UPSC Prelims 2011 Q35: Indian Economy – Infrastructure & Industry
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
Explanation
Purpose of "Mega Food Parks"
The Mega Food Park scheme is a Government of India initiative under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Provide good infrastructure for the food processing industry | Correct | Mega Food Parks are built around common infrastructure (cold chain, processing facilities, logistics) for food processors |
| 2. Increase processing of perishables, reduce wastage | Correct | A core goal is cutting post-harvest wastage of perishable farm produce by enabling faster processing |
| 3. Provide emerging eco-friendly processing technologies to entrepreneurs | Incorrect | The scheme's focus is on infrastructure and market linkage, not specifically on supplying new eco-friendly technologies; this detail is not part of the scheme's stated objective |
Mega Food Park essentials:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ministry | Food Processing Industries |
| Model | Cluster-based (central processing centre + primary collection centres) |
| Core aim | Infrastructure + reduce wastage, not technology transfer |
Note on sources: this key is disputed between (b) '1 and 2 only' and (d) '1, 2 and 3'; the bank key and one major reference agree on (b), which is used here.
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 2 (reducing wastage of perishables) is also a correct objective, so '1 only' is incomplete.
- (b) CORRECT. Statements 1 and 2 — infrastructure provision and reducing perishable wastage — are the scheme's stated aims; statement 3's technology claim goes beyond this.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 1 (infrastructure) is also correct, so leaving it out is wrong.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 3's claim about supplying eco-friendly technologies is not a standard stated objective of the scheme.
Key point
Mega Food Parks: infrastructure for food processing + reducing wastage of perishables. The 'eco-friendly technology' claim is not part of the scheme's core stated purpose.
Remember
Mega Food Park: infrastructure for food processing + less wastage of perishables (cluster model, Ministry of Food Processing Industries).
Common mistakes
- Treating every plausible-sounding statement about a welfare scheme as automatically true.
- Confusing infrastructure provision with technology transfer, which are different things.
- Not noticing that statement 3 adds a specific claim not found in the scheme's objectives.
Exam tip
Mega Food Parks = infrastructure + reduced wastage, a cluster model. Technology-transfer claims need independent verification.
Sources
- Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India — Scheme for Mega Food Parks: Guidelines
- Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India — Annual Report 2010–11