Explain by giving two examples, how biotechnology has helped the Indian farmers in processing their perishable crops. (Answer in…

Explain by giving two examples, how biotechnology has helped the Indian farmers in processing their perishable crops. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

दो उदाहरण देकर समझाइए कि जैवप्रौद्योगिकी ने भारतीय किसानों को उनकी नाशवान् फसलों के प्रसंस्करण में कैसे सहायता की है। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए)

The question as printed in the 2026 General Studies paper

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Model answer

Drafted with AI by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 150-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key. How we build rubrics and answers.

Biotechnology helps Indian farmers process perishables chiefly through post-harvest bio-preservation and fermentation. One example is bio-preservation of fruits such as mango and banana: edible coatings of chitosan (a biopolymer derived from crustacean shells) on mangoes and other fruits form a breathable film, reducing water loss and microbial spoilage during long-distance transport, thereby extending shelf life. A second example is fermentation using controlled microbial cultures, which converts surplus fruits and vegetables into wine, vinegar and probiotic products, reducing wastage; microbial enzymes such as pectinase similarly raise juice yield and clarity, so FPOs and micro-units (supported under PMFME) can turn gluts into juices and purees instead of making distress sales. Thus, biotechnology overall significantly adds value for farmers in perishable supply chains and cuts post-harvest losses.

How this answer will be evaluated

Framework: Situation > Analysis > Measures > Assessment

What earns full marks: Two distinct, specific biotech processes (e.g., pectinase for juice, probiotics for dairy) clearly linked to farmer benefit.

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

The answer Explain, with two specific examples, how biotechnology has helped Indian farmers process their perishable crops. 10 marks · 150 words

explain— definition/context → points in order → small example → short close
Must cover
- Example 1: Specific biotech process (e.g., fermentation, enzymes).
- Example 2: Specific biotech process (e.g., bio-preservation, probiotics).
- Link to 'processing' perishable crops (not just growing).
- Benefit to Indian farmers (shelf-life, value addition, waste reduction).
Loses marks
- Discussing only crop production (GM seeds) instead of processing.
- Vague examples without naming the biotech mechanism.
- Ignoring the 'perishable' aspect of the crops.
Earns more
- Mention of specific perishable crops (e.g., mango, banana, tomato)
- Mention of specific technology (e.g., pectinase, lactic acid bacteria, chitosan coating)
- Reference to value addition or market access (FPOs, PMFME)
Extra mark
- Mention of a specific Indian scheme (e.g., PMFME) or institution (ICAR, CSIR-CFTRI)
- Simple flowchart of the processing step

What "Explain" is asking you to do

Make the working of something clear — what sets it off, what follows from what, and what it produces. Explain is the Commission's mechanism word: it dominates the technical papers and the “explain why” stems, where the marks sit in the causal chain and not in the label.

Structure that answers it

State what it is → the initiating condition → the chain of cause, step by step → an instance where it plays out → what the chain produces

Where marks are lost

Describing what something looks like instead of why it works that way. Naming the stages without linking them reads as description too.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

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Model answer

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Evaluation rubric

Must cover

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Extra mark

Structure that answers it

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