UPSC Prelims 2001 Q43: Indian Economy – Agriculture & Rural Development
The annual agricultural production of a product for the period 1991 - 92 to 1998 - 99 is shown in
the figure given above.
Which one of the following is the product in Q?
- (a) Pulses
- (b) Wheat
- (c) Oilseeds
- (d) Rice
Answer: (d) Rice
Explanation
Identifying product Q from the production graph (1991-92 to 1998-99)
| Crop | Production 1991-92 → 1998-99 (million tonnes, official data) |
|---|---|
| Rice | About 74 → 86 |
| Wheat | About 56 → 71 |
| Oilseeds | About 19 → 25 |
| Pulses | About 12 → 15 |
The figure for this question is not available, and no published copy we could find shows it or confirms the answer. The answer below is the key held in our question bank and is not independently verified. The table gives the real production of the four crops in those years, from the Economic Survey, which is what the graph in the paper would have shown.
Answer: (d) Rice.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The bank key gives rice, not pulses.
- (b) Incorrect. The bank key gives rice, not wheat.
- (c) Incorrect. The bank key gives rice, not oilseeds.
- (d) CORRECT. The bank key gives rice as product Q.
Key point
Food grain output 1998-99: about 203 million tonnes; today over 330 million tonnes.
Remember
1990s output: rice about 74-86, wheat 56-71, oilseeds 19-25, pulses 12-15 million tonnes.
Common mistakes
- Answering a graph question without the graph — check the source first.
- Mixing up the scale of rice and wheat output in the 1990s.
- Confusing oilseeds and pulses, which were both small.
Exam tip
For production graphs, compare the level and trend of each crop with official data.
Sources
- Ministry of Finance — Economic Survey 2000-01, Statistical Appendix Table 1.9 (production of major crops)
- Ministry of Agriculture — Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2000