UPSC Prelims previous year questions on Agriculture & Crop Patterns (Geography) — real questions with answers and explanations.
3 questions · sorted by year
2025Pairs/Matching (How Many Style)Agriculture & Crop Patterns
Consider the following pairs:
Plant : Description
I. Cassava : Woody shrub
II. Ginger : Herb with pseudostem
III. Malabar spinach : Herbaceous climber
IV. Mint : Annual shrub
V. Papaya : Woody shrub
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
A.Only two
B.Only three
C.Only four
D.All the five
Explanation: * Pair I is correctly matched: Cassava (tapioca) is a perennial woody shrub cultivated for its starchy tuberous roots. * Pair II is correctly matched: Ginger is a perennial herb that develops a pseudostem made of tightly wrapped leaf bases. * Pair III is correctly matched: Malabar spinach is a fast-growing succulent herbaceous climber. * Pair IV is incorrectly matched: Mint is an aromatic perennial herb that spreads via underground rhizomes, not an annual shrub. * Pair V is incorrectly matched: Papaya appears tree-like but is botanically classified as a large herb with a soft, non-woody trunk, not a woody shrub. * Therefore, three pairs are correctly matched.
Consider the following statements about turmeric during the year 2022-23:
I. India is the largest producer and exporter of turmeric in the world.
II. More than 30 varieties of turmeric are grown in India.
III. Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are major turmeric producing States in India.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A.I and II only
B.II and III only
C.I and III only
D.I, II and III
Explanation: * Statement I is correct: India is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of turmeric in the world, commanding over 62% of the global trade share. * Statement II is correct: India possesses rich agricultural diversity, with more than 30 distinct varieties of turmeric grown across the country. * Statement III is correct: Turmeric is cultivated in over 20 states, with Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu acting as the dominant major producing hubs.
Select an option to reveal the answer
📌 India Land Resources and AgricultureRelevance 40%
Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former produces more ethanol than the latter.
Statement II: Unlike in the United States of America where corn is the principal feedstock for ethanol production, sugarcane is the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
A.Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
B.Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
C.Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
D.Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct
Explanation: * Statement I is not correct: The United States produces significantly more total ethanol than Brazil, with the US generating approximately 16.1 billion gallons and Brazil generating 8.8 billion gallons in 2024. * Statement II is correct: The principal agricultural feedstock processed for ethanol manufacturing in the US is corn, whereas Brazil primarily uses sugarcane to drive its production. Thus, option (d) is correct.
Select an option to reveal the answer
📌 India Land Resources and AgricultureRelevance 55%