Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution
Ready to check the official UPSC Answer Key?
Click any option above to test yourself under exam conditions, or reveal the explanation directly.
Correct Answer: Option (D) — Aspartame is several times sweeter than table sugar, hence food items made with small quantities of aspartame yield fewer calories on oxidation.
Concept & Option Breakdown
Standard Reference VerifiedAspartame (a methyl ester of the aspartic acid/phenylalanine dipeptide) is approximately 200 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar). Although it yields about 4 kcal/g upon complete metabolic oxidation (identical to proteins/carbohydrates), the quantity required to achieve the desired sweetness is minuscule, resulting in a negligible caloric contribution.
High potency sweeteners work because a microscopic fraction of a gram achieves equivalent sweetness, contributing negligible overall calories.
Practice Full-Length & Sectional Prelims Mocks on this Interface
50 simulated tests in the APT Prelims Test Series (₹1,493) or 1-on-1 Mentorship with Avinash Sir.