UPSC Prelims 2004 Q15: Geography – Indian Agriculture & Land Use
Consider the following crops:
1. Cotton
2. Groundnut
3. Maize
4. Mustard
Which of the above are Kharif crops?
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 1, 2 and 3
- (c) 3 and 4
- (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Kharif crops
| Crop | Season |
|---|---|
| Cotton | Kharif |
| Groundnut | Kharif (also rabi in some areas) |
| Maize | Kharif |
| Mustard | Rabi |
Cotton, groundnut and maize are kharif crops, sown at the onset of the monsoon in June-July and harvested in autumn, while mustard is a rabi crop that is sown in October-November and harvested in spring.
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Maize is also a kharif crop.
- (b) CORRECT. Cotton, groundnut and maize are kharif crops.
- (c) Incorrect. Mustard is a rabi crop.
- (d) Incorrect. Mustard is a rabi crop.
Key point
Kharif: rice, maize, cotton, jowar, bajra, groundnut, soybean. Rabi: wheat, gram, mustard, barley.
Remember
Mustard is a rabi crop; cotton, groundnut and maize are kharif crops.
Common mistakes
- Placing mustard among kharif crops.
- Treating maize as a rabi crop everywhere.
- Forgetting that cotton is sown with the monsoon.
Exam tip
Kharif sown June-July; harvested September-October.
Sources
- NCERT Class XII Geography — Land Resources and Agriculture
- Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India — Agricultural Statistics at a Glance (kharif and rabi crops)