UPSC CSE Prelims
ASEAN Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Practice solved questions for ASEAN with detailed step-by-step solutions, key insights, and trend analysis for UPSC CSE PRELIMS.
Solved Previous Year Questions
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Consider the following countries :
- Australia
- Canada
- China
- India
- Japan
- USA
Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ASEAN?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — 1, 3, 4 and 5
ASEAN has established Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with six specific Dialogue Partners: China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand. Among the given options, Australia, China, India, and Japan are free-trade partners of ASEAN, while Canada and USA are only Dialogue Partners without formal FTAs.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Australia is a free-trade partner of ASEAN through the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA).
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Canada is a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN but does not have a formal Free Trade Agreement with the bloc.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: China is a free-trade partner of ASEAN through the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA).
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: India is a free-trade partner of ASEAN through the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA).
✅ Statement 5 – Correct: Japan is a free-trade partner of ASEAN through the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP).
❌ Statement 6 – Incorrect: The USA has been a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN since 1977, but does not have a Free Trade Agreement with the ASEAN bloc.
📝 Short Notes: ASEAN Free Trade Agreements
| Partner Country/Region | FTA Name | Year of Entry into Force |
|---|---|---|
| China | ASEAN-China FTA (ACFTA) | 2010 |
| Japan | ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) | 2008 |
| South Korea | ASEAN-Korea FTA (AKFTA) | 2007 |
| India | ASEAN-India FTA (AIFTA) | 2010 |
| Australia & New Zealand | ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA) | 2010 |
| Hong Kong | ASEAN-Hong Kong FTA | 2019 |
- ASEAN has 11 Dialogue Partners including USA, Canada, EU, Russia, and UK, but not all have FTAs.
- The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) signed in 2020 includes ASEAN and five FTA partners (China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand).
- USA and Canada remain strategic partners but without comprehensive trade agreements with ASEAN as a bloc.
In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants?
- Bangladesh
- Cambodia
- China
- Myanmar
- Thailand
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Cambodia is a founding member of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) launched in 2000.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Myanmar is one of the five ASEAN countries participating in MGC alongside India.
✅ Statement 5 – Correct: Thailand is a member country of MGC representing the Mekong basin region.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Bangladesh is NOT a member of MGC; the initiative includes only India and five ASEAN nations (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam).
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: China is NOT a participant in MGC, despite the Mekong River originating in the Tibetan Plateau.
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