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Question No. 47Interactive Test Mode
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Q47. How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming? 1. Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are predominant. 2. Conventional chemical farming can cause an increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such a phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming. 3. Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions. 4. Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming. Select the correct answer using the code given below

How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming?

  1. Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are predominant.
  2. Conventional chemical farming can cause an increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such a phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming.
  3. Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions.
  4. Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming. Select the correct answer using the code given below
Select the correct option below (or cross out options to eliminate)

Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution

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Official UPSC Answer KeyUPSC Prelims 2021 • Environment and Ecology

Correct Answer: Option (B) — 1, 2 and 4

Concept & Option Breakdown

Standard Reference Verified

Statement 1 is correct: Permaculture encourages polyculture, agroforestry, and biodiversity, whereas conventional chemical farming heavily relies on large-scale monoculture.

Statement 2 is correct: Excessive synthetic fertilizers and poor drainage in conventional farming lead to secondary salinization, whereas permaculture restores soil structure and organic matter, preventing salinity buildup.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Permaculture techniques (e.g., swales, water harvesting, deep mulching, hardy species) are highly suited and effective in semi-arid and arid regions, whereas chemical farming often depletes water tables and degrades soil in dry areas.

Statement 4 is correct: Mulching is an indispensable core practice in permaculture to conserve moisture, prevent erosion, and add organic nutrients, whereas it is not standard in conventional chemical monoculture.

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Question Specifications & Syllabus Mapping

Examination & YearUPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2021 (Q47)
Paper & Marking SchemeGS Paper I • 2 Marks (-0.66 Negative for incorrect response)
Syllabus Subject & TopicEnvironment and Ecology → Natural Resources
Official Answer KeyOption (B) — 1, 2 and 4

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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Prelims 2021 Q47

What is the official answer for UPSC Prelims 2021 GS Paper I Question 47 (Environment and Ecology)?

The official UPSC answer key for this 2021 Environment and Ecology (Natural Resources) question is Option (B): "1, 2 and 4". Correct attempts carry 2 Marks with -0.66 Negative penalty for wrong answers.

Which UPSC Prelims syllabus topic does this 2021 question belong to?

This question belongs to GS Paper I under the subject "Environment and Ecology" and micro-topic "Natural Resources". You can explore all repeated questions from Natural Resources in Acme AI's 3D Prelims PYQ Realm or practice 50 full-length and sectional tests in the APT Prelims Test Series.

How can I solve this Natural Resources UPSC Prelims question using option elimination?

To solve Natural Resources questions in UPSC Prelims, identify extreme modifiers, verify core NCERT conceptual definitions, and eliminate mutually contradictory statement pairs before locking your final option.

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