This is a classic 'Ministry Swap' and 'Headquarters Swap' trap. UPSC tests if you can distinguish between the Ministry of Agriculture (production) and Ministry of Commerce (export/trade) for cash crops. The question is fair but punishes those who assume all crops fall under the Agriculture Ministry.
How this question is built
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements.
Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Statement 1
Is the Tea Board of India a statutory body?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs
Fairness: CA heavy
Web-answerable
"The Tea Board of India was established in 1954 as per the provisions of Section 4 of the Tea Act 1953."
Why this source?
- Directly states the Board was established under a specific Act (Tea Act 1953), indicating creation by statute.
- Notes the Board was established in 1954 as per provisions of the Tea Act, which implies it is a statutory authority functioning under government control.
"The Tea Board of India is a statutory body of the Government of India that promotes the production, processing, and trading of tea in India, and its exports from the country."
Why this source?
- Explicitly labels the Tea Board of India as a 'statutory body of the Government of India.'
- Describes the Board's role in promoting production, processing and trading of tea, consistent with functions of a statutory body.
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 71: Delimitation Commission of India > COMMISSIONS ESTABLISHED SO FAR > p. 530
Strength: 5/5
“The Delimitation Commission of India is a statutory (and not a constitutional) body. It is established by the Central Government under the provisions of a law enacted by the Parliament. Its function is to demarcate the boundaries of the Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies in the country. The Commission is a powerful body. Its orders have the force of law and cannot be challenged in any court. The orders come into force on a date specified by the President of India. They are laid before the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assembly concerned. But, modifications are not permissible therein by them.”
Why relevant
Defines a statutory body as one 'established by the Central Government under the provisions of a law enacted by the Parliament' and gives features (orders have force of law).
How to extend
A student could check whether the Tea Board was created by a specific Act of Parliament (if yes, it is statutory) or not.
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 69: Bar Council of India > ESTABLISHMENT > p. 520
Strength: 4/5
“t ESTABLISHMENT The Bar Council of India (BCI) was established under a legislation enacted by the Parliament, namely, the Advocates Act, 1961. Hence, it is a statutory (and not a constitutional) body. In 1951, the Government of India appointed an All India Bar Committee under the chairmanship of Justice S.R. Das of the Supreme Court. The mandate of the committee was to examine and report on the issue of re-organisation of the Bar and legal profession in the country. The committee submitted its report in 1953. It recommended, inter alia, the establishment of an All India Bar Council and State Bar Councils (SBCs) to regulate the legal profession at the national and state level.”
Why relevant
Gives an example (Bar Council of India) that was established under a specific statute (Advocates Act, 1961) and is therefore statutory.
How to extend
Compare how the Bar Council was created (named Act) with the origin instrument for the Tea Board (look for a founding Act or legislation).
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 27: Environmental Organizations > 27.1. THE ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD OF INDIA > p. 381
Strength: 4/5
“• The Animal Welfare Board of India is a statutory advisory body on animal welfare laws and promotes animal welfare in the country. • The Animal Welfare Board of India, the first of its kind to be established by any government in the world, was set up in 1962, in accordance with Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960. • Shrimati Rukmini Devi Arundale pioneered the setting up of the Board, with its headquarters at Chennai.”
Why relevant
Another example: Animal Welfare Board is statutory and explicitly tied to a specific section of an Act (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960).
How to extend
Check for a similar citation of a specific Act/section for the Tea Board in primary legal sources or official websites.
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 70: Law Commission of India > Law Commission of India > p. 525
Strength: 4/5
“The Law Commission of India is a non-statutory advisory body. It is established by the order of the Central Government from time to time for a fixed tenure. Its function is to recommend legislative measures for the purpose of consolidation and codification of laws. However, its recommendations are not binding on the government.”
Why relevant
Contrasts a non-statutory advisory body (Law Commission) that is created by government order for a fixed tenure, illustrating the alternate mode of creation.
How to extend
If the Tea Board were created by executive order or resolution rather than by statute, this pattern would indicate it is non-statutory.
Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 44: Union Public Service Commission > ROLE > p. 426
Strength: 3/5
“The problem arises when the two bodies tender conflicting advise. However, the UPSC, being an independent constitutional body, has an edge over the CVC, which is created by an executive resolution of the Government of India and conferred a statutory status in 2003. <sup>5</sup> Such rules are known as the UPSC (Exemption from Consultation) Regulations. • Article No.: 315; Subject-matter: Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the states • Article No.: 316; Subject-matter: Appointment and term of office of members • Article No.: 317; Subject-matter: Removal and suspension of a member of a Public Service Commission • Article No.: 318; Subject-matter: Power to make regulations as to conditions of service of members and staff of the Commission • Article No.”
Why relevant
Notes that some bodies are created by executive resolution and later may be 'conferred a statutory status', showing that origin and later legislative change both matter.
How to extend
Investigate whether the Tea Board's legal status changed over time (initially by resolution vs later by Act) to determine current statutory status.
Statement 2
Is the Tea Board of India a regulatory body attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs
Fairness: CA heavy
Web-answerable
"The Tea Board of India was established in 1954 as per the provisions of Section 4 of the Tea Act 1953. The Board is charged with the overall development of the tea industry in India and it is functioning under the administrative control of the Central Government in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Tea Board of India, 2015)."
Why this source?
- Explicitly states which ministry the Tea Board reports to, showing it is not attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- Identifies the Tea Board as functioning under the administrative control of the Central Government in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
"This membership makes Tea Board of India the apex organization of the country... Functions. Tea Board of India’s activities are aimed at the development of tea industry, promotion of Indian tea, increasing productivity & efficiency of the tea industry, raising product quality as well as conducting scientific research."
Why this source?
- Describes the Tea Board as the apex organization for the tea industry with functions focused on development, promotion and quality — consistent with a specialized board under Commerce rather than being an Agriculture ministry regulatory body.
- Emphasizes industry promotion and export-related activities, aligning with Commerce/Trade responsibilities rather than agricultural administration.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > AGMARK > p. 326
Strength: 5/5
“It is a certification mark for agricultural products in India, assuring that they conform by a set of standards approved by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, an attached office of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. The AGMARK Head Office is at Faridabad (Haryana). It is legally enforced in India by the Agricultural Produce Act of 1937.”
Why relevant
Shows a concrete example where a certification/regulatory office (Directorate of Marketing and Inspection for AGMARK) is described as an 'attached office' of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare.
How to extend
A student could use this pattern (commodity/quality-regulatory bodies being attached offices of the Ministry) and check whether the Tea Board is listed similarly under the Ministry or under another ministry/department.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Importance: > p. 311
Strength: 4/5
“For certification of produce as organic, the FSSAI has notified Food Safety & Standards (Organic Foods) Regulation, 2017 which requires organic food to comply with the provisions of any one of the following 2 certification systems: • 1. National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) being implemented by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) as per the guidelines of Ministry of Commerce & Industry. • 2. Participatory Guarantee System for India (PGS-India) under Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer's Welfare. Sikkim implemented organic practices in around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land as per the guidelines of NPOP and became India's first fully organic State in 2015.”
Why relevant
Explains that specific certification systems (PGS-India) are implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, illustrating that the Ministry hosts programmatic/regulatory frameworks for agricultural products.
How to extend
One can extend this by asking whether tea, as an agricultural commodity, falls under such Ministry-implemented frameworks or under a separate commodity board attached to that Ministry.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > HORTICULTURE SECTOR > p. 296
Strength: 3/5
“• Horticulture sector includes a wide range of crops. It includes fruit crops, vegetable crops, flowers, ornamental crops, medicinal and aromatic crops, spices, coconut, cashew, cocoa, plantation crops, etc. It even includes areas such as bee-keeping, mushroom, bamboo, etc. • Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) under Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is the nodal department for fostering the development of the horticulture sector in India.”
Why relevant
States that the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare is the nodal department for the horticulture sector, indicating the Ministry serves as nodal/oversight body for wide agricultural subsectors.
How to extend
A student could use the nodal-role pattern and consult an official list of nodal agencies/commodity boards to see if the Tea Board is administered by this Department/Ministry.
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.9 Organic Farming > p. 346
Strength: 4/5
“Apart from a number of private certifying bodies like Indian Organic Certification Agency (INDOCERT), Natural Organic Certification Pvt. Ltd., the Central government agency FSSAI and State government bodies such as Uttarakhand State Organic Certification Agency also issue certification for organic products. Indian organic products duly certified by the accredited certification bodies of India are accepted by the importing countries. PGS-India: PGS-India is implemented by Ministry of Agriculture through the National Centre for Organic Farming. Unlike the top-down approach of NPOP, PGS-India involves a peer-review approach and is a self -certification process supported through the”
Why relevant
Gives an example (NPOP vs PGS-India) of different certification/regulatory mechanisms being allocated to different ministries/agencies (Ministry of Commerce via APEDA vs Ministry of Agriculture), showing commodity governance can be split across ministries.
How to extend
Apply this rule by checking whether tea governance might be under Commerce (export focus) or Agriculture (production/quality focus) rather than assuming it is with one particular Ministry.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Major Technology Mission Initiatives in Agriculture > p. 354
Strength: 3/5
“In the recent past, various technology-driven interventions have been undertaken towards agricultural development. Some major interventions include: • National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A) A centrally sponsored scheme, NeGP-A has been adopted for development of agriculture through ICT such as Internet, Kiosks, Krishi Vigyan Kendra's, Kisan Call Centres (KCC), Common Service Centres (CSCs), etc. • Kisan SMS Portal: SMS Portal for Farmers for circulation of relevant information such as ø giving topical and seasonal advisories and providing services through SMSs in local languages Project is being implemented in 5 States - Mizoram, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Uttarakhand. It is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), while the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers Welfare is the national executing agency.”
Why relevant
Mentions the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers Welfare as the executing agency for national agricultural ICT interventions, reinforcing that the Ministry frequently executes sectoral agricultural functions.
How to extend
Use this pattern — Ministry as executing/overseeing agency — to look up whether the Tea Board's administrative control fits this common arrangement or is independent/under another ministry.
Statement 3
Is the Head Office of the Tea Board of India situated in Bengaluru?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs
Fairness: CA heavy
Web-answerable
"The Headquarters of the Tea Board of India is located in Kolkata"
Why this source?
- Directly states the location of the Tea Board of India headquarters.
- Names Kolkata (not Bengaluru) as the headquarters, which contradicts the claim.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Tea (Camellia sinensis) > p. 41
Strength: 4/5
“Tea is the world's most popular beverage, being favoured by at least 50 per cent of the world population. It is the national drink of China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Great Britain and Russia.
India has about 45 lakh hectares of land under its cultivation. Te major tea growing states in India include Assam (53%), West Bengal (24%), Tamil Nadu (11.0%), and Kerala about 8%). Tea is also grown on a small scale in Tripura, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Bihar, Manipur, Odisha, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.”
Why relevant
Lists major tea-growing states and explicitly includes Karnataka among minor tea producers.
How to extend
A student could note Karnataka's tea role and check whether a national board's head office is sometimes located in a producing state (compare locations of other commodity boards).
INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Land Resources and Agriculture > Tea > p. 34
Strength: 4/5
“India is a leading producer of tea and accounts for about 21.22 per cent of total production in the world 2018. India's share in the international market of tea has declined substantially. It ranks second among tea exporting countries in the world after China (2018). Assam accounts for about 53.2 per cent of the total cropped area and contributes more than half of total production of tea in the country. West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are the other leading producers of tea.”
Why relevant
Identifies Assam, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu as the principal tea-producing states (with Assam dominant).
How to extend
A student could use this pattern to hypothesize that a Tea Board HQ might more plausibly be located in or near leading production areas rather than in Karnataka/Bengaluru, and then verify.
NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 4: The Age of Industrialisation > Food Crops other than Grains > p. 86
Strength: 3/5
“climate all through the year. Frequent showers evenly distributed over the year ensure continuous growth of tender leaves. Tea is a labour-intensive industry. It requires abundant, cheap and skilled labour. Tea is processed within the tea garden to restore its freshness. Major tea- Fig. 4.10: 4.10:Fig. 4.10: Tea Cultivation Fig. 4.11: 4.11:Fig. 4.11: Tea-leaves Harvesting producing states are Assam, hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Apart from these, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura are also tea-producing states in the country. In 2020 India was the second largest producer of tea after China.”
Why relevant
Again emphasises Assam, Darjeeling/Jalpaiguri (West Bengal), Tamil Nadu and Kerala as major tea regions.
How to extend
Use the concentration of production in these states to assess plausibility of a national board being headquartered in a major producing region versus a non-major producer like Karnataka.
Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 30: Climatic Regions > Tea > p. 434
Strength: 3/5
“• Tea requires moderate temperatures (about 15° C), heavy rainfall (over 150 cm) and well-drained highland slopes.• The best regions are thus the Himalayan foothills of India and Bangladesh, the central highlands of Sri Lanka and western Java, from all of which it is exported.• Tea originated in China and it is still an important crop grown mostly for local consumption.”
Why relevant
Describes the geographic/climatic regions best for tea (Himalayan foothills, certain highlands), highlighting where core production clusters lie.
How to extend
Compare these geographic clusters to the location of Bengaluru (southern interior) to judge whether Bengaluru sits within primary tea regions—if not, that weakens the expectation the HQ would be there.
INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: International Trade > Can you find out the reasons for the variations in the location of ports along the two coasts? > p. 92
Strength: 2/5
“oils, coffee, tea, wood pulp, yarn, granite stone, molasses, etc. Karnataka is the major hinterland for this port. Kochchi Port, situated at the head of Vembanad Kayal, popularly known as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea', is also a natural harbour. This port has an advantageous location being close to the Suez-Colombo route. It caters to the needs of Kerala, southern-Karnataka and south western Tamil Nadu. Kolkata Port is located on the Hugli river, 128 km inland from the Bay of Bengal. Like the Mumbai port, this port was also developed by the British. Kolkata had the initial advantage of being the capital of British India.”
Why relevant
Mentions Karnataka in an economic/geographic context (as hinterland for a nearby port), showing Karnataka's regional economic role.
How to extend
A student could combine Karnataka's economic ties with the fact it is not listed among top tea producers to assess whether Bengaluru is a likely administrative centre for the Tea Board.
Statement 4
Does the Tea Board of India have an overseas office in Dubai?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs
Fairness: CA heavy
Web-answerable
"**Branches.** The Headquarters of the Tea Board of India is located in Kolkata and has its offices in Moscow, Dubai, Hamburg, London and New York."
Why this source?
- Explicitly lists the Tea Board's offices and includes Dubai among them.
- Identifies Headquarters location and enumerates overseas offices, directly addressing the question.
"**Branches.** The Headquarters of the Tea Board of India is located in Kolkata and has its offices in Moscow, Dubai, Hamburg, London and New York."
Why this source?
- Repeats the same information confirming the list of overseas offices includes Dubai.
- From an official embassy page context, supporting the claim's reliability.
INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Land Resources and Agriculture > Tea > p. 34
Strength: 4/5
“India is a leading producer of tea and accounts for about 21.22 per cent of total production in the world 2018. India's share in the international market of tea has declined substantially. It ranks second among tea exporting countries in the world after China (2018). Assam accounts for about 53.2 per cent of the total cropped area and contributes more than half of total production of tea in the country. West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are the other leading producers of tea.”
Why relevant
Shows India is a major tea producer and exporter (ranks second globally), implying institutional interest in overseas marketing and export facilitation.
How to extend
A student could infer that major exporters often maintain overseas offices in key importing markets (check Tea Board office list or major import hubs like Dubai).
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Tea (Camellia sinensis) > p. 42
Strength: 3/5
“Te tea industry in India is more than 160 years old, generating a revenue of over ` 6000 crore. It employs more than one million workers directly and looks after 4 million dependents of these employees. Of the working population directly employed by the tea gardens, nearly 50% are women. Te production of tea in India has increased from 250 million kg in 1947 to 755 million kg in 2011, recording a substantial increase. Factors of tea cultivation Tea is a native to the subtropics of Asia. It is grown widely in both the subtropics and the high elevations within the tropics.”
Why relevant
Describes the scale and export-orientation of India's tea industry (large production, employment), suggesting government/export bodies may support overseas presence.
How to extend
Combine this with knowledge of major Gulf importers to assess plausibility of a Tea Board office in Dubai and then verify official Tea Board contacts.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Tea (Camellia sinensis) > p. 43
Strength: 3/5
“Fig. 12.17 World–Distribution of Tea Production”
Why relevant
Mentions a world distribution map of tea production, highlighting the global nature of tea trade and potential focus on overseas markets.
How to extend
Use a world map to identify major import regions (Middle East/Gulf) where a Tea Board office might be strategically placed, then search for offices in those cities (e.g., Dubai).
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > Impact of these FTAs on trade: > p. 393
Strength: 4/5
“India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) covers different areas like trade in goods and services, rules of origin, customs procedures, government procurement, IPRs, e-commerce. Both the countries have removed tariffs on 80% of products. The FTA will give zero duty access to 90% of India's exports to UAE. The FTA will benefit a number of labour-oriented businesses like gems, jewellery, textiles, leather footwear, sports goods, engineering goods and pharmaceuticals. It came into effect in May 2022.”
Why relevant
Notes a recent India–UAE CEPA reducing tariffs and expanding market access, which increases incentives for Indian exporters to strengthen presence in the UAE.
How to extend
A student could reason that trade agreements raise the chance India would have institutional/export promotion presence in UAE (check if the Tea Board established a Dubai office post-CEPA).
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > International Mails > p. 43
Strength: 3/5
“foreign destinations, principal foreign offices of exchanges have been set up at Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. In addition, six sub-foreign post offices have been established at Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Cochin, Jaipur, NOIDA, and Srinagar. Export Extension Windows have also been made operative at Guwahati, Kanpur, Ludhiana, Moradabad, Surat, and Varanasi to cater to the needs of the exporters, tourists in these areas.”
Why relevant
Provides an example of Indian authorities setting up foreign or sub-foreign offices/offices of exchange to serve international needs.
How to extend
By analogy, one could expect other Indian export-promotion bodies (like the Tea Board) to create overseas offices in major trade/transport hubs — candidate cities include Dubai.
Statement 5
Does the Tea Board of India have an overseas office in Moscow?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs
Fairness: CA heavy
Web-answerable
"**Branches.** The Headquarters of the Tea Board of India is located in Kolkata and has its offices in Moscow, Dubai, Hamburg, London and New York. **Moscow office.** The Moscow office of the Tea Board of India operates under the Embassy of India, and its area of activity includes Russia and the CIS countries, which comprise 50% of Indian tea exports."
Why this source?
- Explicitly lists Moscow among the Tea Board of India’s overseas offices.
- Provides additional detail about a dedicated Moscow office operating under the Embassy of India.
"**Branches.** The Headquarters of the Tea Board of India is located in Kolkata and has its offices in Moscow, Dubai, Hamburg, London and New York."
Why this source?
- Repeats that the Tea Board’s headquarters is in Kolkata and that it has offices in Moscow.
- Supports the claim by corroborating the office list on an embassy-related page.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Tea (Camellia sinensis) > p. 41
Strength: 4/5
“Tea is the world's most popular beverage, being favoured by at least 50 per cent of the world population. It is the national drink of China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Great Britain and Russia.
India has about 45 lakh hectares of land under its cultivation. Te major tea growing states in India include Assam (53%), West Bengal (24%), Tamil Nadu (11.0%), and Kerala about 8%). Tea is also grown on a small scale in Tripura, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Bihar, Manipur, Odisha, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.”
Why relevant
Identifies Russia as one of the world's major tea‑drinking countries (lists Russia among nations where tea is the national drink).
How to extend
A student could infer that India might seek representation or promotion in large tea‑consuming markets like Russia and check Tea Board outreach or offices in Moscow.
INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Land Resources and Agriculture > Tea > p. 34
Strength: 4/5
“India is a leading producer of tea and accounts for about 21.22 per cent of total production in the world 2018. India's share in the international market of tea has declined substantially. It ranks second among tea exporting countries in the world after China (2018). Assam accounts for about 53.2 per cent of the total cropped area and contributes more than half of total production of tea in the country. West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are the other leading producers of tea.”
Why relevant
States India is a leading producer and significant exporter of tea, implying institutional interest in international markets.
How to extend
One could reasonably expect export promotion bodies (e.g., Tea Board) to maintain overseas presence in key import markets such as Russia and investigate Tea Board offices list.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Tea (Camellia sinensis) > p. 43
Strength: 3/5
“Fig. 12.17 World–Distribution of Tea Production”
Why relevant
Mentions global distribution of tea production (world–distribution map), highlighting the international trade context for tea.
How to extend
Use the world distribution context to identify major importers/consumers and then look for whether the Tea Board has offices in those countries (e.g., Moscow).
Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 30: Climatic Regions > Tea > p. 434
Strength: 3/5
“• Tea requires moderate temperatures (about 15° C), heavy rainfall (over 150 cm) and well-drained highland slopes.• The best regions are thus the Himalayan foothills of India and Bangladesh, the central highlands of Sri Lanka and western Java, from all of which it is exported.• Tea originated in China and it is still an important crop grown mostly for local consumption.”
Why relevant
Notes that tea from certain regions is exported, reinforcing that Indian tea participates in international markets.
How to extend
Combine export emphasis with knowledge of large tea markets (like Russia) to justify checking whether export promotion includes an office in Moscow.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > International Mails > p. 43
Strength: 3/5
“foreign destinations, principal foreign offices of exchanges have been set up at Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. In addition, six sub-foreign post offices have been established at Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Cochin, Jaipur, NOIDA, and Srinagar. Export Extension Windows have also been made operative at Guwahati, Kanpur, Ludhiana, Moradabad, Surat, and Varanasi to cater to the needs of the exporters, tourists in these areas.”
Why relevant
Describes that India establishes principal foreign offices and sub‑offices for international services and export facilitation.
How to extend
Apply this pattern of setting up foreign offices to export sectors (such as tea) and seek whether the Tea Board follows similar practice by placing an office in Moscow.
Pattern takeaway:
UPSC consistently swaps the headquarters of the Coffee Board (Bengaluru) with the Tea Board (Kolkata). Whenever you see a specific city mentioned for a HQ, pause and cross-check against the commodity's primary historical region (Tea = British Calcutta; Coffee = Karnataka).
How you should have studied
- [THE VERDICT]: **Standard Trap**. Solvable by eliminating the wrong Ministry and wrong HQ. Sources: India Year Book or standard Economic Geography notes.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: **Statutory Commodity Boards**. The distinction between crops managed by the Ministry of Agriculture vs. those managed by the Ministry of Commerce.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: **Memorize this Table**:
1. **Coffee Board**: HQ Bengaluru, Min of Commerce.
2. **Rubber Board**: HQ Kottayam, Min of Commerce.
3. **Spices Board**: HQ Kochi, Min of Commerce.
4. **Tobacco Board**: HQ Guntur, Min of Commerce.
5. **Coir Board**: HQ Kochi, **Min of MSME** (Exception).
6. **Central Silk Board**: HQ Bengaluru, **Min of Textiles** (Exception).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Create a 'Body-Ministry-HQ' matrix. The rule of thumb: If it is a plantation crop with high export value (Tea, Coffee, Rubber), it is likely under **Commerce**. If it is a fiber (Jute, Silk), it is likely **Textiles**. If it is a food grain, it is **Agriculture**.
Concept hooks from this question
👉 Statutory vs Constitutional bodies
💡 The insight
A public body may be either established by a legislative Act (statutory) or created by the Constitution (constitutional), and this classification determines its legal status.
High-yield for UPSC because many questions ask the legal character of commissions and boards; mastering this helps identify which bodies derive authority from Parliament versus the Constitution and the differing implications for powers, tenure and judicial review.
📚 Reading List :
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 71: Delimitation Commission of India > COMMISSIONS ESTABLISHED SO FAR > p. 530
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 50: National Commission for BCs > ESTABLISHMENT > p. 440
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 44: Union Public Service Commission > ROLE > p. 426
🔗 Anchor: "Is the Tea Board of India a statutory body?"
👉 Statutory bodies: created by Acts of Parliament
💡 The insight
Bodies established under specific legislation (e.g., Advocates Act; delimitation law) are statutory and derive their powers and duties from that Act.
Useful for answering questions about origin, legal force and enforceability of orders of administrative bodies; connects to topics on legislative competence, administrative law and the consequences of being created by statute.
📚 Reading List :
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 71: Delimitation Commission of India > COMMISSIONS ESTABLISHED SO FAR > p. 530
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 69: Bar Council of India > ESTABLISHMENT > p. 520
🔗 Anchor: "Is the Tea Board of India a statutory body?"
👉 Non‑statutory and executive/registered bodies
💡 The insight
Some bodies are non-statutory (set up by executive order), created by executive resolution, or registered as societies, giving them different permanence and legal implications than statutory bodies.
Important for distinguishing advisory or autonomous organizations from statutory authorities in governance questions; helps tackle questions on accountability, permanence and administrative control over such bodies.
📚 Reading List :
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 70: Law Commission of India > Law Commission of India > p. 525
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 7: Money and Banking > Banking Codes and Standards Board of India > p. 193
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 44: Union Public Service Commission > ROLE > p. 426
🔗 Anchor: "Is the Tea Board of India a statutory body?"
👉 Attached offices vs statutory/independent bodies
💡 The insight
Understanding what qualifies as an 'attached office' of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare is central to deciding whether a board falls under that Ministry.
High-yield for UPSC questions on administrative structure: distinguishes governance types (attached office, statutory body, autonomous authority). Helps answer item-selection and matching questions about which organisations report to which ministry and links to public administration and federal governance topics.
📚 Reading List :
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > AGMARK > p. 326
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > HORTICULTURE SECTOR > p. 296
🔗 Anchor: "Is the Tea Board of India a regulatory body attached to the Ministry of Agricult..."
👉 Regulatory and certification agencies for agricultural produce
💡 The insight
Agricultural product regulation is handled by diverse agencies (e.g., AGMARK, FSSAI, APEDA, PGS-India) that may be linked to different ministries or departments.
Important for questions on sectoral regulation, export/import protocols and ministry jurisdictions; clarifies where bodies for certification and market regulation are placed and prepares aspirants to map agencies to ministries in governance and economy papers.
📚 Reading List :
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > AGMARK > p. 326
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Importance: > p. 311
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.9 Organic Farming > p. 346
🔗 Anchor: "Is the Tea Board of India a regulatory body attached to the Ministry of Agricult..."
👉 Major tea-producing states and their shares
💡 The insight
Identifies which states (Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, etc.) dominate national tea cultivation and relative area/production shares.
High-yield for polity/economy and geography questions: helps answer location-based questions on regional agro-economics, export patterns and state-level commodity profiles. Connects to topics on regional development, trade and resource distribution; useful for map-based and comparative questions.
📚 Reading List :
- INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Land Resources and Agriculture > Tea > p. 34
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Tea (Camellia sinensis) > p. 41
🔗 Anchor: "Is the Head Office of the Tea Board of India situated in Bengaluru?"
👉 Climatic and topographic requirements for tea cultivation
💡 The insight
Tea cultivation requires moderate temperatures, heavy rainfall and well-drained highland slopes, determining its geographic distribution.
Essential for physical geography and agriculture questions: enables reasoning about why tea is concentrated in Himalayan foothills, southern hills and specific microclimates. Links to monsoon patterns, soil types and crop zoning; useful for cause–effect and distribution questions.
📚 Reading List :
- Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 30: Climatic Regions > Tea > p. 434
- NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 4: The Age of Industrialisation > Food Crops other than Grains > p. 86
🔗 Anchor: "Is the Head Office of the Tea Board of India situated in Bengaluru?"
The **Coconut Development Board**. Unlike Tea/Coffee (Commerce), the Coconut Board falls under the **Ministry of Agriculture** (HQ: Kochi). This is the perfect 'exception' for a future question to trap students who apply the 'Cash Crop = Commerce' rule blindly.
Use **Geographic Association**. Tea is historically synonymous with Assam and Darjeeling (West Bengal). The British administration for Tea was centered in Calcutta. Therefore, HQ in Bengaluru (South India) is geographically counter-intuitive. Eliminating Statement 3 (Bengaluru) removes Options A and C immediately.
Mains GS-2 (Federalism) & GS-3 (Agriculture): Commodity Boards (Union List Entry 52) regulate cultivation, which is technically a State List subject (Agriculture). This creates a federal tension. Use the Tea Board as a case study for 'Central control over State subjects' in Mains answers.