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GS Paper IUPSC Prelims 2020
Agriculture & Rural Economy
Question No. 36Interactive Test Mode
00:00
+2-0.66

Q36. With reference to chemical fertilisers in India, consider the following statements: 1. At present, the retail price of chemical fertilisers is market-driven and not administered by the Government. 2. Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from natural gas. 3. Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fertilizer, is a by-product of oil refineries. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to chemical fertilisers in India, consider the following statements:

  1. At present, the retail price of chemical fertilisers is market-driven and not administered by the Government.
  2. Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from natural gas.
  3. Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fertilizer, is a by-product of oil refineries. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Select the correct option below (or cross out options to eliminate)
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Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution

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Official UPSC Answer KeyUPSC Prelims 2020 • Indian Economy

Correct Answer: Option (B) — 2 and 3 only

Concept & Option Breakdown

Standard Reference Verified

Statement 1 is incorrect: Fertilizer pricing in India is heavily administered and subsidized. The Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of urea is statutory and directly controlled by the Government, while non-urea fertilizers are subsidized under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) regime.

Statement 2 is correct: Ammonia (NH3) is the primary feedstock for urea synthesis and is commercially produced via steam reforming of natural gas (methane) in the Haber-Bosch process.

Statement 3 is correct: Elemental sulphur, used in producing sulphuric acid and subsequent phosphoric acid fertilizers, is recovered as a by-product during desulphurization of crude oil in petroleum refineries and natural gas processing plants.

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Question Specifications & Syllabus Mapping

Examination & YearUPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2020 (Q36)
Paper & Marking SchemeGS Paper I • 2 Marks (-0.66 Negative for incorrect response)
Syllabus Subject & TopicIndian Economy → Agriculture & Rural Economy
Official Answer KeyOption (B) — 2 and 3 only

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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Prelims 2020 Q36

What is the official answer for UPSC Prelims 2020 GS Paper I Question 36 (Indian Economy)?

The official UPSC answer key for this 2020 Indian Economy (Agriculture & Rural Economy) question is Option (B): "2 and 3 only". Correct attempts carry 2 Marks with -0.66 Negative penalty for wrong answers.

Which UPSC Prelims syllabus topic does this 2020 question belong to?

This question belongs to GS Paper I under the subject "Indian Economy" and micro-topic "Agriculture & Rural Economy". You can explore all repeated questions from Agriculture & Rural Economy 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 Agriculture & Rural Economy UPSC Prelims question using option elimination?

To solve Agriculture & Rural Economy 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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