UPSC Prelims 2022 Q79: Indian Economy – Agriculture & Rural Development
With reference to the “Tea Board” in India, consider the following statements:
1. The Tea Board is a statutory body.
2. It is a regulatory body attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
3. The Tea Board’s Head Office is situated in Bengaluru.
4. The Board has overseas offices at Dubai and Moscow.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a) 1 and 3
- (b) 2 and 4
- (c) 3 and 4
- (d) 1 and 4
Answer: (d) 1 and 4
Explanation
The Tea Board of India
| Statement | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. It is a statutory body | Correct | Constituted under Section 4 of the Tea Act, 1953 |
| 2. It is attached to the Ministry of Agriculture | Incorrect | It works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry |
| 3. Its head office is in Bengaluru | Incorrect | The head office is in Kolkata |
| 4. It has overseas offices in Dubai and Moscow | Correct | It runs offices in Dubai and Moscow to promote Indian tea |
Commodity boards under the Commerce Ministry:
| Board | Head office |
|---|---|
| Tea Board | Kolkata |
| Coffee Board | Bengaluru |
| Rubber Board | Kottayam |
| Spices Board | Kochi |
Answer: (d) 1 and 4.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 3 is wrong; Bengaluru hosts the Coffee Board, not the Tea Board.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 2 is wrong; the Tea Board is under the Ministry of Commerce.
- (c) Incorrect. The Tea Board's head office is in Kolkata, so statement 3 fails.
- (d) CORRECT. It is statutory (Tea Act, 1953) and has overseas offices in Dubai and Moscow.
Key point
Tea Board: statutory (Tea Act, 1953), Ministry of Commerce, head office Kolkata, overseas offices in Dubai and Moscow.
Remember
Tea Board: Kolkata, Commerce Ministry, Tea Act 1953.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a crop board falls under the Ministry of Agriculture; plantation boards sit with Commerce.
- Swapping the Tea Board (Kolkata) with the Coffee Board (Bengaluru).
- Doubting the Tea Board is statutory; it rests on the Tea Act, 1953.
Exam tip
Plantation commodity boards (tea, coffee, rubber, spices) are export-focused, so they sit under the Commerce Ministry.
Sources
- Tea Act, 1953 — Section 4
- Tea Board of India — About Us and Overseas Offices