{"id":373073,"date":"2026-10-01T18:02:29","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T12:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=373073"},"modified":"2026-10-01T18:03:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T12:33:03","slug":"india-efta-trade-economic-partnership-agreement-tepa-explained-pointwise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/india-efta-trade-economic-partnership-agreement-tepa-explained-pointwise\/","title":{"rendered":"India-EFTA Trade &#038; Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) &#8211; Explained Pointwise"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-373074 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/d9520929-a98b-4812-a5ef-97da732314ef.jpeg?resize=640%2C640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"India-EFTA TEPA\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/d9520929-a98b-4812-a5ef-97da732314ef.jpeg?w=640&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/d9520929-a98b-4812-a5ef-97da732314ef.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/d9520929-a98b-4812-a5ef-97da732314ef.jpeg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><br \/>\nThe <strong data-start=\"36\" data-end=\"98\">India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)<\/strong> is a comprehensive trade agreement between India and <strong data-start=\"152\" data-end=\"202\">Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein<\/strong>. It was signed on 10 March 2024 and entered into force <strong>exactly one year ago, on 1 October 2025<\/strong>. PM Narendra Modi had termed the signing of the trade pact as a &#8216;<strong>watershed moment<\/strong>&#8216; in India-EFTA relations.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_286864\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-286864\" style=\"width: 2000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-286864 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-7.png?resize=750%2C743&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"India-EFTA TEPA\" width=\"750\" height=\"743\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-7.png?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-7.png?resize=300%2C297&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-7.png?resize=1024%2C1014&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-7.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-7.png?resize=768%2C760&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-7.png?resize=1536%2C1521&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-7.png?resize=1568%2C1552&amp;ssl=1 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-286864\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Created By Forum IAS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%; text-align: center;\"><strong>Table of Contents<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><a href=\"#toc1\">What is India-EFTA TEPA?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#toc2\">What was the Status of India-EFTA Trade Relations before TEPA?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#toc3\">What are the features of India-EFTA TEPA?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#toc4\">What is the Significance of India-EFTA TEPA?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#toc5\">What are the challenges associated with TEPA?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#toc6\">What Should be the Way Forward?<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 class=\"blue-h2-box\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; text-decoration: underline;\"><a id=\"toc1\"><\/a><strong>What is India-EFTA TEPA?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is a trade deal signed between-India &amp; four European countries (Members of EFTA)- <strong>Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #000000;\"><strong>European Free Trade Association (EFTA):<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong data-start=\"43\" data-end=\"85\">EFTA <\/strong>is an <strong data-start=\"92\" data-end=\"153\">intergovernmental organisation of 4 European countries<\/strong> that promotes <strong data-start=\"168\" data-end=\"207\">free trade and economic integration<\/strong> among its members and with other countries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Members<strong data-start=\"331\" data-end=\"343\">:<\/strong> <strong data-start=\"344\" data-end=\"394\">Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li>Members are not part of the European Union (EU).<\/li>\n<li>EFTA negotiates <strong data-start=\"508\" data-end=\"540\">free trade agreements (FTAs)<\/strong> with countries and regional blocs around the world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Economic Significance of EFTA Bloc:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>EFTA countries have a <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">combined GDP of over $1 trillion<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li>EFTA nations are the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">world&#8217;s ninth-largest merchandise trader<\/span> and its <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">fifth largest<\/span> in <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">commercial services<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li>India is the EFTA&#8217;s <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">fifth-largest trading partner<\/span> after the European Union, the United States, Britain and China.<\/li>\n<li>EFTA is among the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">most important trading partners in goods and services<\/span> for the EU.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\">Read More about EFTA- <a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/india-efta-relations-explained-pointwise\/#gsc.tab=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">EFTA-India Relations- Explained Pointwise<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #000000;\">Objectives of the Deal:<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>EFTA nations have committed to invest <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">$100 billion in India<\/span> in 15 years. ($50 bn in the first 10 years and $10 bn in the next 5 years).<\/li>\n<li>It aims to create <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">1 million direct jobs<\/span> within <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">15 years<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li>It aims to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">eliminate\/reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers<\/span> on a wide range of products and create <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">opportunities for trade and investment<\/span> between India and EFTA.<\/li>\n<li>It aims to ensure <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">fair and transparent market access conditions<\/span> for service providers and investors. It will also enhance cooperation on <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">intellectual property rights protection<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">and enforcement<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li>TEPA aims to establish <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">effective mechanisms for dispute resolution<\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 class=\"blue-h2-box\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a id=\"toc2\"><\/a>What was the Status of India-EFTA Trade Relations before TEPA?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Trade Deficit of India with EFTA countries:<\/strong> India has a huge trade deficit with the countries in EFTA. In 2023, India-EFTA bilateral trade was around $25 billion. India&#8217;s exports to the EFTA touched $2.8 billion and imports were about $22 billion during that period.<\/li>\n<li><strong>India-EFTA trade Merchandise Trade:<\/strong> In 2022-23, the combined EFTA-India merchandise trade stood around $6.1 billion. The main imports into EFTA States from India consisted of <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">organic chemicals<\/span> (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">27.5%<\/span>). The main imports into India from EFTA consisted of <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Machinery<\/span> (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">17.5%<\/span>) and pharmaceutical products (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">11.4%<\/span>).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Investment and Trading Partners:<\/strong>\n<ol style=\"list-style-type: lower-alpha;\">\n<li>EFTA investment stood at <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">$10.7 billion in 2022<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Switzerland is India\u2019s largest trading partner<\/span> in EFTA, followed by Norway. Switzerland accounts for 91% of trade between India and EFTA.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>High tariffs on EFTA goods:<\/strong>\u00a0Goods arriving from the EFTA group face high tariffs. <strong>For e.g.<\/strong>\u00a0India levies an <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">import duty of 20% on Swiss watches<\/span> and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">30% on chocolates<\/span> from European countries.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 class=\"blue-h2-box\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a id=\"toc3\"><\/a>What are the features of India-EFTA TEPA?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Tariff Reduction: <\/strong>India has offered 83% of its tariff lines, which covers 95.3% of the EFTA grouping\u2019s exports. This <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">eliminates duties<\/span> on most of industrial goods like <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Swiss watches<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">pharmaceutical products<\/span>,<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> fertilizers<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">chocolates<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">minerals<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">textiles<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">smartphones<\/span>,<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> iron and steel products<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Enhanced Market Access: <\/strong>EFTA has offered concessions on 92.2% of tariff lines, covering about 99.6% of India&#8217;s exports to EFTA. It provides <strong data-start=\"1057\" data-end=\"1103\">100% coverage of non-agricultural products<\/strong> along with concessions for processed agricultural products.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Greater Access to Services:<\/strong> India has commitments across <strong data-start=\"1583\" data-end=\"1611\">105 services sub-sectors<\/strong>, while EFTA countries have made commitments covering more than 100 sub-sectors each<span style=\"color: #333333;\">. Opportunities are enhanced in <strong data-start=\"1732\" data-end=\"1817\">IT, business services, education, audio-visual services and professional services.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Investments and Technology Transfers:<\/strong> IThe agreement seeks to promote cooperation in precision engineering, health sciences, renewable energy, innovation and R&amp;D. It can facilitate technology partnerships, joint ventures and integration into global value chains..<\/li>\n<li><strong>Collaboration in Infrastructure Sector:<\/strong>\u00a0Swiss transport companies to collaborate in the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">development and advancement of the Railways<\/span>. Collaboration with <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Flughafen Z\u00fcrich AG<\/span>, the operator of the Z\u00fcrich airport for improved air-transport connectivity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Investment and employment commitment<\/strong>: EFTA countries aim to increase FDI into India by <strong data-start=\"543\" data-end=\"573\">$100 billion over 15 years <\/strong>($50 billion in the first 10 years and another $50 billion in the next five). The agreement also aims to facilitate <strong data-start=\"693\" data-end=\"718\">1 million direct jobs<\/strong> in India. This is a distinctive feature because investment and job creation are directly linked to the trade agreement.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Protection of sensitive Indian sectors<\/strong>: India has maintained protection for sensitive sectors such as <strong data-start=\"1316\" data-end=\"1371\">dairy, soya, coal and certain agricultural products.\u00a0<\/strong>Tariff reductions for some strategically important products are phased over <strong data-start=\"1454\" data-end=\"1474\">5, 7 or 10 years.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Professional Mobility<\/strong>: TEPA facilitates greater certainty regarding the temporary entry and stay of key personnel involved in services. It also provides for <strong data-start=\"2035\" data-end=\"2075\">Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs)<\/strong> in professions such as nursing, architecture and chartered accountancy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 class=\"blue-h2-box\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a id=\"toc4\"><\/a>What is the Significance of India-EFTA TEPA?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Boosts India&#8217;s exports<\/strong>: The India-EFTA TEPA provides Indian exporters with preferential access to high-income EFTA markets by reducing or eliminating tariffs on a wide range of products. This can improve the price competitiveness of Indian products, diversify export destinations and strengthen India\u2019s integration into global value chains.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Comprehensive Trade Pact:<\/strong>\u00a0India-EFTA TEPA is a wide-ranging agreement which delves into a <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">multitude of issues that would be crucial to economic ties<\/span> in the coming decade. It covers <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">labour issues<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">human rights<\/span>, apart from the trade in <span style=\"color: #333333;\">goods and services, strong rules of origin clause and strong intellectual property rights (IPR). It is India&#8217;s <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">second most comprehensive trade pact<\/span> after its pact with the UAE.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Template for other Trade Agreements: <\/strong>&#8216;<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Behind-the-border<\/span>&#8216; requirement included in the India-EFTA TEPA is a <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">condition that lowering of tariffs must be complemented with mobilization of large-scale investment <span style=\"color: #333333;\">by the EFTA countries<\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\">.<\/span> This could serve as a template when India negotiates trade agreements with other developed countries.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Better Prices for Indian Middle Class Customers:<\/strong>\u00a0The reduced tariff rates would lower the prices on <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">seafood such as tuna and salmon<span style=\"color: #333333;\">,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Swiss chocolate<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">biscuits<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">watches<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">medical equipment<\/span>, and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">energy drinks<\/span>. Indian incomes are set to rise by 70% by 2030 to breach a per-capita level of $4,000 (Standard Chartered Report).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Enhanced cooperation in service sector:<\/strong>\u00a0The agreement would help to stimulate services exports in areas such as <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">information technology<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">audio-visual capabilities<\/span> and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">facilitate the movement of key skilled personnel<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Facilitate Technology Transfer:<\/strong>\u00a0The technology transfer as part of the India-EFTA deal will <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">increase India&#8217;s productivity<\/span> and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">export competitiveness<\/span> in agricultural sector, renewable sector, pharmaceutical, garments, and medical instruments.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Employment Generation:<\/strong>\u00a0The increased trade and investment opportunities due to TEPA will help to<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> generate ~1 million jobs in direct employment<\/span>, particularly in the manufacturing and services sectors.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Increased Investment opportunities:<\/strong>\u00a0The trade deal aims to spur financial investment in India through <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Switzerland&#8217;s banking sector<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Norway&#8217;s sovereign wealth fund<\/span> and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Liechtenstein&#8217;s ESG (environment, social, governance) investing sector<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Diversification of India&#8217;s trade:<\/strong> Stronger economic engagement with EFTA provides India with additional European economic partners beyond its existing major trading relationships. It also contributes to India&#8217;s strategy of building multiple and resilient supply-chain partnerships.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 class=\"blue-h2-box\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a id=\"toc5\"><\/a>What are the challenges associated with TEPA?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Trade imbalance<\/strong>: A major challenge is the possibility of a persistent trade imbalance in favour of EFTA countries, particularly given their strength in high-value sectors such as pharmaceuticals, precision engineering, machinery, chemicals and financial services. Greater Indian market access could increase imports from these technologically advanced economies faster than India&#8217;s exports grow.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Limited export capacity<\/strong>: Indian MSMEs may struggle to fully utilise preferential market access because of limitations in scale, technology, quality standards and certification.<\/li>\n<li><strong>No reduction on Gold Tariffs:<\/strong>\u00a0Gold Trade is the biggest component of trade between India-EFTA (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Out of the $19 billion India-EFTA trade, $13 billion was just gold imports from Switzerland<\/span>). Since no real tariff benefits are being offered on gold, the<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> impact of the deal is limited to the remaining $6-7 billion bilateral trade<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Switzerland&#8217;s policy of tariff-free entry: <\/strong>Switzerland&#8217;s policy of tariff-free entry for all industrial goods from any country would <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">affect benefits to Indian companies<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Non-tariff Barriers:<\/strong>\u00a0The presence of non-tariff barriers in Switzerland, like <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">quality standards<\/span> and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">approval requirements<\/span>, would affect India&#8217;s agricultural exports to Switzerland.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Exclusion of Agricultural Products:<\/strong>\u00a0Sensitive agricultural items like <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">dairy<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">soya<\/span> have been kept in the exclusion list.<\/li>\n<li><strong data-start=\"888\" data-end=\"930\">Uncertainty over investment commitment:<\/strong>\u00a0The $100-billion investment objective is substantial, but converting the commitment into actual investment will depend on the investment climate, project viability and business conditions in India.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 class=\"blue-h2-box\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a id=\"toc6\"><\/a>What Should be the Way Forward?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Maximise utilisation of tariff preferences<\/strong>: India should ensure that exporters, particularly <strong data-start=\"97\" data-end=\"106\">MSMEs<\/strong>, are fully aware of the tariff concessions available under TEPA and the procedures for claiming them. Export promotion bodies should also identify products with high demand in EFTA markets and help firms meet their quality, packaging, traceability and regulatory requirements.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Address non-tariff barriers<\/strong>: India should strengthen its testing, certification and quality-control infrastructure to help exporters comply with EFTA&#8217;s stringent technical, sanitary, environmental and sustainability standards.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Facilitate EFTA investment<\/strong>: India should create a predictable and investor-friendly business environment by simplifying regulatory procedures, ensuring faster clearances, improving infrastructure and reducing compliance costs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ensure investment translates into employment<\/strong>: India should establish transparent monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure that the investment envisaged under TEPA translates into tangible employment outcomes. Investments can be directed towards labour-intensive manufacturing, MSMEs, skill development and emerging sectors such as clean technology and advanced manufacturing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proactive Measures:<\/strong>\u00a0Proactive measures such as <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Establishment of Dispute Resolution Mechanisms, establishment of EFTA offices <\/span>to fully reap the benefits of India-EFTA TEPA.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Strong Political Involvement and Guidance:<\/strong>\u00a0Strong political involvement and guidance must be provided for <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">fructification of the TEPA agreement<\/span> between the two parties.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Conclusion:<\/strong><\/span> The success of TEPA will depend not merely on tariff concessions but on India&#8217;s ability to improve domestic competitiveness, reduce compliance costs, strengthen MSMEs and convert the investment and employment objectives into actual economic outcomes,<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><strong>Read More:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/the-india-efta-partnership-one-plus-one-equals-three\/article71529585.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Hindu<\/a><br \/>\nUPSC Syllabus- GS 2- India&#8217;s relations with Developed nations, International organisations, GS-3 Indian Economy;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) is a comprehensive trade agreement between India and Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It was signed on 10 March 2024 and entered into force exactly one year ago, on 1 October 2025. PM Narendra Modi had termed the signing of the trade pact as a &#8216;watershed moment&#8216;&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/india-efta-trade-economic-partnership-agreement-tepa-explained-pointwise\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">India-EFTA Trade &#038; Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) &#8211; Explained Pointwise<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10391,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[130],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-373073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-7-pm","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/373073","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10391"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=373073"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/373073\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=373073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=373073"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=373073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}