UPSC Prelims 2025 · GS Paper I
Question 60: Polity and Governance
Consider the following activities :
- IProduction of crude oil
- IIRefining, storage and distribution of petroleum
- IIIMarketing and sale of petroleum products
- IVProduction of natural gas
How many of the above activities are regulated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board in our country?
AnswerThe answer is (b).
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006 gives the Board charge of the downstream sector: refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas. It excludes the production of crude oil and natural gas, which is the upstream sector and is handled by other agencies under the Petroleum Ministry. So refining, storage and distribution, and marketing and sale are regulated by the Board, which makes two of the four activities.
- I. Production of crude oil is upstream and excluded.
- II. Refining, storage and distribution fall within the Board's downstream remit.
- III. Marketing and sale of petroleum products are regulated by the Board.
- IV. Production of natural gas is upstream and excluded.
How you could have got this
No shortcut here: in a “how many” question, ruling out options doesn’t help. Every statement has to be judged.
This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong: refining and storage, and marketing and sale are both regulated.
- (b) Right: only the downstream activities (II and III) are regulated.
- (c) Wrong: crude oil and natural gas production are excluded, so three overcounts.
- (d) Wrong: upstream production is outside the Board's remit.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.