UPSC Prelims 2022 Question:

With reference to the “Tea Board” in India, consider the following statements:

1. The Tea Board is a statutory body.
2. It is a regulatory body attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
3. The Tea Board’s Head Office is situated in Bengaluru.
4. The Board has overseas offices at Dubai and Moscow.
   
   

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Learn more about the Tea Board in the given explanation below.

Explanation:

• The Tea Board is a statutory body set up under section 4 of the Tea Act, 1953 was constituted on 1st April 1954. So, statement 1 is correct.
• The present Tea Board is functioning as a statutory body of the Central Government under the Ministry of Commerce. So, statement 2 is not correct.
• The head office of the Tea board is in Kolkata. Currently, the Tea Board has two overseas offices located at Dubai and Moscow. Its functions include rendering financial and technical assistance for the cultivation, manufacture and marketing of tea, export promotion, aiding Research and Development activities for augmentation of tea production and improvement of tea quality. So, statement 3 is not correct and statement 4 is correct.
  
  

Functions of the Tea Board

• Promoting tea cultivation and processing: The Tea Board provides financial assistance to tea growers for planting, replanting, and irrigation. It also provides technical assistance to tea factories for improving their processing methods.
• Promoting tea consumption: The Tea Board conducts marketing campaigns to promote tea consumption in India and abroad. It also participates in trade fairs and exhibitions to showcase Indian tea.
• Regulating tea trade: The Tea Board regulates the export and import of tea. It also sets standards for tea quality.
• Research and development: The Tea Board conducts research and development on all aspects of tea cultivation, processing, and marketing.
  
  

Therefore, option (4) is the correct answer.