Question 1

India and the Philippines signed a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during this visit.

Accepted Answer

They only adopted Terms of Reference to negotiate a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), which is narrower in scope than an FTA.

Question 2

The Philippines has joined the Quad alliance.

Accepted Answer

The Philippines is not a member of the Quad. However, with this 2025 agreement, it now holds formal strategic partnerships with all four Quad members (US, Japan, Australia, India).

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding the August 2025 India-Philippines bilateral summit:
1. The two countries signed a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to boost bilateral commerce.
2. India extended a gratis e-tourist visa facility to Philippine tourists.
3. Terms of Reference were signed to institutionalize staff talks across their Armies, Navies, Air Forces, and Coast Guards.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

(b) Only two — Statement 1 is incorrect because they only agreed to negotiate a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), not a full FTA. Statements 2 and 3 are correct factual outcomes of the summit.

Question 4

Match the following mechanisms/terms with their corresponding contexts in India-Philippines relations:
List I:
A. MAHASAGAR Vision
B. Sovereign Data Cloud
C. Transfer of Sentenced Persons
D. BrahMos System
List II:
1. A legal treaty signed during the 2025 summit
2. India's maritime security framework for the Indo-Pacific
3. A Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) initiative offered by India
4. A key defense export from India to the Philippines
Select the correct code:

Accepted Answer

(a) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4 — MAHASAGAR is India's regional maritime vision (A-2). The Sovereign Data Cloud was a specific DPI offer made during the 2025 summit (B-3). The Treaty on Transfer of Sentenced Persons was signed in 2025 (C-1). BrahMos is the famous cruise missile exported to the Philippines starting in 2022/2024 (D-4).

Question 5

Assertion (A): The Philippines' strategic partnership with India is heavily driven by mutual concerns over maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.
Reason (R): The Philippines has officially withdrawn from the ASEAN bloc to align closer with Quad member nations.
Select the correct answer:

Accepted Answer

(c) A is true but R is false. — Assertion (A) is true as Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea has driven Manila and New Delhi closer, prompting defense cooperation. Reason (R) is completely false; the Philippines remains a core member of ASEAN, and India strongly supports ASEAN centrality as stated in the summit's joint declarations.

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