UPSC Prelims 2020— Question 71

This question tests public investment in agriculture. The key concept is: Public investment in agriculture refers to government expenditure that creates or strengthens productive and social infrastructure and institutional capacity. Computerisation of primary agricultural credit societies, social-capital development and government cold-storage infrastructure fit this category; price fixing, free electricity and loan waivers are policy interventions/subsidies rather than capital-forming public investment. Hence 2, 3 and 6. The verified answer for the uploaded Set-B paper is option C. Option A — 1, 2 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: Public investment in agriculture refers to government expenditure that creates or strengthens productive and social infrastructure and institutional capacity. Computerisation of primary agricultural credit societies, social-capital development and government cold-storage infrastructure fit this category; price fixing, free electricity and loan waivers are policy interventions/subsidies rather than capital-forming public investment. Hence 2, 3 and 6. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option B — 1, 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: Public investment in agriculture refers to government expenditure that creates or strengthens productive and social infrastructure and institutional capacity. Computerisation of primary agricultural credit societies, social-capital development and government cold-storage infrastructure fit this category; price fixing, free electricity and loan waivers are policy interventions/subsidies rather than capital-forming public investment. Hence 2, 3 and 6. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option C — 2, 3, and 6 only: This is the correct option. It matches the verified conclusion because Public investment in agriculture refers to government expenditure that creates or strengthens productive and social infrastructure and institutional capacity. Computerisation of primary agricultural credit societies, social-capital development and government cold-storage infrastructure fit this category; price fixing, free electricity and loan waivers are policy interventions/subsidies rather than capital-forming public investment. Hence 2, 3 and 6. The wording of the option is consistent with the governing concept tested by the question. 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: Public investment in agriculture refers to government expenditure that creates or strengthens productive and social infrastructure and institutional capacity. Computerisation of primary agricultural credit societies, social-capital development and government cold-storage infrastructure fit this category; price fixing, free electricity and loan waivers are policy interventions/subsidies rather than capital-forming public investment. Hence 2, 3 and 6. 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 C is the verified answer.