UPSC Prelims 2020 · GS Paper I
Question 69: Economy and Social Development
Consider the following statements :
- 1.In the case of all cereals, pulses and oil-seeds, the procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) is unlimited in any State/UT of India.
- 2.In the case of cereals and pulses, the MSP is fixed in any State/UT at a level to which the market price will never rise.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
MSP is a floor price announced by the government, not a ceiling, so market prices can and do rise above it, making statement 2 wrong. Procurement at MSP is not unlimited for all cereals, pulses and oilseeds in every State: it is largely for wheat and rice, with pulses and oilseeds bought in limited quantities, so statement 1 is wrong.
- 1. Procurement is not unlimited for all crops in every State.
- 2. MSP is a floor; market prices can be higher.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: Procurement is not unlimited for all crops in every State.
The red flag in statement 1 is “all”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “all” were true 41% of the time (76 statements). A hint, not a rule.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.
What you needed to know: MSP is a floor; market prices can be higher.
Only (d) is left. This one needs every statement.
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: procurement is not unlimited for all crops.
- (b) Wrong: MSP is a floor, not a level the market price never exceeds.
- (c) Wrong: both statements are false.
- (d) Right: neither statement is correct.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2020, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.