UPSC Prelims 2020— Question 54

This question tests chemical fertilizers and pricing. The key concept is: Urea remains subject to government-administered pricing arrangements, so the first statement is incorrect. Ammonia is produced using hydrogen commonly derived from natural gas in India. Sulphur recovered from petroleum refining is an important raw material for sulphuric acid used in fertilizer production. Thus statements 2 and 3 are correct. The verified answer for the uploaded Set-B paper is option B. Option A — 1 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: Urea remains subject to government-administered pricing arrangements, so the first statement is incorrect. Ammonia is produced using hydrogen commonly derived from natural gas in India. Sulphur recovered from petroleum refining is an important raw material for sulphuric acid used in fertilizer production. Thus statements 2 and 3 are correct. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option B — 2 and 3 only: This is the correct option. It matches the verified conclusion because Urea remains subject to government-administered pricing arrangements, so the first statement is incorrect. Ammonia is produced using hydrogen commonly derived from natural gas in India. Sulphur recovered from petroleum refining is an important raw material for sulphuric acid used in fertilizer production. Thus statements 2 and 3 are correct. The wording of the option is consistent with the governing concept tested by the question. Option C — 2 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: Urea remains subject to government-administered pricing arrangements, so the first statement is incorrect. Ammonia is produced using hydrogen commonly derived from natural gas in India. Sulphur recovered from petroleum refining is an important raw material for sulphuric acid used in fertilizer production. Thus statements 2 and 3 are correct. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option D — 1, 2 and 3: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: Urea remains subject to government-administered pricing arrangements, so the first statement is incorrect. Ammonia is produced using hydrogen commonly derived from natural gas in India. Sulphur recovered from petroleum refining is an important raw material for sulphuric acid used in fertilizer production. Thus statements 2 and 3 are correct. 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 B is the verified answer.