UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I
Question 47: Geography
Consider the following crops of India :
- 1.Groundnut
- 2.Sesamum
- 3.Pearl millet
Which of the above is/are predominantly rainfed crop/crops?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
Groundnut, sesamum (til) and pearl millet (bajra) are mostly Kharif crops grown on dry land with little assured irrigation, depending on the monsoon. A large share of their area is rainfed, which is why their yields swing with the rains. Contrast them with rice, wheat and sugarcane, which rely much more on irrigation.
- 1. Groundnut is largely a rainfed Kharif crop.
- 2. Sesamum is mostly grown without irrigation.
- 3. Pearl millet is grown in dry regions, mainly rainfed.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) and (c) go: each of them leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: Groundnut is largely a rainfed Kharif crop.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 3 out.
What you needed to know: Pearl millet is grown in dry regions, mainly rainfed.
Only (d) is left. You didn’t need statement 2.
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) Incomplete: pearl millet is also predominantly rainfed.
- (b) Incomplete: groundnut is also predominantly rainfed.
- (c) Incomplete: groundnut and sesamum are also predominantly rainfed.
- (d) Correct: all three are predominantly rainfed.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.