2021 GS Paper I, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2021 · GS Paper I
Question 67: Science and Technology
Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of
aclonal propagation of crop plants
bdeveloping genetically modified crop plants
cproduction of plant growth substances
dproduction of biofertilizers
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Bollgard I and Bollgard II are brand names of genetically modified Bt cotton. They carry genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis that make the plant produce proteins toxic to bollworms: Bollgard I has one Bt gene, and Bollgard II adds a second. They are about genetic modification, not clonal propagation, plant hormones or biofertilisers.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong: clonal propagation copies plants without altering genes.
- (b) Right: they are Bt cotton technologies, a genetically modified crop.
- (c) Wrong: Bollgard has nothing to do with plant growth substances.
- (d) Wrong: Bollgard is not a biofertiliser.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2021, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.