UPSC Prelims 2021— Question 37

Bollgard I and Bollgard II are genetically modified cotton technologies containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-derived insecticidal traits. They are designed to provide resistance to specified insect pests and are examples of agricultural biotechnology. They are not techniques for ordinary clonal propagation, plant-growth-substance production or biofertilizer production. The final answer-key position for Set C identifies option B as the correct option. Option A — clonal propagation of crop plants — is not correct because it does not satisfy the specific condition tested in the question; it represents an alternative that is contradicted, incomplete, or less precise than the accepted answer. Option B — developing genetically modified crop plants — is correct because it is the alternative that matches the constitutional, historical, geographical, scientific or economic principle established above. Option C — production of plant growth substances — is not correct because it does not satisfy the specific condition tested in the question; it represents an alternative that is contradicted, incomplete, or less precise than the accepted answer. Option D — production of biofertilizers — is not correct because it does not satisfy the specific condition tested in the question; it represents an alternative that is contradicted, incomplete, or less precise than the accepted answer. For PYQ interpretation, the distinction between the correct alternative and merely related facts is important. UPSC often places plausible distractors beside the precise statement that matches the underlying rule, chronology, definition or empirical relationship. The answer should therefore be read against the exact wording of the question rather than against a broadly related fact.