UPSC Prelims 2020— Question 67

This question tests cotton agro-climatic requirements. The key concept is: Cotton is a subtropical crop requiring a long frost-free period, moderate rainfall and well-drained moisture-retentive soils. Jute needs hot humid conditions and abundant water, sugarcane requires a longer growing season with different rainfall/temperature conditions, and tea prefers humid highland environments. The description therefore matches cotton. The verified answer for the uploaded Set-B paper is option A. Option A — Cotton: This is the correct option. It matches the verified conclusion because Cotton is a subtropical crop requiring a long frost-free period, moderate rainfall and well-drained moisture-retentive soils. Jute needs hot humid conditions and abundant water, sugarcane requires a longer growing season with different rainfall/temperature conditions, and tea prefers humid highland environments. The description therefore matches cotton. The wording of the option is consistent with the governing concept tested by the question. Option B — Jute: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: Cotton is a subtropical crop requiring a long frost-free period, moderate rainfall and well-drained moisture-retentive soils. Jute needs hot humid conditions and abundant water, sugarcane requires a longer growing season with different rainfall/temperature conditions, and tea prefers humid highland environments. The description therefore matches cotton. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option C — Sugarcane: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: Cotton is a subtropical crop requiring a long frost-free period, moderate rainfall and well-drained moisture-retentive soils. Jute needs hot humid conditions and abundant water, sugarcane requires a longer growing season with different rainfall/temperature conditions, and tea prefers humid highland environments. The description therefore matches cotton. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option D — Tea: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: Cotton is a subtropical crop requiring a long frost-free period, moderate rainfall and well-drained moisture-retentive soils. Jute needs hot humid conditions and abundant water, sugarcane requires a longer growing season with different rainfall/temperature conditions, and tea prefers humid highland environments. The description therefore matches cotton. 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.