UPSC Prelims 2019 · GS Paper I
Question 48: Economy and Social Development
Consider the following statements :
- 1.Coal sector was nationalized by the Government of India under Indira Gandhi.
- 2.Now, coal blocks are allocated on lottery basis.
- 3.Till recently, India imported coal to meet the shortages of domestic supply, but now India is self-sufficient in coal production.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).
Only statement 1 is correct. Coal mines were nationalised under Indira Gandhi: coking coal mines in 1972 and non-coking coal mines in 1973. Coal blocks are not allocated by lottery. After the Supreme Court cancelled earlier allocations in 2014, blocks are given through auctions and competitive bidding. India is also not self-sufficient in coal: it still imports coal, particularly coking coal.
- 1. Coal mines were nationalised in 1972 and 1973 under Indira Gandhi.
- 2. Coal blocks are allotted by auction, not lottery.
- 3. India still imports coal.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (b), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.
What you needed to know: India still imports coal.
Only (a) is left. You didn’t need statements 1 or 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) Correct: only the nationalisation statement holds.
- (b) Coal blocks are auctioned, not allotted by lottery.
- (c) India still imports coal, so it is not self-sufficient.
- (d) Statements 2 and 3 are false.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2019, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.