UPSC Prelims 2014 · GS Paper I
Question 1: Economy and Social Development
What are the significances of a practical approach to sugarcane production known as 'Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative'?
- 1.Seed cost is very low in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.
- 2.Drip irrigation can be practiced very effectively in this.
- 3.There is no application of chemical/inorganic fertilizers at all in this.
- 4.The scope for intercropping is more in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
The Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative raises yield with fewer inputs. It plants single-budded chips raised in a nursery instead of whole cane setts, so seed cost is very low. Wide row spacing suits drip irrigation and leaves room for intercrops such as pulses and vegetables. It does not ban fertilizers: it works through integrated nutrient management, using organic manures together with chemical fertilizer as needed. So statements 1, 2 and 4 are right and statement 3 is wrong.
- 1. Single-budded chips need far less seed cane than whole setts.
- 2. Wide spacing and regular rows make drip irrigation practical.
- 3. It uses integrated nutrient management, not zero chemical fertilizer.
- 4. Wide spacing leaves room to grow intercrops between rows.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (a), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.
What you needed to know: It uses integrated nutrient management, not zero chemical fertilizer.
The red flag in statement 3 is “all”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “all” were true 41% of the time (76 statements). A hint, not a rule.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 1, 2 or 4.
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. It leaves out statements 2 and 4, which are true, and includes statement 3, which is false.
- (b) Right. Low seed cost, drip irrigation and more intercropping follow from single-bud nursery plants and wide spacing.
- (c) Wrong. It includes statement 3, which is false because chemical fertilizer is not banned, and omits statement 1.
- (d) Wrong. Statement 3 is false, so not all four statements hold.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2014, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.