UPSC Prelims 2020 · GS Paper I
Question 89: Geography
With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statements :
- 1.A substantial saving in seed material is made when ‘bud chip settlings’ are raised in a nursery and transplanted in the main field.
- 2.When direct planting of setts is done, the germination percentage is better with single-budded setts as compared to setts with many buds.
- 3.If bad weather conditions prevail when setts are directly planted, single-budded setts have better survival as compared to large setts.
- 4.Sugarcane can be cultivated using settlings prepared from tissue culture.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).
Raising bud-chip settlings in a nursery and then transplanting them saves a great deal of seed cane, and tissue-culture seedlings can also be used to plant sugarcane, so statements 1 and 4 are right. Larger multi-budded setts carry more reserves and so germinate and survive better in poor weather than single-budded setts, so statements 2 and 3 are wrong.
- 1. Bud-chip settlings save seed material.
- 2. Multi-budded setts germinate better than single-budded ones.
- 3. Large setts survive bad weather better than single-budded setts.
- 4. Tissue-culture settlings can be used for planting.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: Bud-chip settlings save seed material.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (a) goes: it includes 2.
What you needed to know: Multi-budded setts germinate better than single-budded ones.
Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statements 3 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: statement 2 is false.
- (b) Wrong: statement 3 is false.
- (c) Right: statements 1 and 4.
- (d) Wrong: statements 2 and 3 are false.
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.