Among the following, which one is the largest exporter of rice in the world in the last five years?
- (a) China
- (b) India ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) Myanmar
- (d) Vietnam
Why the answer is (b)
• India has been the world's largest rice exporter since 2012, shipping around 10–22 million tonnes a year (basmati and non-basmati), ahead of Thailand and Vietnam — option (b).
• Vietnam (d) and Thailand rank second/third; Myanmar (c) is a smaller exporter; China (a) is the largest producer but a net importer of rice.
• India's 2023 export curbs on non-basmati rice moved world prices, underlining its dominance.
• Hence option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) China
- China is the largest producer but a net importer.
- (c) Myanmar
- Myanmar is a minor exporter.
- (d) Vietnam
- Vietnam ranks below India.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2019, held on 2 June 2019. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.