Which of the following business groups has significant interests in both the oil sector and the shipping sector?

Introduction / Context:
Large Indian business houses often diversify across many related industries. This question asks which group has noteworthy interests in both oil and shipping. Such diversification is common in integrated energy and infrastructure groups, and recognising which group spans these sectors is a common theme in business general knowledge questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The focus is on a business group, not a single company. - The group must have interests in oil. - The group must also have interests in shipping. - Four well known names from Indian industry are given as options.

Concept / Approach:
The concept is corporate diversification in energy and logistics. Essar Group has significant investments in exploration, refining, and retailing of petroleum products, as well as ownership and operation of shipping assets to transport crude and finished products. While Tata and Reliance also operate in energy related sectors, the classic exam oriented pairing of both oil and shipping as key business lines is most clearly associated with Essar Group.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider Tata Group. It has interests in steel, automobiles, information technology, and power, among others, but shipping is not a central sector in its business profile. Step 2: Consider Reliance Group. It has extensive operations in oil and gas, petrochemicals, and retail; however, it is not primarily described in standard GK questions as a group with a strong shipping sector identity. Step 3: Essar Group, by contrast, has investments in refining, oil exploration, and a dedicated shipping division that moves crude and petroleum products, creating a clear oil plus shipping combination. Step 4: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation is a single public sector company mainly in exploration and production and not itself a diversified private business group with a large shipping arm. Step 5: Therefore, among the listed names, Essar Group uniquely fits the description.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by recalling business news where Essar is described as an integrated energy and infrastructure group, operating in oil, power, steel, and shipping. General knowledge books on Indian business houses also list shipping operations under Essar Group's portfolio, which is less commonly emphasised for the other groups given in the options.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Tata Group and Reliance Group certainly engage in oil or related sectors, but standard exam questions do not highlight them as having equally prominent shipping divisions as part of their core identities. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation is a public sector oil company, not a diversified group controlling a separate shipping business as a profit centre. As a result, these options do not satisfy both conditions simultaneously.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may be tempted to choose Reliance because its name is strongly associated with petrochemicals and refineries, overlooking the explicit requirement that the group must also have major shipping interests. Others pick ONGC purely because it is an oil specialist without paying attention to the word group in the question. Carefully reading the full requirement and remembering that Essar combines oil and shipping in its business profile helps avoid these errors.

Final Answer:
The business group with major interests in both oil and shipping is the Essar Group.