Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)
Indian Polity & Governance
- PYQs7
- Articles1
Background
Understanding the roles, functions, and jurisdiction of key enforcement agencies like DRI is essential for comprehending India's internal security apparatus, economic governance, and efforts against illicit trade.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is the apex intelligence and investigative agency for anti-smuggling operations under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance. It is tasked with combating the smuggling of contraband, including narcotics, gold, arms, and counterfeit goods, and preventing commercial frauds.
Facts & tables
- Parent Ministry
- Ministry of Finance, under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC).
- Mandate
- Combating smuggling of contraband (narcotics, gold, arms), commercial fraud, and illicit international trade.
- Establishment
- Established in 1957.
- Operational Scope
- Operates across India with a network of zonal and regional units.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Constitutional & Statutory Bodies |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) | Is the concept |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
Prelims angle: Institutional roles and functions
- Apex anti-smuggling intelligence agency.
- Under Ministry of Finance (CBIC).
- Combats smuggling of narcotics, gold, arms, etc.
- Investigates commercial fraud and illicit trade.
- Established in 1957.
Ministry sets policy; regulator often has quasi-judicial powers.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2025 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2022 | Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2019 | Institutional roles and functions, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2018 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
Timeline
-
Constitutional & Statutory Bodies
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2018
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2019
Institutional roles and functions, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2022
Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2025
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2026
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
DRI busts clandestine Mephedrone manufacturing facility in Ankleshwar, Gujarat and seizes Rs. 21 lakh; Three arrested
India's premier intelligence and investigative agency for anti-smuggling operations, functioning under the Ministry of Finance to combat illicit trade and commercial fraud.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2018–2026 · 7 questions
In the news
DRI busts clandestine Mephedrone manufacturing facility in Ankleshwar, Gujarat and seizes Rs. 21 lakh; Three arrested
India's premier intelligence and investigative agency for anti-smuggling operations, functioning under the Ministry of Finance to combat illicit trade and commercial fraud.
Try these PYQs
With reference to the organisations under the Government of India, consider the following details:
| Sl. No. | Organisation | Function | Controlling Union Ministry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) | To coordinate between various law enforcement agencies | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| 2. | Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) | To investigate complex corporate frauds | Ministry of Finance |
| 3. | Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) | To preserve values in public life and ensure the health of the national economy | Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension |
In how many of the above rows are the given details correctly matched ?
Row 1 is Incorrect: The Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) acts as the nodal agency for gathering and coordinating economic intelligence among various law enforcement agencies to combat economic offenses. However, it functions under the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), not the Ministry of Home Affairs. Row 2 is Incorrect: The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) is a multi-disciplinary statutory organization tasked with detecting, investigating, and prosecuting serious and complex corporate frauds (white-collar crimes). It functions under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, not the Ministry of Finance. Row 3 is Correct: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is India's premier investigative agency handling corruption, economic offenses, and special crimes. Its overarching mandate is to preserve values in public life and ensure the health of the national economy. It functions under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (specifically, the Department of Personnel and Training). Therefore, only one row is correctly matched.
With reference to the Government of India, consider the following information:
| Organization | Some of its Functions | It Works Under |
|--------------------|------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Directorate of Enforcement | Enforcement of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 | Internal Security Division-I, Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Directorate of Revenue Intelligence | Enforces the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 | Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance |
| Directorate General of Systems and Data Management | Carrying out big data analytics to assist tax officers for better policy and nabbing tax evaders | Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance |
In how many of the above rows is the information correctly matched?
The question relates to the correct mapping of key investigative and analytical bodies under the Government of India and their parent ministries or departments. ❌ Row I: Incorrect The Directorate of Enforcement does implement the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, but it functions under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, not the Ministry of Home Affairs. ✅ Row II: Correct The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) enforces the Customs Act, 1962 and works under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. ✅ Row III: Correct The Directorate General of Systems and Data Management aids in big data analytics for tax enforcement and operates under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements best reflects the consequence of it?
The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration and control of Scheduled Areas as well as of Scheduled Tribes residing in any State other than the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. The governor can make regulations for the peace and good government of a scheduled area after consulting the tribes' advisory council. Such regulations may prohibit or restrict the transfer of land by tribal to non tribal members or among members of the scheduled tribes, and regulate the allotment of land to members of the scheduled tribes. Option B is incorrect. According to the provisions of Paragraph 4, under Article 244(1) of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, the Tribes Advisory Councils (TAC) shall be established in each State having Scheduled Areas therein and, if the President so directs, also in any State having Scheduled Tribes but not Scheduled Areas. The tribal advisory council is an advisory body, not a governing body. Option C is incorrect. Bringing any particular area under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India does not convert the area into a Union Territory. Option D is incorrect. Bringing any particular area under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India does not get declared as a Special Category State.
With reference to India, consider the following pairs:
| Organization | Union Ministry |
|------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| I. The National Automotive Board | Ministry of Commerce and Industry |
| II. The Coir Board | Ministry of Heavy Industries |
| III. The National Centre for Trade Information| Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises |
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
❌ Pair I: The National Automotive Board – Ministry of Commerce and Industry
* Incorrect. It functions under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, not Commerce and Industry. ❌ Pair II: The Coir Board – Ministry of Heavy Industries
* Incorrect. The Coir Board is under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. ❌ Pair III: National Centre for Trade Information – Ministry of MSME
* Incorrect. NCTI is linked to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, not MSME.
Consider the following statements
1. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
2. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is under the charge of Director General of Health Services in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is Correct: The Food Safety and Standards Act, of 2006 did supersede the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, of 1954. It established a more comprehensive framework for ensuring food safety and regulating the food industry in India. Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous body, not under the direct control of the Director General of Health Services. While the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare oversees FSSAI, it functions independently with its own governing board and chairperson. Therefore, the correct answer is option (a) 1 only.
Show 2 more PYQs
In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.?
1. Ad Hoc Committees set up by the Parliament
2. Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees
3. Finance Commission
4. Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission
5. NITI Aayog
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
In India, the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc. are reviewed by the Ad Hoc Committees set up by the Parliament and the Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees. The role of these committees is to ensure that the regulators are performing their duties effectively and in the best interest of the public. The Finance Commission, Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission, and NITI Aayog do not have the mandate to review the independent regulators. Hence, only 1 and 2 are the correct option codes.
Consider the following statements:
1. The India Sanitation Coalition is a platform to promote sustainable sanitation and is funded by the Government of India and the World Health Organization.
2. The National Institute of Urban Affairs is an apex body of the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs in Government
of India and provides innovative solutions to address the challenges of Urban India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. The India Sanitation Coalition was launched on June 25, 2015, at FICCI, New Delhi. ISC is a multi-stakeholder platform that brings together the private sector, government, financial institutions, civil society groups, media, donors/bilateral/multilateral, experts, etc., to work in the sanitation space to drive sustainable sanitation through a partnership model. It is not funded by WHO. Statement 2 is incorrect. The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) is India’s premier urban think tank, shaping the urban narrative since its establishment in 1976, it not an apex body. It is an autonomous body under the Societies Registration Act.