2015 GS Paper I, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2015 · GS Paper I
Question 58: Geography
In India, the steel production industry requires the import of
asaltpetre
brock phosphate
ccoking coal
dAll of the above
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).
India imports coking coal, since the country has limited reserves of good-quality coal with low ash content. Coking coal is the key raw material for making steel in blast furnaces. Saltpetre and rock phosphate belong to the fertiliser and chemical industries, not steel production.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Saltpetre is used in explosives and fertilisers, not steel making.
- (b) Rock phosphate is a raw material for phosphatic fertilisers.
- (c) Correct: steel making needs imported coking coal.
- (d) Wrong: only coking coal is a steel input.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2015, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.