UPSC via PYQs
UPSC Prelims 2025Question 57Polity

With reference to India, consider the following pairs:
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched? Organization — Union Ministry; I. The National Automotive Board — Ministry of Commerce and Industry; II. The Coir Board — Ministry of Heavy Industries; III. The National Centre for Trade Information — Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

Options

  1. (a)Only one
  2. (b)Only two
  3. (c)All the three
  4. (d)None
Correct answer: d
Decision rule

Boards under Commerce handle plantation crops and exports; under MSME, rural and traditional industries; under Heavy Industries, vehicles and machinery.

Explanation

Correct Answer:

(d) None

Explanation of the Correct Answer:

Pair I: The National Automotive Board – Ministry of Commerce and Industry

  • Incorrect
  • The National Automotive Board (NAB) functions under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, not the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • It was established to facilitate implementation of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) and to promote advanced automotive technologies.

Pair II: The Coir Board – Ministry of Heavy Industries

  • Incorrect
  • The Coir Board functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
  • It is responsible for the promotion and development of the coir industry in India, including research, training, and export promotion.
The coir industry refers to the processing and utilization of coir (the fiber extracted from coconut husks) into various products, contributing to the economy, particularly in coconut-growing regions.

Pair III: The National Centre for Trade Information – Ministry of MSME

  • Incorrect
  • The National Centre for Trade Information (NCTI) was set up jointly by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO).
  • Hence, it does not come under the MSME Ministry.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

  • (a) Only one – Incorrect: None are correct.
  • (b) Only two – Incorrect: All are incorrect.
  • (c) All three – Incorrect: None are correct.

Relevant Supplementary Information

Table: Evaluation of Each Pair

OrganizationGiven MinistryCorrect MinistryCorrect?Remarks
National Automotive Board (NAB)Ministry of Commerce and IndustryMinistry of Heavy IndustriesNoPromotes electric and hybrid mobility under DHI
Coir BoardMinistry of Heavy IndustriesMinistry of Micro, Small & Medium EnterprisesNoPromotes coir industry, R&D, training
National Centre for Trade InformationMinistry of MSMEMinistry of Commerce and Industry (with ITPO)NoPromotes trade data and intelligence

Related Concepts and Current Relevance

ConceptDetails
NEMMP & NABAimed at promoting electric vehicles and advanced mobility solutions
Coir Industry SupportA significant rural employment generator; supported via schemes like SFURTI
NCTI RoleFacilitates trade intelligence for exporters and industry bodies
Why Ministry Mapping MattersIn UPSC and governance contexts, correct ministry alignment shows deep understanding of administrative functioning

Table: Organizations and Their Correct Union Ministries

OrganizationCorrect MinistryPrimary Function / MandateRelevance / Notes
National Automotive Board (NAB)Ministry of Heavy IndustriesFacilitates the implementation of National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) and promotes electric mobilityWorks on electric vehicle policy, R&D funding, advanced battery and vehicle tech
Coir BoardMinistry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)Development and promotion of the coir industry, including R&D, training, quality control, and export promotionCoir is a major source of rural employment, especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu
National Centre for Trade Information (NCTI)Ministry of Commerce and Industry (in collaboration with ITPO)Provides trade-related data to exporters, trade bodies, and policymakers; supports e-commerce and export promotionLaunched to bridge information gaps in India’s foreign trade sector

Related Constitutional or Policy Context

Policy AreaRelevant MinistryAssociated Initiatives / Missions
Electric MobilityMinistry of Heavy IndustriesFAME India Scheme, National Electric Mobility Mission Plan
Rural and Agro-Based IndustryMinistry of MSMECoir Udyami Yojana, SFURTI (Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries)
Trade PromotionMinistry of Commerce and IndustryIndia Trade Portal, DGFT, Export Promotion Councils

Table: Key Boards in India and Their Respective Ministries

Board / OrganizationMinistryPrimary Sector / Mandate
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)Promotion of khadi and village industries; rural employment
Coir BoardMinistry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)Promotion and development of the coir industry
Central Silk BoardMinistry of TextilesDevelopment of the silk industry; R&D, extension, training
Textile CommitteeMinistry of TextilesEnsuring quality standards in textiles and textile machinery
Rubber BoardMinistry of Commerce and IndustryDevelopment of rubber plantations and industry
Coffee BoardMinistry of Commerce and IndustryPromotion, R&D, export of Indian coffee
Tea BoardMinistry of Commerce and IndustryDevelopment and regulation of tea production and exports
Spices BoardMinistry of Commerce and IndustryExport promotion and development of Indian spices
Tobacco BoardMinistry of Commerce and IndustryDevelopment and regulation of the tobacco industry
National Jute BoardMinistry of TextilesPromotion of jute and jute products
National Horticulture Board (NHB)Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers WelfareIntegrated development of horticulture and post-harvest management
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)Ministry of Commerce and IndustryPromotion of agricultural exports
National Automotive Board (NAB)Ministry of Heavy IndustriesFacilitating electric vehicle and automotive innovation
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate ChangeImplementation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002
National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate ChangePolicy and advisory body on wildlife conservation
Pollution Control Boards (CPCB / SPCBs)Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change / State GovtsEnvironmental regulation and enforcement
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)Ministry of Chemicals and FertilizersPricing and regulation of pharmaceutical products
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)Ministry of PowerPromotion of energy conservation and efficiency
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)Ministry of Health and Family WelfareRegulation of food safety and standards

Notes:

  • Boards under Ministry of Commerce: Usually focus on plantation crops and exports.
  • Boards under MSME Ministry: Promote rural and traditional industries.
  • Boards under Environment Ministry: Focus on regulation and conservation.
  • Statutory boards are often formed by Acts of Parliament and have varying degrees of regulatory, advisory, or promotional functions.
Open this in the study app →

Related questions the exam has asked

Independent UPSC previous-year-questions study tool — not affiliated with or endorsed by the UPSC. Question text is reproduced from publicly released UPSC examination papers.
UPSCviaPYQs · Privacy · Terms