With reference to the cultivation of Kharif crops in India in the last five years, consider the following statements : 1. Area under rice cultivation is the highest. 2. Area under the cultivation of jowar is more than that of oilseeds. 3. Area of cotton cultivation is more than that of sugarcane. 4. Area under sugarcane cultivation has steadily decreased. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a) 1 and 3 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) 2, 3 and 4 only
- (c) 2 and 4 only
- (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Why the answer is (a)
• Statement 1 is correct: rice occupies about 39–40 million hectares in kharif, the largest of any crop.
• Statement 3 is correct: cotton covers about 12 million hectares against sugarcane's roughly 5 million.
• Statement 2 is wrong: kharif oilseeds (soybean, groundnut, etc.) cover about 18–20 million hectares, far more than jowar's 2–3 million.
• Statement 4 is wrong: sugarcane area has fluctuated between about 4.5 and 5.5 million hectares, not steadily decreased.
• Hence 1 and 3 only, option (a).
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) 2, 3 and 4 only
- Statements 2 and 4 are wrong: oilseeds exceed jowar and sugarcane area fluctuates.
- (c) 2 and 4 only
- Statements 2 and 4 are wrong.
- (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
- Statements 2 and 4 are wrong.
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.