Constitutional, statutory & regulatory bodies

Answer: (a) Only one

Only the DRI row is fully right. The Enforcement Directorate does enforce the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, but it works under the Department of Revenue, not the Home Ministry. Big data analytics to help tax officers is the job of CBIC's Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management (DGARM), not the DG of Systems and Data Management.

• ✗ I The ED enforces PMLA, FEMA and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, but the Department of Revenue (Ministry of Finance) lists it as its attached office; it is not under the Home Ministry.
• ✓ II The DRI is the apex anti-smuggling agency of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, enforcing the Customs Act, 1962 under the Department of Revenue.
• ✗ III The data-mining and analytics role described belongs to DGARM, which CBIC created as its apex body for data analytics and risk management in July 2017.

Remember · ED, DRI and CBIC's directorates all sit under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. Tax data analytics and risk profiling: DGARM (CBIC, 2017).

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (a) Only one

Only the Inter-State Council was set up as per a provision of the Constitution, namely Article 263. Zonal Councils exist under a law of Parliament, the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, and the National Security Council is an executive body with no place in the Constitution's text.

• ✓ I Article 263 lets the President establish an inter-State Council by order. The Inter-State Council was set up on that basis by a Presidential Order dated 28 May 1990.
• ✗ II The Constitution contains no provision for a National Security Council. It is an apex body headed by the Prime Minister, formed by the Government.
• ✗ III The five Zonal Councils were created under Part III of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, so they are statutory, not constitutional, bodies.

Remember · Inter-State Council: constitutional (Art. 263). Zonal Councils: statutory (States Reorganisation Act, 1956). National Security Council: executive body, not in the Constitution.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (d) None

None of the pairs is correct. The National Automotive Board works under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, the Coir Board is a statutory body under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and the National Centre for Trade Information belongs to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

• ✗ I The National Automotive Board is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, not the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• ✗ II The Coir Board (Kochi) is listed among the statutory and autonomous bodies of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the Government of India's Allocation of Business Rules, not of Heavy Industries.
• ✗ III The National Centre for Trade Information is listed among the trade-promotion measures on the Ministry of Commerce and Industry's website, where it is described as jointly promoted by ITPO and NIC; it is not an MSME body.

Remember · National Automotive Board: Ministry of Heavy Industries. Coir Board (Kochi, statutory): Ministry of MSME. National Centre for Trade Information: Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (b) Only two

Only II and III are regulated. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006 covers refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas, and it expressly leaves out the production of crude oil and natural gas.

• ✗ I Producing crude oil is upstream work and is excluded from the Board's remit.
• ✓ II Refining, storage and distribution are named activities under the Act.
• ✓ III Marketing and sale of petroleum products are named activities under the Act.
• ✗ IV The Act excludes the production of natural gas, although transporting, distributing and selling it are regulated.

Remember · PNGRB (Act of 2006) regulates refining, storage, transport, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum and natural gas, but not upstream production of crude oil or natural gas.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (a) III only

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 covers public servants both in and outside India, allows the Chairperson to be a Supreme Court judge or an eminent person as well as a Chief Justice, and does reach the Prime Minister, with safeguards. Only the minimum age of forty-five years in statement III matches the Act.

• ✗ I Section 1(3) says the Act applies to public servants in and outside India, so Indian public servants posted abroad are covered.
• ✗ II A sitting MP or State legislator is barred from the post, but the Chairperson need not be a Chief Justice: a Supreme Court judge, present or past, or an eminent person meeting the eligibility conditions also qualifies.
• ✓ III Section 3(4) bars anyone below forty-five years of age on the date of assuming office as Chairperson or Member.
• ✗ IV Section 14 brings a Prime Minister within the Lokpal's jurisdiction, with limits: matters of international relations, external and internal security, public order, atomic energy and space are excluded, and a full bench must approve an inquiry by two-thirds.

Remember · Lokpal Act 2013: applies to public servants in and outside India; Chairperson may be a CJI, SC judge or eminent person; minimum age 45; Prime Minister covered, with safeguards.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error