UPSC Prelims 2008 Q9: Indian Economy – Agriculture & Rural Development
- (a) 1, 2 and 3
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1 and 3 only
Answer: (d) 1 and 3 only
Explanation
Checking three Indian economic-indicator figures
These statements test specific rounded figures for India's economy and agricultural output around this period.
| Pair | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. GDP per capita (current prices): Rs 37,000 | Correct | This figure is roughly consistent with India's nominal per-capita GDP around this period |
| 2. Rice: 180 million tonnes | Incorrect | India's actual rice production at the time was considerably lower, closer to 90-100 million tonnes — 180 million tonnes overstates the actual figure significantly |
| 3. Wheat: 75 million tonnes | Correct | This figure is roughly consistent with India's wheat production around this period |
Correcting the rice figure:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| GDP per capita | ~Rs 37,000 (accurate) |
| Rice production | Actual figure far below 180 million tonnes |
| Wheat production | ~75 million tonnes (accurate) |
Answer: (d) 1 and 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Pair 2 (rice: 180 million tonnes) overstates the actual figure, so 'all three' is wrong.
- (b) Incorrect. Pair 3 (wheat: 75 million tonnes) is also accurate, so '1 and 2 only' is wrong given pair 2's error.
- (c) Incorrect. Pair 1 (GDP per capita) is also accurate, so '2 and 3 only' wrongly includes the inaccurate rice figure while omitting pair 1.
- (d) CORRECT. Pairs 1 and 3 (GDP per capita, wheat production) are roughly accurate; pair 2's rice figure significantly overstates actual production.
Key point
India's GDP per capita (~Rs 37,000) and wheat production (~75 million tonnes) figures check out — but the rice production figure of 180 million tonnes significantly overstates the actual figure for this period.
Remember
GDP per capita (~Rs 37,000) and wheat production (~75 million tonnes) check out; the rice production figure of 180 million tonnes significantly overstates the actual output.
Common mistakes
- Accepting an overstated rice production figure without comparing it to the roughly accurate wheat figure for context.
- Not having a sense of approximate scale for India's major agricultural outputs.
- Assuming all listed economic indicator figures in a question are automatically accurate.
Exam tip
India's rice production (per these old figures) is closer to 90-100 million tonnes, NOT 180 million tonnes — always sanity-check large numeric claims against known scale.
Sources
- Central Statistical Organisation — National Accounts Statistics 2008
- Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India — Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2008