Current set IAS · 2025 Q3

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Q3 (IAS/2025) Polity & Governance › Governance, Policies & Social Justice › Regulatory and statutory bodies Answer Verified

With reference to the Government of India, consider the following information : I. Directorate of Enforcement Enforcement of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 It works under Internal Security Division-I, Ministry of Home Affairs II. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence Enforces the Provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 It works under Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance III. Directorate General of Systems and Data Management Carrying out big data analytics to assist tax officers for better policy and nabbing tax evaders It works under Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance In how many of the above rows is the information correctly matched?

Result

Your answer: — · Correct: A

Explanation

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is indeed the executing agency for the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA)[2], making the first part of Row I correct. However, ED operates under the Department of Revenue[4], not under Internal Security Division-I, Ministry of Home Affairs. Therefore, **Row I is incorrect overall**.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) was constituted on 4 December 1957 and exercises powers specified under various sections of the Customs Act, 1962[5], confirming it enforces the Customs Act. DRI operates under CBEC (now CBIC)[6], which is part of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. Therefore, **Row II is completely correct**.

Regarding Row III, the documents provided do not contain any information about the Directorate General of Systems and Data Management, its functions, or its organizational placement. Without documentary evidence, this row cannot be verified as correct.

Since only Row II is correctly matched in all aspects, the answer is **only one**.

Sources

[1] https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/may/doc202551549501.pdf
[2] https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/may/doc202551549501.pdf
[3] https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/may/doc202551549501.pdf
[4] https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/may/doc202551549501.pdf
[5] https://cag.gov.in/uploads/download_audit_report/2014/Union_Compliance_In_Direct_Tax_Customs_Revenue_Dept_8_2015_chapter_5.pdf
[6] https://cag.gov.in/uploads/download_audit_report/2014/Union_Compliance_In_Direct_Tax_Customs_Revenue_Dept_8_2015_chapter_5.pdf

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Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.

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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN

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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.

Q. With reference to the Government of India, consider the following information : I. Directorate of Enforcement Enforcement of the Fugitiv…

At a glance

Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 5/10

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This is a classic 'Ministry Swap' trap disguised as a difficult factual question. While Row III is niche, Row I is the gatekeeper: ED is the most visible agency in current affairs, and knowing it reports to the Department of Revenue (Finance), not MHA, is non-negotiable. The question rewards organizational clarity over rote memorization of acts.

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: Government of India: Is the Directorate of Enforcement responsible for enforcing the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018?
Statement 2: Government of India: Does the Directorate of Enforcement operate under Internal Security Division‑I in the Ministry of Home Affairs?
Statement 3: Government of India: Does the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence enforce the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962?
Statement 4: Government of India: Does the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence function under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance?
Statement 5: Government of India: Does the Directorate General of Systems and Data Management carry out big‑data analytics to assist tax officers in policy formulation and detecting tax evaders?
Statement 6: Government of India: Does the Directorate General of Systems and Data Management operate under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance?

Statement 1

Government of India: Is the Directorate of Enforcement responsible for enforcing the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018?

Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source

Presence: 5/5

"Being the executing agency for Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA), ED has over the past years coordinated with MHA and MEA to request the extradition of the accused in several cases."

Why this source?

Explicitly names ED as the executing agency for the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.
Links ED's role to international coordination (extradition) in FEOA cases, showing operational responsibility.

Web source

Presence: 5/5

"With the enactment of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA), 2018, ED was further empowered to act against high-value economic offenders who flee the country to evade prosecution."

Why this source?

States that with enactment of FEOA, ED was further empowered to act against offenders who flee the country.
Presents ED's empowerment under FEOA as part of its core enforcement functions.

Web source

Presence: 5/5

"The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 also empowers ED to attach and confiscate proceeds of crime and properties associated with economic offenders in the event of such offenders absconding to foreign jurisdictions."

Why this source?

Describes a specific power under FEOA vested in ED — the ability to attach and confiscate proceeds and properties of fugitive economic offenders.
Shows substantive enforcement authority given to ED by the Act.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Disbanding Planning Commission and Setting up NITI Aayog > p. 783

Strength: 4/5

“It was made mandatory for every real estate project to be registered with its state's RERA. Unfortunately, this law required to be enforced by state governments. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) which came into force in April 2018, was required to tackle the large fraud cases reported by banks. Under the law, if an economic offender flees the country to avoid due process, he/she can be declared a 'fugitive economic offender' and their properties can be confiscated and auctioned to recover at least part of the debt. The government adopted the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) in 2016 with the major guiding principles of enhancing domestic oil and gas production; bringing substantial investment; generating sizable employment; enhancing transparency; and reducing administrative discretion.”

Why relevant

Mentions the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) 2018 and its purpose (confiscation/recovery of property) without naming an enforcing agency.

How to extend

A student could consult the FEOA text or official notifications to see which agency is legally empowered to declare and pursue fugitive economic offenders.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 65: Central Bureau of Investigation > ESTABLISHMENT > p. 503

Strength: 4/5

“On the other hand, the CBI investigates crimes of corruption, economic offenses and serious and organized crime other than terrorism. It must be noted here that the provisions of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act (1946) do not enable the CBI to exercise its powers and jurisdiction in any area in a State (not being a railway area) without the consent of the Government of that State. In other words, the jurisdiction of the CBI can be extended to the States only with the consent of the State Government concerned.”

Why relevant

States that the CBI investigates 'economic offenses' and serious organized crime, suggesting that economic offences are typically within remit of central enforcement agencies.

How to extend

Use this pattern to check whether FEOA enforcement is assigned to a central economic/criminal investigation agency like CBI or another central agency (e.g., Directorate of Enforcement).

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 65: Central Bureau of Investigation > FUNCTIONS > p. 505

Strength: 3/5

“It normally confines its activities in the anti-corruption field to offences committed by the employees of the Central Government and Union Territories and their public sector undertakings. It takes up investigation of conventional crimes like murder, kidnapping, rape etc. The CBI acts as the "National Central Bureau" of Interpol in India. The Interpol Wing of the CBI coordinates requests for investigation-related activities originating from Indian law enforcement agencies and the member countries of the Interpol.”

Why relevant

Explains CBI's role in anti‑corruption and economic crime, showing that central statutory agencies are commonly tasked with investigating economic offences.

How to extend

Compare the statutory mandate of agencies described here with the enforcement provisions of FEOA to see which agency's statutory functions align.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Directorate General of Civil Aviation > p. 30

Strength: 4/5

“The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and is headed by Director General (Civil Aviation). The headquarters is located in New Delhi and there are regional and sub-regional offices all over the country. DGCA is primarily responsible for regulation of air transport services to/from/within India and for enforcement of civil air regulations, air safety and airworthiness standards.”

Why relevant

Describes a 'Directorate' (DGCA) as an attached office of a Ministry that is 'primarily responsible for regulation... and enforcement of' sector-specific regulations.

How to extend

Apply this general rule: if FEOA designates a 'Directorate' attached to a ministry, check which ministry and whether that directorate is empowered to enforce the Act.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 27: Environmental Organizations > 27.4. WTLDLIFE CRTME CONTROL BUREAU (WCCB) > p. 383

Strength: 3/5

“o The Government of India constituted a statutory body, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau on 6th June 1980 by amending the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The bureau would complement the efforts of the state governments, primary enforcers of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and other enforcement agencies of the country. All Rights Reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form or by any means, without permission in writing.”

Why relevant

Gives an example of a statutory bureau (WCCB) created to 'complement the efforts' of state enforcers and other agencies, illustrating that Parliament creates specialised enforcement bodies for particular laws.

How to extend

Use this pattern to look for any statutory creation or notification under FEOA that sets up or assigns enforcement to a specialised agency (which could be the Directorate of Enforcement).

Statement analysis