answer: D – 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: The WTO\u2019s three core functions are trade negotiations, dispute settlement and the Trade Policy Review Mechanism.

UPSC/RPSC

Q9. The Trade Policy Review Mechanism primarily aims to:

(A) Impose penalties on members
(B) Enhance transparency and understanding of members\u2019 trade policies
(C) Set global tariff rates
(D) Replace the dispute settlement body
View Answer

Answer: B – Enhance transparency and understanding of members\u2019 trade policies

Explanation: The TPR mechanism periodically examines members\u2019 trade policies to improve transparency and mutual understanding, not to impose penalties.

UPSC/RPSC

Q10. India\u2019s trade policy review was linked to which long-term national vision?

(A) Make in India 2020
(B) Viksit Bharat 2047
(C) Digital India 2030
(D) Atmanirbhar 2035
View Answer

Answer: B – Viksit Bharat 2047

Explanation: Discussions situated India\u2019s trade policy and deeper global integration within its Viksit Bharat vision for 2047.

UPSC / RPSC Relevance

  • ➜ Prelims: WTO functions, Trade Policy Review Mechanism, Fisheries Subsidies Agreement.
  • ➜ Mains GS-II/III: International trade institutions, India\u2019s trade policy and global integration.
  • ➜ Economy: Ease of doing business, PLI schemes, Digital Public Infrastructure and trade.
  • ➜ International Relations: India\u2019s role in multilateral trade and negotiating leverage.

UPSC Mains Descriptive Question

The WTO Trade Policy Review Mechanism enhances transparency in global trade. In the light of India\u2019s Eighth Trade Policy Review, discuss the significance of such reviews for India\u2019s trade policy and its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. (250 words, 15 marks)