2010 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2010 · General Studies

Question 72: Geography

Tamil Nadu is a leading producer of mill-made cotton yarn in the country. What could be the reason ?

  1. 1.Black cotton soil is the predominant type of soil in the State.
  2. 2.Rich pool of skilled labour is available.

Which of the above is/are the correct reasons ?

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerThe answer is (b).

Tamil Nadu is a leading cotton yarn producer because of its large cluster of spinning mills, especially around Coimbatore, which grew on a long tradition of enterprise, capital and a rich pool of skilled and trained labour. It is not mainly a black soil state: most of its soils are red, and black cotton soil occurs in only some districts. So statement 1 is wrong and statement 2 is a valid reason. Remember: a mill's location depends on labour, power, capital and markets as much as on local raw material.

  • 1. Red soils, not black cotton soil, predominate in Tamil Nadu.
  • 2. A rich pool of skilled labour supports the state's textile mills.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.

    What you needed to know: Red soils, not black cotton soil, predominate in Tamil Nadu.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 2 out.

    What you needed to know: A rich pool of skilled labour supports the state's textile mills.

Only (b) is left. This one needs every statement.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Black cotton soil is not the predominant soil in Tamil Nadu; red soils are.
  • (b) Right: only the availability of skilled labour is a correct reason.
  • (c) Statement 1 is wrong, so 'both' fails.
  • (d) Statement 2 is a correct reason, so 'neither' fails.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2010, General Studies, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.