Consider the following statements : Statement-I : India does not import apples from the United States of America. Statement-II : In India, the law prohibits the import of Genetically Modified food without the approval of the competent authority. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?
- (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
- (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
- (c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
- (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• Statement-I is incorrect: India does import apples from the United States — Washington apples are a major import, and in 2023 India removed the retaliatory tariffs it had imposed on US apples in 2019, boosting the trade.
• Statement-II is correct: under the Food Safety and Standards Act and the Environment (Protection) Act, import of genetically modified food requires approval of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee and FSSAI; unapproved GM food cannot be imported.
• The two statements are unrelated in any case, since US apples are not genetically modified (the GM 'Arctic apple' is a niche product).
• Hence Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct, option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
- Statement-I is wrong: India does import US apples.
- (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain…
- Statement-I is wrong, so both cannot be correct.
- (c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
- It is Statement-I that is wrong and Statement-II that is right.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, held on 16 June 2024. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.