Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1, 2, 5 and 6 only

India's National Policy on Biofuels (2018) permits the use of surplus food grains, damaged grains, starch-rich crops like cassava, and sugar-rich crops like sugar beet for ethanol production. Oil-seed crops and protein-rich pulses like groundnut seeds and horse gram are not included as feedstock for biofuels to avoid competition with edible oil and food supply.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Cassava is a starchy root crop explicitly allowed as feedstock for ethanol production under the policy.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Damaged wheat grains (surplus or non-edible) can be diverted for biofuel production to prevent wastage.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Groundnut seeds are oil-seeds and not permitted for biofuel production to avoid competition with edible oil markets.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: Horse gram is a pulse (protein-rich crop) and is not included in the biofuel feedstock list.
✅ Statement 5 – Correct: Rotten potatoes (damaged/surplus tubers) can be used for biofuel production as waste utilization.
✅ Statement 6 – Correct: Sugar beet is a sugar-rich crop approved for ethanol production under the policy.

📝 Short Notes: National Policy on Biofuels 2018

• First Generation (1G) Biofuels: Produced from sugars, starch, vegetable oils – includes bioethanol and biodiesel.
• Second Generation (2G) Biofuels: Produced from non-food biomass like agricultural residues, forest waste, municipal solid waste.
• Allowed Feedstock for Ethanol: Sugarcane, sugar beet, cassava, damaged food grains, surplus food grains, sweet sorghum.
• Allowed Feedstock for Biodiesel: Non-edible oilseeds (Jatropha, Karanja, Mahua, etc.), used cooking oil, animal fat.
• Not Allowed: Edible oil-seeds (groundnut, soybean, sunflower), pulses and protein-rich crops to avoid food security concerns.
• Ethanol Blending Target: 20% by 2025 (E20) for petrol blending.
• Indicative Biodiesel Blending Target: 5% by 2030.