UPSC Prelims 2015 · GS Paper I
Question 8: Economy and Social Development
In the 'Index of Eight Core Industries', which one of the following is given the highest weight?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Electricity generation carries the largest weight among these four in the Index of Eight Core Industries, ahead of steel and coal. Fertilizers carry the smallest weight of all eight industries. The eight are coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement and electricity, and together they form a large share of the Index of Industrial Production. Remember electricity and steel as the heavyweights among the options.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Coal has a smaller weight than electricity and steel.
- (b) Correct: electricity generation has the highest weight of these four industries.
- (c) Fertilizers have the lowest weight of the eight core industries.
- (d) Steel is the second largest of the four, behind electricity.
Worth knowing: After the 2017 rebasing to 2011-12 refinery products carries the highest weight overall, but electricity still outweighs coal, fertilizers and steel, so the answer holds.
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.