UPSC CSE Prelims
Major Crops Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Correct Answer: ✅ Option 4

The United States and Brazil are the world's two largest ethanol producers. However, the United States produces more ethanol than Brazil, while the two countries use different primary feedstocks for ethanol production.

❌ Statement I is Incorrect: The United States of America is the world's largest ethanol producer, producing more ethanol than Brazil.

✅ Statement II is Correct: The USA mainly uses corn (maize) as feedstock for ethanol production, whereas Brazil primarily uses sugarcane.

Short Notes: Ethanol Production

• Ethanol is a renewable biofuel produced through the fermentation of sugars and starches.

• The USA is the world's largest ethanol producer.

• Brazil is the world's second-largest ethanol producer.

• Corn (maize) is the principal feedstock in the USA.

• Sugarcane is the principal feedstock in Brazil.

• In India, ethanol is mainly produced from sugarcane molasses, sugarcane juice, and food grains.

• Ethanol blending helps reduce crude oil imports and greenhouse gas emissions.

Detailed Explanation:

Correct Answer: ✅ Option 4 (I, II and III)

India is globally recognized as the leading producer, consumer, and exporter of turmeric. The country's diverse agro-climatic conditions support the cultivation of numerous turmeric varieties across several states.

✅ Statement I is Correct: India is the largest producer and exporter of turmeric in the world, contributing a major share of global production and exports.

✅ Statement II is Correct: More than 30 varieties of turmeric are cultivated in India, including popular varieties such as Alleppey Finger, Salem, Rajapore, and Nizamabad.

✅ Statement III is Correct: Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are among the major turmeric-producing states of India.

Short Notes: Turmeric Production in India

• India is the world's largest producer, consumer, and exporter of turmeric.

• Turmeric is known as "Indian Saffron" due to its color and value.

• The scientific name of turmeric is Curcuma longa.

• Curcumin is the principal bioactive compound responsible for its medicinal properties.

• Major producing states include Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.

• India grows more than 30 varieties of turmeric.

• Turmeric has applications in food, medicine, cosmetics, and traditional healthcare systems.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Only three

Simple Explanation:

Pair I — Correct. Cassava (tapioca/manioc) is a woody shrub, grown for its starchy roots.

Pair II — Correct. Ginger is a herb with a pseudostem (made of leaf sheaths, not a true stem); the part we eat is the rhizome.

Pair III — Correct. Malabar spinach is a soft, herbaceous climber — commonly grown as a leafy vegetable.

Pair IV — Incorrect. Mint is NOT a shrub — it's a perennial herb with soft stems that spread via stolons (runners).

Pair V — Incorrect. Papaya is NOT a woody shrub — it's actually a herbaceous tree ("giant herb") with a soft, hollow stem.

So 3 pairs (I, II, III) are correct; IV and V are wrong.

Detailed Explanation:

Correct Answer: ✅ Option 3 (All Three)

All three plants—Groundnut, Horse-gram, and Soybean—belong to the Fabaceae (also called Leguminosae or pea family). Members of this family typically produce fruits in the form of pods (legumes) and possess nitrogen-fixing root nodules.

✅ Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) – Correct: Belongs to the Fabaceae family and produces seeds inside pods.

✅ Horse-gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) – Correct: A leguminous crop belonging to the pea family.

✅ Soybean (Glycine max) – Correct: One of the world's most important legumes and a member of Fabaceae.

Therefore, all three belong to the pea family.

Short Notes: Fabaceae (Pea Family)

• One of the largest flowering plant families with over 19,000 species.

• Also known as Leguminosae.

• Characterized by pod-like fruits (legumes).

• Roots contain Rhizobium bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen.

• Important food crops include pea, gram, lentil, soybean, groundnut, and horse-gram.

• Helps improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation.

• Rich source of protein in human and animal diets.

• Economically important for food, fodder, oil, and soil conservation.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — All four States

All four states mentioned—Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Tripura—are recognized tea-producing states in India. This question appeared in UPSC Prelims 2022, and the official answer key confirms that all four states produce tea commercially.

✅ Andhra Pradesh – Correct: Tea is cultivated in high-altitude regions like Araku Valley and Chintapalli in the Eastern Ghats, though less prominent than coffee.
✅ Kerala – Correct: Kerala is a major tea producer with extensive plantations in Munnar, Wayanad, and Idukki districts in the Western Ghats.
✅ Himachal Pradesh – Correct: Famous for Kangra Tea (GI-tagged), produced in Kangra, Mandi, and Chamba districts with distinctive flavor and quality.
✅ Tripura – Correct: A significant tea-producing state in Northeast India, ranking among the top tea producers in the country.

📝 Short Notes: Major Tea-Producing States of India

• Top Tea Producers: Assam (largest producer, ~50% of India's tea), West Bengal (Darjeeling and Dooars regions), Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris), and Kerala.
• Northeast Region: Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland all contribute to tea production.
• North India: Himachal Pradesh (Kangra Tea), Uttarakhand, and parts of Punjab grow specialty teas.
• South India: Kerala (Munnar, Wayanad), Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris, Coimbatore), Karnataka (Chikmagalur, Coorg), and Andhra Pradesh (Araku Valley).
• GI-Tagged Teas: Darjeeling Tea, Assam Orthodox Tea, Kangra Tea, Nilgiri Orthodox Tea, and Munnar Tea have Geographical Indication tags.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Sugarcane

Water efficiency of a crop refers to the amount of water required per unit of biomass or yield produced. Sugarcane is the least water-efficient crop among the given options, requiring approximately 1800-2200 mm of water per season. In contrast, sunflower requires about 672 mm/season, pearl millet (a drought-tolerant crop) needs around 350 mm/season, and red gram uses about 250-400 mm/season.

📝 Short Notes: Water Requirements of Major Crops

• Sugarcane: Most water-intensive crop; grown in well-irrigated areas; major water consumer in agriculture
• Millets (Pearl Millet, Sorghum): Drought-resistant crops; suitable for rainfed agriculture; promoted under climate-smart agriculture
• Pulses (Red Gram): Low water requirement; nitrogen-fixing crops; important for food security and sustainable agriculture
• Water-use Efficiency: Measured as crop yield per unit of water consumed; critical parameter for sustainable water management

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Cotton

Cotton is a subtropical crop that requires at least 210 frost-free days, 50-100 cm of rainfall, and light well-drained soil capable of retaining moisture. Hard frost is highly injurious to cotton plants, making them unsuitable for cold regions. These specific climatic and soil requirements clearly distinguish cotton from other crops like jute (which requires hot humid climate), sugarcane (which needs heavy rainfall of 150-250 cm), and tea (which grows in tropical to subtropical highlands).

📝 Short Notes: Major Cash Crops and Their Growing Conditions

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 1 and 4 only

This question tests knowledge of modern sugarcane cultivation techniques in India. Statements 1 and 4 correctly describe cost-effective and scientifically advanced methods of sugarcane propagation, while statements 2 and 3 incorrectly characterize the performance of single-budded setts.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The bud chip method involves raising settlings in a nursery from individual buds before transplanting, resulting in substantial savings in seed material (up to 75-80% reduction) compared to conventional sett planting.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Multi-budded setts have better germination percentage than single-budded setts because multiple buds increase the probability of successful shoot emergence, providing redundancy if one bud fails.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Under adverse weather conditions, large multi-budded setts have better survival rates because they contain more stored nutrients and moisture reserves, making them more resilient than single-budded setts which are vulnerable to stress.

✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Tissue culture technology is successfully employed in sugarcane cultivation to produce disease-free, genetically uniform settlings that ensure higher yields and rapid multiplication of elite varieties.

📝 Short Notes: Modern Sugarcane Cultivation Methods

• Seed Material Requirement: Conventional method requires 6-10 tonnes/hectare; bud chip method reduces it to 1.5-2 tonnes/hectare
• Germination Factor: Multi-budded setts provide redundancy—if one bud fails, others can sprout
• Stress Tolerance: Larger setts with more buds store more nutrients and moisture, ensuring better survival under drought or pest attack
• Indian Context: India is the second-largest sugarcane producer globally; adoption of modern techniques like bud chip and tissue culture is being promoted to reduce costs and increase productivity

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 and 3 only

This question tests knowledge of the relative area under cultivation of major Kharif crops in India. Based on agricultural statistics from the last five years, rice has the largest cultivated area among all Kharif crops, and cotton cultivation area significantly exceeds that of sugarcane.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Rice has the highest area under cultivation among Kharif crops, ranging around 430-441 lakh hectares annually.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The area under jowar (sorghum) cultivation is significantly less than the area under oilseeds cultivation.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Cotton cultivation area is more than double that of sugarcane, with cotton around 120-125 lakh hectares versus sugarcane around 50-55 lakh hectares.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: Sugarcane cultivation area has shown fluctuations rather than a steady decrease over the period.

📝 Short Notes: Kharif Crops in India

• Kharif Season: Crops sown in June-July (with monsoon onset) and harvested in September-October.
• Major Kharif Crops (by area): Rice (highest, ~440 lakh ha), Maize, Bajra, Jowar, Cotton, Sugarcane, Groundnut, Soybean, Tur (Arhar).
• Rice Dominance: Rice occupies nearly 40% of total Kharif crop area, being the staple food crop.
• Cotton vs Sugarcane: Cotton requires less water and has larger area coverage (~120-125 lakh ha) compared to water-intensive sugarcane (~50-55 lakh ha).
• Oilseeds: Include groundnut, soybean, sunflower, etc., collectively covering more area than individual cereals like jowar.
• Regional Variations: Rice predominates in eastern and southern India; cotton in western and central regions; sugarcane in UP, Maharashtra.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 only

This question tests knowledge about India's edible oil economy. Statement 1 correctly identifies India's heavy dependence on imported edible oils, while Statement 2 incorrectly claims that no customs duty is imposed on imported edible oils.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: India is the world's largest importer of edible oils, with imports accounting for 60-65% of total consumption in recent years, significantly exceeding domestic production (35-40%).

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Government of India does impose customs duties on imported edible oils (including Basic Customs Duty and Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess), which are periodically adjusted to protect domestic oilseed farmers and manage prices.

📝 Short Notes: Edible Oils in India

• Import Dependence: India imports about 60-65% of its edible oil requirements, making it the world's largest importer of edible oils.
• Major Sources: Palm oil (from Indonesia and Malaysia), soybean oil, and sunflower oil are the primary imports.
• Domestic Production: India produces mainly groundnut oil, mustard oil, and a smaller quantity of palm oil, accounting for 35-40% of consumption.
• Customs Duty Policy: The government periodically revises customs duties on imported edible oils to balance consumer prices and farmer interests. Duties include Basic Customs Duty (BCD) and Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC).
• Key Oilseeds: Major oilseeds grown in India include groundnut, rapeseed-mustard, soybean, sunflower, safflower, and sesame.
• Government Initiatives: National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) aims to increase domestic production and reduce import dependence.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Maize (corn) is a major source of cornstarch, widely used as a thickening agent in food products, bioplastics, and pharmaceutical industries.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Corn oil extracted from maize germ serves as an effective feedstock for biodiesel production, offering a renewable fuel alternative.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Maize is fermented to produce alcoholic beverages including bourbon whiskey, corn beer, and ethanol for fuel and drinks.