UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I
Question 84: Geography
Despite having large reserves of coal, why does India import millions of tonnes of coal?
- 1.It is the policy of India to save its own coal reserves for future, and import it from other countries for the present use.
- 2.Most of the power plants in India are coal-based and they are not able to get sufficient supplies of coal from within the country.
- 3.Steel companies need large quantity of coking coal which has to be imported.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
India has large coal reserves but imports coal because much of the domestic coal is of low grade, and production and transport have not kept pace with demand from coal-based power plants. Steel plants need coking coal, which is scarce in India and has to be imported. There is no policy of saving domestic coal for the future by importing now.
- 1. India has no policy of importing to save its own coal for the future.
- 2. Coal-based power plants do not get enough domestic coal.
- 3. Steel makers need coking coal, which has to be imported.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: India has no policy of importing to save its own coal for the future.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 2 or 3.
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) Wrong: there is no policy of conserving domestic coal by importing.
- (b) Correct: power plants lack enough domestic coal, and steel needs imported coking coal.
- (c) Wrong: statement 1 on a policy of saving domestic coal is false.
- (d) Wrong: statement 1 is false.
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.