UPSC Prelims 2020— Question 64

This question tests national policy on biofuels. The key concept is: India's National Policy on Biofuels permits a broad range of feedstocks, including damaged or surplus food grains, non-edible materials and crops such as cassava and sugar beet, as well as spoiled tubers where appropriate. The accepted combination in the question includes cassava, damaged wheat, rotten potatoes and sugar beet. The verified answer for the uploaded Set-B paper is option A. Option A — 1, 2, 5 and 6 only: This is the correct option. It matches the verified conclusion because India's National Policy on Biofuels permits a broad range of feedstocks, including damaged or surplus food grains, non-edible materials and crops such as cassava and sugar beet, as well as spoiled tubers where appropriate. The accepted combination in the question includes cassava, damaged wheat, rotten potatoes and sugar beet. The wording of the option is consistent with the governing concept tested by the question. Option B — 1, 3,4 and 6 only: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: India's National Policy on Biofuels permits a broad range of feedstocks, including damaged or surplus food grains, non-edible materials and crops such as cassava and sugar beet, as well as spoiled tubers where appropriate. The accepted combination in the question includes cassava, damaged wheat, rotten potatoes and sugar beet. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option C — 2, 3,4 and 5 only: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: India's National Policy on Biofuels permits a broad range of feedstocks, including damaged or surplus food grains, non-edible materials and crops such as cassava and sugar beet, as well as spoiled tubers where appropriate. The accepted combination in the question includes cassava, damaged wheat, rotten potatoes and sugar beet. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option D — 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: India's National Policy on Biofuels permits a broad range of feedstocks, including damaged or surplus food grains, non-edible materials and crops such as cassava and sugar beet, as well as spoiled tubers where appropriate. The accepted combination in the question includes cassava, damaged wheat, rotten potatoes and sugar beet. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. For UPSC-style elimination, first identify the exact proposition being tested, then evaluate each statement independently before comparing the answer codes. Avoid treating a broad or absolute statement as correct merely because its general theme is familiar. The precise qualifiers in the question—such as 'all', 'only', 'cannot', 'largest', 'always' or a specific institutional role—often determine the answer. On that basis, option A is the verified answer.