UPSC Previous Year Question | Prelims GS | 2025

Consider the following activities: I. Production of crude oil II. Refining, storage and distribution of petroleum III. Marketing and sale of petroleum products IV. Production of natural gas. How many of the above activities are regulated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board in our country?

  1. Only one
  2. Only two
  3. Only three
  4. All the four

Answer

Correct Answer

Only two

Explanation

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) regulates the refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum, petroleum products, and natural gas (downstream activities), i.e., activities II and III. Upstream activities like the production/exploration of crude oil and natural gas fall outside PNGRB's regulatory ambit and are regulated separately (e.g., by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons/Ministry of Petroleum).

Topics: economy, petroleum sector, pngrb