Which of the following bodies governs and regulates the telecommunication sector in India?

Introduction / Context:
Telecommunication services in India are regulated by a specific statutory authority that issues guidelines, frames regulations, and protects consumer interests. General knowledge questions on the economy and infrastructure often ask which body regulates telecom services. This question checks your awareness that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, abbreviated as TRAI, performs this role.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about regulation of telecommunication in India.
• Four organisations are provided as options.
• Only one of these is a telecom regulator.
• We assume basic familiarity with Indian public sector and regulatory bodies.

Concept / Approach:
TRAI stands for Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. It was established to regulate telecom services, including tariffs, quality of service, and interconnection between operators. The other options BHEL, HAL, and NMDC are government owned companies in different sectors: engineering, aerospace, and mining. None of them is a regulatory authority. Therefore, the concept is to identify which organisation is a regulator specifically in telecom and to distinguish it from manufacturing or production companies.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the question asks about governing and regulating telecommunication. Step 2: Recall that TRAI is the statutory regulator for telecom in India. Step 3: Recognise that BHEL, HAL, and NMDC are public sector undertakings engaged in production activities. Step 4: Locate TRAI in the options. Step 5: Select TRAI as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by checking official government portals, telecom policy documents, or any reliable civics and economics textbook. TRAI is mentioned as the authority that issues regulations on tariffs, spectrum usage, interconnection, and consumer protection in telecom services. In contrast, BHEL is described as Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, HAL as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, and NMDC as National Mineral Development Corporation, all of which have industrial roles rather than regulatory functions. This clear difference supports TRAI as the right choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
BHEL: A public sector engineering and manufacturing company dealing with power equipment and industrial products, not telecom regulation.
HAL: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, engaged in design and production of aircraft and related systems, not a regulatory authority.
NMDC: A mining company focusing on mineral exploration and production, with no role in telecommunication policy or regulation.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may forget the exact full forms and confuse regulatory bodies with public sector companies because all have capital letters and sound similar. Others may rely on partial recall and incorrectly expand abbreviations during the exam. To avoid such problems, carefully distinguish between regulators (TRAI, SEBI, RBI, IRDAI) and public sector companies (BHEL, HAL, GAIL, NTPC). Making two separate lists in your notes helps you answer such questions quickly and confidently.

Final Answer:
The body that governs and regulates the telecommunication sector in India is TRAI, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.