UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India to study potential of new markets for tea exports

Q1. Apart from its Chairman, how many members appointed by the Government of India constitute the Tea Board under the Tea Act, 1953?

  • A. 25 members, including representatives of Parliament and of the tea industry
  • B. 31 members, including representatives of Parliament and of the tea industry
  • C. 35 members, including representatives of Parliament and of the tea industry
  • D. 21 members, including representatives of Parliament and of the tea industry

Q2. As reported by the Tea Board, tea is commercially cultivated in how many States of India?

  • A. 8 States, of which four are the principal producers
  • B. 11 States, of which four are the principal producers
  • C. 15 States, of which four are the principal producers
  • D. 20 States, of which four are the principal producers

Q3. In Tea Board usage, the expression 'non-traditional tea growing States' denotes which one of the following groups?

  • A. Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Karnataka, which are long-established but comparatively small contributors to output
  • B. Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, a newer belt that has more recently entered India's tea map
  • C. Assam and West Bengal, whose gardens together account for over eighty per cent of the country's annual tea production
  • D. Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the southern producing States as distinguished from the northern plantation belt

Q4. Consider the following in respect of the destination profile of Indian tea exports in recent years: 1. Iraq, the UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt together account for roughly 46 per cent of India's tea exports. 2. Exports to the UAE, Iran and Iraq taken together crossed 110 million kg in calendar year 2025. 3. Indian tea shipments to China more than doubled in 2025 over the previous calendar year. 4. The whole of the increase in India's tea exports in 2025 came from West Asia, since shipments to every other market declined. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Iraq, the UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt together account for roughly 46 per cent of India's tea exports.
  2. Exports to the UAE, Iran and Iraq taken together crossed 110 million kg in calendar year 2025.
  3. Indian tea shipments to China more than doubled in 2025 over the previous calendar year.
  4. The whole of the increase in India's tea exports in 2025 came from West Asia, since shipments to every other market declined.
  • A. 2 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. Which one of the following was the single largest destination for Indian tea exports in calendar year 2025?

  • A. Iran
  • B. Iraq
  • C. United Arab Emirates
  • D. Russian Federation

Q6. In 2024, India moved ahead of which one of the following countries to become the world's second largest exporter of tea?

  • A. Kenya
  • B. China
  • C. Sri Lanka
  • D. Vietnam

Q7. The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, which extends zero-duty access to nearly 99 per cent of India's exports, entered into force with effect from which one of the following?

  • A. 24 July 2025, the date on which the two sides signed the agreement
  • B. 1 January 2026, the start of the calendar year following signature
  • C. 15 July 2026, one year after the agreement was signed
  • D. 1 April 2026, the start of the Indian financial year after signature