UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 53
According to India's National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels?
- Cassava
- Damaged wheat grains
- Groundnut seeds
- Horse gram
- Rotten potatoes
- Sugar beet
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Correct Option: A (1, 2, 5 and 6 only)
Explanation: India’s 2018 National Policy on Biofuels allowed specified sugar-/starch-rich and damaged food materials for ethanol, including cassava, damaged wheat, rotten potatoes and sugar beet, not the oilseed/pulse items listed as part of this ethanol group.
Statement / Pair / Item-wise Analysis:
1. Correct - Cassava is a starch-rich feedstock convertible to ethanol.
2. Correct - Damaged wheat unsuitable for human use was among permitted feedstocks.
3. Incorrect - Groundnut is an oilseed, not a listed ethanol feedstock in the exam’s feedstock grouping.
4. Incorrect - Horse gram is a pulse, not a listed bioethanol raw material in this question.
5. Correct - Rotten potatoes provide starch that can be fermented into bioethanol.
6. Correct - Sugar beet is a sugar-bearing bioethanol feedstock.
Option-wise Analysis:
A. Correct-includes all and only valid statements/items 1, 2, 5, 6.
B. Incorrect-includes incorrect item 3 (Groundnut is an oilseed, not a listed ethanol feedstock in the exam’s feedstock grouping); includes incorrect item 4 (Horse gram is a pulse, not a listed bioethanol raw material in this question); omits correct item 2 (Damaged wheat unsuitable for human use was among permitted feedstocks); omits correct item 5 (Rotten potatoes provide starch that can be fermented into bioethanol).
C. Incorrect-includes incorrect item 3 (Groundnut is an oilseed, not a listed ethanol feedstock in the exam’s feedstock grouping); includes incorrect item 4 (Horse gram is a pulse, not a listed bioethanol raw material in this question); omits correct item 1 (Cassava is a starch-rich feedstock convertible to ethanol); omits correct item 6 (Sugar beet is a sugar-bearing bioethanol feedstock).
D. Incorrect-includes incorrect item 3 (Groundnut is an oilseed, not a listed ethanol feedstock in the exam’s feedstock grouping); includes incorrect item 4 (Horse gram is a pulse, not a listed bioethanol raw material in this question).
Review note: Biofuels can include biodiesel from oils, but this UPSC list follows the policy’s specific ethanol feedstock provision.